In the wake of Ferguson, the apologists for white racists are out in full force. You have to be black, the logic goes, to understand how difficult (and unfair) things are. Thus, the problem really isn’t racism, it’s lack of understanding. Or lack of dialogue. Or ignorance? Oh, wait, it can’t be ignorance, because that’s getting too close to “prejudice” (which is derived from “pre-judge,” or to judge while … ignorant).
On one level, there are things whites can’t easily get about being black. Being overcome by fear while in the presence of white cops is something I can get my head around intellectually, but probably not emotionally. Ditto for having to teach my kids about seemingly innocuous clothing and behavior that isn’t safe for blacks. Or hearing car door locks click when walking down the street.
But white ignorance in America goes far beyond ignorance attributable to “not being black.” You don’t have to be black to understand what’s going on. All you have to be is aware.
Hank Johnson’s recent cry for justice on the floor of the House sums it up way better than I ever could:
Men and boys killed by police.
I can’t breathe.
Impunity for the killers-no justice, no peace.
I can’t breathe.
Militarized police met peaceful protesters on their knees.
I can’t breathe.
Weapons of war-a show of force on our streets.
I can’t breathe.
Disenfranchised youth driven to violence as speech.
I can’t breathe.
Cynical media think this makes great TV.
I can’t breathe.
This cowardly Congress afraid of losing our seats.
I can’t breathe.
Half-hearted reform when there’s more that we need.
I can’t breathe.
Just thinking about the despair that this breeds.
I can’t breathe.
Black lives matter. Hear my pleas.
I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.
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Bob, please read this article written by a friend of mine, Ernie McCray of San Diego (formerly Tucson), who happens to be black and holds the record for the most shots in a single BB game for UA Wildcats: http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/12/white-power-the-missing-link-to-liberty-and-justice-for-all/. He used to write for us at Tucsoncitizen.com as “From the Soul”.
I did, Carolyn. Thanks.
Excellent piece, Carolyn…I passed it on.
Thanks Cheri for sharing Ernie’s article. He has written a lot for publications in the San Diego area, about civil rights from a black perspective. He grew up in Tucson, got his master’s degree in education here as well.