"If they would've just complied. . ."
As if compliance ever guarantees safety, or survival.
As if the origin of police departments wasn't to protect the property – including slaves – of rich White people.
As if the primary purpose of police departments didn't evolve to keep freed slaves in line once slavery ended.
As if there aren't direct links between police departments and White Supremacist groups like the KKK since 1865 that continue today.
As if White men like Dylann Roof, John Cowell, and Kyle Rittenhouse weren't casually – politely – apprehended by police officers after they murdered of Black people.
As if people arguing the compliance line of thinking aren't recruiters and hiring managers and VPs and executives and board members in Fortune 500 companies who have the power and influence to create a more equitable world, but choose not to.
As if Black people aren't expected to be "professional" and comply by not wearing dreadlocks or never getting angry or always code switching.
As if complying to the norms and expectations of a White supremacist society is conducive to the intellectual, emotional, physical, and mental health of those who comply.
As if we live in a meritocracy that treats everyone equally.
As if compliance is the answer to our current global problems.