I wrote this open letter to the Sentinel Record, of Hot Springs, AR, their journalist Steven Mross, and Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels.
On February 26, 2019 you published a story, ‘Local heroin dealer sentenced to 20 years in prison’. This was a terrible piece of racist, fear-mongering journalism I hope you’re truly ashamed of. I want to bring a few points to your attention.
1. You villainized a man without looking into his story or even speaking to him. Do you truly believe he is just something to write about but not worthy of speaking to? Do you not see him as an individual who should be respected enough to at least be heard? Are you too important to be bothered with considering the prospective of an incarcerated man?
2. Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels, "We wanted to send a message we're not going to tolerate that". But you didn't think the three white people in the car would set an example? The three white 'heroin dealers' weren't a threat to society, but the only black person there was? You didn't think to bring this up?
3. Why did you not elaborate on the fact this crime was done in 2015, yet the police didn’t find any hurry to lock him up for over three years. They didn’t see him as a threat for three years, but now he needs to be in prison for 20 years? How come YOU were in such a hurry to brag about getting this black ‘heroin dealer’ off the streets but didn’t bring up the fact they have allowed him to go free this entire time? Obviously, you didn't consider him much of a threat. Or you don't really care about public safety.
4. You looked at his pictures, and built a story to match the demographic. The way he was portrayed is divisive and racist. You portray him as a leader in moving heroin, but you don’t mention he’s never had a drug charge and was sober when he was arrested.
5. I understand your job isn’t to discuss how he has an 8th grade education. But your job is to tell the truth, and you also did not do that. You didn’t learn both sides to the story, you didn’t care about what his side of the story was. You didn't talk about his stellar full time work record, that he's a devoted father or the hours he's donated volunteering in our community. You wanted to make everyone feel safe thinking this black man is off the streets, failing to mention the other people in the vehicle, including the driver with previous drug charges are happily filling your community with heroin.
6. I am not saying you, Steven Mross and the Sentinel Record, are racist. I am saying you’re to blame for the racism in our communities. Your writing is racist and divisive and an example of the way black men with criminal histories are repeatedly dehumanized. Your article treats a human being as if he deserved less than justice. You may be another example of someone who says they aren’t racist, but you put racism into society when you portray Luther, a man I have served turkey with on Thanksgiving, a man who was at my wedding, as nothing more than another black man to be scared of.
I don’t think this will change you. I truly doubt you will even care. But I want you to know people do notice when you create narratives of division and racism. You should be ashamed for what you have done because it will never be undone. His daughters will always see your article. He will have your racist portrayal of him follow him, for the rest of his life. You did that.
Law Companies Reviews
On February 26, 2019 you published a story, ‘Local heroin dealer sentenced to 20 years in prison’. This was a terrible piece of racist, fear-mongering journalism I hope you’re truly ashamed of. I want to bring a few points to your attention.
1. You villainized a man without looking into his story or even speaking to him. Do you truly believe he is just something to write about but not worthy of speaking to? Do you not see him as an individual who should be respected enough to at least be heard? Are you too important to be bothered with considering the prospective of an incarcerated man?
2. Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels, "We wanted to send a message we're not going to tolerate that". But you didn't think the three white people in the car would set an example? The three white 'heroin dealers' weren't a threat to society, but the only black person there was? You didn't think to bring this up?
3. Why did you not elaborate on the fact this crime was done in 2015, yet the police didn’t find any hurry to lock him up for over three years. They didn’t see him as a threat for three years, but now he needs to be in prison for 20 years? How come YOU were in such a hurry to brag about getting this black ‘heroin dealer’ off the streets but didn’t bring up the fact they have allowed him to go free this entire time? Obviously, you didn't consider him much of a threat. Or you don't really care about public safety.
4. You looked at his pictures, and built a story to match the demographic. The way he was portrayed is divisive and racist. You portray him as a leader in moving heroin, but you don’t mention he’s never had a drug charge and was sober when he was arrested.
5. I understand your job isn’t to discuss how he has an 8th grade education. But your job is to tell the truth, and you also did not do that. You didn’t learn both sides to the story, you didn’t care about what his side of the story was. You didn't talk about his stellar full time work record, that he's a devoted father or the hours he's donated volunteering in our community. You wanted to make everyone feel safe thinking this black man is off the streets, failing to mention the other people in the vehicle, including the driver with previous drug charges are happily filling your community with heroin.
6. I am not saying you, Steven Mross and the Sentinel Record, are racist. I am saying you’re to blame for the racism in our communities. Your writing is racist and divisive and an example of the way black men with criminal histories are repeatedly dehumanized. Your article treats a human being as if he deserved less than justice. You may be another example of someone who says they aren’t racist, but you put racism into society when you portray Luther, a man I have served turkey with on Thanksgiving, a man who was at my wedding, as nothing more than another black man to be scared of.
I don’t think this will change you. I truly doubt you will even care. But I want you to know people do notice when you create narratives of division and racism. You should be ashamed for what you have done because it will never be undone. His daughters will always see your article. He will have your racist portrayal of him follow him, for the rest of his life. You did that.