I usually do not post overly political posts on this blog. I try to keep the majority of my content here light and fresh. But the ongoing events in Ferguson, Missouri have had me anxious and edgy for days. I grew up in that area and in an adjacent town. While I no longer live in the St. Louis area, I am just flabbergasted at how divided our country has become in the past week following the police shooting of Michael Brown.
In fact, this past week has shown us that racial tensions are still among us, lurking in the shadows, waiting to rear its head. This past week has opened old wounds of very real and very racial issues in our recent past: the beating of Rodney King, the OJ Simpson trial, Trayvon Martin’s death and subsequent trial. Americans, especially fair-minded white Americans, wince in revulsion at the horrible crimes of the past. We thought we were past this.
Still, during the peaceful protests and uprising, we as a nation must face the mockeries of injustice from our past. We must face the emotional agitation of real and perceived oppression that is still very present in the Black American experience.
History holds a mirror in front of us. And despite and because of what history has taught us, we are horrified to look at this.
To admit that there is oppression is to admit to an ongoing injustice and divide. It causes us to admit that the world we see is much more disparate than previously perceived. Acknowledging that history is not in the past and that social and economic divides continue to exist is both uncomfortable and terrifying. It leads us to question our principles and ethics that many of us are not ready to face. There is considerable resentment at one’s personal character, at the systematic oppression, and the inconvenient truth.
We should teach all of our children to look ahead with the knowledge of what has happened in the past. To grow and learn from our past, welcoming new ideas without inflexible reactions to difficult racial issues. We should teach this generation and generations to come to care about the welfare of ALL the people of this nation. To create and respect an environment of equal healthcare, housing, education, employment, civil rights, and civil liberties for ALL citizens blessed to call the United States home.
We should also teach this generation and future generations to expect and hold our government accountable to act as a compelling force that creates and encourages the common good of citizens of all races, genders, ages, and religious affiliations. That it should operate as a safety net, and afford opportunity to everyone equally.
While none of us knows how the coming days in Ferguson, Missouri are going to play out, it is our responsibility to help our civic leaders build a better tomorrow. It is our responsibility to face the demons of our past racial history, find a solution, and stop the cycle of violence.
Well said!
Since people who do not live in the region receive most of their information from news outlets, it is also very interesting how the media is handling this incident. I’ve been seeing a lot of interesting dialogue questioning the portrayal and representation of the facts. It’s an all-around sad situation.