When in America, do like the Americans.

Four little girls.

Us Black people are trying so hard to become Americans but we’re failing to realize what that truly means.  It’s not the freedom, the privilege that we don’t enjoy, the sense of entitlement nor the capitalistic opportunity.

Point blank (pun intended) It’s the comfort of violence.

We’re spiritual people, probably the only genetic remnant from our African heritage.  Soulful is our nature.  Peace.  But aren’t we our brother’s keepers?  And from the womb of Mother Africa, aren’t we the protectors of its beauty and offerings?

No one wants to kill but more importantly, no one wants to be killed.  And we, with our inherent non-violent disposition, struggle to comprehend which is more relevant.  But Americans don’t.  We’re conditioned to keep our eyes on the prize, sing, pray – let glory be achieved in the kingdom.  Great, yes, affirmative.  But America’s creed of bible in one hand and a gun in the other is this country’s essence – and we struggle with that sentiment.

George Zimmerman should not be walking the face of the earth.  Neither should any officer that has maliciously killed one of us.  Those 19 hijackers on September 11^th, 2001 – they understood, they got it.  Violently, they changed the comfort of America.  Laws, changed, moods changed and as a result America changed – it took notice.

Special News Bulletin: “The daughter of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd was found shot to death outside of their home.”

Before being shocked, think of Tamir Rice – etc. etc. etc.

We can go as far back as the sixties but just imagine, if a family member of the officer that shot to death Ms. Eleanor Bumpurs was killed, would we even know of a Derek Chauvin?  And perhaps Tamir Rice would still be alive.  Remember those officers that shot to death Amadou Diallo?  What if one of them or their family member had come up dead.  Or even the cops that beat Rodney King, perhaps Philando Castile would still be alive.  When consequences of actions can result in dire retributions, thoughts are processed differently – opting for more insight.

Obviously the marches and prayers aren’t working.  We’ve been doing it for years progressing at a snail’s pace if we’re lucky, more like retrograde motion is how I see it.  New tactics are needed, an eye for an eye – that’s biblical.  New tactic, fight fire with fire.  New tactic, you take one of ours, we’ll take one of yours.  Again, no one wants to kill but, no one wants to be killed.  Evidently, they don’t mind killing.  No regards to precedent.  Thoughts, followed by prayers, followed by another shooting.  The American Cycle.

We’ve tried everything, everything within our natural powers and that’s to passively react to this violence.  That’s how we’ve been conditioned to respond through years of submission to the American Idealism.  We’ve been fighting for fairness since 1619 but our equality stems on the premise of violence and unless we incorporate it into our future, our past will continue.  Our legal system isn’t designed to give us justice, it’s formulated to protect the system of Americans.  And until we truly embrace the core of Americanism (violence) we can never achieve that equivalence.