This past Saturday, March 4, from 4-6pm in Newbold Auditorium, Andrews University students eagerly awaited the return of the Agora, a space for meaningful dialogue about hotly contested topics in our world today. This weekend was a conversation about systemic racism and police brutality, featuring four panelists: Professor Elizabeth McCree, who has taught classes for the AU department of Political Science and History for two years and owns her own defense practice in Benton Harbor; Castwell Fider, a former AU student who worked as a volunteer law enforcement officer in Tennessee from 2016 to 2019 and currently serves as Managing Director of Talent and Culture at Gerard College, a primarily Black and Latinx school in Philadelphia; Wambui Karanja (junior, nursing), the secretary of BSCF; and Julaine Phillips (junior, medical laboratory sciences), who serves as vice president of BSCF. It was moderated by Anaya Abdul-Haqq, the undergraduate tutoring coordinator for the student success center.
The panel discussed multiple heavy themes, with a spotlight on police brutality. Professor McCree emphasized the racist history of our policing system—how it found its roots in the days of slave catchers and has always been fundamentally opposed to freedom. Castwell, as a former cop, brought loads of new insight to the topic of policing. He describes the police system as a “fraternity of terrorism,” talking about how police officers would watch videos of officer’s shooting people as an “initiation” and were encouraged to enact those actions themselves.
The answers to the police certification exam are given from the front during the exam, ensuring that the exam is “cop-friendly.” Fider emphasized, “You can either choose to be a cop or to be a Black man.” During his time, he was under constant pressure to ‘behave’ in a way that was socially acceptable to those around him, including small details like the way he did his hair. When he put his hair into traditional ‘locs,’ his fellow police officers looked at him differently. Now that they perceived him as a Black man, he was no longer part of their brotherhood.
The panel members all had personal stories about negative interactions with police officers, interactions that were exacerbated by the color of their skin. Professor McCree describes just how often she was pulled over—even as a teen, it was constant. She told the story of a time when she was pulled over as a prosecuting attorney and the police officer didn’t believe her until he called her boss. Over and over again, the policing system has wronged people they perceived as the wrong color. For Black students, Fider recommended approaching police stops one of two ways. Do you want to become a hashtag? If so, know your rights. Don’t allow them to search your car without cause and follow the letter of the law. However, if your goal is to get home safe, do what is asked. Fider specifically emphasizes, “Get a dashcam!”
But the panel shifted at this point into a new and more hopeful direction. “As Christians, how do we humanize police officers while advocating for our rights and need to be protected?” Professor McCree highlighted how poorly prepared police officers truly are. Their education is short-term and it’s unfair to put these young people in a position where they don’t have the tools to make good decisions. Wambui mentioned that “the people within the system are also hurt by the system.” It’s an endless cycle that doesn’t make life easier for anyone in it. Fider shared how police departments are ruled by fear, and there’s a constant anxiety that is encouraged every time they approach a car. Although the system is built the way it was meant to operate (its purpose was never to protect Black bodies), change is absolutely necessary. Professor McCree hopes that reallocating funds to create teams will benefit police officers by providing them with other resources to deal with difficult situations.
The Agora has been a longstanding space on campus to discuss difficult topics and this event was no different. The stories shared and the solutions suggested will stay with me always. The Department of History and Political Science asks students to keep their eyes peeled for the next Agora. Join them April 1, for a discussion on women’s history!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.