He was mentally ill, in a mental break.
This is something I’ve witnessed in my own daughter. I’ve seen the times she snaps, is out of control, needs patience and time to come back to us... When I said to Mark, what would happen if Teale raged in public, and the police were called? His response deeply sad ~ “We are white.”
The truth of that statement has haunted me for days. He may not be wrong. Teale has the benefit of family, friends and a strong medical community we have built up around her. We would be with her in a public rage. We would hopefully be able to support her and advise anyone who tried to intercede.
Daniel Prude did not have this support there. He was black and maybe that was why his mental break was treated with force, not empathy?
My heart breaks for this family, he did not have to die. He should not have died from his mental illness. He should have been helped...
My heart breaks, not because I knew Daniel, but because I know the pain of mental illness and I know my white daughter, would be treated differently.
Empathy is all we need to see a person who is struggling, with mental illness, as a human.
Empathy, sit in that word for awhile. Think about if you would show empathy to a grown, black, naked man in a mental breakdown? Or would you show fear? Be honest with yourself and then, work to be better...
Rest In Peace Daniel Prude, your family is in my heart...
