Bill Walsh reflects on what he sees as one of the most pivotal events of our time period.
#Ferguson
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I’m exceedingly open to other viewpoints, and have never believed opposing ideas should get in the way of a friendship or relationship. But racial inequality, removal of women’s rights, and prejudice toward the LGBT community are areas where I just don’t have it in me to exercise the slightest bit of tolerance.
It’s 2014, we shouldn’t have to explain this to people anymore.
Last night was easily one of the most pivotal events of our time period, and every bit of denial and race-blaming today will just illustrate the systemic problem. While I doubt anyone enjoys seeing violence, I am crystal clear why it came to this. Speaking loudly hasn’t worked, nor has carrying signs. When the signs fail the sledgehammer comes out, and I totally get it. While I don’t advocate destruction, I understand every torched car and broken window. Less Dr. King, more Malcolm.
What most people don’t see about white privilege is that as an upper middle class white dude I have the luxury of shutting it all off. If I’m uncomfortable with what I see, I can turn off the news feed and go back to weighing in on Kim Kardashian or taking photos of my children. Those on the receiving end of inequality can’t shut it off, they live with it. Black folks can’t magically choose to avoid racial violence, women can’t choose to not be harassed or simply stop worrying about sexual assault. The very essence of privilege is the insulated bubble, the luxury of denial.
So what’s the best thing white people can do today to be supportive? For starters, acknowledge inequality and start learning to recognize the symptoms. Be willing to step outside comfort and ask tough questions. Check statistics and become aware. If you’re ignoring what’s going on, ask yourself why you’re able to do that, why you’re even afforded the ability to change the channel. Maybe things aren’t what they seem.
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Originally post on Bill Walsh’s Facebook page
Photo: Christian Gooden / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / AP photo A protestor poses for a “hands up” photo in front of a burning building on West Florissant Ave. in Ferguson, Mo. on Monday.
I didn’t mean to imply that police officers are overtly given legal authority to gun down anyone based on a description, I was making the point that an overwhelming number of white people who comment actual *massacres* are brought in alive and sent to trial, while black people who commit lesser crimes are ruthlessly shot to death in the street. There’s a difference between being shot and shot *to death* because of a perceived threat (real or imagined). For many black people in this country, however, it does seem like there is carte blanche to kill them over a description… Read more »
“It’s monstrous to think that because a police officer (or in the case of George Zimmerman, anyone with a gun) suspects you of something, they simply have carte blanche to kill you if you fit a certain description.” That statement is so factually inaccurate, you must either be severely misinformed or deliberately misleading. In case you’re truly mistaken, nobody (including law enforcement) has ever had ‘carte blanche’ to kill someone based solely on a physical description. If that was the case, there would have been no grand jury convened to investigate whether or not Officer Wilson had committed a crime… Read more »
Fresh, i notice that you had to say something more, but you never replied to CAD above, because perhaps he/she made too much sense? You just want to spout racist BS and not be accountable when you’re held up to the light and shown to be vapid.
“Black folks can’t magically choose to avoid racial violence”
Are you talking about Michael Brown? I feel like you’re talking about Michael Brown. Because they definitely can avoid a fate like that by A. not robbing a store and B. not attacking a police officer.
Are you talking about the resulting riots? Because black people started the riots; they weren’t unavoidably caught up in them.
You, sir, just proved Bill Walsh’s point. Please check your privilege and reread the article.
All I did was point out a vague statement in the article and ask for clarification. I don’t know what Bill Walsh was referring to with the statement “Black folks can’t magically choose to avoid racial violence”. Perhaps you can clarify this to me, because the two instances I referenced were entirely avoidable.
And what privilege are you talking about?
“Black folks can’t magically choose to avoid racial violence.” If you have an issue with that statement, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m certain that Bill Walsh wasn’t even just referring to the limited scope of racial violence in regards to law enforcement. I’m also certain that he wasn’t *solely* referring to the instance of Michael Brown, but in fact to the many instances of innocent black youths gunned down for no reason than they were outside and “suspected” of doing… something or other. It’s monstrous to think that because a police officer (or in the case of… Read more »
Fresh, you’re making a very ugly spectacle of yourself. More eye-reading and mind-thinking…less finger-wagging and knee-jerking and mouth-flapping.
As for your “What privilege?” question: the answer is your privilege. Y’don’t see it? Exactly. The first benefit conferred by privilege is the luxury of never having to acknowledge it.
Great great piece- perfectly said.
Good article