All too often the
brutish actions of cops in urban communities throughout the United States will
influence panic when cooperation should be instinctive.
Badges and guns have a tendency to make a
community hypertensive with the single swing of a baton or the flashing blue
lights of a cruiser. We read it in black
and white print every day, “armed assailant gunned down by police.” “Three
suspects shot in police drug raid.” “Off duty cop shoots boyfriend of Ex.”
“Decorated cop punches unarmed woman.”
Simply put, violence
is an integral part of policing. The
march to Selma, Alabama (60’s); the eruption of barbarity at Kent State (70’s);
the devastating MOVE bombing (80’s); and the dismantling of Rodney King’s humanity
(90’s) are graphic examples of law enforcement officers standing on the strong
side of excessive force. It’s no wonder
that anxiety excels at a hypertensive rate during “routine” traffic stops.
This interview takes
place within the corridors of the death row housing unit, located in Raleigh,
N.C. It is the manifestation of
camaraderie that is tethered to playing basketball, working out at the weight
pile, and daily treks to and from the prison’s chow hall. “J-Witt,” the focus
of this interview, was charged with killing a police officer at the tender age
of 19.
He has been on North Carolina’s
death row since 2006. No longer a
teenager dodging the widespread gunfire of cops in hot pursuit of a murder
suspect, J-Witt is now a grown man whose perspective on life goes well beyond
his 29 years of earthly existence.
By sharing this
platform with him, it is my hope to shed some light on a survivor’s guilt. We cannot hear the fading voices of Eric
Garner, Michael Brown, Jonathan Ferrell, and the Africas that perished in the
West Philly MOVE bombing. This is a
unique circumstance where the pursued suspect lives to reveal the humanity
existing on the short side of authoritarian rule.
It is a predicament that is not as simple as
good and bad; right and wrong; or even black or white. By the conclusion of this interview, you may
think differently about what society deems as a cop killer.
MannofStat: Tell
me something about the person you were before you caught this charge.
J-Witt: Growing
up was pretty hard at times. I didn’t
have my real father because he’s serving a life sentence for killing a
cop. The only time I saw him would be at
visits. I was introduced to the prison
system through him at a very young age.
MannofStat: How
about your mother?
J-Witt: My mom was on drugs for most of my teen
years, so I lived with my paternal grandparents most of the time. There is where I learned to work hard, and I
also learned discipline. At the time, I
just thought they were strict but they were trying to keep me out of trouble.
It’s hard to see that when you’re young because you want to
go, go, go, all of the time. I worked
really hard cutting wood and mowing lawns with my grandpa for about 6-8 years.
MannofStat: How
did you relate in school?
J-Witt: In middle school and high school, I played
football, made the honor roll most times, got perfect attendance and a few
other awards. I actually liked school
and planned to go to college one day.
I tried out for my high school basketball team but didn’t
make the cut. So I signed up for
AAU. I love sports, but I also found
work at SKIDs and Food Lion, in addition to helping my grandpa. Most of my days were pretty full but I loved
working and making my own money.
MannofStat: You
mentioned your mom doing drugs. Did you
eventually indulge as well?
J-Witt: Drug use
has been in my family for years, so I guess it was a matter of time before I
got caught up. My grandparents were
strict, but I guess I had a rebellious streak.
I moved in with my maternal grandmother where there was a little more
freedom to do what I wanted. I started
going to clubs every weekend. Having fun
meeting all types of women.
Dancing and selling weed on top of smoking it, yet I still
went to school, kept my job, and played football. I was around 17 or 18 when I was reunited
with my mom. She was off the drugs and
things were going good. At 19, I get
charged with killing a cop.
MannofStat:
Please speak freely about the man you’ve become since that time.
J-Witt: For one,
I’ve become more perceptive. I missed a
lot of things while free because I was too carefree. I should’ve listened more and talked
less. Instead of ignoring good advice, I
should’ve just followed it. In here, you
have to stay on your toes because guys are trying to run game all the
time. I’ve learned to see through most
facades, plus I have a few close friends that school me; best believe I’ve
listened this time.
I’ve also become hardened around the edges. I still love my family, who is still here for
me, and my friends. Although a lot of
people have abandoned me over the years, I can understand people have lives to
live and society moves on. It still
hurts when people leave you. It does
something to you.
MannofStat: How
would you explain this ‘something?’
J-Witt: When
someone tells you, “I’ll be by your side forever.” Then they just stop writing
or visiting. It’s like being in love and
having you heart broken; it hurts! (A brief pause as he adjust his glasses and
gathers himself).
I’ve developed a thick skin because I don’t like getting
hurt. When my maternal grandma passed, I
tried not to let it hurt me, but I just couldn’t help that one. Not being able to be there for her in her
time of need hurt me the most. I feel
like I failed her because she was always there for me growing up. As a competitor I try to learn from every
loss, but I don’t like the feeling of losing my grandma.
