This is soon becoming the year where some form of daily blatant racism is demonstrated by several of our Congressional and State “leaders.” We see this particularly in the South with lawmakers embracing regulations to suppress the vote and deny the basic rights of freedom to black and brown people. We do not have to ask why the historic Jim Crow laws or Poll Taxes have become a recurrent topic of conversation in states such as Georgia and Florida. We remain genuinely concerned about hate groups that are rapidly growing in this country.
As we fly our American flag in the North and the South, it is intended to stand for the principles of democracy, justice, and freedom. The purpose of the flag is to remind us of those who sacrificed their lives for our liberty. But how we have forgotten that many who lost their lives working for and defending this country were not just white. They were men and women of a rainbow of color.
Last week in a disgusting political occurrence in Georgia, the intrinsic right of being handed a bottle of water in a voting line was made a crime. Seven self-serving white men stood under a painting of a former slave plantation as the bill was signed. There is no doubt that these lawmakers clearly desired to carry on the tradition of enslavement and suppression. They have elected to embrace the societal privilege of being white and are enjoying the not so hidden benefits. We do hope that you are all asking yourselves what part of America do these other lawmakers represent. And hopefully your answer is not mine!
If you are white, as we are, do not let the social phenomenon of white privilege define you. Be thankful to our brothers and sisters of color. These are the people who fought beside us, worked next to us, protected us, designed and built the Capitol and monuments for us, and so much more. Is it not time to stand for nondiscriminatory practices? If so, you may want to reconsider not frequenting a restaurant, a store, or someone’s home if you know that they discriminate or promote victimization. You, too, can take a stand from your own home. Be heard for your voice can count as well. In that vein, we responded to our local paper this week and wrote a retort to yet another discriminatory bill being considered in Florida. Letter to the Editor published today, April 1, 2021, in the Herald-Tribune:
Anti-Riot vs Anti-Freedom
What hypocrisy the Florida Republican-dominated House has shown by passing the “anti-riot” bill. As they refuse to condemn the violent and destructive mob of mostly white men and women at the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol, they proceed to design a DeSantis backed bill to block persons of color and their supporters from peacefully gathering and carrying out their right to dissent.
As these Republicans pretend to be what they are not, they show us more about who they really are. They keep moving their party deeper into lily white territory. With these increased efforts for minority suppression, the country moves further away from the principles upon which it was built. This unsavory road is reminiscent of the horrors of Jim Crow Laws. Hasn’t history taught us anything?
As Ron DeSantis positions himself to run for President, he seems to believe that his white supremacy platform will usher him into the White House. Let us not be fooled by this man or the bill that is aimed at preventing the right to peaceful and legal protest. It will further strip a significant number of Americans of their freedoms. If this does not disturb you, it should!
As we celebrate the days of Passover and Easter, may we find kindness in being with others.
“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” –Angela Davis
