AMERICAN EXCEPTIONAL-RACISM

I've often taken exception to the term "American exceptionalism" because I've not been certain what it means. Being the cynic I tend to be, I often look at the dark side of our exceptionalism. This week is one of those times when I'm not only looking at the dark side, but being swallowed by it. The exceptional form of American racism is a relentless beast that consumes everything. It subjugates entire demographics of Americans in a multi-chambered trap from which escape is impossible. It chews them up, it spits out the bones. One such victim is the Black American male, and, therefore, we are all victims of the beast.

I make a distinction between bigotry and racism, something I've written about previously on this blog. The cop who killed George Floyd in Minneapolis is a bigot; the system that employed him is racist. This is the plight of Black Americans and other Americans of color, their country was founded on white supremacy and continues as such, often in disguise. But today, in the year 2020, with Donald Trump as president and the Republican Party in control, the disguises are gone, and the racism beast is strutting about, feasting freely. 

Black Americans learn the lessons of racism all their lives; not in school, but by living in it. Every aspect of American society is infused with the beast racism; education, health care, employment, transportation, real estate, access to capital, law enforcement, environment...the list is long. Black folks know this; many white folks are just now learning it, if they are open to this particular form of knowledge. 

The murder of George Floyd, a Black American, who died face down on a street with his hands bound behind his back and with a cop's knee on his neck and two more cops holding him down, has ignited protests and demonstrations and riots in dozens of American cities and others around the world. The bystander cell phone videos of this murder are chilling and horrific. The cop seems nonchalant, his hands in his pockets, a smirk on his face when he turns towards the camera as he chokes the life out of another human being. The three other cops seem to just be hanging out, helping hold down their victim (2 of them) or being the "lookout." It is the stuff of nightmares. 

This happens too often - actually, the expression "too often" is in itself telling - this should never happen, ever. But this murder, this public execution, or symbolic lynching, of a Black man has rightfully unleashed a torrent of righteous rage throughout American society; rage within the Black community, certainly, but also in every other American demographic. This murder, and that of Ahmaud Arbery a few weeks ago, were both captured on video, and both became public on social media. Only the most callous bigots can hide their heads in the sand now. This is real. These were public executions of men who committed no crime other than the "crime" of being Black in America. This is a beast, this is a shame from which we cannot continue to hide. This is America, and the disguise of democracy has been pulled away to reveal the beast within.

So much needs to be accomplished in America to kill the racism beast, and with it the individual bigotries of Americans. Certainly, and foremost at this time, the justice system absolutely has to be reformed from top to bottom. Police departments need to be cleansed of "bad" cops, fraternal culture, unions that protect every cop, militarization, out-dated use of force rules, training that stresses use of force first. Police officers are sworn to serve and protect the community in which they work; they are not sworn to harass and murder people of color. Unfortunately, history shows us that the latter is true more often than we think. 

Attorneys General and District Attorney offices, courts, jails, parole services, rehab services and on and on - all need to be reformed so that they serve people justly, regardless of skin color or class or any other metric. This can be accomplished; however, the people who make policy and who work in these systems have to be invested in making these reforms. 

It is heartening to see so many people in so many places standing up, marching, demonstrating, protesting, and speaking out against racism. It is important that we all focus on the message, not the news flash of the moment about vandals or small groups battling the police, or some idiot standing in front of a church holding a bible upside down. It is incumbent upon everyone, including elected politicians, community leaders, chiefs and officers in police departments, employers, business owners, people in communities to listen to the messages coming out of these mass demonstrations. Listen, discuss, then act. 

I often hear the term "allies" in relation to how white people like me can be part of the solution. To be truthful, I don't like the term; I prefer to use the words "brothers" and "sisters." If I'm an ally I might make political decisions about the actions I take. If you are my brothers and sisters, I will always have your back because I protect my family. To me, this is at the heart of the issue of how to end racism and bigotry; we start with love for all our brothers and sisters. 

I certainly have a lot to learn, and this is certainly a teaching moment for all who are paying attention. I have so many thoughts, so many questions. I would be at the demonstrations if we weren't in a pandemic, and so I am frustrated by being home-bound. This is a strange time in so many ways, and yet this is a critical time for revolution, meaning great change. We can do this. We must do this. Together. 

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