We have essentially gone from being communities that were policed by people from the communities to being communities that are policed by strangers, and that's no longer a community: that's an area that's under siege.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the shift from community-based policing to policing by outsiders, which undermines the sense of community.
Killer Mike's quote reflects on the evolution of community relationships and law enforcement, suggesting that when policing is conducted by those unfamiliar with the community, it transforms the social fabric into one marked by fear and distrust, rather than collaboration and support. This shift signifies a loss of community identity and solidarity, equating the environment to one of siege rather than belonging.
In practice
In a community meeting discussing local safety measures.
I have searched all night and day for new and better words that could express my feelings and fear for the people of this country. I found no new words. I only have no hope-filled insight to deliver. I only have this warning to all Americans: Whatever this country is willing to do to the least of us, it will one day do to us all.
The way you start to break down systemic racism is to start building individual relationships with people who are not like you.
We have a responsibility to do better as black people in this country. I don't care how white people look at you - I care that we have a one-trillion-dollar spending base, and if you want to see change, you have to start to focus on, economically, how can we change our communities.
Government should fear the people, not the other way around.
I have hurt my community. I have to look myself in the mirror and know that, and I have to own that in order to grow past that.
I just need the junkies and the liars and the thieves,_x000D_ _x000D_ I need the pimps, prostitutes and pushers out in the streets._x000D_ _x000D_ That's where I'm seeking God, cause that's where He found me.
When we accept dismissive judgments of our community we stop having generous hope for it. We cease to be capable of serving its best interests.
Neighborhoods and communities are complex organisms that will be resilient only if they are healthy along a number of interrelated dimensions, much as a human body cannot be healthy without adequate air, water, rest, and food.
What makes community organizing especially attractive is the faith it places in the ability of the poor to make decisions for themselves.
Community means caring: caring for people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says: "He who loves community destroys community; he who loves the brethren builds community." A community is not an abstract ideal.
I'm building shopping centers and movie theaters in the inner cities. So that means supplying jobs and letting blacks understand that we have to build our communities back, not looking to anybody else.
Shallow communities are relatively easy to build.
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