There is such a gulf of experience between being white and being a person of color in this country. When Bundy, a white rancher of Nevada and his white supporters outgunned and took tactical positions against law enforcement. Law enforcement wasnt even allowed to wear body armor for fear they might provoke the white protestors. Additionally, these protestors were threatening government overthrow, violence and unrest while pointing guns at law enforcement. Fox News hailed them as heroes. If those people were black, the response would be completely different. How do we know this? Ferguson. Black unarmed protestors not only have police wearing body armor, but there are tanks, shock grenades, and tear gas. When our black citizens have a grievance their lives and safety do not matter. All of the sudden, respect for the law is more important that human lives. Black people can get killed for carrying a cell phone, a candy bar, for knocking on the wrong door, for wearing a hoodie, for any misstep at all they can be sentenced to death. Even following law enforcements directions fully is no guarantee that they wont be beaten, arrested, or killed. Like Jon Stewart said recently, if you are tired of hearing about racism, try living under it every, single day of your life. As a white mother I do not have to worry that my son will be seen as a threat and killed by law enforcement. African-American mothers face that fear every day. It is wrong. It is tragic. It is intolerable to me. Every time an African-american mother has to bury her child It breaks my heart as if that child was mine, because in a sense that child is child of all of us. Those protestors are rightfully angry, frustrated, impatient for justice. I am tired of hearing white people whine that they are somehow the victims and its about them instead of seeing the injustices face by our fellow African-American citizens. There is a persistent, and deep vein of racism against African-Americans in this country. The most noble thing a person can do is to fight for the rights and dignity of others, not try to find ways your life is tougher.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:55:29 +0000