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Durham residents should be horrified over the possibility that Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis may be heading to Memphis. If it happens, pray it’s not so, we can blame an overzealous desire to be “woke”.
Davis is among eight candidates to be the next director of the Memphis police department. The City of Memphis contracted the services of the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct a national search for police director.
It feels like “woke” folks are making it easy for Davis to leave. “Woke” and progressive are used interchangeably to evoke a sense of Durham being a hip place to live. What does “woke” mean if Davis isn’t woke enough, in the mind of some, to lead the direction of Durham’s police department?
“Woke” is the line of demarcation between those who get “it” and those trapped in archaic thinking. It’s how young folks describe old folks unwilling to accept their point of view. It’s become a way of proving cool. Upon hearing some people talk about waking up, I can’t help but think they need to spend more time dealing with their own issues. It’s dangerous when elected officials use being “woke” to compensate for their own power and privilege.
If Davis packs her bags for Memphis, blame elements of “woke” culture for forcing her decision. Blame the “woke” folks who fought against here proposed budget. Blame self-described “woke” folks who position themselves as the defenders of “the people”. Check the voting of people who have never spent a night sleeping in a crime riddled community. Saying you’re “woke” is a safe way of saying you understand without fully understanding.
There’s nothing worse than sleepwalking.
It’s easy to assume Davis isn’t “woke” enough to lead the reform of Durham’s police department. Phrases like “fuck the police” simplifies efforts to negate the credibility of law enforcement. Reforming law enforcement works best when the chief of police is an advocate for change. Is that even possible? Davis is a “woke” chief of police. Saying that digs at the assumptions many people make regarding all people in law enforcement.
Being “woke” requires movement beyond demonizing all police. The system is damaged. It needs serious reform, but it’s possible to be “woke” within a system in need of change.
“Woke” is a good thing. Things need to be torn up, burned and replaced with new systems to address inequalities. Discussions involving defunding police with ways to reallocate resources are important. There are creative ways to reduce crime by implementing creative ways to address mental health and economic concerns. Reform happens best in collaboration with law enforcement. It’s not a vote made by a few politicians. It’s a collaboration between residents, businesses, nonprofits, politicians and law enforcement. “Woke” isn’t the call of a few vocal people. It’s the challenge of a community engaged, together, in the re-formation of a new way of life.
The danger is not in pressing a pro-woke agenda. It’s in alienating “woke” leaders. Davis is a “woke” chief of police willing and capable of implementing and enforcing “woke” strategies for police reform. She’s not opposed to defunding police efforts. She’s part of a national dialogue to do exactly what “woke” folks are pressing to achieve.
What does it mean if Davis leaves Durham?
It means the desire of a few to define and press their version of “woke” centered police reform failed to honor and respect the “wokeness” of Davis. It means members of our city council placed their interpretation of what the city needs above the experience, expertise and “wokeness” of Chief Davis. It means we, as a community, failed to make Durham a model city for how to reform local law enforcement.
It means we talk about being progressive and “woke” but fail in walking and engaging in the work of being fully “woke”.
Following news that Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry is being considered for a chief federal prosecutor position by the Biden Administration (a claim Deberry dismissed as rumor), it’s notable that Durham is on the national radar as a place engaged in reform. With a “woke” chief of police, a “woke” district attorney” and a “woke” sheriff (Clarence Birkhead), woke things are happening in Durham.
It would help if our elected officials would show more respect and support for the work of our “woke” leaders. Otherwise, expect to see more gifted “woke” people find work in places committed to more than lip service regarding what it means to be a progressive community.
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