Would slave patrols ever have allowed black captains or commissioners? Did they risk their lives, even once, to save black people? Is it reasonable to judge an institution by its 200 year old origins? How do you explain the existence of police forces in every single nation in the world, whether they practised slavery or not?

And, to my actual point, is it possible for an institution to evolve beyond its original roots? Because if not, then shouldn't we still be boycotting buses and lunch counters and cotton? You seem to be in the habit of assuming that any argument that counters yours is built on stupidity. This, ironically, is a good way to keep yourself stupid.

If a cop beats or kills a black person today, that's not "slave-era violence." It's violence. And should be dealt with accordingly. If there's a culture of violence in the police, which there clearly is, that should be dealt with too.

But given that today's violence isn't aimed at slaves and affects white people too (though I see how you could be unaware of this if you don't take the time to look past what the media feeds you), my contention, to repeat myself yet again, is that the violence happening today is the key issue. This is the entire point of my article and one that you haven't addressed either in your article or in these comments.