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Euronews Interview with Dr. Maurice Hobson, Georgia State University

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Euronews Interview with Dr. Maurice Hobson, Georgia State University Newscaster (00:00): ... for more on these protests and a look at the history of racism in the United States, I'm joined by American South historian, Maurice Hobson. Newscaster (00:08): Good evening to you. Many thanks for joining us on the program, let's take a step back and could you just put this into perspective for us? How do these protests that we're seeing that are gripping the U.S., that reverberated around the world, compare to past protests that racism in the United States? Maurice Hobson (00:29): Well, this is the thing with these protests. The issue surrounding this is that there's always been a tenuous relationship between black communities, African-American communities and the police. Maurice Hobson (00:41): The founding of the National Guard, particularly across the American South, was initially founded in the 1700s, to control populations, enslaved Africans on plantations. And so in many ways, the police have been used to really push the agenda of the United States in terms of the capitalistic way. And so as a result of this, what you're really witnessing here, are communities that are really angry because they've not had a piece of that pie. And so this has been an ongoing struggle. There's a long tradition of resistance and rebellion within the African-American community. Newscaster (01:24): An ongoing struggle indeed but why has this act of killing by a police officer, which is sadly not that rare in the U.S., sparked such massive protests this time around? Maurice Hobson (01:39): So the thing about it is that I think there are a series of events. We talk about George Floyd and it was a tragedy to watch him die on TV, and he was cooperative with law enforcement. I mean, there is information that shows us that he did not resist arrest. So he was not a threat. Maurice Hobson (02:00): But this is also in conjunction with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery by a former police officer, who was on a jog. Arbery was on a jog and he was shot and killed by police who thought he was a robber, who was a black man. This is also in conjunction with Breonna Taylor who was a paramedic in Louisville, Kentucky, who was in her home asleep with her partner and was shot by the police because they botched an assignment. Maurice Hobson (02:29): And then this is also in the midst of COVID-19 and the failure of the American government to really provide the kind of testing, and the resources needed. COVID-19 has severely impacted black communities because of a failure to because of the lack of access to healthcare, and all kinds of different things. And, so those with pre-existing conditions were more likely to be the ones to be greatly, most greatly impacted with COVID-19. Maurice Hobson (03:03): And so what we're seeing here are a series of events that have resulted in real rebellion and insurrection. And, in terms of the destruction, I won't say that it's black people that are that are doing that and all. Because I think there are several different constituencies that are marching in the streets, but by and large many African-Americans are trying to peacefully protest because of the violation of the 14th Amendment, which is equal protection and due process under the law. Newscaster (03:36): And what you're describing there is African-Americans struggling with poverty, struggling with racial abuse in the United States. But what real reforms need to be implemented which will alleviate some of this strain that's felt by these minorities? Maurice Hobson (03:58): So we have to start with the children. We have to properly fund our education, we have to give them the opportunities to be able to compete on the global scale. We also have to provide access to healthcare, we have to provide access to food, access to jobs. Maurice Hobson (04:14): We should look for leadership that is willing to go out on the line and to really implement an executive order, and legislation that will really hold the police accountable. I mean, if I had done what Derek Chauvin had done as a normal citizen, I would have been arrested and prosecuted by now -- if I would've kneeled on the neck of my neighbor. But because he's a police officer there was a struggle in that. And this is an ongoing pressing kind of issue. And it happens often and daily. Newscaster (04:54): Maurice Hobson, we really appreciate having your insights on the program. Many thanks. .
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