“Oh, Let My People Go” — Dismantling the Evil Known as Racism
When Israel was in Egypt’s land
Let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
Let my people go
Opening line from “Go Down Moses,” a spiritual. Also, one of two confirmed code songs Harriet Tubman used to call slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
I am sitting here watching Ava DuVernay’s new Netflix film “When They See Us” with my teenage children. We have only completed the first episode and I am mad. Outraged, in fact.
Before discussing the film, I just want to say thank you Ms. DuVernay for making an intelligent, thought-provoking film that we can watch as a family and discuss with our teenage children.
The Central Park Five Should be Regarded as Heroes
Like so many people, I was filled with outrage after watching the story of these children, the so-called “Central Park Five.” Despite the tragic nature of their story, the family-watchable way Ms. DuVernay has depicted their story on the screen has afforded us an extremely important moment for reflection and learning.
These boys had their lives stolen from them by a racist system and some racist people. While we cannot give them back their youth, perhaps some of their pain will be assuaged by the fact that their story will help to save millions of young black and brown lives right now. These boys should be celebrated as heroes — their story will help to generate a discussion about what we need to do right now in order to prevent our black and brown children from suffering a similar fate.
It is because of their story, and Ms. DuVernay’s film, that we have this powerful visual representation of a racist system in action. This travesty did not happen in some 1950s segregated southern state. But, right here in so-called “progressive” New York City in 1989. That was not that long ago. And, more instructively, nothing has really changed. Our kids are still being rounded up today in large numbers under these blatantly racist and discriminatory “Stop & Frisk” laws and policies.
Unless we do something now to end these racist policies, in twenty or thirty years we will be watching another film just like “When They See Us,” which will depict some horrendous injustice that is taking place right now in 2019.
Remain Calm and Read “The Statement”
As we are watching the film, we are stopping frequently to discuss key points. We are also doing additional Internet research to learn more about the real story and people. Our primary discussion has focused on the tenuous relationship that still exists today between oppressed people and the police.
The film has afforded us an opportunity to talk to our children about what they should say, and more importantly, what they should not say, to a law enforcement professional. We told our kids that if they ever get stopped by the police, the only statement they should make is the following:
- I would like to talk to my parents; and
- I would like to talk to my lawyer.
No matter what the police say or do, just keep repeating these same words, over and over again, “I would like to talk to my parents and I would like to talk to my lawyer.” I also told them that it was important to remain calm in these situations. “Don’t say a thing, I told them.” “Just keep your mouth closed and read “the statement.”
Everyone in America should work to make it a requirement that before the police can question any child — meaning any human being under the age of eighteen — they must: (a) locate that child’s parents; and (b) locate that child’s lawyer or representative. And, yes I used the word representative because a child should not have to hire a lawyer if they get arrested for chewing gum or eating on the public bus or Metro system. These types of frivolous arrests really happen people. Just check your local police arrest records.
In addition to teaching our children how to respond when being questioned by law enforcement, we also need to adopt a community action plan whereby a community advocate or representative can go and get that child out of jail immediately following the arrest. I would even advocate for an Uber-esque approach whereby a lawyer or community representative receives a notice on their phone each and every time a child is arrested. That child’s representative can then just show up to the police station, find out the real facts, and then, if warranted, take that kid home — especially if the arrest is for something as innocuous and inconsequential as chewing gum on the bus.
It is remarkable that we have allowed a system that can snatch a child off the streets, haul them into a police station, deprive them of any parental or legal representation, and then place them in legalized bondage. What happened to those children, the so-called “Central Park Five,” should never be allowed to happen again.
Are you angry enough to do something? If not, you should be.
Before reading further, I would like to warn you regarding language. I was heated after watching this film. I did not want to edit out certain harsh words because I wanted to be authentic to the frustration and rage I was feeling inside.
It is heartbreaking to watch what is happening to this kids. I mean, come on. I have seen my share of racism. However, these were some ignorant as Hell, rabid, ratchet, blind, racist fools. In watching their conduct and behavior, the movie Roots came to mind.
“Roots,” both the book and the movie, were excellent examples of the resiliency of our people. Thank you to actors like LeVar Burton who continue to remind us of the power of that film.
Now, perhaps the film can serve another useful purpose, which is exposing the racism that still exists today. Look at Roots. And, then look at what happened to those five boys. Now, do some mental gymnastics and tell me what is the difference? Perhaps the racist white thinking portrayed in Roots is the mirror we need right now to show people who mistakenly believe that racism is not real that it is indeed very much alive today.
If you think racist thoughts, you are a racist
“It is entirely up to the American people whether or not they are going to face and deal with and embrace this stranger whom they maligned so long. What white people have to do is try to find out in their own hearts why it was necessary to have a nigger in the first place. Because I am not a nigger, I am a man.”
