the files of nukirk

Background: It’s a reply to a Google+ posting. Since it’s public, here’s the whole post. This is a reply to that post and it’s posted as is, saved for the blockquotes. Refer to the post on G+ to get the full background.

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First off, I’m starting to notice that you (are) doing something that white people tend to do… focus on the BIGGER picture here. We’re talking about a crime. I am not saying I don’t want to talk about the bigger picture, I just wanna focus on the CRIME aspect here. Let’s keep it on the crime, which is what this white girl and this whole conversation is about, okay? Ground rules. The minute you don’t focus on crime and try to take it outside of crime and criminal laws, your point becomes moot. So keep it on the crime.

Do you see how thoughts such as “a* white person can’t relate to a black person, ever.*” are firstly, confusing without being fully unpacked and also antithetical to any sort of understanding on this issue? Must EVERY individual’s story, experiences and understanding be shaped first and foremost by whether that person is black or white?

When it’s a white on white crime, it becomes about the person. When it’s a black on black crime, it becomes about the person. When it’s a white cop on white person crime, it becomes about the person. When it’s a black on white crime or a white on black crime, it becomes about the WHITE person. When it’s a cop on black crime, it becomes about the COPS. 

I am not saying that every story needs to be highlighted as a case of racial injustice, but when you hear the details of the case, you can’t help but wonder.

Why is Trayvon Martin’s case is being heard loud and clear? Because a purple man killed a black boy due to a law. The purple man uses excessive force and killed the black boy, even thought the police told him NOT to go after him. Then the whole investigation sounds mishandled, which means no one will truly know what happened. However, he killed a boy armed with only candy and ice tea. Not a bat, not a bo, not a sword and not a knife. Not even a slingshot (which can be deadly in the right hands.)

So basically, this purple man killed a boy that was a threat. What was the threat? Please answer that… wait…

… before you answer that, look at the comment to +Mike Banks. Can white people relate to that situation? Hardly.

(You will need to refer to the G+ Posting to see the comment)

Individuals dehumanize people to make them into “others”, in order to (among other things) apply alternate standards of justice, fairness and equality to them (separate yet equal) and feel okay about it. To de-humanize someone is a start toward treating them…well, less than human. Humanizing other people is paramount toward understanding them. When you humanize someone then you can think of them as a fellow human being who deserves the same treatment as yourself. When someone thinks things like “a* white person can’t relate to a black person, ever.*” They immediately throw out the door ANY chance of understanding and reconciliation. In that case being human is not the first and foremost criteria for understanding between the people involved. Instead, race is most important and why should anyone (black, white, purple…) attempt to have this conversation if they will never be able to relate to the other involved?

White people can’t relate. They simply can’t. Why? Because white people gets to be NORMAL.

The white experience is that you will never be seen as a threat. If you go anywhere in this country, you will be white. In New York, you’re white. In California, you’re white. In Arizona, you’re white.

The black experience is like this… since I’m black I will tell you. I’m in New York, living in sub-urban white areas. Cops pulled me over for not matching with the area. In California, I’m a black man from the East Coast. In Arizona, I’m a questionable legal immigrant that must walk around with my birth papers to prove that I’m American.

I would argue that it is impossible to deal with this issue without any sort of relation to the other group. You must find somewhere to relate and the commonality of being human seems like a great place to start to me. Ideas like “a* white person can’t relate to a black person, ever.*” just perpetuate the assumptive and stereotyping approach.

A white person can’t relate to black people’s issues because they have an option to AVOID the issues. 

If you don’t pay attention to the issues, it’s fine. The system doesn’t want to hear you. It wants you to compile. If you do pay attention to the issues and side with Zimmerman, your action seems racist (I am not calling you racist. I am saying that the action of SIDING with him seems racist.). If you side with black people, but you’re saying “I am Trayvon Martin”, you’re a “white savior”. Why? Because you are blind to the fact that the laws will protect you and that black people are looked at as less than human. 

If you don’t think so, then why is this topic covered as a “black interest” story instead of an “American problem?” There are people who don’t wanna hear the story because it’s “a black related story”. Real people are saying this! This is an “American problem”, but white people think “nothing is wrong with the system” or they are just being silent, which is just as BAD. 

So, how do white people win without looking like douches? 

Admit they have privilege. 

The very laws that are protecting you is meant to protect white people 9 out of 10 times. See how Zimmerman is free to walk? It’s because the law protects him. He killed a black boy, but the laws protected him from staying out of jail until people who interpreted the law says otherwise. A black man doing the same thing will be in jail until trial and this will not even make it to front page… and rightfully so. Because the black man took away a purple man’s life. 

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Do you not agree with the above quote?

I am sure you do agree. So why should anyone pass judgment on someone’s ability to relate to another human begin based solely on the skin color of those involved?

Exactly, we shouldn’t.

Which now brings me to the kicker… the MLK “I Have a Dream” speech that you so choose to end this conversation piece with. People like to highlight only Martin Luther King’s famous speech and neglect the other speeches or sayings. So, allow me to add some other things he said since you enjoy MLK:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Black people that will continue to speak out and certain white people like Tim Wise can see the bigger picture. They are working toward’s getting us one step closer toward MLK’s dream.

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

When white people are silent or ignorant, it’s more deadly. When white people forget they privileged, it’s deadly. When they won’t acknowledged that the system has and always been racial, things won’t change. The history books has shown time and time again it’s not a white man’s problem until it’s a black person’s problem. Cocaine was one legal in the US. Then they banned it from black people using the stuff first before a nation wide banned. Now, this subject goes beyond the scope, but it’s one example of how the laws benefits white people.

And finally…

“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Study on your own. Because as black people, we’re tired of teaching and defending this. We’re getting tired of proving that we’re human beings. We bleed the same color blood, and yet… only less than 5% of the white population will even attempt to understand.

How DARE you use MLK’s quote and not totally understand what he meant, sir? How dare you.

So, with all the talking about George Zimmerman and people playing the “Not A Racist” card, I decided to start a petition to get video blogger and Hip-Hop Intellectual Jay Smooth. You might be wondering… “Why Jay Smooth?” Here are a few reasons:

First off, Jay Smooth doesn’t represent ANYONE. Not George Zimmerman, not Trayvon Martin. Sure, he’s for Trayvon Martin, but what makes him different is that he’ll focus on one thing and one thing alone… the actual crime. Right now, mainstream media is breaking things down and inviting people to speak on behave of George Zimmerman, and they are saying “he’s not a racist”. I think Jay Smooth will be able to use his message to bring back to the forefront what is important.

The video maybe dated, but his information on how to handle things is still revelent, even up to today!