Should You Watch Police Brutality Videos?

by Kevin L. Michel, MSc.

“When a mysterious force decimates the population, only one thing is certain -- if you see it, you die. The survivors must now avoid coming face to face with an entity that takes the form of their worst fears. Searching for hope and a new beginning, a woman and her children embark on a dangerous journey through the woods and down a river to find the one place that may offer sanctuary. To make it, they'll have to cover their eyes from the evil that chases them -- and complete the trip blindfolded.”

In the movie Bird Box there is a clear danger, yet one must deliberately remain blind to it. One must focus on the end goal, which is the destination that one seeks to arrive at. To expose one’s self directly to the danger, that is, to remove the blindfold, is to destroy one’s self.

Ask yourself “What the merit is in looking at police brutality video after police brutality video?”

Ask yourself “What is the merit in watching incident of racism, after incident of racism?” Are you trying to convince yourself that police brutality against people of color, and the poor, is real and persistent? Are you trying to convince yourself that racism and discrimination are real? You already know the answer to those questions – it is very real.

Now, if you do need more convincing, then you certainly should watch more of the most traumatic videos, and you certainly should do more research. However, if you are a person of color yourself, and so you have the experiences, or if you are someone who is otherwise aware of societal inequity, then consider that what you are doing by constantly exposing yourself to such videos, and to the daily opinion news, is, you are traumatizing yourself. Whereas some of us do need to look directly at that danger and at those specific cases, as this is essential for the creation of reform and for redress in the specific incidents of brutality that have been overlooked, many people of color should actually look away, and instead look more clearly at their long-term purpose and long-term goals. Many people of color should consider what the ultimate solution is to the persistent global problem of racism and more broadly discrimination, and the ill treatment of the poor. For make no mistake, if we all become consumed by viewing these incidents of terror and racism, we make it less likely that we will achieve our long-term goals and purpose, because the brain that is traumatized is less able to see the big picture and less able to have a vision for the future. Let me clarify this idea by stating that we cannot all leave on our blindfolds, but some of us need to do exactly that. For in order to build a better future, we need vision and focus. We need a clear focus on our purpose in this life, and we need a clear vision of a unified future. A short term focus on the trauma of the day while necessary for some, is the wrong area of focus for most.

What most persons need to do, is to determine what their contribution to our country, to humanity, and to our civilization shall be, and to keep on the blindfold, put their heads down and get to work accomplishing that longer term objective. This feels like the wrong thing to say, and it shall certainly feel like the wrong thing to do, but that is the nature of a strategic move – that is the nature of chess. What you cannot do, and what is most unethical to do, is to simply put on the blindfold without at the same time making a long-term commitment to addressing the significant problems. To be blind without purpose, is the definition of cowardice. To set a long-term goal, to determine your purpose, to have a vision for how you intend to make a positive impact on your neighborhood, your country, and your world, and then to put on the blindfold in spite of all the trauma and chaos that surrounds you, and then to get to work, well, now that is an act of great courage and necessary strategy. That is how you win not just one protest, or two protests, or find justice for one hundred persons, or two hundred persons, that is how you win the future, that is how you save the world.

Some of us need to be out protesting, some of us need to be writing legislation, and some of us need to determine how through a career, we shall make vital contributions, and make a difference for this world. Additionally, we must support those who do remove the blindfolds. We must encourage those who do shed light on the current injustices, and we must help every person who is involved in the immediate fight. To help the front lines in this way, while looking to the future, is part of having that broader vision.

So, ask and answer now, “What shall you do to create a world with liberty and justice for all; a world where all of us can benefit as stakeholders; a world of prosperity and peace?”

Ask yourself: “What will you do, not just today, but in the years, and decades ahead?” And then, turn off the news of the day, and get to work!

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Kevin L. Michel is a Performance Psychology Consultant based in New York, with an MSc. in General Psychology. He is author of the books "Moving Through Parallel Worlds To Achieve Your Dreams" and "The Greatest Player."