Sonya Massey's death is the reason why black women don't trust the police

The gruesome but preventable death of Sonya Massey is yet another reason why black Americans can no longer trust law enforcement. On July 6, a deputy shot Massey in her Illinois home after she called 911.

Body camera video shows Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson shooting Massey as she followed police orders to remove a pot of hot water from the stove. The situation escalated quickly, and Massey barely had time to put the pot of water down before Grayson drew his gun and shots rang out.

Her last words: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

But that is no justice for Massey. The arrest of the now former deputy sheriff does not ease the grief of the victim’s family and black Americans. Her death is a symptom of the systemic racism that continues to fuel violence against black and African Americans.

Black communities in America are disproportionately affected by police violence. While much of the debate centers on black men, black women also experience significant and often overlooked trauma at the hands of police violence.

Worse, pervasive police violence fosters a deep distrust of law enforcement and the justice system and makes it difficult for black women to seek help when they need it.

“Sonya Massey deserves better. We all deserve better.”

Celebrities, politicians and leading public figures have spoken out about the atrocity of Massey’s death.

President Joe Biden said he and First Lady Jill Biden “mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones and community during this devastating time.”

Jamila Hodge, CEO of Equal Justice USA, said in a statement sent to me, “In this moment of hope for our country to recognize the leadership and value of Black women, we are reminded again that Black people are not safe in the hands of police, whether they are calling for help, being pulled over, or sleeping in their own homes. It is incomprehensible why our country continues to pour billions into policing instead of proven, community-based, trauma-informed measures. We must end the centuries of racist policies in our criminal justice system that enable these tragic killings and injuries. Sonya Massey deserves better. We all do.”

For black women who survive police violence, the psychological consequences can manifest themselves in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder, increased anxiety and hypervigilance, and a constant fear of possible encounters with the police.

My son has autism.The schools misunderstand him. And I fear the police will do the same.

“You can’t grow, you can’t think”

I spoke to Raquel Martin, a clinical psychologist and podcast host, about the impact of PTSD on social relationships.

“Police violence negatively affects our relationship with ourselves and the world, just like racism does with us,” she said. “It destroys the safety of an environment, the comfort of an environment, and you can’t grow, you can’t think, you can’t evolve in an environment that oppresses you on a daily basis because you live in fear.”

To reduce police violence, a system change is necessary. We cannot stand by and watch our families being killed by incompetent, angry and reckless police officers.

Bananas, diapers and ammunition?Bullets in grocery stores are a dangerous convenience.

Black Americans are killed by police more often than Americans of other races. Police officers and their agencies must be held accountable.

“Systemic change would address police brutality by addressing the lack of training of police officers and the lack of recognition as human beings and worthy of respect,” Martin said. “You would have to work with licensed psychologists in the (justice) system to ensure that wellness checks are performed by individuals whose most important tool is not the gun but their mind and empathy. You would also have to recognize that the system is clearly broken and that it is not enough to simply fix it, you have to abolish it.”

Since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, social justice organizations have been trying to implement new policies and police reforms to reduce the number of incidents of violence between black people in the United States and police officers.

Initiatives included lifting immunity for New York City police officers, deploying crisis intervention teams for mental health crises in San Francisco, and limiting police use for minor traffic stops in Berkeley, California.

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