There is so much going on and I wanted to address a few of these issues . The depths of pain, frustration, anger, hurt and resentment felt by black people all over this world cannot be overstated. The idea that so many out there think that blackness is equated with less humanity is infuriating!!!!
We have a black president who has been disrespected every day of his presidency by those who never wanted to see him in office in the first place. I was not over enthusiastic when President Obama ran for the White House. The truth be told I didn't think he would win and I never invested much of my time or emotions into his journey. I was stunned on election night when he won. I was proud as a black woman, but still nevertheless stunned!! I didn't believe a black person could win and be elected President in the U.S. I quickly accepted that he was the next president of this country and went about my business as usual. I don't have a lot of faith in politicians, so I don't get too caught up in any of it. I exercise my civic duty and vote for what I always consider the "lesser" of two evils. I try not to attack and disrespect leaders I don't like. Again, I just keep it moving because I know eventually everyone's time is up. A part of me recognized that as the first black president, he would be demonized and we would have to witness it. People have all kinds of reasons why, but mostly, it's just plain old fashioned racism as is the case with most of the things happening today.
We have a "billionaire" and several other GOP candidates running for the privilege to live in the White House and rule this country who are now the poster children for Racism in America. They are an international embarrassment. The venom they spew when telling us about their beliefs and what they will do if they win supports the feelings of distrust and concern people have about them. Many racists hide behind religion to justify some of the things they do. I don't know what God they serve, but the one I serve is a loving God and doesn't need our help judging his children. Yes even they are his children. What they've forgotten is, so are we. Immigrants who want to deport immigrants. Billionaires who want to cut aid and force even more people into poverty, a brilliant and gifted neurosurgeon who seems to be at the very least confused about his blackness and reality. The really sad part of all of this are the people who support their hatefulness and meanness. It just really lets us know, we still have a long way to go. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm almost sorry Jeb Bush dropped out of the GOP race!!!
Police departments around the country who are killing unarmed citizens for basically nothing are now upset with Beyonce for her video, "Formation" So it's okay for police officers to continue to shoot and kill unarmed black people, but Beyonce can't speak out about it. Again it seems that a group wants to be respected while denying the same respect to others. Their response was to threaten to boycott her shows and not offer her security. Don't most celebrities pay the local off duty police for their services? So are they saying they will forgo being hired by her for security? That's sounds like a personal choice to me. If they are on duty, then protecting the public is an obligation they get paid for whether they like it or not. It's seems to me that too many (not all) police officers are childish, immature and like to throw the equivalent of an adult tantrum if they don't like something you say. Respect works both ways. White people can siege a government building with weapons and stay there for weeks with no show of force, but Beyonce who is an artist can't express herself if her views are not in line with the police's. I don't know sounds, racist to me, but I'm sure there are those who will defend the police no matter what they do, that is until they start killing your children, which if you haven't noticed, America, they're starting to do. Corruption breeds cockiness!!
In New York City, police officer Peter Liang was convicted for the shooting death of an unarmed black man named Akai Gurley. It marks the first time in over a decade that any New York City police officer has been convicted of such a crime. This conviction upset the Asian community and they came out in support of Liang. Many feel he is a scapegoat for the wrongs the NYPD have done in the black community and he is being sacrificed. I watched some news footage of a young lady who is an Asian activist and she went on to explain how the asian community felt. I couldn't help but notice that during her interview, she referred to them as the "favored" minority. What she doesn't realize is that right there is the problem with why so many are upset and felt betrayed. There is no such thing as a "favored" or "model" minority in America. We're all people of color on the outside trying to get in and unfortunately some learn that lesson the hard way. It's demoralizing, demeaning and disappointing when you realize your value is significantly less than the white establishment. Black people hold no delusions about where we stand in America. We thrive in spite of it. Mr. Liang set into motion a tragic and unnecessary death when he chose to take certain actions. I do not believe his actions were spiteful or malicious, but they were neglectful and careless and because of him , a young father will never return home to his family. Yes he has to pay for that. Every decision Mr. Liang made in that stairwell and after the shooting showed his lack of experience, judgment and his inability to be an effective police officer. It seems the argument is that if white officers can get away with it, why can't he? The real truth is no one should be getting away with it and not punishing Mr. Liang doesn't put him on equal footing with white police. The real question to ask is why he thought he should behave the way he did in the first place? Why was his gun out when there was no immediate threat to his life? Why was his hand on the trigger? Why did he use a gun to push open the door, especially when his finger was on the trigger? That was a disaster waiting to happen. No he's not the only one that should face justice, but make no mistake about it, he should face justice and prison time. Because of him, an innocent, unarmed man will never again walk this earth, be with his family or grow old. MR. GURLEY DID NOTHING WRONG AND DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE!!!!!!!!!!!! The fact that some believe he shouldn't be punished because white officers aren't punished is racist and racism in action. I'm sorry but using that as justification is asinine and insane!!! Obviously the jury agreed!!
And finally the critics who are attacking the "Black Lives Matters" movement. They are comparing the movement (as they did the Black Panthers) to hate groups and painting a picture of troublemakers trying to incite civil unrest. Anytime black people stand up for themselves, it makes many nervous and puts them on the defensive. Attacking instead of questioning why these types of organized movements are necessary is the real problem. The Black Lives Matters movement nor the Black Panthers, have ever hung people from trees, raped and brutalized women, stolen and enslaved other human beings, burned crosses, lynched innocent men, women and children, bombed churches, kidnapped and killed civil rights worker, mutilated other human beings, stolen land and other possessions from owners, set human beings on fire, sold human beings as commodities, used human babies as bait for alligators and I could go on and on. So when people open their mouths to refer to either of these movements or groups as some type of terrorism movement, what they are really saying is, I'm uncomfortable with black people speaking out and standing up for themselves and I don't know anything else to do but attack, because that's what we do here in America when we're trying to keep control. Racism will lose one day because it's very nature is against God and I always bet on God!!!!!!!!!
