Thread:

A number of politicians have made comments about peaceful protest but those comments alone, without an engagement with the issues that impacts African Americans lives, are deeply problematic.

First, how many of these politicians would willingly recognise systemic racism, not the brutal kind that caused George Floyd to die on the streets begging to breath and calling for his mama?

How many would even acknowledge that George Floyd death was a modern day lynching instead of an accident by a bad cop?

And if someone can’t stare at your pain in the face, can’t call it by its name, how would trust them to know which solutions would solve your problems?

Second, to focus on the violence alone risks falling into the racist narrative that black peoples are violent and thuggish- especially when one doesn’t call on the history of black non-violence movements - historical and the present.

(* I am not calling anyone here racist).

The narrative about violent protest also fails to admit that peaceful protest often fails. MLK was murdered after a life dedicated to nonviolence movement.

Colin Kaepernick was severely punished for peacefully kneeling to call attention to police brutalities against blacks.

Peace is a wonderful gift. Peaceful protest is a wonderful gift but like James Baldwin warned: “People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.”

I am seeing a lot of commentary about what is happening in America, most of these commentary is sadly, sadly, devoid of the deeper analysis that calms and reassures.

We all know violence is not an answer, but when that violence arrives, to prevent it in future, we must address the underlying causes. We must address the legitimate part of that violence that is a cry to be heard, to breath, to live.

If a man believes his life is worthless, it is hard to see how property and notions of law and order (as important as they are) would mean much to them.

Like you, I am looking for answers. Thinking. I see a world in need of a different kind of leadership. Here, we may start by recognising what has been done to Indigenous Peoples. Will we hear them as they continue to peacefully call us to be a greater country.