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FULL ESSAY 

It’s Just Another Day In NYC: How Jordan Neely’s Death Displays Our Desensitized Humanity and Media’s Complicity 

The Urgent Call to Action for New Yorkers, Media Professionals, and Every American Citizen

It’s Just Another Day… 

Almost every day — twice on weekdays — I tap my iPhone on the MTA’s upgraded “touch to pay” turnstile technology and pay, $2.75 to stand on the platform and board the 2/3 train in Harlem.

Over the past few years as a New York transplant, I’ve lived on a number of train lines: the L train traveling from modish Chelsea to more recently trendy Williamsburg and Bushwick and deeper in Brooklyn to Canarsie; the interconnected G train which takes passengers from Long Island City in Queens down through Brooklyn; the A/C train, which traverses through the best parts of Brooklyn (shoutout Bedstuy — I miss you dearly) to Queens. And, of course, at one point or another, have ridden on nearly every single other train line. 

If you’ve lived in New York – even for a short amount of time – and boarded the MTA subway you’ve likely encountered someone passing through train cars asking for money, or perhaps, an unhoused person laid out on a bench sleeping. Even more inevitably, you’ve probably experienced the frustrated New Yorker’s fuming rant about the hardships and inequalities one faces navigating through the beast that is NYC. It’s nearly inescapable. 

That’s why I’m almost fully aware of what occurred on the northbound F train on May 1st — without even being there. I’ll set the scene: Jordan Neely enters the train car with passengers sitting and standing all around; the train’s “doors closing” automated voice sounds off; and then eventually the train jets off the platform. On the moving train, Jordan begins to pace swiftly back and forth, or in circles, muttering to himself. He then starts to assert himself beginning to speak louder so the whole train car can hear. Shortly after, uncomfortable passengers begin to walk away or give up their seats to move to another area of the train. 

Eager to get off, passengers begin to crowd the train’s doors as it slows itself to pull into its next stop. “Doors open” the automated voice chimes. Passengers flood the platform, some of whom have no intention of leaving the station but simply want to move to another train car to get away from Jordan’s theatrics. And as for Jordan, he continues his day, either on the train or departing with the crowd, likely still ranting. 

In this scenario, It’s just another day in New York City. 

(I hope I’ve painted a good enough picture for those of you who have not been on the MTA subway to understand, but I KNOW if you live or have lived in New York City and ride the train, you know what I’m talking about.) 

This is the usual sequence of events, and what should have happened mid-day on the northbound F train on May 1st – the same day Jordan Neely fatally boarded. 

Instead, this is where my retelling of events begins to become hazy. This is where I began to stop visualizing and struggle to understand what unfolded next. This is where I learn a 24-year-old white Marine, accompanied by individuals acting as accessories, and bystanders turned just “another day in NYC” into a pervasive societal issue that has been normalized in our social fabric and conventions for far too long. 

Here’s My Issue and THE Issue 

I’ve found it hard to find my voice in the fight for social justice over the past decade. To cope, I’ve often held personal discourse with friends, family, and colleagues to vent my frustrations, tweet and/or retweet about topical issues affecting the communities I identify with (and those that I don’t), and most frequently have thoughts swirl in my head for hours or days or weeks until I throw them to the void without a true outlet. That’s why I’m writing this. 

On Tuesday night, as I was scrolling Twitter, I came across a recently published tweet from the New York Post detailing an incident on the New York City subway with pictures of a white man lying on the train car’s floor with his arms and knees holding a Black man in a chokehold. Intrigued, I began to read the story and more than halfway down the page, realized I was not reading an account of an incident that was just “another day in New York City” but yet another story about a Black man’s murder in broad daylight. Neither the headline nor the lede paragraphs gave any indication that the Black man from the cover page photo in the chokehold was dead. 

Shortly after I realized this, another realization set in — one that eerily lingers in our everyday lives — that this was in fact NOT “another day in New York City,” but even worse, another day in America. 

Tragedy seems inevitable these days. Nearly on an everyday basis, a news alert pings my phone detailing the latest mass shooting, an update on a political or legal assault on our rights, or more times than I care to recall the cold-blooded slaying of a Black or Brown person in America. Most days I see the news, say a prayer and just push through. 

However, this time things struck me a bit differently. As mentioned above, as a New York transplant who has lived in the city for 6 years now, and, can vividly recount an average day on the MTA subway, I became enraged. 

Judge, Jury, and the Media

Jordan Neely, a victim of a violent attack, who was murdered earlier this week on a northbound F train in the middle of the day, was shown a callous disregard for his humanity both during the incident and in the reporting following. 

During the incident, bystanders actively participated in, viewed, and even recorded this public lynching, while Neely fought for his life. Once made public, outlets such as the New York Post and the New York Times decisively used euphemistic and exonerative language to describe the murderer while dehumanizing and displaying a sheer lack of regard for the victim. Personally, as a media relations professional, I am stunned by the media’s inability to objectively report on this situation – and so many like it – which, are often layered and nuanced. 

Here are my questions for those journalists: Was Jordan Neely not shown decency because he was mentally ill, unhoused, or Black? Was it because of all three? And lastly, does it even matter? 

Being described in the New York Post with the most charged language possible, Neely was called “unhinged.” The New York Times mentioned that bystanders described him as “erratic” — further attempting to paint a picture that in some way this violent attack was justified or acceptable. 

It is NOT. In fact, those same stories go on to say that while passengers were “frightened,” Neely had not assaulted anyone and was unarmed. 

So again I ask, why was Jordan Neely treated this way? Is it because society, much like the incident’s bystanders, views Jordan’s life as less than, and therefore, the media can be complicit and even drive the narrative to be seen as such? Is it because the story wasn’t that big of a deal? After all, it was only another Black man. Regardless, yet again, I ask, does it matter?

