This is going to ruffle some feathers, but Ive seen a number of insensitive and inflammatory posts about Ferguson over the past day, and there are a few things I wish to say. Lets start by confronting the facts that are difficult for any of us to swallow. Segregation in our schools is currently at the levels they were at during Lyndon B. Johnsons administration (a divide that keeps growing). White flight, and housing companies flat out refusal to allow blacks to move to the suburbs from the 1950s-1980s have trapped millions of blacks in a cycle of poverty (since black families couldnt purchase homes or attain credit). This has allowed a cycle of injustices to metastasize against the Black community while many in our popular culture are left blissfully unaware of these realities. When it comes to the events taking place in Ferguson, I would absolutely recommend a viewing of Spike Lees Do the Right Thing. That movie gave me a new perspective on rioting that I had never witnessed before (I had always wondered HOW is rioting a solution?!?!?! What can be built through destruction)? For communities without a voice, rioting is a form of social unity that can rarely be attained through other means. What it comes down to is that the majority of the country wasnt paying attention to the black community, but after Ferguson, I guarantee you that many are now. In case anyone wants to read up more on this issue, Im attaching a 3 minute video that explains how racist housing policies have trapped generations of blacks in a cycle of poverty better than I can ever hope to, Ive also attached sources that validate a few of the facts I listed here as well: https://youtube/watch?v=LGRjW-bsCIA theatlantic/national/archive/2012/06/schools-are-more-segregated-today-than-during-the-late-1960s/258348/ theatlantic/features/archive/2014/04/segregation-now/359813/
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:33:30 +0000