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The city of Miami has unveiled a special police cruiser to acknowledge the importance of Black History Month in the fight for social justice. Designed with art that pays homage to the ongoing struggles of the black community, Mayor Ponzi Postalita Francis Suarez made the announcement, saying that it was an important step towards recognizing and honoring the contributions of African-Americans to the city, and recognizing African heritage. However, the unveiling has completely backfired.
The police cruiser is an all-black vehicle, featuring various images and words that speak to the history of African-Americans in the United States. On the sides of the vehicle, there is large artwork painted in black, white, and gold that depicts various figures of African-American historical importance. The words “Miami Police Support Black History Month”, and pictures of Africa are also prominently featured on the car along with Kente cloth designs.
According to some reports the vehicle will allegedly be used for normal police patrol duties, but it will also be used to escort African-American community leaders to events and meetings throughout the city. In addition, the car will allegedly be used to escort the Miami Heat basketball team and other professional sports teams to their home games. This will ensure that many people get to see the work of art that it is, while also reminding people it is Black History Month.
Black Twitter Reacts to Miami Mayor’s Black History Month Police Cruiser with Kente Cloth Designs
The Miami Police Department responded to the unveiling, conveying that they are proud to have a police cruiser that celebrates the history and accomplishments of African-Americans. The department said they will use the vehicle to encourage dialogues between law enforcement and the community, and to ensure that African-Americans are represented fairly in the criminal justice system. However, the general public hasn’t had the same reaction, especially those within the black community.
Considering all the issues with police brutality, it almost seems like a slap in the face to use a police cruiser with Kente Cloth designs to honor Black History Month. Naturally Black Twitter is roasting the Black History Month police cruiser. Around social media people are posting photoshopped images of KKK members and police wearing African Kente cloth attire to convey how wrong they feel it is for Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to have a Black History Month police cruiser unveiled.
The police cruiser is the latest in a series of initiatives taken by the city of Miami to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to the country. Other initiatives include the establishment of a citywide Black History Month celebration, and the installation of a permanent monument in Wynwood honoring civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr.
However, it’s clear that using police equipment to honor the black community seems more offensive than anything to most people considering the ongoing issues with police brutality. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez may have just exposed how out of touch he is with the reality we live in.
