American Justice: In Black And White

Racial disparities in America are not an issue; however, the laws that govern our people are...

A Wikipedia search substantiates the fact that racial rioting is not new to America.  Since the early 1800s, this country has gone through over more than 120 racially motivated riots that disproportionally left thousands of minorities dead although they, themselves, were rarely the catalyst for the violence that ensued.  Tear gas, live ammunition, fires and smoke bombs seem to be "standard procedure" in instances where race is the dividing line in any given issue.

So-called Native Americans have been reduced to living on reservations.  Hispanics remain uneducated and under-employed in vast numbers.  And, history has all but forgotten that Tulsa, OK, was the first city in America to be bombed from the air -destroying an entire city of African Americans simply because they were more successful than their surrounding non-black neighbors who were jealous of their economic success.

At some point, we have to review the commonalities of these racial riots and begin to seek a real resolve.  Short-term laws and public apologies are simply "band aids" that pacify problems.  However; we never deal successfully with the problems at hand.  If America is to attempt to "fix" the issues of policing in minority communities, we must, first, change the stereotypical perception of our American minorities.

We must offer solutions for the underlying issues of poverty, mis-education, and unemployment that systematically plague communities of color and the poor.  It is necessary to deal with these issues of head first.  Policing in under-served neighborhoods (be they black, white, or brown) is the same across the board.  But, acknowledging that we have an issue with race seems to spark debate solely because few are willing to endure the initial rush of emotions that result from beginning a conversation.

Both, classism and racism combine to produce a perfect storm of mixed emotions that erupt into civil unrest.   More than any other country in the world, the "land of the free" has continually promoted racial oppression, and a segregated justice system.   Oddly enough, the only common denominator in all of these riots is "fear of what could have happened".

And our American history, as it is recorded, almost always describes the victims of oppression as people with prior police records, a menacing demeanor, or those who were "acting suspiciously".   In short, the American justice system is a direct reflection of the old adage, "He who has the gold, makes the rules".  I prefer to say, "He who has a goal, manipulates the rules...".

The 2016 election cycle has begun to chip away at the iceberg of mis-information spread across this country.  By exposing the extremist ideology of the right and left,  America is forced to have conversations about topics we have been afraid to approach for decades.  Now, daily talk shows and news outlets openly deal with educating the poor, policing habits and brutality, and the disproportionate wealth distributions in America.  But, alas, we sometimes get distracted by the more obvious themes of racism, prejudice, and fear.

 If we choose to focus solely on the symptoms of this disease, we will never find a cure.

Yes, we need to address the obvious; but, we also need to look beyond the surface issues and look for solutions that will heal this nation at its core.  To begin to end racism, we must review the issues that only exist in minority communities. Rather than ask about a symptom like "black on black crime" we should challenge the fact that there is no money for after school programs, arts and music in our inner city schools, or no job training for the under-employed.  Yet, there is a new stadium in the same neighborhood and homes are being boarded up daily.  Looking through this lens, we can begin to see why someone might feel hostile and lash out at the nearest victim of their aggression.   I, in no way, condone the behaviors of crime and violence, but we must be mature enough to question why the exist at all.

This nation is sick.  We have ingested our own hatred so many times until we now are numb to its taste. 

We see senseless deaths as a way of life and we justify ignorance as a lack of will.  Surely, there must be a remedy.  We have to begin to talk about our social ills and then, demand that the laws be changed to be inclusive rather than exclusive.  We must put aside the fear of being misled and take the reigns of our own education.  Participation in the political process is just the beginning - but showing up and being counted may just assure that some thins will begin to change...

Instead of sit-ins and marches, create bills that must be reviewed by Congress for approval.  Register to vote by the millions and participate in the political process.  Unify and boycott businesses that do not stand beside you or your community in your fight for justice.  And, finally, use the political system as an asset instead of waging war against it.   Learn the laws that govern and - if you don't like them - write new ones.

But, alas, these are just the rantings of ONE Man's Opinion... What is yours?