Days Later
Posted by Renaissance | Posted on 7:53 AM
It's Sunday. Most of the folks who flooded my timelines about Troy Davis have since stopped. I don't mind it, but I do wonder if there is anything different about their lives now that they've witnessed injustice, spoke out about it, and experienced the feelings of fear and sorrow that came with watching what unfolded.
There were so many things I wanted to say that day. All I managed to add to the twitter streams was "Don't let the fire die." A friend posted a video he created last September titled "Why Are We Not Still Angry," and I was reminded that the fire would indeed die. As images including photos of Aiyana Jones, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Oscar Grant, and Assata Shakur scrolled across my screen, I wondered if those names doomed to only be uttered by the masses in times like these. In the moments of anger, rage, hurt, protest that temporarily awaken people to what happens everyday.
Still, I couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted to say or write. My goal was not to discourage people or make them feel bad about previous inaction. My goal was not to put myself or others on pedestals. I simply wanted to say, "It is great that you are doing this now, but what next" without coming off as an asshole. I've been called that before when I questioned protests and internet campaigns against injustice. In addition to asking about next steps, I wanted to ask: "Why is this the only time we are angry?"
Last year I watched people in my hometown protest during the Mehserle trial. I was torn between being moved that they were moved to action and being pissed that there had been no real uproar about the hundreds of black men who were murdered each year in the same town.
"I'm upset at the fact that people get on soapboxes about 'the value of a black man's life' when a white cop is behind the gun, but say nothing at all when a black man pulls the trigger on another black man."
I said it and folks were pissed. Maybe my timing was off. But many of the thoughts I had about the response surrounding Oscar Grant came back as I read about Troy Davis. I kept wondering "And What Now?" While folks were questioning the value of Black life in white Ameri(insert how ever many ks you'd like)a, I wondered "what is the value of Black life in Black America?"
If we are only hurt, enraged, and moved to protest when it is an issue of white vs. Black, can we really say we value Black life?
If we do not place high value on our lives, are we surprised when others do not?
If it is true that you teach people how to treat you, how are we training folks outside of our community to treat us?
And these are not excuses or justifications, just things to think about.
I remember your sentiments during the Mehserle trial, sis. I disagreed with them then and I disagree with them now. I guess my question is, why does it bother you so much that people tweet, post FB posts, cry about the injustices of AmeriKKKa during times where it's a hot button issue? Are you assuming that their activism (or action if you don't see it as activism) is limited to what you see online, although you don't know what they do off line? I also think bringing up black on black crime does the conversation of injustice a huge disservice. On one hand we're talking about systematic/institutionalized racism. On the other you're suggesting that blacks don't value black life because of [insert whatever lead you to this conclusion]. So following your argument then America not valuing black life is ok because we supposedly don't. That's incredibly flawed to me. It's similar to the argument that black people can't be mad that non-blacks say "nigger" when blacks call each other "nigger." Silly. Also, do white folks not value white life since they also kill one another? It seems that we're the only group of people when an unjust thing occurs we slightly turn a blind eye and yell, "Self-accountability! Look at what you do to each other, it's your own fault." It's so frustrating to read and see so many people essentially question the motives of people who did get involved the best way they knew how. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. But you're right when you say we should care all the time. And the outrage over police brutality, modern day lynchings, racism, etc. shouldn't last only for a day.
And I did not realize this comment was a dern thesis. It looked much shorter in the "leave your comment" box. LOL!
I don't have a problem with people using social media to protest injustice. I think it's an excellent way to get out the word. To see the way folks responded to Dream Hampton and started calling, tweeting, etc was inspiring. Part of the reason my post was written days late is because I didn't want my thoughts to seem like an attack what people, myself included, were doing. Whether it was the first time people were being active or they were life long activists, I respect their voices and passion on the matter.
But I do question what next and why these are the only times people are enraged. I also question wording. I understand that the outcry is about institutionalized racism. I recognize that people are protesting a system encourages and enables abuse of the people it is supposed to protect. And while I could go on and on, lets just say I am very aware of our this country's history.
As I stated at the end, I am not making excuses for a fucked up system. But I do wonder what value is place on Black life. I do wonder what it would take for more people to work continuously against injustice. I do wonder why the fire dies so quickly.
I think a lot of the concerns you voiced, are things that I anticipated when writing the post. I tried to make it clear that I was not coming from that space. Maybe I need a bit more editing. Who knows.
There's more, but we're gonna have to do this over drinks and not in my comment section. Universe knows we can write on this forever.
I could go on and on about this subject, but what i keep coming back to is Love. We don't LOVE each other. So while the fight has to be on several layers and fronts, one of my focuses will be on changing how we treat each other. Something as simple as saying hey my sister what's good. Hey brother. What's good King. How you doin Queen. If it is just within my group of friends, cool. it's a start. But it is a start and change that I can see immediately. Not sure if this even adds on to the discussion, but it's what your comments moved me to say. Peace.