— James Baldwin
On the issue of racism, it is clear that some white folks believe that their actions are justified on the sole basis that they were born with white skin. Even despite this warped mentality, when you call them out on their racism, they will look you straight in the face and say “I’m not a racist.”
See, on one hand, a racist might be thinking: “I’m standing here taking to this black man and I am doing alright. I am having a decent conversation.”
Yeah, but what we black and brown folks know is that there is all this twisted commentary going on in his mind. Although he is standing there having a “decent conversation” with a black man, in his mind, he is also patting himself on the back for not spitting on you. He is well aware, for example, of the fact that there was a time when he would have had no problem spitting in your face if you came anywhere within spitting distance. This bottomless pit of pure hatred, evil, and ignorance is thinking that the mere fact that he did not spit on you proves that he is not a racist.
Someone needs to stop these ignorant fools and calmly say to them: “You do realize that the when we say “racist” we are referring to that racist commentary going on in your head, right?”
See, the thing all black and brown people know is that if you can think racist you can act racist. Your racist thoughts show up in a broad and diverse array of interactions you have with non-white people. You may not identify as being “racist,” but it sure does feel that way when you stop us on the street or grab your purse when you get in the elevator — for no reason other than the fact that you are white and we are black or brown.
With every single black or brown person except the ones you work with or who live in your community, you feel like they deserve the heinous things that are happening to them —because they are black or brown. Please know that the mere fact that you think this way is the very definition of racism. Moreover, the fact that you entertain racist thoughts in your head means that you are deeply, profoundly, and remarkably ignorant.
It is time for you to wake up and face your own fears, ignorance, and racist thinking. Until you face your own evil, you will continue to create the very conditions that make you afraid. Because, at the end of the day, that is exactly what racism is. It is an outward manifestation of your own fear.
You are afraid that, stripped of your white privilege, you are actually not that special at all. I know you believe that, unless you suppress us, we will “takeover.” For the record, nobody wants “takeover.” We just want y’all to stop doing racist shit.
True to the “colonizer” mentality, it is almost like too many of us have become educated and now you need to invent new ways to enslave us. And, what better way to do that than to just boldly snatch young black and brown kids off the streets before they even have an opportunity to finish high school.
I don’t buy into the narrative that all white people are racist. If you do not harbor racist thoughts and mentality, then identifying the “real racists,” and eradicating the evilness known as racism, should not bother you. Instead, it should motivate you to action. To end racism, it will take all of us to defeat all of them.
If, on other hand, you are bothered by what I say here, then perhaps look in a mirror and do some serious and extensive self-reflection. Look around you. To deny that racism exists is pure delusion at this point.
Forget “party politics.” We need to come together to end these blatantly racist laws and policies that target children.
Even for those people who do not believe that racism exists today, and that it is a thing of the past, we should at least be able to come together to prevent a tragedy like the Central Park Five from happening ever again.
And the first step towards doing that is to dismantle mass incarceration. This madness needs to stop. Full, unequivocal stop. No questions, no discussion. Just shut it down. And, the best way to do that is to stop feeding it with the blood, sweat, and tears of our brown and black children.
You might watch this film and think this is an isolated incident that happened in the past. But the truth is that these things are still happening each and every day throughout all of these United States of America. In fact, the sad fact is that many of these juvenile arrests are occurring during school hours as these kids are walking back and forth to school or going to work or doing the exact same things that other non-black and brown children are doing. The mere fact that they are standing on the corner while also being black are brown does not made them a menace. They are only kids. Leave them alone.
If your local elected official can’t figure out a way to stop the police from rounding up young black and brown children and hauling them off to jail, then you need to vote them out of office. Immediately. Forget party loyalty, and ridiculous, divisive concepts of this nature. Going forward, our vote should go to the person who will help us keep our kids out of jail.
If this country is truly committed to finally ending this “peculiar” system, then we need to start by addressing mass incarceration. Just like the previous system of mass bondage known as “slavery,” the racist individuals who support the current system of mass bondage known as “mass incarceration” are so committed to their racism that they don’t even realize that are enslaved themselves. They are slaves to a destructive and psychologically-debilitating mentality that keeps them believing in a false narrative that they are somehow “better” or “superior.”
By now, with the centuries of proven and established black and brown achievement, these people are well aware that they are neither better nor superior. In fact, the well-kept secret among many black and brown people is this: The expression of racism is an expression of your ignorance and your deep and profound fear. The mere fact that you are ignorant and afraid, and we are not, means that, in the grand scheme of things, we outrank you.
Forget waiting for these racists to wake up. Let’s just just “jump ship” and plan our own future going forward. The numbers are in our favor now. Let’s band together and send these wicked, evil, racist policies to the pit of Hell where they belong.
