Posted on 09/04/2014 3:12:24 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It is inaccurate for newscasters to say, “In the aftermath of the recent racial turmoil in Ferguson, Mo., calm and peace has now been restored.” Peace is not the absence of violence, war, inhumanity or oppression. Peace is the presence of equality, empowerment and justice.
The truth is that across the United States of America, in the wake of the tragic murder of unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson, there are still raised emotions, traumatic stress, and serious racial disparities. Because of the murders of Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Michael Brown and many others, Black America continues to endure physical and spiritual trauma as a result of persistent racial violence, hatred and injustice.
No excuses
Let’s first be crystal clear. There is no justification for murder. No one of any race or ethnicity or religion should be killed as a result of prejudice, hatred or fear. No one acting under the color of law enforcement has the right to use race and prejudice as a conscious or subconscious basis to lynch, execute or to assassinate people.
I agree with Harvard University Law Professor Charles Ogletree when he compared the sentiment of Black America after Michael Brown’s funeral to the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. Ogletree stated, “This reminds us of exactly what happened years ago when I was a young kid to the great Emmett Till, the young kid who was killed in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a White woman.” For those us of who lived in the 1950s and the 1960s, the memories of those tragic days are still fresh in our minds.
While civil rights protest marches and demonstrations are necessary and somewhat therapeutic in response to obvious and wanton acts of racial violence, the trauma of years of witnessing injustice does have its long term cumulative effect. This is the reason that I believe we all should be careful not to allow the contradictions or the madness of social and racial injustice to drive our consciousness into self-destructive bitterness or hopeless cynicism.
Learned to cope
Joy Degruy Leary, in her authoritative book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, documents how Black Americans for generations have had to learn how to cope and transcend the social impact and cultural memories of the traumatic horrors of slavery in America. Yet, in 2014, it not just the knowledge of past that causes stress and anxiety for Black Americans, it is the present day racially motivated violence, inequality and injustice. In other words the problem today is a “Present Day Traumatic Slave System” throughout the nation that negatively and severely impacts Black American life.
Equal justice and fairness will not only benefit Black Americans, but also all Americans who value a just society that ensures equality and respect for all humanity. In November, the nation will once again to the voting booths. This should be the year of transitioning away from the politics of fear, voter suppression and racial inequity. I am hoping that especially the young people in Missouri, New York, Florida, and in all the states will continue to stand up, speak out and mobilize for change.
One of the positive results of the uprising in Ferguson was the mobilization of thousands of local young activists who cried out and marched in protest against the injustice. That youthful momentum will hopefully continue to grow into a national sustainable movement for change. We cannot afford to be pessimistic at this point. We must not permit the deaths of Trayvon, Eric and Michael to be in vain.
Ben Chaves was a “black conservative” at one point
“You put them first, and they put you last. ‘Cause you’re a chump. A political chump! … Any time you throw your weight behind a political party that controls two-thirds of the government, and that party can’t keep the promise that it made to you during election time, and you are dumb enough to walk around continuing to identify yourself with that party — you’re not only a chump but you’re a traitor to your race.” — Malcolm X
And I thought Zimmerman was found NOT GUILTY of manslaughter, and not charged w. murder.
Is this the guy who used to run the “Black Economic Times”? If so, he was at least a fiscal conservative at one point
bump
Legal analysts criticized the prosecution for over-charging Zimmerman, claiming that the probable cause affidavit did not support a charge of second-degree murder.[195][196] Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz claimed the affidavit may have been perjurious if Special Prosecutor Angela Corey knowingly omitted facts favorable to Zimmerman’s self-defense claim.[195]
Richard Kuritz, a former prosecutor who worked with Angela Corey, said the state attorney had no obligation to include exculpatory evidence in the affidavit. He stated that Dershowitz could face civil action for making accusations that Corey committed a crime. “To suggest that she’s committing any crime, Dershowitz is way off on that”, Kuritz said.[197]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin
Here’s your reality check, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. The black community makes up 12.5% of the United States population, but the Latino is 16.3%, Asian is 5% and Caucasian is 66.2%. Considering percentages and the fact that other races do not feel guilt about your perceived grievances after 149 years, do you want to provoke a race war? Be very careful what you wish for lest that wish be granted. Race wars are not civil affairs, but they are wars. Innocent and guilty people are killed in wars. War does not discriminate by race or gender.
What exactly do they want to change? Not robbing convenience stores would be a good start. Not being illegitimate would be a better one. Perhaps they wish cops would not patrol their streets at all?
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