A Promise. From Me.
The public spotlight is not focused on where I live right now.
There are "issues" connected with racism, police brutality, militarization of law enforcement, and protection of civil and Constitutional rights practically everywhere in America, now. Where I live is no exception. But at the moment, the fights that matter, the places where we need the eyes of the world looking, are not here.
What I can do, and will do, I promise, is this:
I will keep MY words and MY focus on where it needs to be: An unarmed black man was murdered by police.
I will do MY best to speak coherently, simply, and firmly about what needs to happen in America: justice, law enforcement reform, and civil rights.
I will remind anyone who speaks to me about these issues, and who has been distracted by the noise machine, of where the fundamental injustice rests in our society.
I will pay attention.
I will do my best to be aware of, and counteract, my own assumptions of white privilege.
That's all I can usefully do now. But here is a further promise:
If, and when, it becomes possible and/or necessary for me to drag my sorry old white ass out into the street where I live, and stand with my black--or Hispanic, or Native American, or whoever the brown punching bags of the month happen to be-- brothers and sisters (oh, hell, who am I kidding... "my black grand nieces and nephews" would be more accurate...) for justice, I WILL DO IT.
And if that means sitting down until some po-po has to pick me up and drag me, well, I been there, done that. I can do it again. It's worth it.
It is time.
The back of this beast must be broken, once and for all.
I will do what I can, and must.
I promise.
determinedly,
Bright
= new reply since forum marked as read
I greatly respect your determination.
I pledge to follow your above actions too when called upon by events.
Old gray but not in the rocker yet.
Tommymac