I couldn’t see how to learn from her death at all. Eventually, her passing has helped me to see
things clearer, which I guess is learning in a way. I now know that life can be short, and loss
hurts as much as love, until something comes along and shocks you- so to speak
– you won’t feel it. The passing of a
loved one will make you feel it.
MannofStat: How
does a teenager handle being sentenced to die?
J-Witt: I got
locked up at 19, and got the death sentence at 20. When they jury said, “Death,” my heart
dropped. It’s like I was looking into
the barrel of that cop’s gun again. After things settled down I started trying to
live my life. I loved going to school
and playing sports. I still do those
things today.
Every class brought to
death row has nothing but upside. The
chess league has helped me with planning every day movements of my life. I’ve read plenty of books, and I’ve also
learned how to point, draw, and write poetry.
I don’t want to fall behind in today’s world, so I try to
learn about things and events that have happened since I’ve become
incarcerated. I make it a point to learn and be more perceptive. I actually
have the time to focus on more things, and I choose to be smarter about the
life I have in front of me.
I’ve found a
way to live with the hand I was dealt.
I’m not a quitter in anything I do, so until the day I die I will be the
best person I know how to be, and utilize every opportunity that comes my way.
MannofStat:
Preach, Brotha! (hands clap)
J-Witt: That’s
what’s up, right there.
MannofStat: Okay,
think back. What was your first lesson
about dealing with cops?
J-Witt: My first
lesson would’ve been when I went to see my dad in prison. I used to see how that correctional officers
would treat different inmates, whether it be good or bad. Some of the c.o.’s appeared to be good people
just trying to do their job and get a paycheck.
Others didn’t seem so nice.
My
dad would talk to me about the way they treated him or helped him out. He also told me about the street cops and how
he didn’t want me getting in any trouble, and go through a similar circumstance
as his.
MannofStat:
Didn’t your maternal grandmother have a connection to the police?
J-Witt: Yeah, my grandma was a 911 operator. She knew a lot of cops, firefighters and
other government officials. They would
come by and speak with my grandparents just to check up on them.
MannofStat: So,
you didn’t grow up with a “Fuck the Police” mentality.
J-Witt: Ain’t no
way. I’ve helped my grandpa cut down
trees in one cop’s yard, and I’ve mowed the lawn of another. When my grandpa
hired a sheriff’s deputy to fix the roof on our house, I assisted him and
learned how to put shingles on a roof.
You see, I’ve had good experiences with most cops, it’s just when you’re
on the bad side of the law things change. You find those gung-ho cops that’s
been in the military and don’t take no shit.
They don’t want to hear you out because to them, you’re already guilty.
It’s just like dealing with a racist. We know how those situations turned out,
throughout history. You don’t see many
white people getting gunned down in the street. There’s very little balance in
this world due to prejudice. Young black
men are dying in these streets by the hand of the people who are suppose to keep
that balance (cops). They’re doing a poor job and it’s really sad.
MannofStat:
Michael Brown and Eric Garner…can you see yourself in their situations?
J-Witt: It seems
like cops killing young black men is deemed as justifiable homicide no matter
what the circumstances may be. I’ve been
in a situation like Michael Brown where I’ve had my hands up and looking into
that barrel of a cop’s gun.
Thankfully I
didn’t get shot, but I was scared to death.
So I know how he must’ve felt, and I never want to feel like that
again. My life flashed before my
eyes. I was paralyzed with fear, and that
may be the only reason I’m alive today.
MannofStat: What
would you say to a youngsta on the brink of having an altercation with a cop?
J-Witt: Don’t
panic (shakes his head) Real talk. When
you’re scared it’s easy to go into fight or flight mode, and that’s hard to
control. Just try to remain calm. Those gung-ho cops are waiting for that
twitch, to give them a reason to apply force, or even worse, shoot you. Don’t
resist. Listen to what they say and follow it to the letter.
People still get beat up or shot by cops
after following instructions, but I’d prefer for the youngstas to follow, not
to make the same mistake I did. Know
that what you did was right.
NP NP NP NP
J-Witt’s truth is a
heartfelt reality check to anyone feeling the pressure of a racial
injustice. More importantly, his plight
as a youngsta is tragic in the eyes of any race, creed or economic status. A contrite heart speaks a universal language.
What makes this
interview so unique? One thing America
doesn’t need is another sob story of the black youth facing a stacked
deck. Right? That is why you’re not hearing that
story. It’s like I said at the beginning
of this interview, J-Witt’s predicament is not as simple as black and white,
but then again, maybe it is.
This has
been the story of a misunderstood white kid now serving a death sentence due to
the panic instigated by the actions of an overzealous police officer.
I’ll bet that sob
story sounds more like a fine tuned orchestra right now. Doesn’t it? Hold ya head, J-Witt. Your struggle will always bear fire as long
as my pen holds ink. Ya heard?
Much love,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2015 by Leroy Elwood Mann
No comments:
Post a Comment