How Far Have We Really Come?

How Far Have We Really Come???

     When we look at the state of America today one has to ask in the case of so called black people. How far have we really come in this country with regards to race and the equitable treatment of all Americans? Is the so called black American still seen as less of a person or worse; could it be that in this day and age blacks are still view as inferior?  

     

     America has a history steeped in the ill treatment of people of color. Blacks in particular have been singled out and have many times had to bear the full brunt of the assault on people of color. America has never shown any real shame for the way it has treated part of its population. For a while America did a great job of fooling the world and tricking the people into believing that it was working to rid itself of its race problem.

     

     Now it seems we have been duped and have had the wool pulled over eyes. The softening of outward bigotry and the covert behind the scenes moves made by the racist and the bigots has been a great success. It has served to put us all to sleep and a result we lost focus. Sure there was the occasional outburst by some out of line small minded bigot who couldn’t see the grand scheme of what was being laid down by the racist powers that be. But we haven’t seen anything like what we are seeing today in many years.

    

     For almost 30 years the racist have kept their true nature under wraps for the most part. Only having as I said the occasional slip up by some meaningless pawn who isn’t fully aware of their grand plan. Meanwhile behind closed doors in the halls of power they were making laws to criminalize the behavior of the suspecting public. With the people in a deep sleep they plotted away making sure to throw us off by placing the blame on the victims of racism.

     

     I know you have heard the phrase “Playing the race card”? What does that mean? If someone is being racist against you shouldn’t you expose them by bringing it to the light? I think not because with that nifty bit of revers racism they have silenced many of us. They have trapped us in a box where speaking about racism makes you the racist. Wait a minute; how did that happen? This is one of the oldest tricks in the dirty playbook; where you force your victim to disarm out of so type of twisted shame.

     

     Now you’re the one feeling bad about responding to something that you should respond too. Whenever you are being attacked by a person who is seeking to do you or your love ones harm you should respond and only a fool would let something like that go unchecked. In my life I have never seen the bully just walk away from his victims. Action is required on the part of the person being bullied to stop the bullies in their tracks.

     

     Now I come to the solution for so called blacks in America. What can we do to get the so called white man’s foot off our backs for good? We have marched held hands sang and screamed to the highest mountains and still we are here trapped. Our ancestors have done everything one can dare to think but still no respect comes our way. What more can be done? There has to be something because who can live like this forever? Our people are shot down like dogs in the streets and where is the justice America claims to have?

     

     America has said to the world over and over again this is a free nation and a fair nation for all but we see that has never been true. No matter how many claims she makes America is still the whore that lies. Knowing this we must now search for new ways and new solutions. We can’t live off the works of our ancestors any longer. We have invoked their names and have laid claim to their sacrifices but the work of our own hands is unrealized. Sons have walked in their father’s footsteps for so long we have forgotten we have our own feet.

     With our own feet we must make footsteps that even our father’s thought impossible. Let us take all that we know of our past and of what we are today and forge a new day for our people. Let the fathers of today make footsteps and teach their son to do the same. Let us no long look to our oppressors for approval. We are our own hope for justice and equality and if we must seek someone for help let us call upon our God and our ancestor.

    

     Lastly if we have to say black lives matter then understand you have made yourselves subject to a negotiation where others have the power to say: black lives don’t matter. We have given this country power over us long enough. They will never change who they are and our concern shouldn’t be changing them. Our chief concern should be changing us and reclaiming what is our right. I tell you it is the right of every man to live free of oppression and injustice.       

Sengbe Ben Yosef…