I’m trying desperately not to get miffed this evening, for no other reason than getting miffed leads to an emotional writing state where I “say” some things and I may “do” some things that get me in trouble.
With that disclaimer as my back drop for this discussion, allow me to say what’s on my mind anyway. Exactly as it comes out.
Of course, I don’t know all the details surrounding Dr. Henry Louis Gates arrest on the front porch of his home, where he allegedly was “breaking in” for a reason unbeknownst to me, however, the fact that he was his home and making a brisk attempt to make his way in to HIS own home is enough for me. So, where exactly do the police come in and why would the police appearance lead to this man’s arrest? Further, huh?
I don’t really need to see the police report, quite frankly. I have one question: did the home in question belong to Dr. Henry Louis Gates? Answer: Yes. Okay.
According to Wikipedia:
” Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. (born September 16, 1950) is an American literary critic, educator, scholar, writer, editor, and public intellectual. He was the first African-American to receive the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship, and he has received multiple honorary degrees and awards for his teaching, research, and development of academic institutions to study black culture. In 2002, Gates was selected to give the Jefferson Lecture, in recognition of his “distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities.” The lecture resulted in his 2003 book, The Trials of Phillis Wheatley. As the host of the 2006 and 2008 PBS television miniseries African American Lives, Gates explored the genealogy of prominent African Americans. Gates sits on the boards of many notable arts, cultural, and research institutions, and currently serves as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, where he is Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.”
What in the world could a 58 year old Harvard scholar possibly do to warrant arrest on his own front porch? Your guess is as good as mine, cause no matter what answer is given it won’t make no better sense. Clearly.
Of course, this particular travesty comes on the heels of the other racial travesty of that Valley Swim Club nonsense that made national news for the last several weeks.
Then of course, there’s that racial bulljank in Miami where the Confederate flag was being waved during the last Veteran’s Day parade. (I could scream, but that might disturb my neighbors and warrant my arrest as well.)
I was just speaking with my friend Peterson who teaches at a shee-shee-poo-poo University in upstate PA. He tells me his kids are catching more than a bit of racial hell from peers at their very white school. (No surprise there, right?)
I’m sorry, but are we in fact living in 2009? Has the economy crisis rattled brains in such a way that the operative response is 1950’s racial heralding?
Granted, I get it that racial heralding probably didn’t move that much prior to the economic stand off, however, you would think folks would become less ignorant with the passing of time, not more. You wouldn’t think that all we have already endured in horrible American past was just lying dormant for a big enough crisis to spin it out of control. Folks keep screaming that they aren’t racist and that we coloreds are far too quick to toss the racial card on the table.
To this I say simply. Children become biggots when their parents and parents friends and family are biggots. They get it from somewhere. The new catch phrase I keep hearing from some white folks in question is: “I’m not racist. I would never teach my kids that stuff. I have no idea where they would learn such a thing…” (Denial is a bitch.) (required reading: Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink)
At this point, if you are not one who will agree with me on this topic, you may be saying that I’m being overly dramatic about the American state of racial affairs. These are just a few isolated incidents and the fact that they seem to be happening one on top of the other is all just a bit of a coinky-dink.
Okay. So explain why still so many people of color are disproportionately put in jail for the exact crimes that their white counterparts do not actually serve any time for? Is it because White folks who get caught doing violent crimes are actually less violent than the Black folks convicted? Okay, so explain to me also why the unemployment rate is effecting and affecting people of color in far greater numbers than those of a pinker or paler complexion. Is it because the Black folk applying for jobs with the same work experience and education are somehow less worthy to work and feed their families? Okay, so then explain to me why police brutality effects and affects brown communities and not whiter ones? In denial or not, something is still very fishy in this country and until we are able to talk about it in a way that makes some headway with the problem, the problem ain’t gonna change. I’m just saying.
I’m miffed, partly because I’m tired of having to comment on such bullshit. Of course, I am aware that education has a great deal to do with the ignorance running rampant in this country. When you have no idea how stupid you’re being because everyone around you is kind of on the same stupid, you tend to think that your brand of ignorance is superior. Unfortunately, stupid is and has been a big old splintery and apparently growing stake in this country’s foot since it’s inception.
I’m just wondering when somebody less stupid will finally get the notion to pull the dang thing out so we can all move on and live the lives we were put on this Earth to live. Don’t we have far bigger fish to fry? Let’s start with the Confederate flag, shall we?
The moral of this story? I can’t call it. Just some food for thought. Thank you for reading this though. Peace and abundantly “racist free” blessing. Dang. -e-