Opinion: Self-Inflicted Black on Black Injustice - The Crisis at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Complex (Part 1)

Local & National News | April 2, 2026 | 7:20 p.m. CDT

Edited: April 2, 2026 | 11:50 p.m. CDT

Written by: Gilbert Barnes Carter III

There is a scene in the movie Django: Unchained that contains content that is as sickening as it is insightful. It is the one in which two Black men are pitted against one another in sadistic blood sport in front of degenerate white onlookers. The men are forced to fight one another to the death. The defeated or fleeing combatant is to be offered up to feral and ravenous dogs that are snarling nearby. After brutal hand to hand combat, the defeated and incapacitated man is horribly ripped apart by the dogs in gory fashion.

The insight, for me, is that no one group of people has the ability nor power to force Black people to wage any form of war against one another in America today. Yet here in Memphis, the gift of Mr. Tyre Nichols was taken away from us by five other Black men with extreme and insidious impunity. The storyline of the pathetic treatment and subsequent murder of Mr. Gershun Freeman is certainly not an isolated one. The general public has received more revelations of inmates being denied assistance and medical attention from guard supervisors and medical staff members when they are in the midst of emotional and/or mental health breakdowns since Mr. Freeman passed away on October 5, 2022.

We as Black Americans willfully abuse one another through the evils of colorism, elitism, murder, and physical violence. The Shelby County Criminal Justice Complex is a local cesspool for the last two.

Mr. Clifford Stockton, a community leader who is an advocate for legacy Black communities such as New Chicago and Smokey City, asked the following burning question recently.

"What steps are being taken right now to minimize deaths inside of 201 (...the criminal justice complex...). One death is too many. Is there a plan in place to prevent deaths from happening in the future?"

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris evidently cannot facilitate ideation with county government officials to eliminate the prevailing culture inside of the criminal justice complex that is centered around the dehumanization of Black people by Black people. Local political candidates and incumbents actively avoid providing statements that are solution based during this current election cycle. And a comrade of mine was subjected to that brand of dehumanization recently as another result from the apathy of residents and inaction of government officials.

*Self-Inflicted Black on Black Injustice: An Intake Process

I received the following narrative from a very close friend on Sunday, February 22. I am never inclined to read it as just a journalist when I consider how his life could have been taken away from him with the exact same impunity that was used against Mr. Freeman, Mr. Nichols, and other Black men in Shelby County. His alias is "I. T."

*In Custody - Sunday, February 15

*"The arresting officer allowed me to use my walker to support my legs. I also brought my medications for my chronic health conditions. I suffer from Sarcoidosis, Diabetic Neuropathy, and Peripheral Artery Disease. Those are listed on my medical records through Regional One Health."

*Intake Processing

*"During the intake process, I fell and hit my head against a wall. I was transported to Methodist hospital and was placed under observation. I was transported back to the criminal justice complex to resume the intake process."

*First Incident

*"Once placed in general population, I was required to complete a strip search. I explained that I needed assistance to enter the room. The officers refused at first, but eventually they provided assistance. Once inside the room, I was heckled by the officers who were assigned to conduct the search. They also accused me of staging a distraction to gain attention. One of the officers said, 'If you don’t stand up, I will pepper spray you. I bet that will get you up.' This took place at approximately 9:00 p.m."

*Second Incident

*"I then was dragged for at least thirty feet. I was stripped out of my clothes at the same time. Once inside the 'tank', the officers threw me against the wall several times. I incurred several hard blows to my head. I remained on the ground in excruciating pain. I remained on the ground until I could sit up under my own power. Minutes before the shift change, the supervisor finally released me from the tank to rejoin the general population."

"During the evening on Sunday, February 15, I was released on bond. I then returned home to prepare for my arraignment."

*Aftermath From Incidents

*"I attended my arraignment in pain and delirium. I also appeared with a large, painful lump on the back of my head. I called a close confidant to share with her how I felt. She insisted that I report to an emergency room. A family member took me to the Regional One Medical Center emergency room. I was under observation there for two days for evaluation and treatment."

*"I still have the lump on the back of my head as a result of the strikes I received from the officers. I still have periodic dizziness, difficulty standing for more than a few minutes, throbbing headaches, and severe body aches."

As of today, April 2, "I. T." is still physically suffering from body aches, dizziness, headaches, and poor equilibrium. It is also important to note that "I. T." was attacked during the third shift between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

I have never been one to be burdened with apathy. I also have never understood how residents in any city or town can consciously choose to be indifferent as long as they do not receive any negative net effects from social injustice.

Indifference to social injustice in America is an advanced form of cowardice.

"I. T." has a far more powerful summary.

"Apathy is real, but death or harm should not be results from having it."

1. Do you feel that "I. T." should have been denied assistance and medical attention? 

2. Do you know of an any individuals - colleagues, loved ones, neighbors, and so on - who have been subjected to the exact same injustice during a standard intake process and want to tell their stories?

Please call me by dialing 901.602.6370 or, to increase confidentiality, correspond via Discord: @gilbertbarnescarteriii.

I also want to receive your input for how we can increase accountability to insure that no more people die while in custody at the criminal justice complex.

Gilbert Barnes Carter III is a Memphis-based author, child welfare advocate, community organizer, emerging farmer, gardener, journalist, and social justice advocate. He began his social justice advocacy and work by serving as a Shelby County Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Board volunteer in 2005. He has worked since then to effectuate change for low-wage, immigrant, and migrant workers as a Temporary Workers Campaign Manager with Workers Interfaith Network; an advocate for Teamsters Local 667 sanitation workers; and a community / field organizer to uphold blight reduction, efficient public mass transit, environmental justice, food access, food justice, food security, narrative change, and public safety.