Remaining Rational in Hard Times..

Hello, everyone. I've been meaning for a while to weigh in on what's happening between my people and law enforcement in this country; but finding the words has not been easy, so pardon me if I ramble here. As these events unfolded, I made sure to remember that whatever I saw on T.V. was not to be taken at face value. The media has a knack for making things seem much worse than they really are; I was not going to allow myself to become incensed and lose my train of thought (although it hasn't been easy). As you already know, our nation was just recently starting to heal from the slap in the face that was a certain grand jury's decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown. Tears were shed, expletives were hurled, small-scale riots broke out in the city, but things were just starting...JUST starting to cool off...when this happened.

The policeman who placed Eric Garner in a life-ending choke hold was not indicted. He walked free. Needless to say, the fresh wound of injustice created by Darren Wilson walking free was ripped back open. People are currently protesting in New York City--blocking streets, marching, and shouting their demands--and no one should be surprised. 

My barber said something a few months ago that I initially laughed off, but it seems less ludicrous as time goes on; he said that this recent string of black murders (Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, etc.) is the beginning stage of what will eventually explode into a race war in this country. And by "race war" he meant just that; blacks and whites arming themselves and taking one another out on U.S. soil until only one side is left standing. Pretty scary stuff....but it seems less crazy now than it did then. 

That's one reason I'm writing this post. This is my attempt, however small it may be, to restore some rationality in this crazy period. After much thinking about what's happened these past few months, I had to ask myself "what is this really about?" 

It's not about "Black vs. White" 

And it's not about "Black people vs. The Police"

Read the story HERE

No, it's silly to believe that all white people are racist; and despite what's happened in recent months, I still believe that we NEED law enforcement in this country. I guarantee that America's policemen have PREVENTED way more murders here than a couple of nutcases with badges have committed. To say that all policemen are bad is no better than for them to say that all black people are bad. Simple.

No, I've come to the conclusion that the problem we have is an overarching mentality in this country regarding people of color, black men in particular. We've been portrayed so negatively for so long in different forms of media, that we're now starting to see just how hard of a time some people are having separating us from those stereotypes. When we were first brought to this country, we were animals suited only for slavery, after that we were hedonists with no self-control, looking only to satisfy our lust for white women (Seriously. Watch this), after that we were second-class citizens who were allowed to live in this country so long as we "stayed in our place", and NOW we're thugs and hoodlums who may harm you or steal your belongings depending on what mood we're in. 

And that is what will have to change before any real progress can be made. I won't pretend to have all the answers. Because I don't. Not even. But I recently came across an interesting editorial which highlights the power of "art over argument." I urge you all to read it and share it (HERE). Basically it explains that art has much more influence on people's behavior than most might think. Slavery was not considered a national abomination until Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and threw the whole country into a rage. The year that Disney released "Bambi," deer hunting fell from a $5.7 million business to a $1 million business. Just that quickly. ART INFLUENCES PEOPLE. So one solution that I propose is that we, the black community, see to an increase of art that paints us as we really are--powerful, intelligent, compassionate human beings with hopes and dreams just like everybody else--so that the nation as a whole will see us as such and maybe one day stop being so afraid of us. I realize that not everyone is artistically inclined, and that's fine. But those of us who are must accept that we walk with a stigma, one that we must erase if we want to make this country better for ourselves and black youth. It's our responsibility. Let's get to work. 

P.S. Rest in Peace Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old who was shot and killed last month for walking down the street waving a toy gun. Sleep now. (Read here)

- Nick G.