Truth, Reality, and the Piercing of White Privilege

"We had whistles,” she said. “They had guns.”
~ Becca Good  (wife of Nicole Renee Good)

At this moment, many Americans rightfully are grieving, outraged or both. Many of us have taken to the streets, in a manner that clearly contrasts with ICE’s terroristic violence. Citizens across the United States this weekend gathered together, with raised signs and elevated voices in peaceful protests. Our message was clear: we do not like what is happening in America.

We also do not believe the untruths coming from the Orange Menace and his minions who labeled Renee Nicole Good as a “domestic terrorist”. This blatant lie came just one day after the 5-year anniversary of the Jan. 6th insurrection, in which rioters brutally attacked law enforcement at our US Capitol. MAGA hypocrisy was on full display as they elevated J6 rioter Ashli Babbitt to the status of martyr, yet lowered Renee Good to the status of terrorist.

Americans with sense are unwilling to accept the killing of a mother of 3 as being justified. Immediately when uncensored footage aired of her killing—which, while hard to watch, was necessary to preserve and distribute—it allowed America to see the abyss our nation is spiraling into. The media should show, tell and respond with truth—even when it is difficult for us to see, hear, and witness.

The vocal outrage delivered from Minneapolis by their mayor, Jacob Frey, and the strong push-back we are seeing on air by some broadcast journalists who are accurately describing the MAGA narrative as lies and calling out specific right-wing individuals by name as liars, is what America needs and has needed for a very long time!

On the day of Good’s killing, Americans responded immediately, with outrage and with action. In our own protest, rally participants eagerly reached out their hands to receive the materials we were passing out outlining instructions on how to report ICE. The desire and need for people to do something felt palpable! Organizations such as the ACLU have held training for protesters in the past, with their most recent one last week, and there will be further trainings from various groups for those who want to protest or otherwise resist.

However, we should bring forth a measure of caution that might save your life. In the Black community generationally it is known as “The Talk”:

“...The Talk” refers to a specific type of racial socialization message that many Black parents have with their children about how to safely conduct themselves when interacting with police officers and other individuals in positions of power…”

—“The Talk” and Parenting While Black in America: Centering Race, Resistance, and Refuge

“...For generations, “The Talk” has been a mainstay in African American families. At some point, Black children all get warnings from elders about how to avoid – and survive – police encounters…” “...It’s a rite that cuts across region, socioeconomic status and profession—even for members of law enforcement…”

—'The Talk' Is A Rite Of Passage In Black Families. Even When The Parent Is A Police Officer.

The Talk provides safety protocols to use when confronted in an aggressive manner or accusatory manner by law-enforcement; teachings on how not to take the bait. By doing so, one greatly reduces risk of harm and increases chances of one’s own survival.

Good’s final words, “That’s fine dude, I’m not mad at you” were clearly not escalating the situation, unlike ICE agents who frequently do escalate situations. She was not intimidated, nor did she intimidate. Good was exemplifying one of the points many Black parents teach their children when they conduct “The Talk”.

We should learn from this practice. The importance of disciplined nonviolence could not be greater. The Mayor of Minneapolis reminded us: don’t take the bait! Whether you’re alone or in a small group, no matter what aggression or insults are hurled at you, don’t take the bait!

We are not saying to be cowardly nor powerless. Many Black families understood “...The talk is about being cautious,” Pinkston said. “But not being overly cautious to the point of cowardly, and that’s the key…”

This isn’t white Americans’ first brush with this concept. At the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, many unfortunately got injured. This caused some journalistic circles to wonder if we are nearing a time where (liberal) white America has to have their own talk with their sons and daughters too.

White Americans have long operated under a belief of immunity from harm by law enforcement. That illusion has been pierced.

An angry white man’s bullets took the life of a white woman—a segment of America relatively untouched before. This may cause shock and fear, particularly for many white women.

The unreflective manner in which this macho thuggish white man, within seconds, found satisfaction in her killing—calling her a “fucking bitch” as he walked away—clearly demonstrates another truth we already knew: contrary to what MAGA propagandists claim, they don’t care a bit for the safety or protection of women. We, including the media, must remind them of this truth and not let them get away with that lie.

