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An Essay On Niggers And Squirrels
An essay on the relationship between African American males and law enforcement, including insights on Rodney King, OJ Simpson and personal experiences of the author. An appeal to correct systemic wrongs and forge a new future.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2010
About the author
Marcus McGee
34 books8 followersMarcus McGee is an associate editor and associate publisher at Pegasus Books. Born in Casablanca, he lived in Madrid before settling in California. Over thirty years, he has written novels, short stories, plays, essays and other works that are enjoyed by thousands of readers worldwide. His passion is writing and helping others realize their writing ambitions.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 8, 2026
At 35 pages it is not asking too much to suggest that this is an essential read. If you are not an American, you need to be asking if there are race based, sex based or other barriers, that link crimes to other ancient hatreds holding down members of your community. The overwhelming odds are that the honest answer is: yes.
Among the smallest numbers one can estimate would be the number of world-wide communities free from deliberately and passively targeting, harming even killing neighbors for reasons not related to that person's basic human value.
As a white American male writing this 15 years after its original publication. An American with experience inside police department(S), I desperately want to believe that my country, or at least its uniformed law enforcement officers are past this kind of evil. I am positive that all major departments, at the leadership level have long since stopped being blind to these kinds of behaviors. In every major department, there have been several institutional level efforts to collect the data, and to at least consider the allowed practices (choke holds and not mentioned, methods used to secure prisoners once in the transport unit: examples).
I also know that not every department has adopted the suggest changes, and no department can be there at every citizen/officer interaction. Many departments have or are addressing this in the form of cameras on every officer.
In passing everyone should know that one side effect of this degree of officer oversight has bred varying degrees of selective blindness by patrol officers. If every interaction is going to be second guessed, there is that much less reason to engage in, pro active policing in particular, and routine policing in general. There are costs, many of those costs being born by, if not the entire community of color, than focused on victim communities, usually lower income. I refer you to published stats to determine the frequency of low income communities also being communities of color.
It is my direct experience that the majority of officers want to do their job, and want to adhere to policies that affirm the equal rights of all the people with whom they will interact with -on or off duty. It is also my experience, and indirect knowledge that not only are there bad officers, there are bad examples. There remains a blue shield tending to cover for those bad actors. Further there are some communities where in the definition of LE as a bad actor is not in line with what should be minimum American attitudes.
However much I want this essay to be old news: it remain a valid, opening to many discussions, personal reflection and community action.
At 35 pages it should not be too much to hope that reading this essay is part of every Law Enforcement Officer's training. It is too much to expect all of them to understand it the same way. The point is to make all of them think.
Among the smallest numbers one can estimate would be the number of world-wide communities free from deliberately and passively targeting, harming even killing neighbors for reasons not related to that person's basic human value.
As a white American male writing this 15 years after its original publication. An American with experience inside police department(S), I desperately want to believe that my country, or at least its uniformed law enforcement officers are past this kind of evil. I am positive that all major departments, at the leadership level have long since stopped being blind to these kinds of behaviors. In every major department, there have been several institutional level efforts to collect the data, and to at least consider the allowed practices (choke holds and not mentioned, methods used to secure prisoners once in the transport unit: examples).
I also know that not every department has adopted the suggest changes, and no department can be there at every citizen/officer interaction. Many departments have or are addressing this in the form of cameras on every officer.
In passing everyone should know that one side effect of this degree of officer oversight has bred varying degrees of selective blindness by patrol officers. If every interaction is going to be second guessed, there is that much less reason to engage in, pro active policing in particular, and routine policing in general. There are costs, many of those costs being born by, if not the entire community of color, than focused on victim communities, usually lower income. I refer you to published stats to determine the frequency of low income communities also being communities of color.
It is my direct experience that the majority of officers want to do their job, and want to adhere to policies that affirm the equal rights of all the people with whom they will interact with -on or off duty. It is also my experience, and indirect knowledge that not only are there bad officers, there are bad examples. There remains a blue shield tending to cover for those bad actors. Further there are some communities where in the definition of LE as a bad actor is not in line with what should be minimum American attitudes.
