How quickly we have turned as a nation. Just months ago everywhere you looked there were signs of encouragement, loving posts and a feeling of humility and unity seldom found these days.
Then, two videos and two murders catalyzed the greatest division I've seen in my lifetime.
But why? From what I saw after George Floyd’s murder, everyone was in agreement; black lives mattered and bad cops should be prosecuted.
So why the divide? The way I see it, we actually have six separate issues conflated into one, and it appears that you have to be for - or against them all.
Let's break them down, one by one:
1. George Floyd’s death was unjustifiable murder and all of the police officers involved should be prosecuted and justice served.
Everyone, from the president, to police chiefs, the Attorney General, everyone on social media – left/right – all agreed on this. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E. American was united!
But we have ripped the country apart because this incident came on the back burner of other highly publicized incidents.
Here are the other issues intertwined with this event:
2. This has brought attention to the racism and discrimination some blacks and people of color experience in this country.
Many black Americans have felt impressed to share their experiences of discrimination. Testimonial videos, articles; people are speaking out about their experiences with police, in grocery stores, walking their dogs. These are good conversations to have.
Most people are listening, empathizing. Most people don’t want any American to feel discriminated against, and these heartfelt conversations are lovingly received.
These next issues are where we get divided and the anger rages. So let’s take a step back and examine them through the lens of rationality and fact.
3. Police are targeting and killing black people.
When you make this sort of claim you have to back it up with evidence. We have a country full of people who, if you question this statement, jump on you for your “silence”, your insensitivity, your “racism”.
Wanting to look at facts should not mean you are racist.
Desiring an evidence-based discussion --- does not mean you don’t care.
Here are some great articles that delve into the data of this issue:
In short, statistics on police shootings and lethal force on a national level are difficult to come by. There is not yet a streamlined database for this information. Here is what has been found;
-The number of blacks killed by police is less than the number of whites killed.
-Blacks are killed by police at a higher rate, because they are less of the population.
-Black men commit violent crimes more than other races and therefore, come in contact with police more often.
-Four separate studies found no racial bias in deadly shootings.
These are important statistics to discuss. If people want to talk about racial profiling, feeling uncomfortable around police or over policing in neighborhoods…… that’s fine, let’s talk about it. But bring data.
To say that black people are being hunted by police is emotionally charged, polarizing and void of fact. Police accountability is a bipartisan issue, police reform is not a bad idea, when there is research, evidence and well constructed plans.
But defunding the police? Abolishing the police? We are witnessing a knee-jerk reaction, and again, if you are not on board with one side’s solution, you are labeled as part of the problem, a racist, someone of privilege who just “needs to shut up and listen.”
4. These events have highlighted the frustration many African Americans feel; that their people have not seen the American dream.
The plight of African Americans seem to be reaching pitch fever. There are “inequalities”; income, incarceration, illiteracy...these are real issues, important to discuss.
But the problem is that people want to jump to number five and six on my list as the answer. Problems like these require diving deep to find root issues and looking at a slew of statistics. For example:
-In 1965, 23% of black children were born outside of marriage, in 2013 it was 67%.
-The murder rate of black males was less in the 1950s than in the 1990s.
-Unemployment rate of 17-year-old black males was similar to that of 17-year-old white males in 1948.
-In 1899, the one black high school in Washington DC averaged higher test scores than two of the three white high schools.
You cannot understand disparities from a meme, tweet or 10-minute video. It requires digging, asking questions, and looking for evidence.
Here are some fantastic places that discuss root issues of the black community:
5. The Black Lives Matter organization is the answer to all of the above.
THIS --- is where we tear each other apart at the seams. Many say BLM is the solution for the previous four problems, and unless you prescribe to the proper terminology, hash tags and protests, you are accused of not just ignoring the first four issues --- but contributing to them.
Articles, news segments, social media; everywhere people are conflating issues 1-5, it’s all or nothing. If you do not support the Black Lives Matter organization, then you do not understand issues 1-4, you are part of the problem, and deserving of the most degrading correction keyboard warriors can offer.
Keep in mind this includes the protests and the riots. I have not seen the BLM organization denounce the riots, the looting, the fires, the beatings, the assassinations of police officers. I have heard George Floyd’s brother, Loretta King, and the Atlanta Mayor ask for the violence to cease, and the peaceful protests to continue --- but not Black Lives Matter.
That’s important because if people, like myself, do not support the riots and anarchy, we’re called racists; not actively anti-racists, oblivious to our privilege and implicit biases that see whites as supreme and normal, and unwilling to ally with the oppressed.
Here are some things about BLM that I do not agree with:
-The founders are "trained Marxists" (minute 6:55)
-Only black lives killed by white police matter, not black on black crime
-Anti-family
-If BLM was only concerned about police brutality, (and not black on black crime) why do they affirm queer and trans lives on their website?
-And if BLM is hyper focused on police brutality, why are they actively anti-nuclear family?
It begs some questions, which if you ask…..you are attacked.
6. America is institutionally racist. Always has been, always will be, and she needs to be scrubbed clean, Constitution and all.
Here is the crux of it all folks. If you study the political climate from the past decade….or half century, you will notice a pattern. Leftist/progressives hate America and want her fundamentally transformed. I’m not talking about liberals, I’m talking about leftist, there's a difference.
This is the end goal from people on the progressive left. America is terrible and they want her changed. And every opportunity they can capitalize on a legitimate issue to prove their point, they do.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste,” said every good leftist ever.
How can you tell? If the reason for the crisis is found in the fabric of our society --- and the solution is to grow the government (elect certain people, enact more government programs, pass more laws/regulations or increase taxes) --- then you’re talking to a leftist.
This isn’t to say America is perfect, no one says that. Learning our history is vital, talking about the good, the bad and the ugly is needed, but focusing on evils from the past - then jumping to modern times and using that as a blanket explanation for every individual's problem --- is dishonest.
Over the last decade we have elevated identity politics and pushed each other into those corresponding boxes. But the problem with being in a box is you’re not supposed to leave it.
These six issues have been pushed into one issue: one box. And you’re either in it, or you’re against it.
We will never accomplish anything as a nation if we cannot look at issues rationally, analyze facts rigorously, and discuss them respectfully.