I question the ability of the media to fairly and objectively report on a situation when stories can vilify a Black, unhoused, mental health victim but publicly attempt to exonerate the killer. Jordan Neely was a human being, and regardless of his past or ill feelings towards his rhetoric and tone during the time of the incident, deserved better. 

The apathetic reporting is particularly puzzling with both outlets featuring mental health coverage sections and stories on their webpage (New York Times’ Mental Health and Disorders; New York Post Mental Health), and constantly trying to broaden their coverage and appeal to gain more BIPOC subscribers. 

Yet, this is of course not the first time. As public killings of Black men and women began to proliferate in mainstream news, the reporting commonly mischaracterizes Black victims as criminals, thugs, and ultimately, deserving of their deaths, citing past records, and showing previous mugshots or incriminating photos. In stark opposition, cops, assailants, and “vigilantes” (how they described the 24-year-old white Marine) are lauded as heroes and protectors. This is poor journalism, deceitful reporting, and a staggering lack of humanization toward Black people who are victims of crimes. 

Furthermore, the continuous posting of Black bodies as fodder for coverage must END. Posting the videos and sharing screenshots from the video while recognizing (although not explicitly stating) that Jordan Neely was murdered is incomprehensible and vile. STOP POSTING BLACK BODIES.

A Call to Action  

To New Yorkers and New York Transplants — We cannot be complicit in enabling a system that allows “another day in NYC” to turn into “another day in America.” The vibrancy of the culture of New York is found in its ability to be a home for all regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, and beliefs. We must fervently fight for the right of all to exist and coexist. 

We must always look out for fellow New Yorkers. I know how hard it can be to navigate our own realities on a daily basis but I implore us all to find it in ourselves to lead into every day with kindness in our hearts.

I saw a tweet (that unfortunately, I cannot find and link to) that mentioned this entire situation could have possibly been averted if someone gave Jordan Neely a few bucks and well wishes as he shared his testimony about being unhoused and unfed. Another tweet suggested pulling the assailant and his accomplices off of Jordan in an effort to save his life. If either of those things happened, I believe Jordan Neely would still be alive. After all, New Yorkers are often too lively and definitely too loud to sit by while a man is being snuffed out by another passenger. 

I understand the rules of the city, trust me, I do –  “mind your business and keep it pushing,” but we’d ALL benefit from speaking up and speaking out against injustices. And no, that does not include trying to be a vigilante and taking matters into your hands to solve a situation you have no training in or experience in de-escalating. 

Also, I don’t discount the potential impact on the Marine's mental health and the effects of his service as potential triggers – especially in a bustling city like New York – however, I refuse to excuse his actions. 

I will however note that the increased funding for police in NYC’s 2024 budget could be redirected to the city’s mental health services and to alleviate the ever-present housing crisis – both issues Neely mentioned during his final moments. I also want to point out that flooding the MTA with more police may prove ineffective seeing as those already assigned and stationed to the train couldn’t stop Jordan Neely’s murder. I’d wager though if Neely had mental health support, a safe place to lay his head, and food and clean water to eat and drink, this entire situation would have been averted. 

Regardless, Jordan Neely, should be alive, and because his assailant decided to play Batman in Gotham – as mentioned by the city’s comptroller – he should be charged. According to reports, following being detained and questioned the assailant was released without charges. This is unacceptable. While still unnamed, we have a murderer freely walking the streets. We must call for justice in this matter and right a tragic wrong. 

To the Media and Media Relations Professionals — As mentioned above, I too am a media professional. After graduating from Howard University, I picked up and moved to New York working for some of the top agencies and brands fulfilling public relations and public affairs needs. I am now getting my feet wet in writing and publishing. 

I chose to write a call to action to my fellow colleagues working with media, and members of the media itself, to hold each other accountable as we actively work to tell important stories and inherently shape public opinion. We should criticize our colleagues when there is an issue that is clearly being mishandled and constantly engage in professional and friendly discourse to broaden our views and improve the outcomes of our work. We owe it to ourselves, those we work for and with, and the broader public. 

Personally, I’ve struggled for years to call out the media for fear of retaliation and/or hindering my working relationship with journalists, editors, and media executives who are — quite literally — essential to my everyday work. 

However, I am deciding to no longer stay quiet on the issues which impact my communities on a daily basis and those I care about. By not addressing the systemic issues present within the media industry, we normalize platitudinous thinking and bad actors, ultimately influencing the public to do the same. We must uplift the media and its role in society by maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards while minimizing jejune behavior. 

For me, this one hit particularly close to home because it happened at home. By no means, is it the first time — the NYPD has a glaring record of offenses against NYC citizens — though it is the last time I don’t publicly speak out when I feel a duty to do so. I implore you all to do the same. 

I refuse to work with and/or support institutions that inexplicably dehumanize victims of violence while attempting to exonerate and sway public opinion for murderers. It is shameful and in direct opposition to who I am or what I believe in. For media professionals specifically, I believe we can do this by diverting our stories and spokespeople away from these institutions and directing them to outlets and publications which better align with our brands and values. Pro tip: look to see how you can amplify your stories and PR objectives with independent, local, and trade news publications. 

To Every American Citizen – we must constantly seek and actively work to restore our humanity as a country and larger society. This Mental Health Month, and every day thereafter, humanize those suffering from mental health who may experience episodes in public (and in private). Humanize and support those suffering from poverty and homelessness. And lastly, recognize with no objection, that Black Americans are humans and citizens and deserve the same inalienable rights offered to every other American citizen – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – chiefly among those, in this context, life.