If all lives matter, why do some matter more?

If ever there was a period in time where the general sentiment of a vast majority of a population embodies the phrase “Enough is enough”, this is the time and the US is the place although the world is also standing together to say Black Lives Matter. Make no mistake, we are living a moment of change. Global change at that. But change rarely comes easily. Unfortunately, some people refuse to see the problem for what it is and continue to regurgitate justifications going as far as using black-on-black violence and other convenient talking points as some sort of explanation for wanting to shut down people who have been saying for a long time that Black Lives Matter and are now screaming it. 

What I’ve noticed is that if there’s anyone who hates being called out on their racism it’s racist people. 

“But I’m friends with X or Y, how can you say I’m a racist? That’s offensive.” 

[Insert pouty face] 

Sound familiar? It should because most people have used it in some sort of context in the pursuit of justification and absolution. Notice how I said most people… I didn’t say white people. I said people so we can have that conversation at another time. But NOW is not the time to talk about that problem. Now is the time to talk about the problem of racism. Unfortunately, I hear that answer I wrote above from a lot of people and it feels as if they say stuff like that just so their conscience is at ease and not much else. 

So for every Black Lives Matter chant, we can hear an All Lives Matter chant in return… which feels like hypocrisy at its most blatant. The U.S. of A. is a racist country and it was founded on genocide and racism. If that hurts your feelings or sounds wrong, by all means check your history books, it’s right there. I’m not saying everyone is racist but if there’s a country where racism is a problem, it’s here and I’ve experienced it in the flesh in at least 3 states. If All Lives Matter, then what about Native Americans? The most recent example of how little THESE lives matter is Standing Rock, with protests against oil pipelines that destroy Native American communities and have a massively negative impact on the environment for everyone. These demonstrations have been full of violence that has not been initiated by protesters. Military personnel were called in to use violence to shut down these protests and the commentary from some white people was concerning to put it lightly. Actually a lot of people rejoiced at the violent tactics used and I saw this with my own eyes, so hold off on commentary talking about news coverage. I saw and read feeds from people who relished the violence against people of color. Not bots. People. That’s one example from this population and you can also see the response and lack of aid during the pandemic. But All Lives Matter, right? Speaking about COVID-19, when the pandemic started and was referred to as the Wuhan/Chinese virus. Is it a coincidence that several Asian people were assaulted by people who thought it was logical to attack a person because of their descent as if attacking an Asian person would solve anything and not be an act of inhumanity, prejudice, and blind hate? Not to mention all the discrimination this group has suffered at the hands of this country. Don’t think this is true? Check about internment camps at the beginning of the 20^th century for one of many examples. But hey, All Lives Matter, right? Then how about immigrants who are still being detained unjustly and families who have been broken and people who are being abused daily. People who have been targeted and been apprehended violently. But I forget… All Lives Matter. But if that’s true, then why does it feel as if Puerto Ricans are only good for the armed forces and photo opps but the Jones Act remains in effect to continue a stranglehold that’s lasted over a century? Actually, I saw several people saying PR didn’t deserve any aid after Hurricane Maria because the Island didn’t choose statehood so why should the states care. A convenient point of view when you only see what’s convenient and what doesn’t hurt. How about members of the LGBTQ+ communities? Do they matter? Because the treatment doesn’t feel anywhere near cozy and loving and it took the Stonewall riots to bring change. How about women? Whose rights continue to be trampled and regulated by men almost exclusively. What about Jewish and Muslim people who are consistently targeted and discriminated against because of their religious beliefs, even if it’s protected under the first amendment? All lives matter? Maybe, but not to everyone.

“But what does this have to do with Black people?” You might ask. Are you angry that I spoke of several races, religions, and even gender and failed to talk about Black people? Then try to imagine what it feels like to be Black in this country. I can’t say, because although I’m brown, I’m not Black and in the eyes of some people it makes me less of a target. I’ve gotten odd looks for speaking Spanish in public, but I have the luxury of speaking English with not much of an accent. I can switch and blend and not make someone uncomfortable just to avoid situations. I’ve done this before. Not someone I know. Me. It’s something I’ve done less and less because I have every right to speak Spanish wherever I want. Unfortunately, Black people do not have the option of this luxury because skin isn’t language and you can’t switch your skin color just so some people don’t see you as a threat. I am well aware that if I get pulled over, I might get a warning or a ticket, hell I might even face some sort of injustice, but because of how I look and sound, I have less to worry than Black people, and that isn’t OK. It’s far from OK. 

