Why do people who disagree seek out articles to troll? If you don’t agree, just keep scrolling. Do not dare try to delegitimize her feelings with your own hateful rhetoric.

I have such respect for your open vulnerability on a heated topic, Mandela Schumacher-Hodge. I apologize for ignorance like this. ^^

One of my BLM friends on social media is what some would consider very “radical.” I often question if I should or should not respond to him…

He posted this status today: “ I don’t care what you all are saying. There’s no way we can be pro-black lives AND pro-police. Not if we’re being honest. How we gonna be pro a system designed to protect and serve white supremacy?”

I typed out an entire reply, or rather multiple questions (since this is a time of fear, confusion, and uncertainty for many):

“I was really having mixed feelings on all this. Each and every-time I speak out for BLM, my white friends who either have police officer relatives or just whites in general who take issue with the very real term ‘white privilege’ have some rant/antagonism inciting fit on my wall, shared articles, or whatever.

Today this thread made me start looking up the actual origins of American police history; I was also of the mindset that those who are innocent police officers do not deserve eye for an eye treatment & wonder constantly how black police officers are in fact coping with the events in our country now; I also had conflicting feelings understanding and even sympathizing with perhaps violent/ angry BLM activists who are feeling that marching and peaceful MLK like protests are not getting the message across like an Malcolm X or insurrectionist mindset might… I came across this & definitely now want to continue learning more: http://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/brief-history-slavery-and-origins-american-policing. I ignorantly only was aware of the Fugitive Slave Act & slave catchers; I can’t believe I never heard of the term slave patrols, who turned to southern police officers and the KKK when their numbers dropped when white men were being called to the southern militias.

I think reading and being open to listen/ accepting multiple perspectives about other races and their cultures is the only way we can hope to bridge the racist ocean of difference in this country. As a teacher, it saddens me when people refuse to even think about learning about other people’s perspectives. I learn and my ideals and things I care about become more and more nuanced daily.”