University of Pennsylvania Associate English Professor Salamishah Tillet was on Melissa McTampon Earring’s show on MSNBC, and while they all discussed the Ferguson case, she was asked about black on black violence – “what about black men and boys killing other black men and boys?” specifically.  And of course, she deflected.  She dodged the question, instead moving the discussion to the the notion of slavery and “state-sanctioned violence” in this country.  

She said that “you have individuals, as in the case with Renisha McBride or Trayvon Martin, individual citizens who feel complete power to just kill black people as they see them, even if they’re no real threat. In Renisha McBride’s case, she was asking for help. So, what does it mean to be part of a country from its very beginning…that was predicated on black lives not mattering, or mattering only in the service of property or service…

“Someone mentioned Eric Holder. I’m known for not sugar-coating things. This pissed me off,” Sheriff Clarke said in the beginning of his address the National Press Club this month regarding Ferguson.

“I sat up and watched, as events unfolded in Ferguson, Missouri–unfortunate situation, obviously. Anytime a law enforcement officer uses force that takes a life, it deserves a thorough, transparent vetting–investigation. We all agree with that” he said. “But then some groups began to converge on the small town of Ferguson, Missouri, like vultures on a roadside carcass,” a disgusted Clarke told the audience, specifically calling out communist front groups like the New Black Panthers, and “people like Al Sharpton.”

“To come and exploit that situation, and instead of coming into help and restore calm, poured gas on that fire with some of their inflammatory and irresponsible rhetoric,” Clarke charged, referring to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Senator Claire…