Kaepernick, Black Lives Matter, and Trigger Happy Cops

So I haven’t written a new blog post in a minute (or maybe more), but I’m so damn tired of so many white Americans losing their shit over a pro-football player taking a stand against oppression of people of color in this country, and yet the same people turn a blind eye when yet another killing of a black, or Latino, or Native, occurs. Honest to God people, wake up!

I don’t even know the name of the latest victim of a trigger happy cop. I know that he had his hands up the entire time. I know that he presented zero risk to the cop. I also know, considering how other cases like this have gone in the past couple of years, that said cop will be placed on paid leave (paid vacation), and that there will almost certainly be no charges file. If there are charges filed, the chances are good that the cop will get off without a conviction.

What is wrong with this picture? Why are we living in a country where having anything other than white skin causes people to be viewed as “dangerous?” 

I don’t know what it’s like to grow up as, or live life as, a person of color in this country. But I have experienced racism firsthand, simply because I was in the company of a black man, in 1980 Biloxi, Mississippi. I was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, attending tech school for the Air Force. One of the other airmen in my squadron, a young black man from Chicago, and I decided to go to the mall in Gulfport. The distance was about five miles, and we decided to walk. It was the longest five miles of my life…because every single vehicle that passed us, regardless of the color of the individuals in those cars yelled insults at us. “Hey nigger, how do you like that white pussy?” “Hey white cunt, is that black cock good to you?” And more. Much more. We were sharing a fucking sidewalk, that’s all. For two wet behind the ears airmen, both from the north, the shock was like a gut punch. 

I grew up surrounded by diversity. I love diversity. And honestly, if you want to live in a country where xenophobia, racism, and hatred are acceptable, where they are the norm, perhaps you should move to Afghanistan. Because the U.S. Is not the place for you. As for me, I will fight against racism every opportunity I get.