Originally, when I first started typing this post, I had titled it "The Dangers of Telling a Child they are Smart." Unfortunately, history repeated itself only a few hours ago that determine, there was something greater that needed to be stated.
Since five or six o'clock, my eyes were tuned into the news. I was checking various social media sites. I wanted to know had a formal indictment been brought about to Officer Wilson for shooting and killing Mike Brown of Ferguson, Missouri. In the nine o'clock hour, Eastern Time, we all learned that no indictment was brought about.
I did not immediately turn to social media. I did not continue to watch. I simply grew tired, both figuratively and literally. As I rested, I could not help, but reflect on a statement I made on Instagram earlier. I stated "Will history prove to repeat itself tonight?" With the decision not to charge Officer Wilson, it did indeed.
First, anyone who truly knows me know my favorite show is A Different World. Eventually I did turn on the tv later after the verdict, and I was immediately reminded of the LA Riots episode after the Rodney King verdict. I began to see the parallel in that case to this one. Then I began to think about last summer and the George Zimmerman trial. Then I began to think of the countless other African American males that die or extremely physically abused by police officers each year.
The thing that is really bothering me is, it feels like the cycle continues. It seems that no matter how far African Americans, especially males, try to move up, do well with our lives, and do what is moral, ethical, as well as legal, we still are viewed as a problem. We are looked at as being guilty because of our skin color, especially the darker we come. I saw on Twitter someone refer to their "skin being their sin." I can truly understand that statement.
I cannot help, but think about Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's statements from Meet the Press the other morning. He mentioned that white cops wouldn't have to be in black neighborhoods killing blacks if black would stop killing blacks. I could not help, but think back to the possible indictment of Officer Wilson at the time and how many people, both White and Black, agreed with that statement. I can say I truly did not. But it did make me recognize that this is the mindset of many people (which is really sad). I remember hearing and seeing the interview and thinking, wow, you have never really lived, even for a day, in a predominately African American community. I also am not a fan of the phrase Black on Black crime. Crime is crime. White people murder each other everyday as well. What I did realize from that statement though is that Blacks are viewed as being far more dangerous. Even more, I felt like he was justifying why Blacks should be killed. It almost feels like he justified a Genocide!
Overall, I do not know what to do or think next. As I type this, I have my television muted, but I can see the images from tonight and a city rioting. While, some are just doing it to be fools, I do see a great number of people who want to heard. I see that some feel like because of their race and their socioeconomic status, they are often overlooked by society unless it comes to glorifying Hip Hop songs. And yet they are being criticized. I know many people who are not of color won't get why as African Americans, many of us are upset. I am from Savannah (Chatham County), Georgia, where the good ol' boy system is still in effect. All I am going to say is, take a walk in my shoes or someone else's who is of color for one day. Imagine, your significant other and yourself wondering why ever conceive a child to have them face situations like this or worse.
As I close, I am looking on Twitter and seeing people post up stuff still about flipping your classroom. I could give a flip (I am trying to remain professional, but another four letter f word almost appeared). There is so much more going on in this moment, where reality matters. I was taught in grade school, you need to know your history so it does not repeat itself, especially the bad parts. I agree and yet look at tonight. We have another injustice that has been repeated! We went from being lynched by the police and crosses burned on the front of our yards to being beaten and having kill shots taken at us! My how much has history really changed overtime!
Since five or six o'clock, my eyes were tuned into the news. I was checking various social media sites. I wanted to know had a formal indictment been brought about to Officer Wilson for shooting and killing Mike Brown of Ferguson, Missouri. In the nine o'clock hour, Eastern Time, we all learned that no indictment was brought about.
I did not immediately turn to social media. I did not continue to watch. I simply grew tired, both figuratively and literally. As I rested, I could not help, but reflect on a statement I made on Instagram earlier. I stated "Will history prove to repeat itself tonight?" With the decision not to charge Officer Wilson, it did indeed.
First, anyone who truly knows me know my favorite show is A Different World. Eventually I did turn on the tv later after the verdict, and I was immediately reminded of the LA Riots episode after the Rodney King verdict. I began to see the parallel in that case to this one. Then I began to think about last summer and the George Zimmerman trial. Then I began to think of the countless other African American males that die or extremely physically abused by police officers each year.
The thing that is really bothering me is, it feels like the cycle continues. It seems that no matter how far African Americans, especially males, try to move up, do well with our lives, and do what is moral, ethical, as well as legal, we still are viewed as a problem. We are looked at as being guilty because of our skin color, especially the darker we come. I saw on Twitter someone refer to their "skin being their sin." I can truly understand that statement.
I cannot help, but think about Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's statements from Meet the Press the other morning. He mentioned that white cops wouldn't have to be in black neighborhoods killing blacks if black would stop killing blacks. I could not help, but think back to the possible indictment of Officer Wilson at the time and how many people, both White and Black, agreed with that statement. I can say I truly did not. But it did make me recognize that this is the mindset of many people (which is really sad). I remember hearing and seeing the interview and thinking, wow, you have never really lived, even for a day, in a predominately African American community. I also am not a fan of the phrase Black on Black crime. Crime is crime. White people murder each other everyday as well. What I did realize from that statement though is that Blacks are viewed as being far more dangerous. Even more, I felt like he was justifying why Blacks should be killed. It almost feels like he justified a Genocide!
Overall, I do not know what to do or think next. As I type this, I have my television muted, but I can see the images from tonight and a city rioting. While, some are just doing it to be fools, I do see a great number of people who want to heard. I see that some feel like because of their race and their socioeconomic status, they are often overlooked by society unless it comes to glorifying Hip Hop songs. And yet they are being criticized. I know many people who are not of color won't get why as African Americans, many of us are upset. I am from Savannah (Chatham County), Georgia, where the good ol' boy system is still in effect. All I am going to say is, take a walk in my shoes or someone else's who is of color for one day. Imagine, your significant other and yourself wondering why ever conceive a child to have them face situations like this or worse.
As I close, I am looking on Twitter and seeing people post up stuff still about flipping your classroom. I could give a flip (I am trying to remain professional, but another four letter f word almost appeared). There is so much more going on in this moment, where reality matters. I was taught in grade school, you need to know your history so it does not repeat itself, especially the bad parts. I agree and yet look at tonight. We have another injustice that has been repeated! We went from being lynched by the police and crosses burned on the front of our yards to being beaten and having kill shots taken at us! My how much has history really changed overtime!