Back when personalized ringtones were popular, before the first smartphone hit the market, I had Three 6 Mafia’s intro to “Mask and Da Glock” play anytime someone called me. It featured a sample from the film Carlito’s Way and when people called me, I’d hear:
Let’s put him in the trunk of the car and drive him off the pier
Fuck you, man
C’mon, papi, man, it ain’t that far, down the block, man
C’mon, just like the old days, papi, be calm
Here comes the pain!
Break out the mask, and the Glock, and get rid of you
(Pop-pop, ‘til you drop, bre-bre-bre-bre-break)
Break-break-break out the mask, and the Glock, and get rid of you
(Pop-pop, ‘til you drop, body full of bullet holes)
I was mad wild back then, yo! This Three 6 Mafia track was on the album Underground Vol. 1: 1991–1994, released in 1999, and described a well-known phenomenon: it’s easier to evade responsibility and accountability for criminal activity by wearing a mask.
It isn’t as though this is a particularly enlightening revelation. After all, one 2012 New York source states:
[A]ccording to the New York Penal Law 240.35(4), it is illegal to congregate in public with two or more people while each wearing a mask or any face covering which disguises your identity. The law has existed since 1845, when tenant farmers, in response to a lowering of wheat prices, dressed up as “Indians” and covered their faces with masks in order to attack the police anonymously. There are exceptions for masquerades and other entertainment events that are deemed appropriate by the city (such as Halloween).
Wearing a mask allows an individual one extra measure of protection against efforts from law enforcement (LE) to police a citizenry. Of course, this is a rational conclusion—that which is in accordance with logic and reason. To better understand this matter, consider the following modus ponens syllogism:
Form –
If p, then q; p; therefore, q.
Example –
If I break out the mask and da Glock to get rid of you, then a mask will likely help me evade LE capture.
I break out the mask and da Glock to get rid of you.
Therefore, a mask will likely help me evade LE capture.
Unfortunately, during what I call the “dark days” of the overreaction to COVID-19, rational conclusions went by the wayside. As an example, one source from April 15, 2020 states:
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will issue an Executive Order requiring all people in New York to wear a mask or a face covering when out in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transportation. The Executive Order will go into effect on Friday, April 17th.
Setting aside the questionable effectiveness of masks in relation to COVID-19, a government entity using authoritarian measures which forced mask mandates upon a citizenry was a controversial move. If you were one of the emotively-motivated people who supported such action, I wonder if you thought through the consequences.
LE personnel with masks and Glocks were tasked with enforcing mandates – not laws (i.e., law…enforcement, not mandate enforcement) – whereby people who didn’t comply with unconstitutional mandates were potentially placed in danger by LE abuse of authority.
In any case, New York governmental entities have now begun to reverse course. Whereas one’s perception of a threat to individual health was cause enough for civil rights violations for an entire state, a June 15, 2024 source now reports:
New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, is considering reimposing a ban on face masks in the Big Apple’s transit system over allegations that masked protesters are taking advantage of identity-concealing face wear to stage antisemitic attacks.
The aforementioned logic and reason for wearing a mask during the commission of a crime has been a standard for well over a century. However, if was during the dark days that irrationality allowed for nonsensical mask mandates to be imposed upon New Yorkers.
Now, as one particular group is reportedly experiencing “attacks,” rational conclusions are once again being considered? How does this make sense? For context, consider the following constructive dilemma syllogism:
Form –
If p, then q; and if r, then s; but, either p or r; therefore, either q or s.
Example –
If race/ethnic group X is attacked by mask-wearing race/ethnic group Y, then there’s no need to adjust mask-wearing within New York. And if race/ethnic group Z is attacked by mask-wearing race/ethnic group Y, then there needs to be an adjustment to mask-wearing within New York.
But, either race/ethnic group X is attacked by mask-wearing race/ethnic group Y or race/ethnic group Z is attacked by mask-wearing race/ethnic group Y.
Therefore, either there’s no need to adjust mask-wearing within New York or there needs to be an adjustment to mask-wearing within New York.
Pragmatic example –
If white people are attacked by mask-wearing black people, then there’s no need to adjust mask-wearing within New York. And if Jewish people are attacked by mask-wearing black people, then there needs to be an adjustment to mask-wearing within New York.
But, either white people are attacked by mask-wearing black people or Jewish people are attacked by mask-wearing black people.
Therefore, either there’s no need to adjust mask-wearing within New York or there needs to be an adjustment to mask-wearing within New York.
The logic follows though this is an unreasonable proposition, because it ostensibly uses discriminatory action. Therefore, this is an irrational conclusion. Why must one group’s protection be valued over another group’s safety?
Also, before declaring racism, check New York crime statistics for yourself. I’ve chosen racial/ethnic categories herein based on relevant LE data.
The Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) empirical dispute I’ve used in this blogpost is similar to that which I use when working with clients. Understandably, people may not be comfortable with inconvenient truth.
Nevertheless, I see the value of challenging irrational conclusions. If masking affords people the ability to conceal their identities from LE and avoid detection of criminal activity, this standard is true even when an overhyped so-called crisis is in effect.
Likewise, easing safetyism standards for a particular racial/ethnic group while not doing so for other racial/ethnic groups is arguably a form of discrimination, which isn’t rational. Then again, what do I know? I’m someone who used to have “Mask and Da Glock” as my ringtone.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost old school hip hop REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Governor of New York. (2020, April 15). Amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Cuomo issues executive order requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face coverings in public. New York State. Retrieved from https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/amid-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic-governor-cuomo-issues-executive-order-requiring-all-people-new
Harris, A. (2012, August 17). Are balaclavas illegal in NYC? Slate. Retrieved from https://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/08/17/can_you_be_arrested_for_wearing_a_mask_in_nyc_.html
Helmore, E. (2024, June 15). New York governor considers face-mask ban on subway to deter crime. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/15/new-york-face-masks-ban-subway-crime
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Jcomp. (n.d.). Criminals wear a mask in black on gray [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/criminals-wear-mask-black-gray_5219082.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=27&uuid=fab2d81b-8295-4d28-a22b-cb223b7d41a1
McDonald, J. (2023, March 16). What the Cochrane review says about masks for COVID-19 — and what it doesn’t. FactCheck.org. Retrieved from https://www.factcheck.org/2023/03/scicheck-what-the-cochrane-review-says-about-masks-for-covid-19-and-what-it-doesnt/
Shea, D. F. (2021, July 21). Crime and enforcement activity in New York City (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2020). New York Police Department. Retrieved from https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/year-end-2020-enforcement-report-20210721.pdf
Three 6 Mafia. (2015, February 11). Mask and da Glock [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ZDQxrxeqxhY?si=U8eccyF0ffpPDB2t
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Andrew Cuomo. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cuomo
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Carlito’s Way. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlito%27s_Way
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kathy Hochul. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Hochul
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Three 6 Mafia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_6_Mafia
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Underground Vol. 1: 1991–1994. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Vol._1:_1991%E2%80%931994
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