We Need A Resolution

We are beyond the excuse of “Ignorance” when it comes to Black history

The month of February is the special time of the year that America celebrates the vast achievements of the African American experience in this country. Founded by Carter G. Woodson, his vision was to express in a week’s time, the great achievements of African Americans. That vision was eventually expanded to a month and is celebrated through recollection of magnificent work through song, stories and memories. I remember when I was a junior in high school, I was asked to read the “I have a Dream Speech” in English class. As I read the speech, it occurred to me that Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to generate hope for not just African Americans, but Americans in general. 

Has Dr. King’s Dream been deferred? Unfortunately, yes! As an African American in this country and specifically this community, we are still facing voter rights suppression, lack of access to significant economic funding and development in our community. Racial tensions remain high in our neighborhoods. Responses to these ills are delivered with suddenness and an ignorance to explain the rationale as to why African Americans are still facing the same challenges they have experienced since the beginning of the civil rights movement. 

Ignorance is a term that often is used when dealing with racism and sometimes is used to explain the rationale of bigotry and racism. According to the dictionary, ignorance is defined as “having little or no knowledge, not educated, not knowing, unaware.”  That is not the case, especially now. We give people who are “ignorant” a pass to justify their behavior. 

We should no longer provide a “pass” to individuals for their ignorance since race has been a  driving force in this country from creation. It is a core component in the fabric of America. We need to stop justifying and accommodating our compatriots with the excuse of ignorance, thereby providing them no accountability. It is 2022 y’all. As a country, we are no longer ignorant regarding the racial issues in our community. The new term we should be using is avoidance. We are avoiding each other in these terms hoping that no one addresses the issue. Not just white people, but even the African American community uses avoidance to shy away from issues that affect their own lives and heritage.

As we celebrate this special month, let us stop simplifying racial issues by saying that we are ignorant and deal with and acknowledge the fact that we are avoiding each other with no strength or foundation to really address, and I hope, come to resolutions regarding how we treat each other racially. Until we stop avoiding it, our community will continue to face the harsh reality of a “Dream Deferred.”