Freddie Gray Part II- Why are we destroying our own community, they ask...
Part II- Why are we destroying our own community, we ask…
In reference to the rioting in Baltimore on April 17, 2015 surrounding Freddie Gray’s death, I feel the need to express a few sentiments regarding a statement made by the city’s mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. She stated in a press conference that the individuals responsible for the physical damage to the City of Baltimore, after the recent riots “can’t have it both ways”. She is saying that the rioters can’t say that they care about their city/neighborhood, yet at the same time be the ones to burn it down. This is where a generational disconnect is exhibited, because she doesn’t realize that these young rioters don’t care about that city. Sure, that’s where they are from and it’s where they call home, but there’s not much to take pride in when you are living around crime and poverty. These young folks don’t particularly care about burning down a CVS because they look at that CVS like any other business throughout America that exists for the sole intent of making money. They don’t value that store and they feel like that store doesn’t value them.
And yes, yes, yes; you will have some opportunists who will participate in these divisive acts of rioting and looting simply because that’s human nature and they want to exploit a situation, but the fact of this matter is that there are still young people crying out. They don’t understand or even know their history because they’ve not properly been taught about our past, nor do they have much vision for where their future is headed. We’ve had a history of such struggle, that we are so badly damaged and somewhat lost as a people; never mind the fact that there is a HUGE disconnect between multiple generations within the African American community. A race that was once so united and that banned together to communicate a silent path to freedom through the Underground Railroad of networks, is now in such utter confusion and separation, but it’s no wonder why to me. Sure, we must be held accountable for our progression as a people, but it’s important that we look at the whole picture; the cause and the effect.
A gentleman on “Morning Joe”, a news program on MSNBC stated that there is a disproportionate amount of crime in areas of color. While it is possible that one could find truth in that statement, it by far is not a standalone statement. I choose to delve deeper than the obvious surface appeal of the violence seen in Black communities and I say there’s a disproportionate amount of money in areas of color. Now this statement makes more sense to me because you have a cause (poverty) and effect (crime).
Once we can ALL admit that a real problem exists where race is concerned in this country, will we then be able to begin digging our way out of the current post-slavery mindset of a hole! Then and only then can we begin to change it. Eventually, with the darkening of the races, EVERYONE will be colored. Then what will we do; discriminate on a level that already exists in the Black community today, based on light skin and dark skin?!?! Simply put, it’s self-hatred, developed after a history of African royalty that was stripped from us, ending in oppression! But, only love can drown out hate, so it’s time to start loving one another or else we will be no better than the “massa” or overseer who created and nurtured this mess in the first place.
