As a father of two black little boys, I can no longer be silent. Anytime a situation like this occurs (police gunning down Black Americans), people protest, people march, some dumb asses riot and tear up their own neighborhood; but what does that accomplish? How does any of that effect change; it doesn't. Not in the age of social media, memes, and apathy. None of those actions do anything, it's not the 1960's anymore; though some people want to go back further in United States history.
There are many groups that are discriminated against and marginalized in the United States (LGBTQ, Women, Poor, non-Christians, and other people of color), and yet when we examine United States history more closely, it is patently clear how Black Americans have been demonized, criminalized, minimized, and brutalized. The Untied States' wealth is rooted in the genocide and land theft of Native Americans, and the blood, bones, and souls of African slaves. Systemic racism is real and it's the core of U.S. society. Denying these facts is as ignorant as denying the Holocaust.
How do we effect change? We effect change by recognizing who and what our catalysts are and leveraging them. I'm at my wits end with tribute songs, marches, protests, and noncommittal statements from celebrities, politicians, and other people of influence. Frankly, I'm calling you out. Specifically the ones that I either identify with, voted for, or made rich by buying their wares; I need more from you. A tribute song is nice, but it does nothing. Calling on us to write our Congress people is good advice, but you need to do more. Politicians from all levels making promises they know they can't keep or pandering to your constituents, you must do more. All of you play it safe, not willing to take risks in speaking out except for the avenues you are comfortable with.
I, as a consumer, who has helped you reach the financial, corporate, power, elite status you enjoy, require more of you. I, as a constituent and United States citizen who helped vote you into office or kept you in office, require more of you. Stop hiding behind your veils of silent non committal from behind closed doors and cryptic messages relayed through media channels. Stop whining to me and others about how the corporate elite doesn't want you playing in their sandbox; right now, I don't care. At the end of the day, you're still well off. You can still get in that private jet I and other consumers help buy for you, and rent the nice cars we helped pay for; from a financial standpoint you're all good. What's not guaranteed is me continuing to help you live that lifestyle without reproach.
What I need from all of you is a public statement on how you plan to bring about change. How are you, as people of access and influence, luxuries you enjoy because of people like me, going to step up and publicly detail how you are going to help me and my fellow citizens who keep getting murdered, maimed, harassed, and terrorized by rogue law enforcement. Tell me your plan, and I will help you achieve it. We need meetings with Governors, Senators, Representatives, Attorney Generals, and others who create laws on our behalf to change existing laws and create new ones. We need you to meet with law enforcement officials and hold them to task on how rogue law enforcement members are removed from duty and can never work in that capacity ever again. We need you to meet with community leaders so we can detail programs that can be created, and/or modified to empower black youth and black families and set them on a path of success. We need you to publicly acknowledge what is happening and publicly condemn the rogue law enforcement members terrorizing our community and you need publicly detail how you plan to affect change. I promise to help you reach the goals that you detail.
Black celebrities and people of influence. The fact that some of you are silent shows immense cowardice. The fact that some of you believe that recording an inspirational song or advising us to write our congress people is enough is cowardice. Those are very detached noncommittal forms of involvement. You have money and access because of the people who don't that bought your music, clothes, movie tickets, concert tickets, watched your TV shows and purchased items you endorsed. You would not have your position without consumers like me. You now need to take a risk and use your influence to effect change. You need to risk your quests in becoming bigger celebrities and increasing your bank accounts and step up for your people, publicly. Anything you do in silence doesn't exist. I personally pledge to help you fulfill these goals.
Politicians, your position is not guaranteed. You can be voted out. If you want to keep your job, start caring about your constituents who have not empowered themselves to pay attention to you. People like me are no longer going to be silent. If you choose to do nothing, you will lose a lot of votes, and in turn, your seat. I want to know how you are going to make laws that discourage rogue law enforcement and terrorist tactics by those rogue individuals. Your lack of action causes rogue citizens to become vigilantes and target innocent members of law enforcement. This causes chaos and does not entice the law enforcement community to see how they as a whole can be agents of change and really help the communities they gave sworn to protect.
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