The Knocturnal attended Celestial Arts Presents The Influence, Writers Who Brunch, and Inconvenient Conversations.
A sit-down chat on the new book An Inconvenient Cop, My Fight to Change Policing in America by Edwin Raymond and Jon Sternfeld. Inside the world-renowned Juicy Box Bar in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Outside, it was a very bright yet frigid afternoon, but walking inside past the velvet rope and eye-catching plant decor, you hear sounds of Afro beats mixed in with the sweet scent of lavender in the air. A few more people walk in, while some people enjoy a game of Jenga, others order their meals while UNO! gets boisterously shouted from another table. The Juicy Box is a Haitian American restaurant & culture hub that unites the community through food and events. The host covered the first seven chapters of the book, uncovering aspects of Edwin Raymond’s early story growing up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He started working at a very young age, and although he says he didn’t have much work, it taught him discipline and allowed him to earn an honest living.
After losing his beloved mother at age 3, Edwin was raised by his elderly father along with his older brother. Edwin’s father was the first to suggest to him that he should be a cop. Growing up Edwin was an avid reader and an artsy creative who dreamed of being an architect, to rebuild his community both in Brooklyn as well as in his homeland Haiti. As a working teenager coming to and from work, Cops would stop him, and before they began searching his pockets illegally. This, unfortunately, would be a recurrence, and although he grew up in a very rough environment because he wasn’t personally involved in any of it, he didn’t understand why he was always getting this treatment from cops.
Edwin Raymond is now retired, with 15 years of experience working in Nypd. The Host mentioned the influence of Edwins’ documentary Crime and Punishment on Hulu. Even before the documentary, the NYPD12 filed a lawsuit, specifically about quotas, that called out the NYPD’s unlawful tactics to target black and brown communities, which is a violation of the 14th Amendment violation due to equal protection. This book has great information these inconvenient conversations are an activation beyond the tangible book into an experience that brings awareness to people about the changes that he believes we need to make. This is the reason he’s devoted his life to this work and using his voice. Edwin Raymond embodies a justice-minded defender of the peace for the community he grew up in, and by speaking up, he has become a beacon and is beloved and supported by both the community as well as being the catalyst for over 2,000 other cops who have forward in support. After the interview portion was complete about the book, the Host featured Crystal Rose to read an original poem called “Our Boys,” a very powerful piece that touched all our hearts. At the closing of the event was a live Q&A, guests also included Captain Derby St Fort who also grappled with this unique duality. Being a cop and wanting to serve but also being acutely aware of the essential need for continuous improvement in policing, many in the room were open to Inconvenient Conversations. Some shared their experiences as to why the air of mistrust is there with some cops. Tips are shared on how to navigate any occurrence with a cop and the citizen’s right and use their digital eye-camera phone. Guests had the option to purchase a book and now become aligned supporters of the movement. In the image captured by FOREREAL Joshua Dorismond Public Speaker Edwin Raymond Author Activist, Creative Danni Hira & Film Producer Vallex Noble Herard.
