Racism and Inequality – The Roots Are Deep

This summer has been an awakening for me. The deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor and countless others have mobilized an army of activists fighting against systemic racism and police murders in our country. I have seen African Americans and other ethnic groups taking to the streets to fight for equality for black people. The Black Lives Matter organization is leading the charge to end police murders and has taken on police reform. I strongly agree there should be a national police reform bill to make sure all police departments conform to the universal guidelines regarding how to treat, respect and protect ALL citizens of our nation.  

As a black man, I have seen and experienced too many unfortunate incidents involving police.  Driving in the “wrong” neighborhood, being detained because I look like a suspect as I was riding my bicycle down the street, being pulled over because I was driving too slow when I was looking for an address, and the reasons supplied by police for their senseless intrusion go on and on. These stops would not have occurred if my skin was a white hue. 

I understand all too well what the Black Lives Matter movement is all about, and I empathize with everyone who is striving to change the culture and break the systemic pattern of racism. If we genuinely want to break the deep-rooted illness of hate and prejudice, we need to start making the change politically and economically.  My brothers and sisters who are marching in the streets for change need to be running for political offices and to develop economic sufficiency in our communities.  What I am saying is not new. Many organizations, scholars and activists have said countless times that the key to bring change to this country is to establish economic sufficiency and wealth in the African American community. 

We have marched, we have prayed, and we have memorialized the pains and issues of that which is plaguing our community. I honor and respect the need to make sure our voice is heard. Now more than ever, we need to review, strategize and execute the next level of efforts to fight, overcome and break the plague of systemic racism that was created over 400 years ago. Yes, it has been and will continue to be a long road, but it is a journey that I think all of us are willing to be a passenger.