When folks say they're tired of talking about racism in America, they are preaching to the choir.
We would love to have ended this conversation eons ago.
But . . .
When blacks continue to get gunned down, when black lives are treated as disposable, trash to be killed and dumped, we can not sit quietly by and let this continue to happen.
God knows I don't condone the violence that erupts when blatant injustice is committed,
But . . .
I do understand.
As a mother of two black boys (now men), I know too well the dangers they face everyday. Conversations, no drillings really, of how to act and how to respond to adversarial confrontations was as important, maybe even more important, as anything else they learned growing up.
You see, as black parents, we are negligent if we don't have these conversations.
Because we know far too well,
A traffic stop is rarely just a traffic stop for black men.
Suddenly, without warning, it becomes a crime scene, with another life cut short.
Why?
Because of PERCEIVED and PRECONCEIVED threats.
The fact that George Zimmerman, and now Darren Wilson, and so many others before them, have gotten off scot free for killing young black men, without so much as a blemish on their record, emboldens others to follow in their footsteps.
It is open game.
Hunting season, if you will.
The difference, of course, with this season, it is not calendar driven, but is open every day of the year.
You see, the anger and frustration at seeing many folks be more concerned about the welfare of dogs than they are about the lives and well being of young black men, is what fuels this rage.
It's not one incident boiling over.
It's centuries of mistreatment.
When OJ was acquitted, overwhelmingly blacks rejoiced, not because of his innocence, but for once, here was a black man who skirted the system, just like so many white folks have been doing forever.
Whether you thought he was guilty or innocent, didn't matter really (although I never thought he was smart enough to carry out the deed) he played their game, their way, and won.
That's what the cheering was about.
So, you tired of hearing about this?
Me too.
When the killings end, we'll move on.
Until then,
Instead of complaining, try understanding.
We would love to have ended this conversation eons ago.
But . . .
When blacks continue to get gunned down, when black lives are treated as disposable, trash to be killed and dumped, we can not sit quietly by and let this continue to happen.
God knows I don't condone the violence that erupts when blatant injustice is committed,
But . . .
I do understand.
As a mother of two black boys (now men), I know too well the dangers they face everyday. Conversations, no drillings really, of how to act and how to respond to adversarial confrontations was as important, maybe even more important, as anything else they learned growing up.
You see, as black parents, we are negligent if we don't have these conversations.
Because we know far too well,
A traffic stop is rarely just a traffic stop for black men.
Suddenly, without warning, it becomes a crime scene, with another life cut short.
Why?
Because of PERCEIVED and PRECONCEIVED threats.
The fact that George Zimmerman, and now Darren Wilson, and so many others before them, have gotten off scot free for killing young black men, without so much as a blemish on their record, emboldens others to follow in their footsteps.
It is open game.
Hunting season, if you will.
The difference, of course, with this season, it is not calendar driven, but is open every day of the year.
You see, the anger and frustration at seeing many folks be more concerned about the welfare of dogs than they are about the lives and well being of young black men, is what fuels this rage.
It's not one incident boiling over.
It's centuries of mistreatment.
When OJ was acquitted, overwhelmingly blacks rejoiced, not because of his innocence, but for once, here was a black man who skirted the system, just like so many white folks have been doing forever.
Whether you thought he was guilty or innocent, didn't matter really (although I never thought he was smart enough to carry out the deed) he played their game, their way, and won.
That's what the cheering was about.
So, you tired of hearing about this?
Me too.
When the killings end, we'll move on.
Until then,
Instead of complaining, try understanding.
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