1. I recognize this position may get me in trouble, but I’m gon’ speak 💯. I don’t share White America’s sentiments regarding black people & rioting. Generally speaking, white people tend to care more abt the rioting than the overflow of trauma/pain that leads to such destruction
2. We White America riots, it has always been either an expression of power or due to overflow of anger at losing power over others.

When black people have rioted, it has been the overflow of trauma & the reactionary rage that occurs when squeeze a person too hard for too long.
3. When Dr. King was assassinated, it was a boiling point. The black community had already lost many of its leaders & then Dr. King, a man so defined by his work in peaceful resistance was violently murdered. All the trauma & rage overflowed into the streets like a volcano...
4. Rodney King was 1st recorded police beating in LA. What was happening regularly was finally caught on video for world to see. PROOF of the racialized violence black people endured by police. All the cops involved got off, the traumatized black community of LA exploded w/ rage.
5. Here’s the thing that many don’t seem to understand, but it is easily historically verifiable. There would be no progress in Civil Rights if it wasn’t for the volcanic explosion of black pain. Fear of what America COULD become is what motivated White America to grant justice.
6. White America does not listen to the laments of Black people unless it’s forced to. Historically speaking, white America has always waited until the black community has exploded due to its ongoing trauma & rage at injustice before they’ve been willing to act... out of fear.
7. I do not condone rioting, but I also recognize it as a part of the cycle within a society that establishes caste systems. People who wield power against others can only do so for so long before those under the oppression explode. Power is rarely ever willfully relinquished.
8. It doesn’t have to be this way. Black and white people COULD come together and make a stand against the Kingdom of Darkness and the racialized oppression it has promoted within our world. It will not happen unless there are white people willing to count the very real cost.
9. But white people NEED to understand. The riots and burnings happening right not in Minneapolis is the fruit of racial trauma and oppression and is what happens when white america turns a deaf ear to racial oppression and injustice for so long that those under it, explode.
10. Perspective matters. I am not justifying rioting, I know some will interpret these words as such but that’s not what I’m doing. I am simply providing perspective and explaining the “why” rather than doing the easy thing of just condemning and dismissing. ✌🏽❤️
You can follow @KyleJamesHoward.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: