Racism

Being taught American history in grade school, I remember learning about slavery, oppression, and the fight for rights and freedom of black people. The sacrifices that civil rights leaders like Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. made for justice, and much the same, activist Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. We were informed, but left naive (at least I was, or maybe the mass of white students), assuming that the lives of black and white are “more equal”, now. Like ‘Oh, hey, it’s all good now,’ the issues are “covered”- we’ve moved “past it all”. On May 25, 2020 I felt how untrue that was- witnessing the rawness of inequality that shook the world, in the very state I was raised and educated. The death of a black man by a white man; this time the PUBLIC made a movement- protesting the pain and agony that has been maintained in the U.S., partially because of societal norms, enforcing fear that has become the security of our saving grace. History is seen repeating itself. 

Etymology is the very word to define peoples development of words. Creating words, creates an agreeable language among one another. Racism is a non-existent word; that was until 1902, coined and vocalized by a man named Richard Henry Pratt. Indians were the beginning of what is continuing to this day- segregation. Pratt’s ego told himself and others, “that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man” (Demby, 2014). Following a Lead Dog or Leader(s) out of acceptance, comfort, and fear is easier than standing up for yourself and others (psychology). Unknowingly, we’ve been having this guy from 118 years ago (Richard Henry Pratt) sustain history and create a voiceless community (but not anymore). 

We cling on to these old beliefs and this holds true to this very day. Derek Chauvin was the “Lead Dog” as J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao helped Chauvin restrain George Floyd. Chauvin spent eight minutes and forty six seconds with his knee on Floyd’s neck, killing Floyd. Derek Chauvin was a white Minneapolis “police officer”; George Floyd was a black man. In the article, “The Ugly, Fascinating History Of The Word ‘Racism,’” Gene Demby, states that ”some of the worst outcomes that have happened in society have started out with someone thinking they were doing something good…that's one of the dirty little secrets of American progressivism — that [progress] was still shaped around ideas of whiteness.”

Chauvin didn’t walk around saying “I’m racist” and neither do others- nobody knows or is accused (if they are racist) because everyone has a right to their own individual thoughts. Those very thoughts, though, are larger in population than we have lead ourselves to believe- the fact that there is segregation between whites and blacks in 2020, shows the subtle Jim Crow Laws that we, again, clutch onto. Although we have made progress since the 1900’s, it’s as if we continue to stay comforted in the 1900’s old beliefs and thoughts, saying and talking about how we need to end racism, but the silence of black lives persist and end because of ‘Lead Dogs' who have and hold thoughts like Richard Henry Pratt. 

There are thousands upon thousands of research behind black history, inequality, segregation, racism…I want to make my point that we are repeating history in a millennial type of way that has been foreshadowed. Getting away from old ways, habits, and thoughts (that were accumulated by accepted societal norms) has to happen NOW with ongoing and persistent action and education- changing our ways of thinking. ”You gotta make a change. It’s time for us as a people to start making some changes, let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live, and let's change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn't working so its on us, to do what we gotta do to survive. (Tupac)”

Making life for blacks the same as how white people “get to feel” is IMPERATIVE. To even say this makes me cringe, but it’s the truth we are living. Educating ourselves and the public; no longer tolerating inequality when you see and hear it. Nobody should have to beg for their last breath- having their last breath caused by a white person with old ways, thoughts, and habits…that were unforeseen, until death given to a man who felt the weight of a knee and the silence of his own words.  

This, “well, life isn’t fair,” mentality needs to shift, as redundant phrases such as that, cause excuses for acceptable behavior and actions to treat others poorly, specifically black lives. We need equality and each other, no matter what race. Unlearning and relearning; getting out of comfort zones from what was sustainable; supporting one another; taking action. This all will take time, but it’s about time! It’s about time we make a change, an everlasting change. The Cut, has an extensive list in several ways we can do so: ‘demand police accountability from your legislators, donate, join a (peaceful) protest, offer resources to protestors and affected communities in your area, help with a clean-up effort, educate yourself, educate others — particularly if you are white, if you have kids, talk to them. 

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” -Nelson Mandela

References

Demby, G. (2014, January 6). The Ugly, Fascinating History Of The Word ‘Racism’. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/01/05/260006815/the-ugly-fascinating-history-of-the-word-racism