MY Open Letter to Black Trump Supporter Patrick D. Hampton in Response to Letter to LeBron James

Dear Mr. Hampton,

This may be a complete waste of time, as you are a Donald Trump supporter, which fascinates me as you are a black man. That does not mean you are not allowed to support who you choose, but Trump has made it more than clear as to what he feels about people of color, and not in any uncertain terms. So I cannot imagine on what level any black man with some years on him could find something in which to support Trump, or even how certain things were not deal-breakers to you.

I won’t call you “coon” or “Uncle Tom.” I don’t have to. I can’t stand those terms anyway.

You start your letter to LeBron James by saying that LeBron does not speak for you. You are correct; he does not.

However, there are many he does speak for. Of course, there would be a few who do not agree with his statements, or at least have not had enough run-ins with police to have any idea as to what it’s like. That sounds like where you are.

You go on to say that it is your responsibility as a father to protect and serve your children. Correct. I have two children myself. Yes, it is our jobs, as we are the authorities and heads of household.

You continue to say that police are needed where fathers and law and order are absent. I can agree with that. Police sometimes do have to move in and unofficially account for what lacks in an absent father, especially in certain neighborhoods and communities.

You are correct to say that police are having a hard time gaining compliance with fatherless boys. You then proceed to say that “they refuse to sit down, be quiet and comply. “Why? Because the police are the first men to tell them NO and assert their authority. These boys have spent years under no one’s authority…”

Let me stop you right there.

A few things are wrong with this statement.

First off, my mother was a single mother who raised four of us. Our father was in and out of the picture. Your statement about authority not existing is a slap in the face and utter disrespect to all the single black mothers out there who bust their asses, just as my mother did, to take care of us and whose authority DID work. So to say that they have “spent years under no one’s authority” is nonsense.

Who gave birth to you, Mr. Hampton? Remember that she is the same woman you are disrespecting by saying authority “doesn’t exist” just because a man isn’t present. Every single black woman out there isn’t as worthless as you imply just because men are not there. My mother damn sure isn’t. There are success stories of black men all over the place who grew up without fathers, because their mothers held it down.

I’m aware that you said “first men to tell them no,” but what you fail to understand is that just because some random older, white man tells something to a black teenager or young man, they do not have to listen just because they did not have a father figure. Not to mention the fact that these black teens and young men would usually not have to be afraid of their fathers murdering them upon not following orders or house rules.

You continue to say “Me and my boys are not terrified of the police because we respect the police and their authority.”

So here’s my question. Do you know for certain if Botham Jean respected authority? How about Breonna Taylor? I would suggest that you ask them, but right…they were both murdered while in their homes.

They were not messing with anyone. They were not on the streets selling dope. They were not bumping “F**K The Police!” from stereo systems.

They were at the house.

Chillin’.

One was having ice cream.

The other was asleep.

No warrants out for either of their arrests.

Can you guess as to whether or not these two respected police authority?

I respect police authority. Is that going to be enough to ensure that I do not end up one day as Botham Jean and Breonna Taylor did?

Well, if it was, then it would have never happened to them; now would it?

You say, “That’s because they first had to respect me as their father and accept my authority.” Again, I ask about Botham Jean and Breonna Taylor. Do you even know about their childhood situations and whether fathers were present in their homes? Do you know for certain as to whether fathers were present in their homes?

No. You don’t. And I’m pretty sure you have not researched it.

You say, “We are terrified of the black men that kill each other in their black neighborhoods every day.”

So are we, Mr. Hampton. We all care. Many have spoken out about it. I know that you and other Trump supporters cover your eyes and ears to that, but we are concerned with that as well.

However, as we have had to repeat countless times; we should not have to fear the very same thing coming from police officers, who are charged with protecting and serving our communities, as we do from that drug dealer standing on the corner.

Drug dealers and other black criminals don’t take an oath.

Police do.

Drug dealers and other black criminals do not have registered firearms, vehicles, nor are they responsible for reading handbooks, participating in weapons training, rules of engagement and other training on how to deal with citizens.

Police do.

Mr. Hampton, you have four sons. While age is not mentioned, I believe it is safe to assume that the young man behind you and to your right is your oldest, as the child directly to your left is your youngest.

Do you expect the same from your oldest son as you do your youngest? I believe it safe to assume the answer to that is no.

This is why the “Black-on-Black crime” argument needs to be put to bed. There is no way you would discipline or expect the same from your youngest son as you do your oldest. That does not mean you do not care about how your youngest son behaves. It just means that different expectations exists, and certain things will happen with your youngest son that you would respond differently if it came from your oldest son.

That’s what this “Black-on-Black” stuff sounds like. We are expected to have the very same expectations of known criminals as we do sworn police officers. This is not sensible.

You tell LeBron James that if he “really wants to help fatherless boys like yourself, stop using fear tactics and guilt trips.”

How is James speaking the truth “using fear tactics” and “guilt trips”? How do you know what it sounds like to other people? Because in the reality that I and other black people who have no criminal records (yes, we do exist) live in, it sounds like the truth to me.

