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Proud American Servant Cleon Brown
Today’s blog we will be discussing a Michigan policeman named Cleon Brown and the implications his ancestry has on our anti-discrimination laws.
This story starts in 2016 when Mr. Brown, anxious to learn more about his heritage and expecting to prove a rumor he held Native American heritage true, took a DNA test. Cleon, pictured here in this blog, is a fair-complected man who had self-identified as a white person until he saw the results of his DNA test.
Native Pride
Cleon was shocked to learn he was not Native American at all and instead 18 – 33% Saharan African. Sergeant Brown thought the news was cool and interesting when he “proudly” shared the results with his fellow police officers.
Over the next ten months or so Cleon was subjected to relentless taunts related to his ancestry. Including being called Kunta, mockingly being told “Black Lives Matter” by officers while pumping their fists and numerous inappropriate jokes.
The harassment didn’t seem to take a day off. Sergeant Brown’s fellow officers used their office’s Christmas celebration to further mock his newly discovered heritage.
When he tried to complain, his peers treated his complaints with condescending sarcasm instead of stopping to recognize their actions were absolutely inappropriate.
Well That Escalated Quickly
The taunting and teasing stressed the proud public servant out to the point where he felt like he was forced to leave his job. Despite his 19 years of service and finally making it to the rank of sergeant, he left the force and filed a discrimination suit against the City of Hastings, Michigan.
In its defense, the city said that Ancestry.com’s DNA results do not provide information about race. This is indeed a valid argument. This court case brings to light two very contradicting truths about our discrimination laws. Those being that although race is a protected class, it is also an illusion.
Race Is A (Bad) Idea
There is not one genetic trait or characteristic from Cleon’s or any one’s DNA test that could determine a person’s race. Because race is simply a term first coined by a french dictionary in the 16th century to refer to different classes of people based on their skin color and heritage.
Another bad idea was when the state decided to cite that Sargeant Brown also made inappropriate comments related to his ethnicity. Such as the 18% is “all in my pants” and “Now I know why I like chicken so much.” Statements that Brown publicly denied.
Apply That Argument To A DV Case
Let me be clear, in no way do I feel that these were appropriate comments; however, even if he said those statements that would not justify the subsequent harassment he endured based on his recently discovered heritage. That does not justify a hostile and stressful work environment. The argument is preposterous to me.
If I were to apply that same logic to physical harm it would be laughable. Let’s say Sergeant Brown cut himself causing physical self-harm instead of saying verbally harmful things about himself, like many people suffering from mental anguish do to deal with their emotions.
If then after seeing Sargeant Brown cause self-harm, his fellow policemen slashed at his arms with knives. Could you imagine a defense attorney alive, let alone one representing an entire city, who would attempt to justify the harm inflicted by the other policemen simply because Brown had cut himself a few times?
The fact that the defense attorney was able to even make such an argument without suffering great ridicule from the judge, his peers, the legal community or the media is simply because discrimination is so misunderstood and thus accepted.
Settlement = Win
Sergeant Brown ultimately settled. The former officer, who also served our country in the Army, said he felt out-lawyered and “bullied” by the city.
However, many legal scholars would argue he never had a claim to begin with, since our laws protect races, and he is considered to be part of the white race, which is not a protected class. I would have loved to see the case litigated just to learn what criteria is now necessary to determine whether a person is a member of the white race.
The box design is an actual photo that the mob took with Willie's deceased corpse.
NO FEES.
NO NSF FEES.
NO MAINTENANCE FEES.
NO ATM FEES.
THE BOX & TONGUE ARE MEANT TO REMIND US OF WILLIE BROWN'S TRAGIC DEATH
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About the Author
Valentina Zapata Harris
Mother | Advocate | Blogger