Why Are We Still Talking About Racism In 2020?

In this modern day cultural atmosphere of straining race relations, political corruption, and flagrant social injustices, there are more examples police brutality, institutionalized racism, and domestic terrorism against black people in this country then I have fingers and toes to count. Law enforcement all across this country, not to mention the world, have been systemically abusing, terrorizing, and murdering unarmed and compliant black men, women, and children for decades, if not centuries and for the most part, white folks have stood by and watched silently. Some even refuse to watch in favor of ignoring these atrocities and sweeping them under the rug as it is their normal cultural habit. I must admit that we have had a few allies here and there throughout our struggles and protests over the years and decades, but the bulk of advocates, protesters, demonstrators, and spokespeople have all been black. And after the tragic murders of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And Malik Al Shabazz (Malcolm X), the number of visible and vocal allies have significantly decreased over the years. And in the same space and time, the number of racist bigots and domestic terrorists have remained nearly the same. Some have chosen to go into hiding and not be as proactive and vocal about their unjustified and senseless hatred of black people, but they maintain their beliefs and attitudes as well as their continued traditions of passing those beliefs and attitudes down to their children. Parallel to that, you have another group of white people who believe in their innocence of racism. They will proudly and loudly proclaim that they “don't see color”, that they have plenty of “good black friends”, and that they have never treated a black badly. Yet these are the same people who remain absolutely silent when atrocities like Rodney King, Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Ayana Stanley, Tamar Rice, Trayvon Martin, Tamika Wilson, Michael Brown, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor happen. In fact white people have been disturbingly silent about racism and absent from the aspect of the Civil Rights movement that deals with racial discrimination and bigotry. On the flip side, they seem to have hijacked the civil Rights movement, replaced black people and have been and continue to be very vocal and passionate about feminist and LGBT issues. What's so ironic about that is that there is an overwhelming abundance of black people who also support those issues.

So if you are one of the many people, especially white, who wonder why we are still having these discussions and issues in 2020, you can look to your own people, your own communities, your own traditions, and your own culture for the answers. For the vast majority of white people in this country, and sadly in the world, black people are considered to be inferior, second class, worthless and unimportant with little social value, on top of being viewed, classified, and treated as an ignorant, demonic and criminal element within society. Because of these classifications, attitudes, and labels surrounding black humans, it makes it easy for white people to dehumanize us and disregard our needs, rights, and liberties. When you have been brainwashed and indoctrinated so effectively and abundantly through false historical narratives, negative imagery via Hollywood and corporate media, and complete and utter political neglect and exploitation, it becomes second nature and habit for you to ignore and disregard the importance of the black struggle and institutionalized systemic racism. The reason that we are still having these problems and conversations in 2020 is because so many non-blacks refuse to acknowledge and accept that systematic racism and police brutality is indeed a problem and a problem for then. Because you are not black or because you don't believe that you are racist, you feel as though it doesn't affect you and it's not your concern.

You take no responsibility for your silence and your apathy. You push that responsibility off onto someone else. You say things like, "If they would just listen to the police" or "if they didn't resist" or "It's only a few bad apples". You expect and advocate that all men should teach their sons not to rape women but have you honestly had a deep, intelligent, and impassioned conversation with your children about not being racist? Do you sit down with your family members and discuss how beautiful,socially contributing, intelligent, creative, kind, generous, and valuable black people and black history is? Do you celebrate Black History Month, Kwanzaa, and Juneteenth with the same vigor and joy that black people celebrate Independence Day, Saint Patrick's Day, and Thanksgiving? Have you even gone to the African-American museum yet? I seriously doubt it. Because if you did, there would be a more understanding and compassion for black people, a greater sense of camaraderie and brotherhood between white and black folks, and we would have fewer instances of open racism and domestic terrorism against black people in this country. If black people were valued , appreciated, and loved by white people as much as white people are by blacks, then we wouldn't be having these issues. If white people truly regarded black people as their equals, as allies, as if they are brethren within humanity, if more white people would stand up and speak out publicly and passionately about the inhumane and senseless treatment that black people experience on a daily basis, if white people were to hold other white people accountable for their racism and there's silence and their apathy, if more white people did not tolerate and ignore racism, then we wouldn't be having these same issues and discussions in 2020. The fact that so many white people are more concerned about property destruction then the loss of human life is why we are still having these problems and these same discussions in 2020.

As much as you would like it to happen, the problems of racism, domestic terrorism, social injustice, police brutality, political corruption, and straining race relations in America and in the world are not just going to magically disappear and fix themselves by ignoring it or not talking about it. Black people have been dealing with these issues and talking about these issues and advocating and protesting for hundreds of years. We have been forced to live in a society and a culture of violence and hatred that was created and that is continuously fed, promoted, and neglected by white people. And until a significantly greater percentage of white people take responsibility for their attitudes, actions, and inactions, we will continue to have these problems and discussions far beyond 2020. Don’t just ask why we still have these problems. Ask yourself, what is your role and responsibility within humanity and in regards to these issues. What have you done to contribute to the resolution of these issues?