Should BLM folks demonstrating have brought drums like Occupy? Perhaps chained themselves to the White House fence like ACT UP and women fighting for the right to vote? I'm sure there are lessons to be learned from the anti Viet Nam and Iraq War protests.
I'm just wondering if there are notes demonstrators should have taken from other struggles for justice. You know, all those efforts that so many view as righteous.
Unless of course, black folks are doing it. Funny how that happens. Funny how this morning I found myself being reminded of white folks responses to people of color sitting at a white only lunch counter.
Funny how it's not funny at all.
.....who are they to judge us.....there's too many dying.......don't treat me with brutality.....talk to me.......what's going on..........
Update: A few things.
BLM has protested other people, including President Obama at Selma.
No, I don't think Bernie is a lunch counter. He's a good guy and I like him. I'm not comfortable with what happened in Seattle, for multiple reasons.
The main one being the reaction I knew was sure to come. I spent a good part of last night and this morning reading far too many reactions that were deeply disturbing and saddening.
Too many were writing off BLM for the actions of a few.
While reading, memories of that famous lunch counter sit in kept bubbling up.
There's a reason for that.
I'm not equating the civil rights leaders of the sixties with BLM, either. Different era. Different time. Different structure.
What has not changed is too many white folks reactions when people of color express themselves without the white gloves on.
If you are not one of those who did so, this post isn't about you. It's about this -
and how far too many people refuse to get how terrible it is to have to beg for your life.
Michael Brown begged for his life. He was murdered a year ago this weekend. His parents are still grieving. Their hearts will never be whole. There are marches taking place on this sad anniversary, including in Seattle.