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As requested Roger, my appraisal of the Black Lives Matter movement. Thanks again for wanting to know my thoughts on it.
I can only hope I do it some justice:
As requested Roger, my appraisal of the Black Lives Matter movement. Thanks again for wanting to know my thoughts on it.
I can only hope I do it some justice:
Elaine, Arkansas 30-31st Oct 1919.
Picture the scene. KKK vigilantes and other pockets of white gangs, aided by Federal Troops, go on the rampage, having convinced themselves of an impending insurrection by the predominantly black population of the rural community.
Picture the scene. KKK vigilantes and other pockets of white gangs, aided by Federal Troops, go on the rampage, having convinced themselves of an impending insurrection by the predominantly black population of the rural community.
The Backdrop:
Demobbed soldiers from WW1, the American economy in freefall, worker unrest.
The recent Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, striking terror and paranoia in the American government. Fear that it will influence and spread amongst the black civil rights movements.
Demobbed soldiers from WW1, the American economy in freefall, worker unrest.
The recent Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, striking terror and paranoia in the American government. Fear that it will influence and spread amongst the black civil rights movements.
The Aftermath:
240 African Americans lynched (which was only recognised as such in 2015) and 5 white people dead.
This is no movie. No attempt to shock. This is reality.
240 African Americans lynched (which was only recognised as such in 2015) and 5 white people dead.
This is no movie. No attempt to shock. This is reality.
The Official Investigation Findings:
"Blacks" were planning an insurrection. 100 African Americans charged, 12 sentenced to death.
National Press in overdrive before the massacre, and throughout. The cover-up relentless.
"Blacks" were planning an insurrection. 100 African Americans charged, 12 sentenced to death.
National Press in overdrive before the massacre, and throughout. The cover-up relentless.
Now fast forward to the African American experience of the last 40 years.
Rodney King.
Detective Mark Fuhrman- "You ever try to find a bruise on a n*****. Pretty tough, huh?".
Eric Garner- "I can't breathe".
George Floyd- the terrifying indifference shown by those cops.
Rodney King.
Detective Mark Fuhrman- "You ever try to find a bruise on a n*****. Pretty tough, huh?".
Eric Garner- "I can't breathe".
George Floyd- the terrifying indifference shown by those cops.
The reason I began with the Elaine Massacre was to provide important historical context.
This atrocity, amongst many that dreadful Red Summer of 1919, must be looked at. Taken in. Understood. Faced.
Only then can we even begin to understand the Black Lives Matter movement.
This atrocity, amongst many that dreadful Red Summer of 1919, must be looked at. Taken in. Understood. Faced.
Only then can we even begin to understand the Black Lives Matter movement.
The global peaceful protests and demonstrations, accompanied with the hauling down or even destruction of statues following the killing of George Floyd.
This is what embodies the Black Lives Matter movement in the eyes of the world just now. Especially the statues.
This is what embodies the Black Lives Matter movement in the eyes of the world just now. Especially the statues.
The tearing down or vandalism of statues is not new. You will have seen many ancient Roman statues with eyes gouged or ears cut off Roger.
Statues are erected for the purpose of giving immortality. Not the person sculpted, but their ideas. To reinforce them and make them last.
Statues are erected for the purpose of giving immortality. Not the person sculpted, but their ideas. To reinforce them and make them last.
The reason the statues are the focal point for the Black Lives Matter movement are the ideas they represent.
While many condemn the violence of the act of tearing them down, I would ask that we try to look at them the way an African American person would.
While many condemn the violence of the act of tearing them down, I would ask that we try to look at them the way an African American person would.
Confederate statues, or indeed others around the world including those in Glasgow.
White supremacy is deeply rooted in the history of the Western World.
These statues are the symbolic embodiment of that past, and the ideals these (mostly men) represented.
White supremacy is deeply rooted in the history of the Western World.
These statues are the symbolic embodiment of that past, and the ideals these (mostly men) represented.
These statues were deliberately placed in prominent public places.
If we truly wish these horrible ideals to be history, then why insist they remain so publicly and strategically placed? Especially when they portray these ideals- slavery- in such a heroic and benevolent way.
If we truly wish these horrible ideals to be history, then why insist they remain so publicly and strategically placed? Especially when they portray these ideals- slavery- in such a heroic and benevolent way.
The statues very often were subject to peaceful protest before they were erected. Alternative sites were suggested by protestors, and older statues even acknowledged as being objects worthy of study, historical context, and art.
Always to no avail.
Always to no avail.
Instead, the statues enjoy symbolic placement in the heart of cities and even entrances to places of learning.
By being so placed, they stamp their version of history as THE version of history.
By being so placed, they stamp their version of history as THE version of history.
The Black Lives Matter movement has a long lineage, and should be viewed through that prism.
One of struggle.
Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, The NAACP, Booker T Washington's Tuskegee Institute, Malcolm X, The Black Panthers, Martin Luther King.
One of struggle.
Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, The NAACP, Booker T Washington's Tuskegee Institute, Malcolm X, The Black Panthers, Martin Luther King.
The Black Lives Matter movement is one of necessity. It is pure and good. It is tackling the extreme inequality that poisons the mind of society. Chains of the mind are far harder to break.
Last word to Marcus Garvey-
"We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery"
Last word to Marcus Garvey-
"We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery"
