Many Americans are encumbered with optimism by the historical election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the Western Free World. Some people, black and white, believe that the election marked the onslaught of Armageddon for racism in America. Black’s are holding on tight to the mirage formulating in the distance that the paradigm of race in America has truly shifted. While White’s are under the guise that Black’s no longer have any excuse not to thrive in the greatest democracy and economic power known to man. Unfortunately while these day dreamers are lost in translation Blacks continue to be the object of racist doings every single day.
I cannot and will not ignore the progress that America and some of its citizens have made in the last 50 years as it pertains to race relations. However, even in my own youth find it appalling that my living parents and grandparents maturated during a time in America where hate pulsated throughout this country. The success of Blacks was stifled by laws and racist societal pedagogy.
Fast forward to the year 2009 and even with a man who identifies himself as an African American serving as president, we still have not reached the much talked about promise land. Notwithstanding the facts surrounding the arrest of prominent scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. I am disgusted and disturbed by the comments my fellow man. Several are quick to dismiss claims of racial profiling and hail jokes of calling off Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton before things get out of hand. Others frantically try to defend one the shining jewels of the African American population. I in the midst of all this ambiguity and discourse I find myself contemplating a few things: First, is it possible for two people to be neighbors and mistake each other for a burglar? Second, should society not see anything wrong with that? Third, will “we have a black president for goodness sake” always be the response from the majority when a racial injustice occurs or a Black person makes a mistake?
I then find myself having a mental argument on whether or not racism has change drastically since the most memorable Tuesday in my lifetime. After only a few seconds I conclusively say no. This finality of thoughts is based on firsthand accounts of racism. Just three months ago I witnessed a white office arrest three black men on a crowded sidewalk outside the front door of a closing bar crawling with nearly 400 drunken non-African American patrons. I guess they were in the “wrong place” or perhaps they were significantly more intoxicated than all of their white counter parts. Then I recollect a mere two days ago as I exited the law school and had a white gentleman shout at me and several of my classmates, “all the white girls were dating all the niggers. You niggers.” I refrained from responding and encouraged my African American classmates to let it go. I secretly wanted to respond, but honestly feared a confrontation would result in my own trip downtown. Ironically, the gentleman was arrested and as my classmate looked on he shouted to the police officer he called us niggers. Unfortunately, the police office had very little interest in my classmate’s feelings and quickly dismissed his comment.
I know things are a lot better than they have been, but this place is still not perfect. Racism is not dead. Hate still inhabits the hearts of millions of people. White privileged is real and Black oppression weighs heavy on the lives of Black America. Keep on Pushing and Protect the Investment.
