America and The Racial Divide

Just because someone has the opportunity to do something, doesn't mean it's feasible with their specific circumstances. It's easy to point fingers and make assumptions, but you really don't know, because you don't live that person's life, and you are not that person.

Consider the fact that we still have generations alive today that experienced black/white segregation. We are not that far removed from the days when black people legally were not allowed to have the same opportunities as anyone else in this country. They were relegated to lower-level, lower paying jobs, housing in poorer communities, denied the same level of education, and so much more. They were told, for generations, that they were worth-less, or worth nothing at all. 

When segregation was made illegal, it still took years for it to take effect. I mean, think about when a law is passed even now - one that isn't charged with emotion and generations of prejudice - and how long it takes for it to actually have any real impact. Desegregation didn't happen over night.

I'll cut straight to the chase: Yes. There is still racism in America. If you deny it exists it's because you are living under a rock, with a blindfold over your eyes, and your fingers plugged into your ears. You are also, probably, guilty of racial bias yourself. 

If you think deeply rooted prejudices that developed over hundreds of years can just disappear in the span of 50 years or so, you really need to go back and read a history book. 

I'm not talking about noticing differences in appearances or subcultures. I'm talking about seeing a young black man in a hoodie and assuming he's up to no good without any evidence when you wouldn't make that judgement of a young white man in the exact same situation. Someone with a racial bias may not even realize that they are making such assumptions for those reasons. That's because it is so ingrained it has become inherent. That's how you know it's still a big problem. 

I've heard people say things like, "But they put themselves in that position!" No. Racial biases and being just a hop skip and a jump away from segregation, by and large, put them in that position. 

Now, imagine a police officer, who encounters dangerous situations on a daily basis. Imagine he's a good guy. A good cop, has a family, does his best to protect and serve. But he has a racial bias, and he doesn't even know it. Maybe he works in an area that is impoverished and more prone to crime, and because of the socio-economic constructs, gaps in opportunity between races, and the residual effects of segregated housing, etc., this area happens to have a higher concentration of black individuals, so he's more accustomed to having violent encounters with a black person, vs. a white person. He gets an emergency call, or pulls someone over. He's more anxious because he believes this individual has a higher likelihood  of being dangerous. Someone drops the word "gun" and he's suddenly in fear for his life. 

I'm not saying this is how it plays out in every situation, but I do think that it is a major contributing factor. Does that make it right? No. 

Additionally, saying #blacklivesmatter, is trying to draw attention to this issue. Yes, all lives do matter, but that is not the point. It's not saying, "Black Lives Matter More". It's saying, "Stop ignoring this."

How do we solve it? Stop pointing fingers. Stop dividing. Come together. Talk. Learn. Support. Understand. Love.

Am I claiming to have a solution? No. Will it be fixed over night? No. But recognizing, acknowledging, and understanding the problem from both sides is a good start.