However much I want this essay to be old news: it remain a valid, opening to many discussions, personal reflection and community action.
At 35 pages it should not be too much to hope that reading this essay is part of every Law Enforcement Officer's training. It is too much to expect all of them to understand it the same way. The point is to make all of them think.
May 14, 2013
For anyone who wants to open their eyes to what is still going on in the USA. I love the country I was born in but far from stupid on what happens..especially a black woman raising two black men.
People try to say that racism is dead..NO...IT ISN'T! It may only seem dead to the people who don't have to deal with it on a daily basis. To those who may not be racist.
If you have never been followed around a store because of your race (which I have, quite a few times and all I was doing was shopping...I didn't even buy everything I was going to buy because of it...and the ONLY reason I bought what I did was because I needed it...When I got to the cashier, I said loud enough for the man to hear...Why is he following me around the store? I'm not going to steal anything!..Lets just say, I was pissed...She says he does it A LOT...And I wasn't acting suspicious..I was walking around with a basket looking at items...and looking for some of the things I needed...if that's suspicious, then dammit, follow the other customers that were doing the same thing_...
If you have never been pulled over for DWB (Driving While Black/Brown)and you know you weren't speeding, you were swerving, the music wasn't too loud...Basically, you were following the traffic laws...but maybe, your "car is too nice", driving through the "Wrong Neighborhood" (suburbs, etc)..or any other "crime that isn't in the books"...
Then no, you don't know that racism still exist...
If you've never had to bury a child for getting their head bashed in, drug behind a truck, hung from a tree all because of your skin tone then, of course, you think racism is dead. (Yes, these things have happened within the last 16-20 years alone)...Just type in James Byrd, Jr., who was killed June 7, 1998, and read his story..and that's just one. No, this is not a rare case...And yes, I'm sure many can think of stories when the situation has been reversed...But many times, it's directed at MINORITIES...
Now, me myself, no, I am not racist by any means...But as a black woman, in the United States, I am so not stupid about what goes on...And being raised the best possible to not be racist...and to do my best to treat all as equals...and Not base how I feel on skin color...I still have had to deal with racism...From whites and, believe it or not, blacks alike....I have dealt with it from my own race because I am a light complected female... I've dealt with it from whites because no matter how light I am, I'm still black...No, I am not bi-racial...It's just the way it is...
Basically, I say all of that, to say, read the essay, it's not very long...HE isn't bashing whites..He really isn't bashing all cops...He is just bashing the one's who don't do right...The racist...He talks about the white AND black cops alike...Read it all the way through, even if some things set you off, you don't agree with, etc...Just so you know how we feel and why we think the way we do...Those of us who try to keep a healthy way of thinking about things...Not the extremists..
People try to say that racism is dead..NO...IT ISN'T! It may only seem dead to the people who don't have to deal with it on a daily basis. To those who may not be racist.
If you have never been followed around a store because of your race (which I have, quite a few times and all I was doing was shopping...I didn't even buy everything I was going to buy because of it...and the ONLY reason I bought what I did was because I needed it...When I got to the cashier, I said loud enough for the man to hear...Why is he following me around the store? I'm not going to steal anything!..Lets just say, I was pissed...She says he does it A LOT...And I wasn't acting suspicious..I was walking around with a basket looking at items...and looking for some of the things I needed...if that's suspicious, then dammit, follow the other customers that were doing the same thing_...
If you have never been pulled over for DWB (Driving While Black/Brown)and you know you weren't speeding, you were swerving, the music wasn't too loud...Basically, you were following the traffic laws...but maybe, your "car is too nice", driving through the "Wrong Neighborhood" (suburbs, etc)..or any other "crime that isn't in the books"...
Then no, you don't know that racism still exist...
If you've never had to bury a child for getting their head bashed in, drug behind a truck, hung from a tree all because of your skin tone then, of course, you think racism is dead. (Yes, these things have happened within the last 16-20 years alone)...Just type in James Byrd, Jr., who was killed June 7, 1998, and read his story..and that's just one. No, this is not a rare case...And yes, I'm sure many can think of stories when the situation has been reversed...But many times, it's directed at MINORITIES...
