Friday, November 29, 2024
Opinion Piece
The Problem
Picture Source: Wix Media
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, participated in a panel on February 1, 2024, addressing the state of Black America. This issue has attracted considerable attention, primarily due to Roland Martin and the Washington DC Black Network Crew. During the panel, Kennedy Jr. faced criticism for suggesting that "Black youth should use resilience to fight racism" in America. To Kennedy Jr., it seems that when a Black young man is stopped by a racist police officer, he should simply rely on "resilience" as a defense. This perspective underscores a disconnect in White America's understanding of why Black citizens deserve reparations. Many in mainstream White America mistakenly believe that racial targeting is trivial. They assume that insults don't hurt, especially when they come from a privileged background with access to luxuries like chauffeurs, vacations, and elite education. This ignorance overlooks the unnecessary challenges faced by Black citizens, who are descendants of those who endured chattel slavery. The false narrative that Black men are part ape perpetuates these struggles, affecting not only past generations but also the present and future ones. Black people are unjustly stigmatized by a scientifically unfounded lie, which only the uninformed fail to recognize. Africans are not direct descendants of apes; this is a myth propagated to justify the atrocity of chattel slavery.
This narrative relates to the flaw in Kennedy Jr.'s thinking. White individuals like Kennedy Jr. can't see beyond the surface. He can't understand why a racially inspired name created by White mentally ill and criminally minded individuals whose ancestors were banished from England has been mocking Black men for over 500 years.
Some White folks, despite caring, struggle to understand and are misled by lies about Black people, leading figures like Kennedy Jr. to disregard the lasting impact of 500 years of Chattel Slavery on Black communities. Picture Source: Wix Media
This flawed way of thinking in mainstream White America and those who consider themselves White can be a dangerous formula against Black North American citizens. Primarily because, since White America holds influence and power, their perspective will be biased and make the mistake or premedidatitive treasonous actions by or allowing equating Black minorities' issues with those of Brown, Immigrant, LGBTQ, or women minorities equallying which is just plan out wrong.
This would lead to Black minorities' disenfranchisement being four times less than what is truly owed to them because Black citizens of North America experienced over 400 years of chattel slavery plus 100 years of Jim Crow laws. This results in a wrong conclusion as a formula because those other minority groups did not endure such extensive historical oppression equal of that of Black North American Citizens. The math does not add up.
In conclusion,
Roland Martin had just cause to highlight the concerns surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s comments back in February 2024. The suggestion that Black youth should rely solely on "resilience" to combat racism reflects a significant disconnect in White America's understanding of the necessity for reparations and the complexities of racial injustice. This perspective trivializes the lived experiences of Black citizens, desensitizing the broader population to the historical and ongoing impacts of systemic racism. It underscores the importance of recognizing the unique struggles faced by Black North Americans, who have endured over 400 years of chattel slavery and subsequent generations of oppression. Martin's emphasis on these issues is crucial for fostering a more informed and empathetic dialogue about race in America. Please enjoy Earth Wind & Fire's "Evil" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ2AsBQCPeI
Reference: The L.A. Loyolan "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pitches himself to Gen Z and Black voters https://www.laloyolan.com/e2024/robert-f-kennedy-jr-pitches-himself-to-gen-z-and-black-voters/article_8a43700c-d7c3-51a1-b028-91d9a2cfa655.html
Gif Source of Tootie: Wix Gif
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