As this series continues, I’m reminded of a conversation via Facebook that I had while promoting my line of t-shirts, Statement Tees fb.me/BlackStatementTees, specifically the t-shirt with George Floyd’s picture, there was a comment appearing to ask a question when in fact, he was trying to make a statement.  I’ve since then deleted his statement because that person’s comments was bringing negativity and nothing but ignorance to the page.  However, his comment was and I’m paraphrasing; “is that what this Black Lives Movement is about, one person being killed by a cop?  99% of cops do their job correctly and with all the opportunity for African Americans to become judges, lawyers and even President; what is everyone angry about?”  His remarks angered me of course but my response was classy and calm.  The truth of the matter is that while this commenter was Caucasian, he isn’t alone in this type of thinking.

Let me say this, standing up for your rights, Civil Rights, that we are due as Black Americans isn’t for the weak or the faint at heart! Too often it means standing up, speaking up when everyone else is quiet and trying to blend in!  By ‘blend in’, I’m referring to other Black Americans! Fighting for our (Black Americans) Civil Rights requires hours of work, courage, consistency, willing to be uncomfortable, willing to be frustrated, working in unsettling environments, protesting even when things are on the line, talking & teaching your children about their history, working to change policy, being a responsible voter, learning about the issues, listening to the news, researching topics, performing due diligence when it comes to voting, creating your own black agenda, joining organizations like NAACP, Change.org, National Action Network, being active in those groups, going to meetings and above all paying dues!   Did I LOSE YOU?  I’m sure I did.  It is very easy for people even people that are Woke as we call it now, to get lost, lose interest and return to their normal life, the normal life of being mistreated, living under the gun, hoping to not rustle feathers, working twice as hard to be counted ½ as important, the norm!

Trust me when I say, that the majority Black Americans just want peace. They want opportunities to grow, be productive and earn their peace of the pie!  While crime committed against the same race isn’t just a ‘black issue’ the media portrays and displays the crime disproportionately because in doing so, it dehumanizes Black citizens portraying us as ‘animals’ or vicious and less than worthy of the same rights of everyone else.  That’s not to say that as Black Citizens we aren’t frustrated with crime in our neighborhoods, because we are and I’ll address that in part five.

However, when you speak about opportunities in America for black people, those opportunities aren’t equal.  Too many, some friends on Facebook, even former class members of my alma mater (the one & only Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas), view the rise of a few Black Americans as a sign that opportunities are equal. Despite what we see with criminal injustice system, despite the mysterious hangings ruled as suicide, despite the Police Department of Dothan, Alabama found to have wrongly convicted over 1000 black men by planting evidence, despite the silence of White Americans watching this and instead of speaking up look for ways to dehumanize and criminalize victims, despite black men and women being killed in their homes by police without consequences; Black Americans are supposed to be silent because there are opportunities. Hmmmm interesting.

Basically, settle for what you have and how far we’ve come and do it quietly.  Be grateful that there are Black Millionaires, Billionaires and shut up.  As if White American allowed or gifted Black America something! There hasn’t been anything given to the Black Community, although we built the very land that other foreigners enjoy with government support; the Black Community has received little to no opportunities and those provided are not equal!  Education in the poverty areas isn’t second rate any more, the level of service is too low to be rated.  Parents have been jailed in the attempt to send their children to better public schools meanwhile again in White America, parents bride colleges for admittance. They are guilty but remain free.

Opportunities aren’t equal! Housing isn’t equal which is why most Black Americans still reside in segregated communities! The amount of pay for performing the same jobs isn’t equal and because it is in most states unlawful to discuss salary, corporations get away with paying Black Americans lower wages widening the poverty gap.  Now opportunities for entrepreneurship always lands in the Black Community, however, not the kind desired.  Street pharmaceutical opportunities are bought directly to the neighborhood to be made and sold to one another without ever financially liberating one black individual.  Do not get me wrong, I’m not blaming everything on someone else. There are multiple success stories for Black Americans and I couldn’t be prouder, but that doesn’t mean that Opportunities for Success are Equal!

Black children to have the same success as a white child, has to be exceptional. Being normal or regular would not lead the black child to any real success. A ‘C’ average black child measured against a ‘C’ average white child will find his or herself living a meager lifestyle by comparison.  There is lineage, white privilege, better because of color and the list goes on and on, that would afford the white child opportunities unearned.

Better yet, in today’s society, regular black children aren’t living long enough to make a difference.  When you’re the suspect just because of your skin color, well that says it all! The criminal justice system alone in America is committing legal genocide in the black community; from excessive sentencing to execution in the streets without punishment.  Every black man gunned down leaves black children without fathers, protectors and the cycle of destruction continues.

How can opportunities be equal when the picture consistently painted for me in America tells me my life isn’t worth anything?!  Without a second thought, I’m a bad guy, I’m a threat! Although I’m unarmed my skin color frightens you.  As a Black Woman, I’m either a bed warmer or sassy.

I’ve never been blind or ignorant as it relates to racism.  I watched my mom endure it while raising me.  I was extremely light skinned and my mother a beautiful dark skinned woman.  I’ll never forget being five, riding in an elevator with my mother and a white lady assuming I was white, talked to me while ignoring my mom.  The most recent event for me occurred as a grown woman in 2007 when former President Obama was then a candidate. I applied to a CPA Firm, the man called and we did a brief interview over the phone after which he invited me into his office for an interview.  Upon arrival to the office, I gave my name and I noticed that there was quite a bit, back and forth with the receptionist and the CPA.  She confirmed with me again, my name and again the back and forth.  I assumed that maybe there was a mistake with my interview date. When the CPA finally sat down with me, he was clear.  He said, we didn’t know you were black. You have an impressive resume, I spoke with you over the phone and you didn’t sound black, I couldn’t tell by your name either and asked for identification which I had of course.  He said, I’m trying to learn about ‘you people’, I mean I have black clients, but I’ve never worked or hired you guys before. Interpretation, I was going to hire you but you ended up being black!

Don’t tell me about the opportunities as if they are equal, work to ensure we have equal opportunities in every sense of the word, equal!

~Black In America~