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History has always been a topic that has captivated my learning and is probably the reason why I decided to become a Social Studies teacher. I truly miss having deep, intellectual discussions with my middle school students on a daily basis.
Although they are known to say ridiculous things now and then, when it comes time for the serious class conversations, I am truly blown away by how articulate most of them are. More so than many adults (especially on this social media platform).
I think we can all agree that the George Floyd video is nothing short of horrific and cold blooded murder. Almost all law enforcement officials have been forthcoming about that. I am very pro-law enforcement, however, this hasn't helped the black community heal.
They've heard these apologies and outcries for injustice for far too long throughout our nation's history. White people cannot and should not try to empathize with how black people are feeling at this time. To do so is ignorant.
We can sympathize, but to say that we truly understand would be foolish. Regarding the riots and looting that has taken place in Minneapolis over the past three days, it's truly hard to believe that in 2020, during a pandemic, this city looks like the streets of L.A. circa 1992.
Then adding insult to injury, we have the President of the United States tweeting out at 1 A.M. "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." This tweet was doubled down by the White House Twitter account. Are the actions of these rioters and looters reprehensible? Absolutely!
However, as the leader of our country, you CAN NOT be tweeting about opening fire on people in the wake of a black man who was killed on video while pleading for his life. Tweets like this serve absolutely no one.
Let me be very clear about this. In no way am I condoning violence or rioting, but many of us seem to have forgotten how this great nation started. March 5, 1770, Bostonians protested taxation without representation and were combative by throwing clubs, stones, ice balls filled
with oyster shells toward the British soldiers guarding the city. We were still the Thirteen American Colonies of Great Britain. As a result, five civilians were killed after shots had been fired into the mob of people. The first reported death of the Boston Massacre happened...
to be an African American man by the name of Crispus Attucks.
Long story short, riots are nothing new. The Boston Massacre sparked tensions leading up to the Revolutionary War. Years after the war ended we see Shays' Rebellion and Thomas Jefferson responded by saying, "I hold...
Long story short, riots are nothing new. The Boston Massacre sparked tensions leading up to the Revolutionary War. Years after the war ended we see Shays' Rebellion and Thomas Jefferson responded by saying, "I hold...
it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has said, "Riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I will continue to condemn riots and to continue to say it to...
my brothers and sisters that this is not the way and to continue to affirm that there is another way. At the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which calls persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for...
me to condemn riots." I know this thread is a lot to digest. I'm just in awe that in 2020, in the midst of craziness, we still hear and see stories like this going on. To my friends out there condemning riots, that is your right to do so.
However, I ask that you are sensitive to the language in which you are doing so. You might think I'm very liberal or PC for saying things like this, but it's genuinely how I feel. If you really know me, you know that my political beliefs are genuinely in the middle.
This goes full circle back to my job title and how playing devil's advocate allows my students to formulate their own beliefs based on facts. Thank you.
