RACISM

 

A man died today because he was black. Chaos ensues.

Here we go again some uninformed may lament. It's not again, it is ongoing. Our history of dealing with folks of another stripe or color is abysmal. White privilege is a real thing. 

In my lifetime people of color were denied access to the simple pleasures we of the white persuasion take for granted. Community swimming pools, restaurants and lunch counters, drinking fountains, adequate schools, jobs and life really. Plus being looked at as a thug, criminal or rapist because of the color of their skin. All that happened after the 60's is we just covered it up better. It's been going on for 400 years but it is only recently, thanks to technology, that we have been able to shine a light on the injustice and feel it in our hearts and souls to the degree we do today.

 A man died at the hands of the police after he was rendered helpless on the ground and in handcuffs. A man died because racism is so common-place and expected we have allowed ourselves to become callous to its impact on American citizens who happen to be black or brown. A man died because if you're a white person possibly passing a bogus bill it would have been considered innocent until proven guilty.

Never mind that they tried to play it our way. Family and church and jobs, that we let them have. It did not dawn on me for years why I never saw any black families in our neighborhood until a college mate explained that his father was steered to "certain neighborhoods" as acceptable. Never mind that "separate but equal" meant those on the wrong side of the color spectrum got whatever was left over after the white schools got theirs. Better neighborhoods mean higher taxes and better education. But it's the black man's fault because he is lazy not unlucky or turned away.  How else could we justify it to ourselves?

A  decent home that builds equity allows children to go to college and be prepped for better jobs and opportunities, but the black man is lazy, not discriminated against. A black business man has to use a "white" partner to be accepted in certain neighborhoods or the bank.  A decent family man and preacher has to worry that if he doesn't get home by dark he is a suspect because he is black or brown. When he or she sees flashing lights in their rearview, the fear is there. Am I going home tonight? A highly educated deputy director gets pulled over for a broken light and the officer has his hand on his gun.

More black and brown people die of Covid-19 so no reason not open up you cowards. My freedom is being infringed upon. Though the black man feels his freedom as an American citizen questioned every day of his life, the black man is lazy. Its not as if the only job he can get is low-paying, has no medical insurance and can't be "worked from home" like his privileged white brothers and sisters.

Several elephants in the room.

 A President who stokes the fire of division and threatens military action because, there can be no other explanation, he is afraid. No words of calm or wisdom, he is incapable. The man who hits the links as 100,000 Americans die, partially because of his mishandling of the health crisis. His crass exploitation of a religious setting "complete with props" after using armed soldiers and police to clear his path (again how brave) makes vomit rise in the mouth. A view shared by religious leaders and allies alike. Though there are still some in their religious beliefs swear that the white man is endowed by God to use the black as a footstool and slave. 

Looting by a various colored (white & black) "thug" element. Do I think some of the protesters were involved? Possibly, though I think its more a matter of "others" taking advantage of a moment to do what they do best-destroy, steal and wreck havoc hoping it will be blamed on again, that lazy black man. Does it diminish the message that black and brown people have been exploited for 400 hundred years? Think about that--400 years. Yes, it does for some.

My own thoughts and feelings. I who thought myself enlightened and understanding of the black experience did not really. How shocked I was as a Senior in high school visiting my brother at his marine base in California for Christmas. Visiting and sharing a meal with one of his military friends and their family at their home who happened to be African-American. As I held and played with their baby the Marine and father said if it came to revolution, he would side with his family and friends and we would be the enemy. I thought I understood when my co-workers told me of being picked upon for no reason or how they had to counsel their sons not to be assertive or argue when stopped by police. Not until I saw that police officers knee on that handcuffed man and others stood by aiding and abetting did it finally hit me. We are wrong and I was naïve.

The time is now, there is no going back.  Affirmative action worked so we of course got rid of it and a whole generation has had to fight and claw to get even a piece of  that American dream they hear so much about but do not receive.  And we wonder why they are angry? Why they are singled out to take the punishment and derision that comes with being less than "white" in this country? When will we ever be able to just say a man died today and it was wrong.