Michelle, I, too, have been asking this question.
I agree that we all of us should continue pushing for legal and political reform — the people with the money have far too much control. That said, I have very low expectations for this one. People have pushed and shoved here, there and everywhere for as long as there have been people, and the rich still rule. America’s neither the best nor the worst, overall, but progress is slow and sometimes goes backward.
What should blacks do collectively? In theory, not a Damn thing. Y’all have been done everything in your power for centuries now, and been more than patient and fair. Of course, patience and fairness mostly just makes it easy for society to be complacent, for which as a member I can only apologize.
At this point, whites really need to do the heavy lifting if we want to make things right. Please trust me, many do. Racism, while weighing far more greatly on black lives, is something many whites struggle with, as well. But while many of us are out protesting, voting liberally, and lighting up social media channels with our shared outrage, there’s one single activity that doesn’t happen nearly enough: TALKING and LISTENING to each other.
See, here’s the thing. Of course there are racists, of course there are those who don’t want to cede any power, but I believe the biggest issue is Fear. Most white folks don’t really know any black folks. To many white minds, most black folks are just what they see on the news: criminals, welfare recipients, foul-mouthed rappers…I’m sure, Michelle, you are more than aware. And All black people are still angry about slavery — they might even hurt us!
Our country is much more integrated now than it was when I was a kid a half century ago. We often live in the same places, we go to school and work in the same places, we shop and eat in the same places. We exchange pleasantries, we sit on the same committees and the PTA, but we don’t Talk.
What if we whites brought cookies to our new black neighbors, and then stayed to get to know you a bit rather than leaving the plate on the front door step? What if we didn’t just smile at the picnic, but asked you what you did and didn’t like about the neighborhood — Really? What if we asked whether you’d encountered any racial issues in the area that we could possibly help with? What if we told our black coworkers that we’re sad about the latest violence, as well? That we fear for your children? What if we — gasp — dated, and congregated, and actually talked about things that mattered?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few black friends who were willing to trust and confide in me. To tell me what it’s like to be the only black person in every room. To serve as the representative for an entire race. To constantly fight the misconceptions, every damn day of their lives. I’ve felt honored, but more than that, it creates a bridge to communication and understanding. And what I’ve ultimately found in my black friends is…myself. Mothers, fathers, scholars, athletes, cooks, artists, gardeners…we all worry about paying for the next new roof, keeping our kids out of trouble, losing ten pounds. And absolutely nothing to fear. Talking, and Listening.
I’ve rambled on far longer than I intended, but I really think the simple act of communication would go further toward repairing the divide than anything else we could do. In any case, thanks for your article, and I’ll continue to ponder the issue as too many of us have for far too long. We need to fix this.
