I’m writing this because I become bothered when racial issues are discussed by politicians. The narrative that’s always discussed is how will we end racism, racial inequities, discrimination, and racial inequalities, but the truth is never discussed...

That truth is: racism or better yet, the discrimination and disenfranchisement of Blacks is embedded within the framework of America and American society. The very thread that holds together the fabrics of American jurisprudence is racism itself.

It’s ironic that long ago, my ancestors died for the right to vote. Even today, that struggle continues, but year after year, election after election, no true change occurs for Blacks. It’s why a lot of Black men and women of my generation become disillusioned about politics.

However, the thing that really pisses me off, is that these politicians KNOW they need the Black vote to win. They often pander, get on television during debates and say the right things, but never truly get to the core issues of race in this country.

Allow me to preface these next few tweets by saying that “Blackness” is not a monolith; however, there are specific struggles we (Blacks) deal with on a day to day basis: the innate nervousness and anxiousness when pulled over by cops, having to conform to standards and ideals

within the the workplace just to make others comfortable or not feel threatened by us within “corporate America,” i.e. not wanting to convey the angry Black man/woman stereotype, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Above all, one quality we all share as Black citizens within this nation is the collective distrust of the United States government. But honestly, who can blame us when you look at the history that wasn’t so long ago...

We could start anywhere in history, but let’s start in 1921 during the Tulsa Race riots and the destruction of Black Wall Street where white rioters killed over 300 Black people and left thousands homeless. BWS at that time was the wealthiest Black community in the US.

There was no one prosecuted, no justice served, and to this day, the descendants of the families of people that were murdered have not seen a penny in recompense of the wrong doing that happened to their families.

Let’s fast forward a little to our country’s Jim Crow era where segregation was legal, and the legal doctrine of “separate but equal” was extended to all aspects of life, yet, things were very much separate but far from equal.

Let’s transition into the Civil Rights movement in which when Blacks began to mobilize themselves to fight back against the oppressive establishment; and our very own government put an end to all of it. The establishment of COINTELPRO by the FBI targeted black leaders and groups.

Specifically, with this program, the FBI targeted any and everyone who was a threat to substantially changing the [racist] status quo of America at that time. Some notable targets were the Black Panther Party, Martin Luther King Jr. & Malcolm X.

Till this day, people like Assata Shakur a notable Black Panther, and an important figure to the Black Power and Black Liberation movements can’t even come back home to the US because she’s wanted for a crime she didn’t commit.

I could bring up the unlawful murder of Fred Hampton, killed in his sleep. He was seen as a threat because he was getting all the gangs in Chicago to stop killing one another and join the liberation movement. So who did it ? The FBI. Who was prosecuted? No one.

I could go on and on with this, even within present day America. To be frank, Black Americans are prisoners within their own land. Everything is dedicated to portraying them negatively. EVERYTHING. From media to the news.

So I ask, who can Black People trust? Who really has the best interests of Black men, women, & children ? With every election, racial issues are discussed but absolutely nothing changes. Nothing. We still are disenfranchised, still killed unlawfully by cops, but more notably,

we still are seen ultimately as second class citizens. America cannot and will not be the nation that it claims to be until this issue is addressed. Patiently we wait until that day comes, but there will be a day when the people can not wait any longer...

#BarringtonVsCongress