I look different enough to not be welcome in certain communities and I’m not naïve enough to think otherwise. I saw a KKK sign go up in Dahlonega, GA last year and white nationalist marches and rallies happened locally and in other states that did not meet much of a resistance. I saw the tiki torches and how it was down to company owners to take some sort of action against white people spewing white nationalist pride, doing Nazi hand salutes, and brandishing swastikas. I saw and see white people armed with automatic weapons and either going to protests and screaming in the face of officers or walking without a care in the world, because I’m not dumb enough to think that the 2^nd amendment is defended equally for all races in this country. 

Then I hear something like, “I can’t condone violence or looting. Why couldn’t they be peaceful?” Last I checked, all peaceful protests or commentary from sports figures and artists have been met with the equivalent of “stay in your lane” and a big bowl of STFU. The NFL is now supporting Black Lives Matter? Now? What about Colin Kaepernick? And people will say he disrespected the troops AND the flag!!!! I’d say OK, that’s your opinion, but it’s not. It’s racist rhetoric and a spin given to silence someone protesting police brutality, which has always been his message. He did it peacefully and what did that get him? He did it peacefully and how many people listened before offering to stomp the ass of anyone who doesn’t stand for the flag? Meanwhile, more names get added to the list of high profile murders of people of color and all too frequently Black people. I say high profile murders because lord knows how many people of color of all races get killed and are subject to police brutality on a daily basis. 

Black lives have always and will always matter but people have to scream it to be heard. Then I see people saying that Martin Luther King was never violent… and it’s convenient to use MLK for your arguments and quote him after he was murdered. But a kind reminder: it wasn’t that long ago when black people had to drink water from another fountain, use different bathrooms, and ride in the back of busses… It was the status quo and it was within the law. It is also what some people probably refer to as “the good ole days.” Even now with everything that’s going on, I’ve seen young white kids mock George Floyd’s death uploading pictures with one kid kneeling on his friend’s neck… because hey, it’s just a joke, right?

It’s taken all these manifestations to push for charges to be raised against the 4 officers responsible for the death of George Floyd. Not only that, without action, they were already on their way to justify Floyd’s death due to underlying health conditions and looking for blood toxicology results to minimize any repercussions when it was a clear and blatant abuse of power against a Black man. It’s taken these protests to raise charges against the two men who pursued and ultimately murdered Ahmaud Arbery as well as the third person who filmed and shared the video evidence thinking it clearly showed that the two men who pursued Arbery were in the right. Do you think an investigation would have been opened for Breonna Taylor’s murder if not for these protests? Do you think it’s normal that it’s taken video of these events to push for outrage and have a chance for change? No guarantees… just a chance… the possibility for change because there are no guarantees.

And as for looters and rioters, it’s been captured that several instances of violence have been instigated by police officers and that some white nationalists have infiltrated crowds to break windows, set fires, and justify the use of force. Is it everyone? No. But look at the word looter and how it’s been used in this country before. If you want a specific example, look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina… white people were seen salvaging supplies to survive while black people were consistently seen looting. Is this statement true? Because that’s how it was covered. I’ve seen looters of all colors and even a police officer or at least someone in a police uniform looting yet the feeling of how the communication is shared is that people of color loot.

All of this is not even talking about how corporations are designed to keep people of color and women from higher positions in companies. All of this is not even grazing the surface of how living conditions, financial aid, healthcare, and the distribution of wealth is skewed in favor of white people, but heaven forbid there’s such a thing as white privilege. Even treatment with the pandemic is different… and yeah, that’s still going on, but we’ll talk about that later, because the topic we’re discussing now is racism against Black people.

People often say that justice is blind… unfortunately, justice is also white. If you see depictions of Lady Justice, most if not all times it’s from Roman Mythology’s Iustitia and her counterpart, Prudentia. Both white. If you switch to Greek mythology, Dike and Themis were also white. From a casual internet search, I had to go back to Egyptian mythology and read about Maat to find a deity of justice that wasn’t white. If you think this is just a coincidence, then that’s a great place to start. I don’t think it is, but that’s my opinion and it’s up for debate because although justice is supposedly blind, we are not. What isn’t up for debate is that racism is alive and well and we’re at a point where we’re being asked on what side we stand when it comes to racism. 

Say what you want and write what you need to write to justify and water down those feelings you have. Post whatever you want to post. But remember that in the end, actions and how you treat people say more about you and express what you truly feel. Do all lives matter? OK. Then how about we start with Black Lives and work our way from there.