Now, me myself, no, I am not racist by any means...But as a black woman, in the United States, I am so not stupid about what goes on...And being raised the best possible to not be racist...and to do my best to treat all as equals...and Not base how I feel on skin color...I still have had to deal with racism...From whites and, believe it or not, blacks alike....I have dealt with it from my own race because I am a light complected female... I've dealt with it from whites because no matter how light I am, I'm still black...No, I am not bi-racial...It's just the way it is...
Basically, I say all of that, to say, read the essay, it's not very long...HE isn't bashing whites..He really isn't bashing all cops...He is just bashing the one's who don't do right...The racist...He talks about the white AND black cops alike...Read it all the way through, even if some things set you off, you don't agree with, etc...Just so you know how we feel and why we think the way we do...Those of us who try to keep a healthy way of thinking about things...Not the extremists..
May 21, 2017
It's interesting and even eye opening to a point. I don't deny that racism exists. While I appreciate the author's opinion on the matter, I also don't appreciate his speculation on the "murder" of his friend. Does it seem unlikely that his friend pointed a gun at an officer? Perhaps, even probably. But he was not there. He refers to the officer as a murderer, which is inappropriate without serious evidence.
As for the root of racism, I'll say this. I find the idea that racism is systematic through society to be absurd. Frankly, I'm tired of the phrase "black in America". As if America is the worst place to be a black person. Newsflash, it ain't. It's not perfect, but we have more liberty here than most, if not all other nations. The problem is within the hearts and minds of individuals. Some of them in high positions of authority yes, but the rights of individuals is extended to all citizens regardless of color. Suggesting that racism is somehow lawful is even more absurd.
That being said, I do appreciate his ideas of his responsibilities as a father to teach his son about the ideals of America, rather than to tell him that he is a target because America is totally corrupt. I also fully agree with his pointing out how silence is consent. I vow to never be silent when injustices are present.
I give the essay three stars for being thought provoking and honest. I just strongly disagree with it in parts. Although, it is a discussion that needs to be had in this nation.
As for the root of racism, I'll say this. I find the idea that racism is systematic through society to be absurd. Frankly, I'm tired of the phrase "black in America". As if America is the worst place to be a black person. Newsflash, it ain't. It's not perfect, but we have more liberty here than most, if not all other nations. The problem is within the hearts and minds of individuals. Some of them in high positions of authority yes, but the rights of individuals is extended to all citizens regardless of color. Suggesting that racism is somehow lawful is even more absurd.
That being said, I do appreciate his ideas of his responsibilities as a father to teach his son about the ideals of America, rather than to tell him that he is a target because America is totally corrupt. I also fully agree with his pointing out how silence is consent. I vow to never be silent when injustices are present.
I give the essay three stars for being thought provoking and honest. I just strongly disagree with it in parts. Although, it is a discussion that needs to be had in this nation.
August 21, 2018
Interesting essay
Provided information on real life events that has and is still happening all over the world. These problems are not going away anytime soon until they are properly addressed. Thank you for sharing your essay!
Provided information on real life events that has and is still happening all over the world. These problems are not going away anytime soon until they are properly addressed. Thank you for sharing your essay!
December 19, 2018
This book was interesting from start to finish, and I read it in one sitting. The author’s writing style is smooth and engaging.
December 15, 2015
Well for the price it was ok, it was repetitious and very soft, sterile, non threatening and a hint of apologeticness, it was as if he was finding excuses why we should not look at the individual racism that clearly takes place in law enforcement, the author appears to think his thoughts are somehow radical to the point where his physical well being could be at stake for writing this essay where I can guarantee you that this peace is more G then PG and very un offensive and sanitised, I hope that's because he was just holding back.the only reason I give it a 2 star is because of the price. I do not recommend it, if you were dieing there are better things you could do with the time you had left in your life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews