I just don’t know what to say, but I have to say something. I am sad. I am angry. And I am outraged. Yet another black man has been murdered by the police. What sickens me most in watching the video is seeing that cop, with his hands in his pockets at times, just defiantly stare at the camera while he casually murdered a man. That man was George Floyd. He mattered.
It should leave all of us angry. But, I’m afraid, it doesn’t. What people are now starting to focus on is the result of that anger. The riots, the destruction, the violence. People don’t stop to think about how this is a result of systematic racism, oppression, and yes, murder, of a people. Only so much can be taken before it starts to boil over.
And then I question, would this violence have happened if the Minneapolis police didn’t fire tear gas and rubber bullets into a peaceful demonstration. Because that’s what it started out as, a peaceful demonstration. It’s possible that the late-night riots would have started anyway, but we’ll never know because a peaceful demonstration for justice by black people was given less leeway than the anti-stay at home demonstrators who showed up with guns and demanded their rights.
Think about that. Black people demonstrate for justice. White people demonstrate for their rights. And one group thinks their rights are more important than the rights of the other. And isn’t it a shame that history continues to show this as the “awful truth” of our country?
I pray that my nephew, a police officer in New England, takes the correct actions while at work and comes home safe to his family each night. Then I think of his sister and how her three youngest children will have to have “The Talk” from their father. Sadly, that will be the day they realize the world will not treat them the same as their older brother and sister.
Read A Decade of Watching Black People Die.
Watch and be uncomfortable with the truth.
I’m right there with you.
So much the same.
Well spoken and written. I appreciate your comparison between black people protesting for justice and white people for their rights. I hope your nephew and family will be safe. Thank you!. I have pinned this to my Pinterest board.
This is both horrified and saddened me. I agree with all you say. I just hope this changes are made as a result but I’m not holding out hope #MLSTL
I’m in Australia and seeing all that “unfold” over there has been heartbreaking and a little frightening. I had hoped that this pandemic would bring out the kindness and humanity in people – and it did briefly – but now things seem to be more awful than they were before. Our world is a sad place indeed atm.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM ?
It’s all so sad, and history keeps repeating itself. It’s time for real change. So I look first at the only person I can truly control and that is myself. What can I do? I honestly don’t know the full answer to that question. I will start with deep listening and reading “How to be an Antiracist.” I will keep an open mind and allow myself to feel uncomfortable. Change is uncomfortable. I will take a very close look at the candidates I support and vote for. I will continue choosing love over judgment and spreading kindness. It’s a start. It’s what I know how to do today.
May all beings be safe. May all beings know happiness. May all beings be as healthy as possible. May all beings feel at ease. Namu amida butsu.
It is sad, it’s horrifying, and we do need to change. I just started reading Me and White Supremacy. Will you be sharing what you learn from How to Be an Antiracist?
What horrifies me most is the look on that cop’s face as he snuffs out the life of George Floyd — almost proud, like he’s performing some clever parlor trick. See what I can do? See what I can get away with? If it wasn’t for that person’s video, he’d be free today and I doubt even fired.
You are so right. I think back to years before social media when we would rarely hear about things like this and because we only had the word of the police we’d think the cop must have been justified. But social media has shown us that not only are the cops not justified but that it’s happening more often than we used to know about.
It’s unbelievable that this is still happening in our country and it only seems to get worse. More and more hate groups are coming to the surface while lawmakers, greedy to get their agendas passed through, keep their mouths shut. Some offer words of “concern” but most have nothing to say.or change the subject at every opportunity.