(If you would like to help pressure the media to tell our country’s truth and not be complicit in MAGA distortion, our Media Accountability group can use your help. We’ve a need for creative types to help with our online initiatives. We seek writers, storytellers, illustrators, and video producers who are willing to help us with our campaign messaging efforts. If interested, join #media-accountability on our Slack.)

There seems to be something different in the air. It may not yet be fully manifested in protest crowd size, nor reflected in policy, nor echoed in our judicial system, but people are talking—in restaurants, bars, schools, offices, and throughout our lives. There is an awakening at hand. We must bring about that awakening to propel Americans to take action—including voting in this year’s midterm elections. We shall see if this is the year America wakes from her nightmare.

But we are not waiting until this fall. Your call-to-action in this new year is to show up and volunteer. We cannot wait for the primary elections; the need—at protests, with voting outreach planning efforts, in immigrant defense—exists now. Join, donate to and support organizations that resonate with you and who are already and have been doing the work. Get your friends and family members involved too!

As we continue processing our anger and grief, don't miss what many others also see, which are our hearts. Our care for others is our humanity that they cannot oppress nor erase!!

Be well, resist safely and make good trouble! 

Relevant References

'We had whistles. They had guns': Renee Nicole Good's wife speaks out
Becca Good says that she and her wife Renee had simply 'stopped to support our neighbors' on Jan. 7, and that 'the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/09/renee-nicole-good-wife-becca-ice-shooting/88107100007/

How the border crisis impacts public safety
118th Congress (2023-2024)
https://www.congress.gov/event/118th-congress/house-event/LC72669/text

Ashli Babbitt and the making of a MAGA martyr

Ashli Babbitt was killed while trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election — and became proof to Trump and his followers that women need protection.

https://www.advocate.com/politics/maga-martyr-ashli-babbitt

What is "absolute immunity," after JD Vance defended ICE agent involved in Minneapolis death?

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/what-is-absolute-immunity-after-jd-vance-defended-ice-agent-involved-in-minneapolis-death/

Experts question Noem calling Good a 'domestic terrorist.' Here's what the term means
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/experts-question-noem-calling-good-a-domestic-terrorist-heres-what-the-term-means

Get the f*** out’: Outrage over Trump ICE policy & ‘bulls***’ defense after deadly shooting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAfOfQBB268

Zines to teach you how to resist
https://indivisiblesf.org/zines

Know Your Protest Rights Training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7m85eS8sa0

“The Talk” and Parenting While Black in America: Centering Race, Resistance, and Refuge
ttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00957984211034294

The Talk' Is A Rite Of Passage In Black Families. Even When The Parent Is A Police Officer.
https://www.gpb.org/news/2020/06/26/the-talk-rite-of-passage-in-black-families-even-when-the-parent-police-officer

Renee’s final words
https://youtube.com/shorts/img7OKwzeZI?si=NMrVFJmceYNtbIJl

Videos show how ICE vehicle stops can escalate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT3swFlATDU&t=2s

For Black parents, ‘the talk’ binds generations and reflects changes in America
https://today.usc.edu/the-talk-usc-black-parents-children-racism-america/

The Talk - It’s time for white parents to take over a grim ritual that Black families have performed for decades.
https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/06/white-parents-the-talk-racism-police-brutality.html

Mayor Jacob Frey: “Don’t take the bait!”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTS4R_FjwnN/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

New cellphone video shows victim interacting with ICE officer moments before fatal shooting in Minneapolis
In the video, Renee Nicole Good can be seen smiling at the officer moments before he opens fire.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cell-phone-video-deadly-minneapolis-shooting-rcna253207

Additional Resources

JD Vance Says Americans Should Actually Thank ICE Agent Who Killed Renee Good
https://truthout.org/articles/jd-vance-says-americans-should-actually-thank-ice-agent-who-killed-renee-good/

Black Parents Give Their Kids 'The Talk.' What If White Parents Did, Too?
https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2021/04/12/the-talk-racism-black-parents-children-david-w-janey