The Irreconcilable Differences of Having Cops in Your Family
In many Latinx families, cultural commonality doesn’t always mean matching worldviews
For many Black and Brown people, the past six months have been traumatic. Since George Floyd’s murder, the racial gap of police killings has actually increased by 10%; a Black person is now 3.3 times more likely to be killed by police than a White person. The protests meant to demand justice and hold officers accountable have been met with increasing violence — and, at times, grown violent themselves. The highest office in the nation is more concerned with feeding a dystopian narrative of chaos and unrest than addressing the underlying issues. Despite police killings increasing, much of the debate has revolved around the actions of those protesting police violence.
In the midst of all this, I have taken to Facebook more to actively campaign against the injustice that becomes more prevalent every day. As someone who identifies as an Afro Latinx man, these issues often hit close to home. But they can often divide my home as well.
I have always seen my aunt as an authority figure. She was a cop, yes, but she also was a pillar of familial stability for me and my cousins growing up. And while she could be stern and unflinching, she was also caring and…
