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In reply to the discussion: Telling black people to 'be nice to cops' to prevent being murdered is evil as hell [View all]Blaz
(2 posts)I
The Necessity of a 21st Century Montgomery Bus Boycott
We are African-American parents of a 33-year-old intelligent black man: Georgia Tech Ph.D in electrical engineering, married to a beautiful black woman, also Ph.D Tech credentialed (Computer Science) with a 2-year old daughter. But our main thought yesterday as they all traveled by car on interstate highways, was to drive the speed limit, be careful and for God's sake don't get stopped. Our fear now is that a cop will see their brown faces first and ask questions later.
As retirees, we have watched hours of news coverage of last week's horrific events; and we mourn and pray for both sides' families: that is the problem, that there are sides. In the aftermath of the murders of innocent civilians and the officers, millions of words of analysis have and will be spoken and written and we are convinced absolutely, positively nothing will change.
First, we know that thousands of police officers will converge on Dallas from around the country for the funerals of their brothers. There will be no similar presence at the burials of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile; only their families and local communities. Second, civil rights leaders will demand and likely get meetings with Washington politicians regarding (still more) legislation to address this tragic national divide. Compliance will occur except for those worried about a backlash of Willie Horton-style campaign ads that might link them to Black Lives Matter. Third, some version of a Civil Rights Police Community Relations National Commission will be convened. After months of study, a report, ironically including the millions of words and filled with the statistics we already know, will be issued. The most important content will be that police murders are down and police killing of black and brown citizenry statistically disproportionate to the population is up: Commissionspeak for it does not happen to white people.
We believe that America, as a nation, refuses to recognize a fundamental truth, i.e. that racism is an essential part of its (a)moral fiber; the result of the history of slavery and its aftermath. Racist ideals not ideals of fairness and opportunity for all were part and parcel of the post-slavery legacy and have been passed on to every succeeding generation. Ever since the unrequited Confederate rallying cry, of the South will rise again, found its answer in the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, not Mississippi the stain of racism has infected all of our institutions. It had the stamp of legal authority in Congress and the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, and all levels of government; and was manifested in our practical daily lives in housing, education, the job market; even in entertainment and the arts.
A solution? The appeal to walls and divisions by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and the gleeful response by his audiences does not bode well for an honest examination of the national collective soul. No, what the good old USA does collectively understand and respond to is its wallet. IF for just one week, not one black or brown person shopped at Wal-Mart none, zero -- we think the store would notice. If the following week, no one went through Target's doors, it would also take note. Home Depot, Dollar Store, Costco racism has not made most of us customers or employees - at more upscale brands. Targeted, rolling, economic action, week in and week out, until some concrete action was taken. The white men (because that's all that's there) in those corporate boardrooms would soon be on the phone to Washington, and something would be done. We are certain that is true because whites do understand the power of the almighty dollar.
Unfortunately, we do not have the leadership in place to command the respect of our population and/or to organize and direct the multibillion dollar impact we have on our economy. In the meantime, these two retirees will continue to hope and dream of a better day for their granddaughter.
Lonnie & Rosalia Parker, Pittsburgh, PA