My Memphis trauma revolves around the universe of Wiley Benton who was one of twelve children born to my maternal great grandparents. A young Wiley left home to run an errand in 1930's Memphis in a part of the city where houses fade into trees. Hours, days later, he never returned. Never. His was the empty plate at every family reunion in Memphis and during all the Christmas dinners of his siblings in Chicago and Los Angeles. https://audreyshipp.substack.com/p/cop-brutality-memphis-and-nigerias
Audrey Shipp
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Globally Black/Left. Creative nonfiction writer. Editor. Blogging at https://audreyshipp.substack.com/
The killers of Tyre Nichols were members of the police unit called SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods). In Nigeria there had been years of complaints about the police unit called SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). Nigerian citizens complained of being arrested, detained, and tortured by SARS officers.
Journalist Chris Hedges stated that the "military and police forces in the U.S. function as armies of occupation" stabilizing corporate colonialism. Despite the five Memphis officers being Black, the "representationalist" aspect of identity politics, to quote the late Glen Ford, has not saved us. During the October 2020 protests in Lagos, soldiers killed forty-eight people and another ninety-six corpses were later found. #EndSARS https://audreyshipp.substack.com/p/cop-brutality-memphis-and-nigerias
Journalist Chris Hedges stated that the "military and police forces in the U.S. function as armies of occupation" stabilizing corporate colonialism. Despite the five Memphis officers being Black, the "representationalist" aspect of identity politics, to quote the late Glen Ford, has not saved us. During the October 2020 protests in Lagos, soldiers killed forty-eight people and another ninety-six corpses were later found. #EndSARS https://audreyshipp.substack.com/p/cop-brutality-memphis-and-nigerias
The killers of Tyre Nichols were members of the police unit called SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods). In Nigeria there had been years of complaints about the police unit called SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). Nigerian citizens complained of being arrested, detained, and tortured by SARS officers.
Read my latest, "The Incalculable Costs of California's Mass Shootings," on my freeee Substack. https://audreyshipp.substack.com/
DidiQ“"In Germany, teaching the Holocaust is mandatory. It includes visits to concentration camp, museums, etc. They don’t shy away from their own ugly history. Yet the kids aren’t damaged; they’re strengthened, matured, humbled. US needs to do same re slavery. Not that complicated.”
Siggy Rose.
Siggy Rose.
My latest personal essay, "Rain-Soaked Banana Plantations, Quetzal Birds, Garifuna Music," has been published by Isele Magazine. https://iselemagazine.com/2022/12/23/rain-soaked-banana-plantations-quetzal-birds-garifuna-music-audrey-shipp/
"My first trip to Guatemala, I assumed my liberation from the torment of work would be a brochure-perfect tropical paradise of white sand and clear-water beaches. My partner had done little to discourage my tourist fantasies...
"My first trip to Guatemala, I assumed my liberation from the torment of work would be a brochure-perfect tropical paradise of white sand and clear-water beaches. My partner had done little to discourage my tourist fantasies...
Referring to Sub Saharan Africa is like referring to Sub Rio Grande America. #Africa #panafricanism