When will we learn?

People seem more concerned about the burning cars and the rioting in the streets and a very well insured CVS may I add, than they do about the violence from police and the death of so many. SMH Unite in all we do!! You dont have to condone the acts to understand why its being done. Not being able to understand why it is happening and empathize with those reasons, is the real issue. Shaming our own because many are letting out frustrations? Really. Find a way to reach out and explain anger is not the key my people. Talking down on people is that crab in a barrel mentality kicking in. Thugs, idiots, hoodlums, is the language of the oppressors might as well blast off with NIGGERS…with the ER on the end (skin cringes). Uplift and teach the misguided…anything else is part of the reason why we at this point now.

Who are we to judge. Are you there? Do you live there? Do you deal with the injustices and systemic racism that happens more frequently in highly minority populated areas like Baltimore. Have you ever been pulled over and told you fit the description with your son in the car and searched while he watched because you “fit the description”. Have you ever been arrested and beaten? Have you ever had to mourn the loss of a loved one to police violence? Have you ever had to wake up and realize that you have to better 10 times better and try twice as hard because you were born with a different skin? Have you ever been harassed while standing on your street corner talking to your friends by police because it’s laws that permit the gathering of too many black youth in certain areas because it is considered as a threat. Does that not sound like the tactics of slave owners keeping their slaves separated in fear of a revolt?

I am by no means saying that those individuals who rob stores for personal profit and gain are justified but I am saying I understand the frustration of those who are protesting and rioting without the intention of looting for personal gain. What I find more disgusting than the looting is the lack of empathy from the black community and others about the reasons why this happening in the first place. A Pastor in Baltimore is encouraging those same youth to join him in finding ways to make change without violence. Question is, can change be made without the threat of violence. Is that not how America and our fore fathers fought the oppression from the British? You can look at the petty issues that the media decides to publicize or focus on the real issues. Why do the lives of the average American citizen especially African American citizens and any others of color or socio-ecnomic disadvantages matter less than anyone else.