Riots are the Language of the Unheard

It is with immense pain, frustration, and anger that I am moved to no longer be silent. I did not want to post this, and I am upset that I have to say this. For those of you blissfully unaware or willfully ignorant of the social and civil unrest in America today following the assassination of George Floyd, know that your inaction―your silence―is deafening.

What we are seeing is generations in the making, and the individual failures to acknowledge the disparity of race and class in America has fed into that growing disparity. We are told that it is inconvenient to accept this reality; it is inconvenient to be forthcoming about race; it is inconvenient to speak out; it is inconvenient to take a knee; it is inconvenient to point out what is so black and white.

This is not an issue of Right versus Left, this is not an issue of Republican versus Democrat, this is not an issue of Conservative versus Liberal, and this is not an issue to be politicized in one way or another. This is incredibly apolitical.

This is an issue of humanity and civil liberty—of right and wrong.

By standing on the sidelines, when you have a position of authority and power, whether it be as a CEO, as a manager, as a recruiter, as an educator, as an employee, or as an employer, or as a parent, your lack of response is response enough.

What are you doing to further the dialogue? When years turn to decades and historians shine the light of scrutiny upon the masses, I am sickened by what it will show. Meditate on how history will remember your actions or lack thereof. To many reading, you may say "this does not apply to me. I am not in a position to speak on race," to which I say:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemoeller

To my allies who are sensitive to this issue: it is not enough to hide behind your screens and placate your followers with empty-hearted "hashtag activism" that does little more than take opportunistic advantage of a civil rights issue, in a way that is convenient for you—that seeks to garner popularity—at the expense of the true victims. Activism is not convenient. It is not enough to like, share, comment, and subscribe to the "end of racism." It is not sufficient for you to sit well-protected within your homes and chastise the less fortunate for their failure to articulate their plight. You, too, must participate. You, too, must predicate your decisions on the reality that you are shaping the world you see around you.

The revolution will not be televised — Gil Scott-Heron

Race is an inherently visual concept; to say "I do not see race, I'm colorblind" is insensitive and racist in and of itself. It denies the very honest reality that many Black men face on a daily basis. Race must be a topic of discussion at your dinner table, it must be at the forefront of your mind, it must be something you participate in, or else you stand the chance of perpetuating the hate you see around you until the point that it does affect you.

Asian Americans have faced overwhelming racism in light of COVID-19 and the failure to educate peers. Latinos have faced overwhelming racism under the guise of "strong borders" as children are put into cages. Muslims have faced overwhelming racism as their religion is deemed "inhuman" and their countries "unfit." Women have faced overwhelming opposition as even today, in 2020, we have yet to pass the Equal Rights Act.

I am mad.

I am angry. I am tired. I am sick. I wake up to see an America divided against itself at the hands of ignorance and hatred. And I weep. It is not enough for the silent to remain silent as their brothers and sisters are killed and no justice found.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere — MLK

To my allies: use your privilege to further this agenda. Use your privilege to protect fellow Americans. Use your privilege in lieu of staying silent. This example of true solidarity will stand the test of time: a line of white protestors creating a human barrier between black protestors and the police. This is solidarity.

You have the power to influence your workplace. You have the power to begin a dialogue. You have the power to speak to your employees, to set a precedence of acceptance and understanding, to make life more equitable and less violent. The battle is yours.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, The next best thing is the wrong thing, And the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Theodore Roosevelt

I do not blame people for rioting. While I condemn those acts of violence as they offer an opportunity to undermine and tear away legitimacy from real movements and real progress, I do not outright blame them. White supremacist groups have used these moments of weakness to undermine these causes as Minnesota Officials link arrested looters to white supremacist groups, but that will not reach the front page of your news feed.

Because for far too long, being peaceful, being kind, being well-spoken, and quietly protesting police brutality by kneeling has all been met with violence and misunderstanding. It does not surprise me. When these men and women who protest police brutality are called sons of bitches for kneeling by the highest office of the free world, it does not surprise me. When at first Kaepernick sat down during the national anthem but was later told by a veteran that he should consider kneeling to continue to show respect for the flag while still offering legitimacy to his protest, people ignored those facts and called him a disgrace for "disrespecting the flag," despite the falseness of those accusation.

It does not surprise me.

In the wise words of Michael Santiago Render, known as Killer Mike ― "It is your duty, not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that it may be a house of refuge in times of organization. Now is the time to plot, to plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize. It is time to beat up prosecutors you don't like at the voting booth..."

We don't want to see Targets burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism, burnt to the ground

Michael Santiago Render

You must burn down the institutions of racism at the ballot box. You must remember that your vote matters. You must remember that your power matters. You must remember that your privilege matters. You must remember that Black lives matter.

― Chris Rios