Did LeBron say anything that wasn’t true? I’m talking about something that is a flat-out lie. I don’t mean something you simply disagree with. I mean something that is UNTRUE.

The “fear mongering” is one of the anthems of Trump supporters, especially any time facts are presented about a situation that has led to catastrophic outcomes. Calling it “fear mongering” is a classic method you all use to dismiss what have been proven to be VALID concerns.

You mention “Equal Shared Parenting.” This is another issue entirely. Not to say it isn’t important, but you said he doesn’t speak for you, correct? So that means he’s okay to talk, as long as he mentions only what you want to hear and support? It’s okay for him to “speak for you,” as long as he supports the causes you support?

Come on now, Mr. Hampton. That’s a white person move. “Do whatever you want, as long as we approve it beforehand.”

You say, “Stop blaming the police and help build better fathers.” So let me ask you this; fathers not being present justify a policeman ignoring his handbook? His weeks of training? His oath? His rules of engagement in regard to discharging his firearm? I have a hard time making that connection. Because all that exists will exist, whether a father is present or not. I see that you did place sources in your letter. I would be interested in a source to state that policeman can ignore their training, oath and handbook upon a potential suspect not having a father figure. I’ve been asking for that one for quite a while.

You continue with, “Stop saying police need more training and train more dads and young black boys on the rule of law and police protocols.”

So you honestly believe that the initial training a police officer receives is sufficient for the duration of his career, which could be as long as 20-30 years? He should never need to be re-trained?

Now that does not sound logical, does it?

As for police protocols, I addressed those above. Again, help me and others to understand the protocols involved with the use of deadly force and when it is acceptable to shoot someone in the back seven times. I’m looking for doctrine, not opinions.

See, here’s the thing. While all that you said sounds great upon falling on the ears of white people who wish we would all just “stay in our place,” what is really shows is that you have not had nearly the experiences with police officers or even racism in general to be any kind of authority on what people like me (again, with no criminal history) have had to deal with in our lives.

What do you think this letter that you wrote to LeBron James means to racist white people who want us wiped off the face of the Earth? Do you think something like this will make one read and say, “OH DAMN…GUESS I CAN’T BE RACIST ANYMORE!”

It means nothing.

Will that letter make racist white people, to include cops, love black people all of a sudden?

No.

Imagine being pulled over by police. They approach you with their hands on their pistols. They get nasty with you about speeding, having a busted taillight or something else you might not have been aware of. They tell you to show your license and registration. You reach for it and then BAM…they shoot you (in front of your sons) because they thought you were reaching for a weapon.

Letters like what you wrote to LeBron James do not “school” anyone.

All they do is make it easier for racist cops to continue to be racist cops.

While you boast in your letter about how you are a father to those four boys, racist cops will look at those boys and assume their father is a deadbeat or in prison. Then they will be treated accordingly.

Your letter to LeBron won’t change that.

I pray that you get this the easy way before one of your sons has to get it the hard way.

On your Facebook page, you posted on August 31 a picture of Tamarris Bohannon, with the following caption:

“Tamarris Bohannon, a black cop was killed in St. Louis. #BlackLivesMatter hasn’t said a word about this #BlackLife.”

As an “adamant follower of Christ,” where are your condolences? Prayers for the family? Prayers for his soul?” I am a Christian myself. That should be the first focus. Not on whether or not this group or that group did not say anything.

Black Lives Matter hasn’t said anything. Other than “a black St. Louis cop,” neither did you. So you’re doing the very thing you’re accusing us of.

You finish to say a few things, but I’ll address them one by one:

“There are millions of black and brown boys out there that are not being killed by police. They are alive and doing quite well. How? We obey the law.“

Again…what exactly did Botham Jean and Breonna Taylor do wrong? And how do their families feel, knowing that there are “millions of black and brown boys out there not being killed by police”? Should they feel validated? Should they be accepting to the fate of their loved ones, you know, all because it “didn’t happen to millions of black and brown boys out there”?


“Comply with police…”

Mr. Hampton, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but…we’re not slaves anymore. In fact, no one alive ever was. I mean, there are clearly a lot of folks out there who wish we still were, but those days are over. We don’t have to just “comply” just because some white man tells us to. We do have rights. On paper, at least, but still.

“…and if the police does something wrong or unethical, they live to fight in court and not the side of the road.”

Wait a minute…didn’t you just say for LeBron to “stop saying police need more training”? So there should be no “if the police does something wrong or ethical,” right? And if something is done wrong, they should receive more training. They get millions of dollars year for retraining. So obviously this is something that even they deem necessary.

Why would there be concerns or even the mention of “wrong” or “unethical”?

So by your own admission, police ARE capable of doing something wrong and/or unethical on occasion.

You mean murdering unarmed and innocent black men and women?

Good day, Mr. Hampton.

Signed,

Robert People

Source: 41-year-old black man, father and veteran, living in Trump’s America