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(1/?) I felt the need to post something because staying silent seems like cowardice at this point and I want to be a role model for my students. I am extremely lucky in this country and in this world for something that I had no ability to influence. I was born white.
(2/?) I will never be able to understand what it is like to have to have a conversation with my son or daughter about institutionalized racism. I will never have to discuss how you should address the police to not appear suspicious; to not give them any reason to take my life.
(3/?) And even then, that might not be enough. Sometimes you cross paths with scum like Derek Chauvin who just want to murder. George Floyd was said to spend an allegedly counterfeit $20 bill. He stayed around and waited for the police (most don't) just to clear it up.
(4/?) When I was in HS, I worked at a local drug store (they save you the run around). One of our tellers took a counterfeit $100 bill. Myself and another worker were given a direct order to go buy fast food with the bill so "it wouldn't be our problem."
(5/?) When you are 17 and working your first retail job, you follow direct orders. Cashier at the store called the police and told the story. The detective at the local station left a polite voicemail at my house and asked me to come down the next day to talk about what happened.
(6/?) I gave him all the information (which matched the story of the other worker who went with me to fast food). I was done. I was told to stay out of trouble and never received a single charge. They were more interested in the manager and the counterfeiter.
(7/?) This is white privilege. I committed the exact same offense as George Floyd, at five times the value, and no one murdered me. Racism and violence towards minorities are ingrained in the DNA of this country.
(8/?) People still believe down to their core that black men and women are worth 3/5ths that of a white man or woman. This is disgusting. Pretending not to see color isn't fixing the problem. It's ducking your head under the covers like a coward.
(9/?) Black exists. White exists. So does everything in between.
(10/?) Our black brothers and sisters are being murdered by those who are supposed to be there to protect and serve. Our black brothers and sisters are being shoved into the dirt by an institution built to keep minorities down, and those in power in place.
(11/?) So I'm sorry if you have a problem with protesting. I'm sorry if you have a problem with some property damage. Property can be replaced. Hell, I'm sure most of it is insured anyways. You don't get to tell the maligned how to respond.
(12/?) Kaepernick kneeled peacefully and people had a problem. NBA players wore "I can't breathe" shirts and yall had a problem. Black Lives Matter marches? Problems with that. Speeches by celebrities at awards shows? They get told to stay in their lane.
(13/?) Peaceful protest was tried and they were shut down at every avenue. So I ask, what the hell do you expect to happen? I was sorry I wasn't able to be at the protest downtown today. I'm going to regret it, probably forever.
(14/?) I hope this is a turning point in time for people to start seeing how America really is... what certain subsets of society face every day.
(15/?) So for Freddie Gray, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, and thousands of others; I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry.
(16/?) Not sure what the answer is, but what we have isn't working. This America doesn't work. If you think it does, you're part of the problem.
(/end) I ask you to reflect upon your thoughts. If you're more worried about property than a human life being snuffed out, what the fuck is wrong with you?
