One of the things I didn’t expect to happen while starting a doctoral program was how angry I would be about…everything. The more I read, the more I learn, the more I really think about things, the madder I get. I asked a professor if I was supposed to get this angry about the world and she replied, “Oh it’s going to get worse.” Crap.
One of the biggest things to really reaffirm things I already knew but didn’t have the references to back up what I knew, was learning in depth about the systemic racism and oppression that is baked into a everything in America. Whether it is conscious or subconcious it is there and it is real.
I’m not arguing about this, I’m stating this as a fact.
Through this shelter in place order over the last two months, something has just been nagging at me and making me madder the longer this goes on. Then I read Michael Harriot’s latest post for The Root and I realized what it was, racism and oppression on display by those that don’t want to shelter at home any longer. I get it, I miss my friends and family and going beyond the 2 miles to the store, but I don’t want to die. I also don’t want to get my neighbors, friends, students or strangers sick – so I am staying home. I know it is scary but the alternative is worse.
More and more protests have been popping up all over to these shelter in place orders. What struck me is how they are mainly White protestors showing up in masks and holding assault riffles. No one has been shot, tear gas wasn’t used, no one died. So why does that bother me? Because if they were Black and showed up like that, they’d all be dead. Oh, you think I’m exaggerating? Black Lives Matters protestors have shown up in less and told by police to not wear masks because they look menacing and have faced harsher reactions.
- Image via BBC
See what I mean?
This isn’t freedom for all, only a select few. We still have a long way to go America.
Professor DWJ 