“All Lives Matter.” Yes, But . . .
Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell recently asked whether any of his Republican colleagues would declare, unequivocally, that Black lives matter. His Republican colleague, Matt Gaetz, countered by asking whether Swalwell believes all lives matter.
Gaetz might think he’s striking a blow for equality when he voices the “all lives” mantra, but he’s not. His inclusive-sounding sentiment is, often, not-so-subtle racism. If you doubt it, take a minute to watch this clip from NBC News.
Certainly, all lives matter. But championing the point, in our present climate, has the effect of papering over a greater, shameful reality: in America, throughout our history, it’s been clear that white lives matter and Black lives don’t.
Almost from the start, our forefathers enslaved Africans who were brought here against their will. After much of the country came to see enslavement as immoral, Confederate soldiers fought to the death to protect their “right” to enslave people. When they lost, they created Jim Crow laws to rob formerly enslaved people of dignity and opportunity.
America went on to create a “separate but equal” system that was separate, yes, but hardly equal. The country established inferior schools for Black Americans. It used poll taxes and ridiculously stringent literacy tests to keep them from voting.
