Black Folks are Tired of Framing Race & Racism for Others to Understand in the 21st Century
Far too often we have to keep explaining why black folks get angry when we continually experience and witness modern day unjustifiable mass incarceration, profiling and ultimately violence.
Far too often we have to keep explaining why we are afraid. We keep hoping that "others" will understand our reality, our position, our pain. It is absolutely unacceptable that in 2013 many in the majority community still do not understand and need black folks, even President Obama, to explain "it" to them. And, even that's not accepted. Too many in the majority community actually express anger because "he's not acting like the president for all the people" or that he seems to be "chastising white people."
Far too often, we are unable to go into some public spaces, in restaurants, to the movies, or shopping without being viewed suspiciously or that "what are you doing here" look. We are "sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Far too often, we can reference America's racist past and connect that past to many recent events which demonstrates - for far too many black folks, we haven't overcome and we haven't come as far from America's obsession with race/racism as much as we would like to experience (not simply believe).
Far too often America only talks about (never dealing with) the problems of race when something 'bad' happens. The criminal justice system is plagued with racial disparities and problems. In fact, there are more black men incarcerated today, than in the 1850's. America must do more than react to the problems, there must be an ongoing process toward real solutions.
Far too often we know that those in mass media and the talking heads, have not, cannot and will not be able to rid America of its current racial issues by just talking about it. Americans cannot learn its racial past by ignoring it and disregarding it from its educational processes and institutions. Educational officials (especially at the secondary level) must take aggressive action to develop, accept and maintain curriculum that educate Americans about the value and relevance of all people - especially black folks.
JUROR B37
Far too often we have to keep explaining why black folks get angry when we continually experience and witness modern day unjustifiable mass incarceration, profiling and ultimately violence.
Far too often we have to keep explaining why we are afraid. We keep hoping that "others" will understand our reality, our position, our pain. It is absolutely unacceptable that in 2013 many in the majority community still do not understand and need black folks, even President Obama, to explain "it" to them. And, even that's not accepted. Too many in the majority community actually express anger because "he's not acting like the president for all the people" or that he seems to be "chastising white people."
Far too often, we can reference America's racist past and connect that past to many recent events which demonstrates - for far too many black folks, we haven't overcome and we haven't come as far from America's obsession with race/racism as much as we would like to experience (not simply believe).
Far too often America only talks about (never dealing with) the problems of race when something 'bad' happens. The criminal justice system is plagued with racial disparities and problems. In fact, there are more black men incarcerated today, than in the 1850's. America must do more than react to the problems, there must be an ongoing process toward real solutions.
Far too often we know that those in mass media and the talking heads, have not, cannot and will not be able to rid America of its current racial issues by just talking about it. Americans cannot learn its racial past by ignoring it and disregarding it from its educational processes and institutions. Educational officials (especially at the secondary level) must take aggressive action to develop, accept and maintain curriculum that educate Americans about the value and relevance of all people - especially black folks.
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