“HATE, it has caused a lot of problems in this world, but has not solved one yet.” Maya Angelou
Next week, May 25th will mark the 2nd anniversary of George Floyd’s unnecessary death. Although the officers, in that case, were convicted, racism and hate incidents against Blacks are still on the rise. As evidenced a few weeks ago, when a racially motivated shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York, at a supermarket in a predominately Black neighborhood. Thirteen people were shot, 10 killed, and 3 others were injured. Eleven of the victims were Black. The shooter? He was a hate-filled 18-year-old white boy who live-streamed the entire massacre. I couldn’t help but wonder, what experiences he’d encountered that would cause so much hate? What did he see? That’s simple. He felt comfortable HATING because he recognizes that this country CO-SIGNS HATE. He understood that the atrocities and injustices against Blacks, were woven into the fabric of this country and that his actions would probably get him a hamburger and eventually a not guilty verdict. After all, it’s happened before and will probably happen again because this country CO-SIGNS HATE. Do you believe this country CO-SIGNS HATE? YES, I ABSOLUTELY DO!! So, for this week’s blog, let’s talk SHIP about how this country CO-SIGNS HATE!!!
To CO-SIGN something means to agree with or to endorse; to go along with someone else’s lie or to corroborate a lie; to cover for. “HATE” and “Racism” are simply the negative by-products of a country that for years has CO-SIGNED HATE by systemically denying inclusion to all of its citizens. This nation’s white supremacist founders created this country based on freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness for ALL but never intended to afford these opportunities to Blacks. Nowadays, it’s their great, great, great-grandsons and daughters, through their occupations, who spend their time and energy ensuring that those opportunities are still being denied. In essence, they continue to corroborate the superiority lie which in turn, CO-SIGNS HATE and creates racism in this country.
Each and every time, this country turns a blind eye to the injustices imposed on Black people, it CO-SIGNS HATE. When this country doesn’t take action to nip racism in the bud, it allows conflict to fester and grow. It CO-SIGNS HATE. When a corrections officer is suspended but NOT FIRED for posting a meme mocking the mass shooting on his Facebook page, it sends the message that it is acceptable. It CO-SIGNS HATE. When a professional baseball player makes an offensive and racist statement to a Black player and the MLB takes no action, it sends the message that HATE is tolerated. It CO-SIGNS HATE. Through its not guilty verdicts, this country CO-SIGNS HATE. When a man who kills a kid holding a bag of skittles is found not guilty, it CO-SIGNS HATE. Each time a police officer is found not guilty of killing unarmed Black men and women, it CO-SIGNS HATE. When a judicial system continues to wrongfully convict innocent Black men and women, it CO-SIGNS HATE. When a government creates policies and laws attempting to stop Black people from exercising their constitutional right to fairly cast their vote, it CO-SIGNS HATE.
Can HATE be stopped? In his book Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela states…“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” And I agree, that HATE is a learned process that this country needs to address. If we can put a man on the moon, we can invest in making this world a better and safer place for all Americans. If we can bankroll money to provide peace for other countries, we can prioritize peace in our communities.
It’s heartbreaking to know that people who were picking up groceries from their neighborhood grocery store lost their lives because someone HATED the color of their skin. As a country, we need to vote out racist politicians. In this country, we need to start teaching tolerance, acceptance, and love. Because when we do, we will finally STOP CO-SIGNING HATE!!!
SHIP TALK: Do you believe this country CO-SIGNS HATE?
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