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Letter From Our Guest Editor (view source)
Revision as of 03:09, 16 February 2021
, 03:09, 16 February 2021no edit summary
and rallying cry was three simple,
yet powerful words:
'''Black Lives Matter.'''
No one argues that systemic
racism and oppression isn’t an
incredibly complex issue; one
that can’t be fixed with catchy
taglines. However, somewhere
along the way, these necessary
discussions on police reform, calls
for accountability and demands
for sensible restructuring were
rebranded as “anti-police” and
worse, “anti-American.”
How did we get here? Let’s
consider one example, the 2017
“Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville.
As protestors and
counter protesters shouted at each
other, a motorist plowed his car
into a group of left-leaning counter-
protestors, injuring more than
30 people and killing a 32-year-old
activist named Heather Heyer.
Later President Trump would
publicly assert that “there were
very fine people, on both sides.”
Perhaps the President wasn’t
aware that there were as many as
17 different hate groups present
that day—Klansmen, actual Nazis
and more than a dozen other
fringe groups.
Or perhaps he just didn’t care.
Maybe Trump also wasn’t aware
that the number of hate groups
operating across America has risen
to a record high—1,020—according
to the Southern Poverty Law
Center in February of 2019. Incidentally,
that’s a 30% increase
roughly coinciding with Trump’s
presidential campaign and presidency
following three consecutive
years of decline under the Obama
administration.
He definitely doesn’t care
about that.
Fast forward to May 25, 2020 when
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black
man, was killed in Minneapolis
while being detained for allegedly
passing a counterfeit $20 bill.
Eyewitness cell phone video shows
a white police officer kneeling on
Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and
46 seconds while the prone, handcuffed
Floyd repeatedly cries, “I
can’t breathe” and “Please.”
I remember having a visceral reaction
when I saw the video. Teeth
clenched, chest tight, brow furled
with anger and frustration. Floyd
called for his momma while his life
drained away under the knee of a
police officer.
All for twenty bucks.
This wasn’t the first time I felt this
way. It was the same watching
videos of Sandra Bland. Eric Garner.
Elijah McClain.
I remember my heart breaking as
I watched the video of McClain
repeating Floyd’s final words:
''“I can’t breathe. I have my ID right
here. My name is Elijah McClain.
That’s my house. I was just going
home. I’m an introvert ... I’m just
different, that’s all…. I’m sorry. I’m
so sorry. I can’t breathe.”''
But heartbreak was replaced
with frustration and rage when,
despite clear evidence on video,
the evening news predictably
announced that the officers
involved would face no criminal
charges.
Even as I was working on finishing
my final piece for this issue another
video surfaced of a black man
assaulted by police. This time it was
Jacob Blake, who witnesses said
had been trying to break up a fight,
and who was then shot in the back
seven times at point blank range as
his three young sons watched.
What does it do to a kid to watch your
father gunned down in the street by
the very police who are supposed to
protect you?
As of our press date, Blake is paralyzed
from the waist down and it’s
unknown if it will be permanent. He
also suffered damage to his stomach,
kidney, and liver, with the wounds
requiring that most of his small intestines
and colon had to be removed. If
he ever walks again, it will be with a
colostomy bag.
Black and brown people are tired.
We are tired of being tired.
Before the
pandemic I was
making a very
good living doing
speed caricatures
for private parties,
weddings, and
college functions.
I wear black at
a lot of these
formal functions
and I am allowed
to venture into
social circles
and functions I
normally couldn’t
attend. I can’t
help but wonder what would happen
if someone mistakes me for a criminal—
or worse, calls the police just
because I am black and look suspicious.
What if the next video is of me
being detained, choked, and arrested
for being black in the wrong place at
the wrong time?
For the first time in my life, I am
considering getting training and
carrying a firearm for when I am traveling
to places like Indiana or Pennsylvania
because I don’t want to be the
next hashtag. Not without a fight.
I love doing caricature gigs. I get huge
satisfaction from connecting with
people and seeing their faces light up
from my work. It’s magical.
But it’s not worth dying for.
When this pandemic finally ends, I’ll
have to carefully consider if I want
to go to those parties and weddings
again. When clients start booking
again, I know I will have to do a much
more careful background check
before accepting any gigs. Googling
an address to find if the event location
lies in Democratic or Republican
territory. Intensive perusal of client
social media pages in search of MAGA
hat wearing photos, pro right-wing
election memes or banners declaring
“Blue Lives Matter.”
For me, these
symbols are a
clear and present
warning to people
of color akin to
the confederate
flag, or the “Back-
The-Blue” Punisher
skull; and that
warning is “Bigotry,
prejudice, or
violence is allowed
and encouraged
here. Proceed at
your own risk.”
Right now, today…
I wouldn’t.
'''Black Lives Matter.'''
Despite all the evidence to the
contrary, I continue to hold out hope
that someday this won’t still be a
point of conflict or deep division. It
will just be understood. Then, we can
all get back to drawing or sharing
conversation over a drink or two.
Maybe someday.
Clarence can be contacted at
CreativeDesignMind@protonmail.com
==See Also==
