Our country is in trouble. For reasons beyond me, Americans continue to gun down, disrespect, and kill each other. For being a land of opportunity, we are all to quick to take the lives of mothers, fathers, sisters, leaders, thinkers--Americans. I'm not talking about police brutality exclusively. I am speaking on the unfortunate place our country has fallen to. A place where we kill each other because of one trait; one difference, job, or attribute of a person that a man with a gun decides he doesn't like.
Because he's black.
Because he's gay.
Because he's Muslim.
Because he's a cop.
Regardless of a person's ethnicity, occupation, or life choice, killing people is wrong. There has been an increasing separation between white and black communities in America, primarily because of the questionable and brutal attacks and killings by some bad cops. But grouping all police together as one corrupt entity when they simply want to keep their communities and country safe is just as wrong as labeling every African American walking down the street a violent thug. These over-generalizations and false assumptions are what lead to unnecessary deaths of people who matter. Because all lives matter.
It seems as though the more that prominent black figures push the black live matters movement and the idea of white supremacy still being a huge issue, the further the divide in our country widens. Celebrities like Beyonce and Jesse Williams have the power and ability to make a difference--to stand up and make a statement. They both, of course, have used that power. It is a wonderful thing to create a voice for those who have so much to say but no way to be heard. However, it becomes an issue when in empowering your own ethnicity, you knock down another demographic.
When I first heard Jesse Williams' speech at the BET awards, I felt empowered, and I am white. But the more I thought about it the more I realized in sticking up for his race and his people, he demonizes a generalized white public. Saying America has an "invention of whiteness" sounds profound but is untrue. I understand he is saying this figuratively, but I did not choose the color of my skin just as I did not choose the color of my hair. I acknowledge that because of my race I have not known the discrimination an African American woman my same age most likely has. I am aware of this, but I will not apologize for the color of my skin just as she should not apologize for hers.
Tomi Lahren is a highly controversial conservative, but in one of her recent videos she highlighted something that every citizen of the United states needs to remember. "We are Americans, and we are better than this." We as Americans did not fight for civil rights, freedom, and equality just to keep killing each other. There is no end to gun violence until there is an end to the divides in our nation. The day that we rid the hatred and stereotypes ingrained in our minds is the day we may finally be at peace.
We are not black or white. We are not gay or straight. We are not Christians or Muslims. We are Americans. We are shades of gray. We are by the people for the people so that all who live in this country can be who they want and believe what they please.
