A woman protests the killing of teenager Mike Brown. On Aug, 9. officer Darren Wilson fired six shots killing Brown. Wilson was not indicted for his actions.Photo courtesy of Loavesofbread.
By CHAD RHYM – Visuals Coordinator
Fifty years after the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, racial inequality is prominent in the United States.
Typically, I assume, before a young white male or female’s parents hand over the keys to the car, there are a few rules to be laid down. Common rules to follow are, but not limited to: no loud music while driving, no eating or drinking while driving, no friends in the car, etc.
The very first rule my parents preached to me was, hypothetically, if I was to ever be pulled over by the police, to keep both hands on the wheel.
If you reject the idea that there’s a pattern of injustice in terms of equality against African Americans, your white privilege is most likely showing.
The Civil Rights Act was only passed 50 years ago, and until 2013, the 13th amendment – the one abolishing slavery – wasn’t even ratified in Mississippi. To believe that in only 50 years Americans could evolve from the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. to living in a utopian society where everyone perceives each other as equal is naïve.
“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son–we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” — Ella Baker
This year, two prominent cases of police brutality occurred: Darren Wilson shot and killed 18-year-old Mike Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Daniel Pantaleo put 38-year-old Eric Garner in a chokehold–an illegal police procedure–eventually killing him.
Regardless of whether you believe the killings were justified or not, neither of the two police officers were ever even indicted for killing unarmed civilians. And although George Zimmerman was indicted following the Feb. 26, 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin, the idea of Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch coordinator being able to be acquitted of manslaughter and second degree murder is horrifying.
“You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” — Malcolm X
My neighborhood has a neighborhood watch committee. I am Trayvon Martin.
It’s hard to explain the terror of being a black man in America until you witness people who look just like you murdered once a month. I’m 6’2”, young and black, why should I even have to consider putting on a hoodie every morning?
Because, apparently, there is a potential danger from the combination of the color of my skin and choice of attire. If a black adult male stalked and shot a young white boy and seeked protection under the stand-your-ground law in Florida, would he be found guilty? Do you think if all of these scenarios were reversed, black men would not be indicted?
You probably can’t even fathom it.
We are sick of seeing our sons, daughters, friends, mothers and fathers harassed, targeted, profiled and killed. What did you expect to happen in Ferguson? The people in that community rioted and protested because they were exhausted of being voiceless, defenseless and treated as if young black children’s lives do not matter.
Imagine your best friend being shot to death, and his killer not even given a trial.
“Rioting is the language of the unheard.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To the people who focus on the police cars, shops and other inanimate objects being burned to the ground in the riots from remorse and anger, realize there’s no insurance that’s going to bring Trayvon Martin , Mike Brown, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Tanesha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Emmitt Till, or James Byrd back to their families.
But along with riots have come peaceful protests. Thousands of assemblies, sit ins and marches have swept the world. Social media has boomed since the acquittal of the killers of Mike Brown and Eric Garner. Hashtags such as #icantbreathe, #BlackLivesMatter and #dontshoot are erupting on Twitter.
Although we can never bring back those lives who have been lost due to injustice, the attention circulating from all of the indictments and charges is substantial.
“You don’t fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity.” — Bobby Seale, Black Panther
And for those who are complaining about the protests–like the sit-ins, die-ins and roadway blockades–and how they are inconveniencing: these protests are making a difference.
These protests are our generation’s Harlem riots, our Greensboro sit-ins, our Black Power at the Olympics, our March on Washington.
Recognize it. Respect it.
Hands up, don’t shoot.
