As I'm sure many others are doing, I've been really thinking about the unfair and unjust handling of the Philando Castile case....the young black man who was shot several times by a white officer, while in the passenger seat of his car with his family, complying and doing all the things they say is right when stopped. I think this case has brought it all into perspective for me. America and maybe the rest of the world, are innately afraid of black people; they feel we are less than human and should be feared. Point. Blank. Period.
I used to think it was just folks hating black people because of greed, envy, guilt, or whatever excuse there is ..that that's what it was. Today, I feel as if the real truth has surfaced. We, black people are looked at as something to hate and fear and the world gives you the old "thumbs up" to feel that way. It's not about complying, or conforming, or staying lowkey; it's not about being productive, a good citizen, donating, protesting, marching, "playing nice". It's a deeply ingrained mindset, a belief about and against a group of people, against black people.
I'm sure you've heard the analogy about the butterfly and spider, where blacks are viewed as most view spiders...that it's ok to be afraid of spiders...and that nobody blames you for that fear. Except....
I am that spider; my brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, friends ..we are that spider. What am I supposed to do? What are WE supposed to do? Even when spiders crawl and exist in their own space, folks seek them out to destroy on sight. For no reason other than existing.
So, I again I ask...what am I supposed to do? How do I fix a problem that's not mine? How do we fix a problem that's not ours? How do I change your perspective of the spider?
No comments:
Post a Comment