My first thought was "Not again".
Then, it occurred to me that Black people have been terrorized in America for a long time, yet no one ever calls it that.
Black people have been injured, raped, maimed and murdered for no reason; kidnapped, burned, buried, drowned, hanged, dragged, sterilized, infected, and used as guinea pigs for abominable medical experiments.
Black people's homes have been vandalized; churches burned and bombed; neighborhoods demolished; families ripped apart.
Black people have been railroaded and accused of crimes; unreasonably sentenced, and thousands have remained incarcerated with no hope of ever seeing the light of day.
Black people know all about being hated, unwanted, mistreated, cheated, misunderstood, disrespected, targeted--and terrorized.
Terror was legal, accepted, applauded, encouraged, and justified. Terrorizing Black people was normal. It kept Black people in line, but nobody called it terrorism.
When the humanity of an individual is not acknowledged; when people feel superior and unwilling to accept that others have rights; when people are selfish and evil, it's easy to oppress others and feel perfectly justified. I suppose Black people were supposed to be born afraid and remain afraid until death. In fear was supposed to be the Black person's perpetual state of being in many parts of America.
When others are suddenly made to fear, because of the heinous actions of a few, there are rallying cries for everyone to come together; we have to do something about it; we have to stop the senseless violence; we have to love.
When the humanity of an individual is not acknowledged; when people feel superior and unwilling to accept that others have rights; when people are selfish and evil, it's easy to oppress others and feel perfectly justified. I suppose Black people were supposed to be born afraid and remain afraid until death. In fear was supposed to be the Black person's perpetual state of being in many parts of America.
When others are suddenly made to fear, because of the heinous actions of a few, there are rallying cries for everyone to come together; we have to do something about it; we have to stop the senseless violence; we have to love.
It isn't supposed to happen to them.
When Black people are made to fear...what?...we deserve it?
We know how to handle it?
It's not that serious?
Fear is our thing?
Americans have sown and ignored hatred for so long, within their own borders, why is it ever a surprise that others have learned so well from the example?
When tragedies happen, that have been happening to Black people for eons, we hurt, cry, feel empathy and sympathy. We see the shock and disbelief and think, "We've known that grief. We've known that suffering. It's the story of our lives. Undeserved hatred is not a novel concept."
Some people who have been oblivious and indifferent to the plight of Black people don't think that tragedy is supposed to happen to them. When it does, they have no coping mechanism. They don't understand how people can be so cruel. They want answers. They want action. Black people know all about cruelty. Still we pray. Still we forgive. Still, we serve as some of the best counselors.
When tragedies happen, that have been happening to Black people for eons, we hurt, cry, feel empathy and sympathy. We see the shock and disbelief and think, "We've known that grief. We've known that suffering. It's the story of our lives. Undeserved hatred is not a novel concept."
Some people who have been oblivious and indifferent to the plight of Black people don't think that tragedy is supposed to happen to them. When it does, they have no coping mechanism. They don't understand how people can be so cruel. They want answers. They want action. Black people know all about cruelty. Still we pray. Still we forgive. Still, we serve as some of the best counselors.
We know all about being deemed inhuman, ignorant, uncivilized, thugs, criminals, and miscreants.
Unspeakable grief, and senseless violence are subjects of which we know a great deal. We've been seeing something and saying something to indifferent eyes and deaf ears for a long time.
We know that hate doesn't have to have a reason. We also know how to rise above it and continue to prosper.
Faith helps us to deal.
Now others are being painted with the broad brush of hatred.
Now others are being painted with the broad brush of hatred.
They are responding to oppression in ways that no arrogant oppressor ever likes. They are striking back--and using the very weapons of their oppressors manufactured and distributed. Oppressors fail to own that they are the ones who got the ball rolling and once it starts, it's darn near impossible to stop. "Do unto others..." is no joke.
I heard the words, "...known to law enforcement." My ears perked up, as did my skepticism. Was the alleged suspect watched because he'd actually posed a threat, or done something, or did he simply fit the scapegoat bill?
He was known. Sooooo, did someone take a break? Stop watching? Fall asleep? Drop the ball? Or was he the latest, perfect hook on which to hang blame because of his religion and nationality? Was this all orchestrated? Who is really behind the tragedy? How is it that some tragedies are immediately tagged "terrorist attacks" while others aren't?
People have been framed many times to cover up the crimes and plots of others. It's nothing new. The new kids on the block to contend with, in this century, are smart phones and social media. There are too many eyes and ears trained on everything these days. It's harder to get people to believe a lie. It's harder to just trot out a narrative and expect everyone to accept it. People are less apt to believe what they hear, and more inclined to do a little investigating themselves. Evil has to work a little harder these days to convince us that it is innocent and good. Still there are those so steeped in backward, hate-filled thinking that even wrong looks perfectly right, and worthy of their defense.
I pray that one day we don't find out that people we were supposed to trust were the masterminds behind every tragedy. I hope we don't find out that every tragedy was an attempt to push a political agenda, keep people fearful, or skew popular thought. I hope sheer greed isn't the reason why innocent people are dying.
Some things are simply too convenient. Too neatly packaged. Too obvious. Social media, with all of it's quirkiness is making us all think, compare notes, discuss, and not be so quick to believe the first thing we hear--about anything.
I heard the words, "...known to law enforcement." My ears perked up, as did my skepticism. Was the alleged suspect watched because he'd actually posed a threat, or done something, or did he simply fit the scapegoat bill?
He was known. Sooooo, did someone take a break? Stop watching? Fall asleep? Drop the ball? Or was he the latest, perfect hook on which to hang blame because of his religion and nationality? Was this all orchestrated? Who is really behind the tragedy? How is it that some tragedies are immediately tagged "terrorist attacks" while others aren't?
People have been framed many times to cover up the crimes and plots of others. It's nothing new. The new kids on the block to contend with, in this century, are smart phones and social media. There are too many eyes and ears trained on everything these days. It's harder to get people to believe a lie. It's harder to just trot out a narrative and expect everyone to accept it. People are less apt to believe what they hear, and more inclined to do a little investigating themselves. Evil has to work a little harder these days to convince us that it is innocent and good. Still there are those so steeped in backward, hate-filled thinking that even wrong looks perfectly right, and worthy of their defense.
I pray that one day we don't find out that people we were supposed to trust were the masterminds behind every tragedy. I hope we don't find out that every tragedy was an attempt to push a political agenda, keep people fearful, or skew popular thought. I hope sheer greed isn't the reason why innocent people are dying.
Some things are simply too convenient. Too neatly packaged. Too obvious. Social media, with all of it's quirkiness is making us all think, compare notes, discuss, and not be so quick to believe the first thing we hear--about anything.
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