To all the privileged people….

Filed in National by on April 28, 2015

To all the privileged people tsk-tsking the riots in Baltimore, and using the nonviolence of Martin Luther King as a prop to disguise yourself, consider this….

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  1. Mikem2784 says:
    April 28, 2015 at 7:39 am

    Thank you. So tired of hearing how “Martin Luther King would be rolling over in his grave.” He would be, but because African-Americans continue to exist largely as the underclass of our society and because institutional racism is alive and well in the year 2015. Of course nothing justifies looting a city, especially one’s own neighborhood, but the lack of understanding by many in the white majority is absurd.

  2. Jason330 says:
    April 28, 2015 at 7:40 am

    Maryland police killed 111 people last year.

  3. Jason330 says:
    April 28, 2015 at 7:52 am

    Whether you believe in violence or non-violence, it is immoral to support a system that allows the police to kill people in their custody.

  4. Dorian Gray says:
    April 28, 2015 at 8:13 am

    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/nonviolence-as-compliance/391640/

    “When nonviolence is preached as an attempt to evade the repercussions of political brutality, it betrays itself. When nonviolence begins halfway through the war with the aggressor calling time out, it exposes itself as a ruse. When nonviolence is preached by the representatives of the state, while the state doles out heaps of violence to its citizens, it reveals itself to be a con. And none of this can mean that rioting or violence is ‘correct’ or ‘wise,’ any more than a forest fire can be ‘correct’ or ‘wise.’ Wisdom isn’t the point tonight. Disrespect is. In this case, disrespect for the hollow law and failed order that so regularly disrespects the rioters themselves.” —-Ta-Nehisi Coates

  5. pandora says:
    April 28, 2015 at 8:37 am

    I love Ta-Nehisi Coates. The man is brilliant and thoughtful.

    People with nothing left to lose take to the streets. And when it comes to interaction with police what exactly does the community have to lose? It sure as hell isn’t safety.

    My husband was out gardening the other day and two African American kids were sitting on the elementary school lawn across the street. A police car rolled up and my husband said his stomach clenched because he wasn’t sure how this would play out. Nothing happened, but Mr. Pandora was nervous and fearful for those kids. When he came inside he said he probably wouldn’t ever call the police for neighborhood kid disturbances, since the consequences could be so dire. Houston, there’s a problem.

  6. bamboozer says:
    April 28, 2015 at 8:44 am

    And you knew it was coming: Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Baltimore is the feared “Deja Vu all over again” of the sixties riots, expect the media, the politicians and the police to do no better this time around. Read up on the riots of the mid sixties, of all states Delaware should remember the consequences. On a lighter note if I wasn’t so old I’d start a punk band called “Two Years Occupied”.

  7. Dorian Gray says:
    April 28, 2015 at 8:53 am

    It’s funny you mention that, P. My mind was on situations like that this morning as I waited for the bus. I just imagined myself on the other side.

    If the cops pulled up on us and said we “fit a description” and they shoved us against the wall and frisked us right there on the street it would be a complete outrage! Next time they rolled up I’d very likely beat a fast retreat. Then they’d chase me down I suppose and pretty much do whatever they liked…

    And who is being asked to stop the violence? Violence in the name of “order” and violence against poor black people is the ‘good’ violence apparently. Codified violence. But when poor black people throw bricks it’s anathema. This is some seriously fucked up social maths.

  8. Dorian Gray says:
    April 28, 2015 at 8:57 am

    @bamboozer – I don’t know how old you are but starting a band called “Two Years Occupied” in your 50s or 60s (or even 70s) is the definition of punk I think! 🙂

    There are photos online of the Wilmington riots, in case people need a refresher on National Guardsmen at 4th and Market…

    http://www.oldwilmington.net/oldwilmington/1968-riots.html

  9. mouse says:
    April 28, 2015 at 10:34 am

    Unemployment of black men is 50% in Balto

  10. Prop Joe says:
    April 28, 2015 at 10:36 am

    In case folks are interested in reading the entire speech from where this quote originated: http://stanford.io/1IjecuO

  11. Dorian Gray says:
    April 28, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Prop Joe – How are you holding down on the East side? I known you’re safe. Slim Charles knows his business. Just hang back in the cut until… 🙂

  12. Mikem2784 says:
    April 28, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    The full speech is available at http://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm for those interested.

    The relevant section:

    “So these conditions, existence of widespread poverty, slums, and of tragic conniptions in schools and other areas of life, all of these things have brought about a great deal of despair, and a great deal of desperation. A great deal of disappointment and even bitterness in the Negro communities. And today all of our cities confront huge problems. All of our cities are potentially powder kegs as a result of the continued existence of these conditions. Many in moments of anger, many in moments of deep bitterness engage in riots.

    Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I’m still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve. That in a real sense it is impracticable for the Negro to even think of mounting a violent revolution in the United States. So I will continue to condemn riots, and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way. And continue to affirm that there is another way.

    But at the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots. I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”

  13. Prop Joe says:
    April 28, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Slim Charles is rough & tumble, he’ll be fine. Looking around, both East and West, I’m left to think that we might need some “Day of the Jackal”-type motherfucker to fix this shit

  14. Dorian Gray says:
    April 28, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    Agreed! When you go after a man like State Senator R Clayton Davis you certainly do.

  15. Anonymous says:
    April 28, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    @ Jason330 Could you provide where you saw your numbers? According to this:
    http://www.accuracy.org/release/baltimore-police-as-occupation/

    It was 111 in the last 3 years. I don’t condone any deaths even 1 is too many, but could you check your facts?

    Respectfully

  16. John Manifold says:
    April 28, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    It can’t happen here, I’m telling you my dear.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/28/the-most-racist-places-in-america-according-to-google/

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