Everyone hates a snitch. That is what we hear all the time -in the media, in the music, in the movies. But what is a snitch? What is this code all about? Who does it serve? This post will examine the term and how it applies.

On TV, we have our lovable snitches, the fictional comic relief and plot-helpers of TV’s crime dramas. The most famous was surely “Huggy Bear,” portrayed by veteran blaxploitation film actor Antonio Fargas. Huggy Bear graced the screen on Starsky & Hutch with his jive-talking and flashy-threaded persona. “Hunter” had Garrett Morris as “Sporty James” to fill the comic-relief role of informant.

In real life, being an informant is a serious matter. Consider the case of Angela Dawson. She was killed for doing the right thing. She was not killed for snitching. She was killed because she was a witness to criminal activity.

In an ironic form of hypocrisy, certain sites have taken to “ratting out” the rats. One such site, Whosarat.com was founded by a man charged with dealing drugs. The site is a place where the names of informants are listed for searching by interested parties. In true snitch fashion, this information is not given for free, but for a price.

Snitching and witnessing are two different terms. An article at PopMatters.com written by Marc Lamont Hill explains the difference. He writes “While a witness is an asset to truth and justice, the snitch is motivated primarily or entirely by self-interest. While witnesses are committed to upholding social contracts, snitches inevitably undermine them. Given this distinction, it seems that the bulk of the public outcry in favor of snitching is actually a plea for witnesses.” A snitch acts in his own interests. A snitch talks to get a lighter sentence or to grab a reward. If you provide information to authorities in the name of justice you are not doing so for yourself. You are not a snitch. Sometimes you are taking a big risk. Remember, you can remain anonymous in this day and age. There are hotlines and tiplines where you can give information about suspects without revealing your identity.

Here is my take on snitching and/or witnessing:

If you know of a crime, especially one in which harm has been or will be caused to a person or persons, and you do not act, you are a coward. You are not honoring something noble. You are not bettering your community. You are failing your neighbors, your family, and yourself. If you refuse to talk about someone’s murder or other violent attack, you are not being straight. You are being a tool.

You may argue that the police cannot protect you or your family if you decide to talk. It may be hard to swallow, but that is cowardice. Soldiers fight for our freedom. We ask so much of them, but what do we ask of ourselves here at home? We live in a world where freedoms and protections are often taken for granted. We forget that it isn’t just our men and women in uniform who have a responsibility. As Americans, we all must do our part for the country, for the society, in which we live. People do what they can to get out of civic duty. People cheat on their taxes. They weasel out of jury duty. They don’t testify in sex cases because they don’t want to sully their own reputation. Who wants to be associated with terms like “child molester” or “rapist?” Nobody –but think of the victims –think of justice. So people who know about these types of crimes, or can testify against an alibi or the like, avoid doing their part in helping to achieve justice. Being an American, being a good citizen requires more than just lip service. We cannot be afraid of these people. Someday it may be us who needs someone to stand up and speak. Let us hope they will have the courage. Let us provide the example by standing up for justice when and where we can. Do not be afraid.