I penned an angry rant last night, and felt compelled to explain my thoughts with the use of more polite verbiage.
Many of us, rightfully so, are concerned, angry, and committed to correcting inequality. We are excited by messages addressing economic inequality in our country, and rightfully so, as the traditional media and pundits must be forced to recognize the voices of the masses.
At the same time, though, those of us who live with privilege, the privilege of NOT being judged first and foremost by the color of our skin, must realize that there’s one equality that MUST be realized first and foremost ahead of all others: the right to live.
“Black Lives Matter” is an important recognition that in this day and age, the majority of us, that is, a majority of white Americans, who comprise the majority racial group in this country, still must come to grips with the simple fact that for Black people, the base equality of being allowed to live is still denied.
Black people are murdered in their own church, after graciously accepting a total stranger into the intimacy of their spiritual communion. Black churches are burned to the ground. Black people are pulled from their vehicles, beaten and murdered under color of authority. Black people witness the symbols of their ancestors’ oppression upheld as icons of the state. Black people are denied the basic equality of being allowed to live.
For me, this trumps all else. This correction of this inequality MUST take precedence. It does NOT stem from economic inequality; it stems from a tortured history of 400 years of subjugation in this land, from the worst of human impulses, from xenophobia, and from hate. And there must no longer be ANY acceptance of this inequality.
I wholeheartedly support the protestors who interrupted Netroots Nation this week. No Democratic candidate for office representing a party whose own history unfortunately bears some responsibility for the denial of those basic rights to Blacks, should be without a clear understanding of and desire to address and correct the basic inequality of justice for Black people. Any Democratic candidate for office must take an aggressive, vocal stand, no matter what the audience, of advocating for this most basic equality for Black people: the right to live, free and with full access to their rights as citizens of this country.