This seems to be a popular phrase among the ignorant and bigoted. "It was so long ago! Stop thinking the world owes you something! I didn't own any slaves and you didn't pick any cotton. Get over it!"
Answer this for me, when was the last time you heard someone saying to get over 9/11? When's the last time you heard of someone telling someone else that, in a sense, their feelings and opinions do not matter because of the date the incident took place? When's the last time you've heard of someone's feelings being put on the back burner because it didn't necessarily effect the opposing party?
Yes, you could argue that this is because you don't see these people rioting and protesting out on the streets about how they've been oppressed. But the reasoning behind that argument is because they haven't.
Now, I'm no artist, but let me attempt to draw you a picture. You have a loved one that you would go to the ends of the Earth for. You love them so much, but for some reason, no one else does. In fact, almost everyone treats your loved one in the most cruel way imaginable and the ones who don't, just stand by and watch. This, unless you have an extreme form of apathy, hurts you time and time again and there's hardly anything you can do to stop it.
This goes on for decades, and one day your loved one dies at the hands of their oppressors. You are traumatized and outraged all at the same time. I mean, why would someone treat your loved one so poorly, for no good reason at all? You thought the world of them and want answers. So you and maybe a few other individuals who attempt to sympathize with you have marches, maybe a few riots, and shed your tears as you shout your "why's" and "why not me's?"
Wait a second, let me change my paintbrush. That's better. Ok, great. Your story is heard, but those same oppressors and nay sayers are trying to have some form of justification for their actions. Now, they are pointing the finger at you. You're being called all kinds of names, and while they're at it, they slander the name of your loved one.
But then, you come up with this marvelous idea to attempt to have them convicted. That should work, right? I mean, why wouldn't someone be convicted of murdering another human being, especially when it's on camera. It's never happened before.
So, you do this and the oppressors may get six months in prison or a more well-known, paid administrative leave. You'd be upset, right? But guess what, its not over. For some reason, your entire family line is tormented by these people, whether is be out in the open or brushed under the rug. And the most frustrating thing is that no one seems to understand the point you're trying to get across, saying that you have rights and a purpose in this country.
Look at the picture, tell me how it makes you feel? I would hope you would share the feelings of the one's being oppressed, and if not, then maybe this picture isn't your style. It's ok though, you'll never have to deal with those feelings of torment. Its only a painting after all.
