The Life And The Times: Race in America 2.0 Part II

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Published: Sunday, 10 February 2013 21:20
Written by Katrina Taylor

The Life And The Time: Race in America 2.0
Part II

Continued from Part I

The unprecedented amount of disrespect the first Black President has received since he was elected sums up the issue of race in America. Its institutional & systemic nature shows up in the fact that it's allowed. That people feel free to publicly engage in it is quite telling. I can’t imagine people openly carrying guns at a President Bush rally back in the day with signs about watering liberty trees with the blood of patriots. It wouldn't have happened. No way. No how.

 Yet, not only did we have gun-toting yahoos parading around outside President Obama’s rallies but Congressman Joe Wilson felt comfortable enough to yell "you lie!" at President Obama in the joint sessions of Congress. Twice. A disrespect no previous president has endured. Gov. Jan Brewer saw no problem in sticking her finger in the President's face, claiming she “felt threatened” by the President of the United States standing on the tarmac with the Secret Service all around. Yeah, because President Obama just oozes “scary black man”. Not!

The racial slurs, code words, and underlying whispers intended to stir up the devils; hate-filled missives this President takes in stride. Indeed, his cool & centered demeanor forms a political tai chi that deflects the negativity aimed at him back to those sending it, the misguided hatred in their hearts clear for all to see in contrast.

It's from these seeds of hatred, in the not-so-hidden insults that play on old memes, that murderers are born. It's a wound that cannot heal as long as the scab keeps getting ripped off by injustices & apathy in the imbalanced systems that still exist and in tilted perceptions about the sanctity of African American lives.


The More Things Change, This Looks The Same

The Trayvon Martin case, where a 17 year old black boy was shot dead by a 30 year old white man, in cold blood, gained national attention after the tireless work of black leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton. In spite of this, Zimmerman was allowed to remain free for 45 days before finally being arrested under public pressure. He was allowed bail even after he attempted to defraud the court by lying about his assets. For anyone who thinks the normal channels of justice were followed in this case, just imagine the roles reversed. If it had been a black man who killed a white teenager, the perpetrator would have had a very different experience and we all know this is true.

The Florida county police department twisted itself into knots trying to explain how they let Zimmerman go home after he'd shot an unarmed boy in cold blood. In a world where “stand your ground” is the law and a license to kill the police were unprepared to answer for murder. If it hadn’t been for Reverend Al's relentless media campaign, this case would have certainly fallen through the cracks out of public view like so many others.

Zimmerman didn’t expect to go to jail. He had every reason to believe he would get away with cold-blooded murder and were it not for the public outcry, he probably would have. These are the lethal fruits that grow from the seeds of savagery when people turn to weapons of destruction to find their salvation.

Trayvon's voice is one that made it through to us out of unfortunate many that go unheard. I'm sickened and my heart aches when I reflect on the unsung, voices of murdered men, women and children, sacrificed for the sins of sick, lost souls. The names of many of these African Americans will never be known, even though they’ve paid the ultimate price, an unearned debt that black people have paid in blood, sweat, and tears for centuries.

The kind of blood lust that causes grown men to hunt down and assassinate young boys can be traced back to the beginning days of this nation. It's a visceral urge, a reptilian response to perceived threats. Frederick Douglass lived during a time when laws gave a pass for whites to get away with all kinds of barbarity feeding the base desires of “poor white trash”. Only a small percentage of Southern whites could afford to own slaves so the majority of them were competing with an unpaid, highly skilled labor force. The only wealth the lumpen class had was the white skin used to identify them with the fortunate few who were actually running things.

While many studies have been done on the damages to generations of black people due to slavery, the angry white men screaming today about their losing their freedom pose a threat to everyone . They exemplify the damage done to whites who were encouraged to be homicidal by the system of slavery. And combined with the fact that only a few white families were made rich by the practice that was responsible for propelling the United States to the front of the global stage faster than any country in modern history only served to exacerbate the problem.

In spite of the intrinsic value of African Americans to our nation, time and again breaking down barriers, shattering the stories that defined us. Military manuals taught that Blacks "were cowardly" and "unable to follow strategy... or fight" yet blacks played pivotal roles in the Civil War, WWI & WWII exhibiting heroism in all these areas. These wars fought for and after the end of slavery were social experiments correcting the lies that had been constructed to justify slave & master races. But even though blacks made tremendous contributions in every level of society where we had access, we continued to suffer the hatred & terrorism that allowed the destruction of our communities and our lives in the decades that followed.

In the 21st century, the lives of Black boys continues to be in particular peril. While I understand that many are killed by the hand of their own -- another remnant of our racial past, too complex to address here -- the attitude that minimizes the dignity of black lives has proven to be a perilous one. Besides the blatant injustice of the Trayvon Martin case are many other suspicious deaths of black boys at the hands of white men that go without much notice.

