Hey America,
Yesterday was a bad day. Come on, don't pretend like you don't know. Yes, Eric Garner and the grand jury deciding not to indict the officer that put him in an prohibited chokehold and then killed him. Yes. Killed him. It was ruled as a homicide by the chief medical examiner and it was all caught on videotape. The poor man was pleading, saying, "I can't breathe," while 5 policemen smothered him and the EMT's that responded after his death might as well have cracked open a beer and just give each other high fives over his body. They didn't do enough. And that's the problem. Not enough is ever done for us black folk. And I'm here to ask why.
Why? What else do you need from us? Huh? White America and yeah, I might as well say that because I'm not talking to Latinos or Asians and certainly not Native Americans. Nah. I'm talking to y'all. Not everybody, because I know that there are some allies in this movement and people who care. Just some people. I understand that your white privilege gives you certain amenities. Like not having to deal with this. I know you don't have to worry, for the most part, of your uncle, dad, brother, son getting gunned down by the police. I get it. But we are all Americans, right? We the people, all equal or something like that? Don't you care what happens to us, and by us I mean black people?
You know what, don't answer that. At least not yet. I have already seen how much "caring" has been on display, especially from the police. Let me talk to you guys for a second: what the hell is wrong with you guys? What were you drinking this summer, or this year, as a matter of fact? Has it always been like this? I guess so, but with social media, its a lot easier to see it. Shooting a random kid in a stairwell in East New York. Why? Shooting a 12 year old boy within 2 seconds of getting out of the car. Why? Mike Brown. Ezell Ford. John Crawford and probably more. Why? And yes, not all of you are bad. It's a really difficult job. You are humans and you make mistakes. Fine. But when I make a mistake, it means I'm about to get cussed out by my friends for getting late somewhere. You guys make a mistake like those young black males mentioned above, and still get paid, no punishment whatsoever and worst of all? Somebody's life is taken away from a home. A loved one. A family.
That's why we need a leader. I mean for all of America, but someone that especially represents black people. A man or a woman, even though the woman would have to work a lot harder to assert her authority and gain respect from us and its because that's the bullshit patriarchal society we live in. But we need somebody who is charismatic and with class. Well educated, but not elitist. Somebody able to connect with clergy, but not be dogmatic. And no, I don't want a Martin or a Malcolm and certainly not a Sharpton. I want... no I need, sorry WE need someone new for this era. They were of the old civil rights movement. We need a leader for the new one.I'm just tired of shrugging my shoulders and rolling my eyes and saying, "here we go again." I want to believe in the justice system and believe that it will actually do right by us. I don't want to think about what I am going to wear when going outside, so as not to look threatening. I like hoodies, but those are just out the question. And don't misunderstand. Black people are fighting, tooth and nail, every day. And we will succeed. But we need help. Because we are all Americans, so we need you to step up. Everybody. Because this is a problem for everyone.So, I don't know, America. I'm pissed off, I'm scared and worst of all, I don't know whether this changes anything. That new solution about cameras on police vests obviously doesn't mean anything, there is still a huge achievement gap between white and black students,there will be more deaths of young black males and so on and so on. I'm sorry if you were looking for a nice "post-racial," ending like a Hollywood movie. There is hope and there is a light at the end, but admits all of this, it is very, very dim. That light couldn't come fast enough.
Until another black man dies, Sincerely,
An American