Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter.
In a perfect world, the statement "All Lives Matter" would be both applicable and accurate for all members of society. We would not be on the cusp of one of the greatest race wars in our nation's history. We would not be witnessing innocent civilians dying at the hands of those sworn to protect the American people -- all American people. We would not need protests or rioting in the streets to make our message clear.
We do not live in a perfect world.
The recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile serve as an all too real reminder of the inequality, racial profiling and blatant injustices faced by Black people on a daily basis. And this epidemic transcends the age-old counterargument about Black people "lacking respect" for law enforcement or the assumption that they're more likely to be criminals or "thugs" (both of which, for the record, are offensive, vile and downright inaccurate). To paint such a broad brush over all Black people is to limit their character and their individual attributes to their skin color, formulating stereotypes and discrediting any character traits that don't fit into your pre-designed archetype.
Over the past few years, we've seen far too many innocent lives lost and blood shed by corrupt cops against Black citizens.
Dontre Hamilton. Eric Garner. John Crawford III. Michael Brown Jr. Ezell Ford. Dante Parker. Tanisha Anderson. Akai Gurley. Tamir Rice. Rumain Brisbon. Jerame Reid. Tony Robinson. Phillip White. Eric Harris. Walter Scott. Freddie Gray. Trayvon Martin. Sandra Bland. Alton Sterling. Philando Castile.
And still the list goes on.
We hear their names. We create hashtags in their honor and grieve openly on social media. But retweets do not equal action. So long as there are rouge cops patrolling in America's streets, this list of names will only continue to grow at staggering rates.
Let me make one thing clear, it is entirely possible to be both pro-black and pro-cop. In the words of "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah, "You can be pro-cop and pro-black. It’s what we should all be. It’s what we should be aiming for. You shouldn’t have to choose between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect."
To disavow the nefarious police officers serving in our current law enforcement is not to discredit the entire system in of itself. Most police officers are, believe it or not, appropriately carrying out their duties. In fact, by turning a blind eye toward the rampant racism and brutality plaguing our police systems, you are in turn spitting on the legacies of both the murdered victims and the virtue of officers who truly do serve justly, fairly and honestly.
Yet, in order to fix a problem, we must have the courage to address its existence. With the presence of cell phones and body cameras in current police violence cases, there should be little to no room for doubt and speculation. And yet, somehow, there still is, as evident from the overwhelming number of cops involved in fatal shootings against Black people who walk away unscathed. This trend is disgraceful and slanderous not only against the integrity of our justice system, but also the victims' families, friends and loved ones who'll never see the closure of justice served.
What the world needs now is more than hashtags, greater than prayers, larger than your moments of silence -- we need empathy and action. And the first steps toward reparation and unity are not denial and outrage, but listening and compassion. If you are not Black, then you cannot fathom the trials and tribulations Black people experience on a constant basis. However, just because you haven't witnessed it firsthand, doesn't mean it does not exist.
"Yes, all lives matter. But we're focused on the Black ones right now, OK? Because it is very apparent that our judicial system doesn't know that. Plus, if you can't see why we're exclaiming #BlackLivesMatter, then you are part of the problem."
