Sunday, May 27, 2018

Something to Thing About . . .




When my friend Cathy shared the above cartoon on Facebook, someone responded: "Oh please, this [i.e., the NFL's policy against protesting players] should not be compared to slavery." Following is how Cathy responsed to this statement.

Of course it's not the same as slavery but if you think there doesn't continue to be a pattern of discrimination and oppression against black folks you are indeed living in a small world. And white folks don't like when black folks block the freeway or protest at other public events, so then they protest quietly – and that is not acceptable to people either. It continues to be the same concept of Shut up, boy, and do what we tell you to do.


And here's Cathy response to another comment she received in which someone asked: "Why can’t it just be about people? People protesting? Why is race always brought up?"

[T]he reality is that for people of color it is always about race. For goodness sakes, they are barbequing in the park or sleeping in their dorm room and people call the police on them because they don't think they belong there. So as much as you and I can ignore it, the reality is that black folks pay a price in big and small ways every single day because of their race. So, yeah, we have to talk about race until we get to a place where black folks can go about their daily lives without regularly wondering if the cops are going to be called . . . or worse.


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• The NFL: "A Modern Example of Nakedly Racist Authoritarianism in America"
• Progressive Perspectives on Colin Kaepernick and the “Take A Knee” Movement
• Quote of the Day – April 23, 2018
• Quote of the Day – November 13, 2017
• Remembering Philando Castile and Demanding Abolition of the System That Targets and Kills People of Color
• "This Doesn't Happen to White People"
• Quote of the Day – March 31, 2016
• Something to Think About – December 29, 2015
• Quote of the Day – November 25, 2015
• "We Are All One" – #Justice4Jamar and the 4th Precinct Occupation: Photos, Reflections and Links
• An Update on #Justice4Jamar and the 4th Precinct Occupation
• Rallying in Solidarity with Eric Garner and Other Victims of Police Brutality
• "Say Her Name" Solidarity Action for Sandra Bland
• In Minneapolis, Rallying in Solidarity with Black Lives in Baltimore

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