Critical Discourse – Black Men, the Mayor of NYC and the NYPD; Viva Cuba?

The reverberations from the Richmond County Grand Jury’s decision not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, of the NYPD, continue to be felt.

While protests on behalf of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, have been largely peaceful, if not very inconveniencing for New Yorkers, there have been sporadic instances of violence,

During a protest on the Brooklyn Bridge last Saturday, two men, both white, one a college professor, allegedly triggered a melee and assaulted police.

In the meantime, the events and reactions from that fateful day has caused tension between Mayor DiBlasio and the head of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, Patrick Lynch, who has accused the mayor of making remarks that are disrespectful of the police.

In fact, some of the NYPD have supported a pledge to disinvite the Mayor to their funerals.

On the international front, Barack Obama has decided to establish diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba, citing that the embargo, in place since 1961, has “not worked”.

Again, as expected, the reactions vary, with intense criticism from Sens. Marco Rubio Robert Menendez, both of whom are of Cuban heritage.

On the other hand, Jimmy Carter praised Obama’s “political courage”. Perhaps he sees this as a sort of redemption from the Mariel Boatlift?

I wonder out loud, what this means for black people economically, with an anticipated influx of Cubans to this country, just 90 miles away.

For those old enough to remember, this conjures memories of the Bay of Pigs (1961) and Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

By the WAY, Obama says that black people are “better off” (HE said it, NOT me!)

So be prepared to discuss these pointed issues on the Critical Discourse University of the Blogosphere.