In Arkansas, Chavis Carter, twenty-one, was shot to death in the back of police car while his hands were handcuffed behind his back. Police report cause of death. Suicide. They're sticking to that story though the questions aren't letting up. Chavis died from a gunshot wound to his right temple. He was left-handed and had no history of violence or suicide attempts. And his hands were cuffed behind his back. The Arkansas medical examiner has ruled that there are too many questions to call this a suicide.

Twenty-six year old Frederick Jermaine Carter was found hung in the middle of Mississippi field, several miles from where he had been last seen. The area where he was found had long been avoided by local blacks because of the hostile white population that lived there. When the coroner ruled this a suicide, the NAACP filed a suit citing evidence that would make suicide impossible.

Recently in Florida, 17 year old Jordan Davis was shot to death by 45 year old, Michael Dunn for sitting in a car playing loud music. The boy, laughing & hanging with his friends jammin in the backseat is now dead. Because Mr. Dunn "felt threatened" by this unarmed child in a car parked in a public place, he shot 8 times into the vehicle full of teenagers, striking Jordan twice. Mr. Dunn felt so sure of his “rights” that he immediately fled the scene, with police arresting him the following day for murder.

These are but a few of the myriad ways this malformed seed of our historic relationship plays out in individual psyches. A cesspool of emotional angst that we've yet been able to truly engage as a national discussion.

There aren't enough words, no amount of tribute I can offer that would satisfactorily fulfill the cost of treasure in Black lives throughout American history. I must add my voice and only hope to get a message across. What we do today will determine our tomorrows and I, for one, am very tired of this old battle. Enough of this already. Enough.


We Are Change: Time To Revise And Repair

It's understandable that the election of the first African American President would be the catalyst that brings these deep pathologies buried deep within our nation's id to the fore. We've never crossed this threshold before and we have no template to follow. Through current events is a revealed a historic numbness that must be remedied as we face realities long held at bay.

The son of a White American mother and an African father is the President of the United States. Much has been and will be written of Barack Obama and his exemplary service to our nation. Those of my mother’s generation recognize in him and the First Family an integrity and impeccability that was once common in black families and communities. Those who grew up in neighborhoods where the doctor and the janitor lived on the same block and expectations were raised for all the children. African Americans pushed open the doors that were closed to them through hard work and commitment to excellence.

This is the truth of Black history. A history that shows we were the best at everything we did from music, to academia, to politics and beyond. An undeniable truth that resonates in the world today.

President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama remind us of our best selves in their graceful execution of public service. They are true role models. For some people stuck in the past, it’s unbearable to face the prospect of black people as equal or surpassing them. But for the majority of Americans the First Family represents a welcome change. Hope and forward movement that includes everyone.

The President is president for the entire country and cannot be expected to repair the centuries-old struggle between the races. But his presidency stands as a testimony to what’s possible when we put differences aside and work together for the benefit of all.

The venom of the past can only fade into bitter memories if we have the courage to face the hard truths and make necessary changes.

I would guess that Frederick Douglass would be delighted by the Obama presidency and the differences between his time and now. The two share a legacy among a powerful people, an inheritance of transcendence and distinction. Their achievements in the face of tremendous obstacles tell a common story of a culture that has not only endured, but thrived against inconceivable odds. The storyline of black inferiority is a dying one as the realization of our true contribution rises to the top of our national awareness. It's a huge shift and it makes sense that some would be going nuts over it but I think most people are waiting, hungry to celebrate the unique & ancient flavors that Black people bring to the global table without the history that has so unevenly colored our view.

The world is in a time of transformation and many are experiencing their own personal journeys of self-discovery. Facing our shadows is a necessary step towards enlightenment. This national shadow of racism that has covered our hearts for centuries must be cleared and it is up to each of us to do it through the ways we choose to think and act. Shake our own insecurities and call out injustice when we see it, no matter the color of those involved.

We are, either supporting the past thru indifference & tolerance or supporting our future through introspection & self-responsibility. We have an opportunity now to do some real healing --together-- as all great movements of our united past have been won.
I am grateful for the opportunity and to be able to stand on the shoulders of great people, of all races, cultures & creeds, and to see the promise of bright horizons that we continue to inch our way towards.

Frederick Douglass accomplished amazing things during a time when black people were considered three-fifths of a human being. He, too, was a role model for many, as he walked the walk of his powerful talk.

Compared to then, the opportunities available to us now are infinite and the events of today show that we can make great strides … together. That’s the goal, I feel. To do what it takes to get past what has divided us and get to the heart of what binds us together. Our common humanity. History shows that our united state is what it takes to make this a reality.

Step by step. Inch by inch. Forward.