A Response

I am blessed. I was born in a nation whose founders believed that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights, which include Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. I am further blessed that when a Constitution was drafted to protect these rights, a process was included by which it could be altered. My great-great-grandfather, also born in this nation during slavery, had no rights. In fact, the same Constitution that declared him the property of another declares me free.

Getting to this place where I can, theoretically, enjoy rights originally intended for white men has been a difficult journey wrought with great peril. The abolition of slavery was no comfort as other means of control were conceived and executed. My sister often reminds me that the first prison opened the day after slavery ended. The Constitution was amended for my inclusion, but not without sedition. There has always existed a fringe element seeking to undermine the law and break the spirit of a people. Ironically, these homegrown terrorists ignored constitutional law to perpetrate horrendous acts, while enjoying protection from the same document. Such evil continues to fester.

Perhaps not evil, but no less frustrating is another element; those blind to the social injustice and overt racism that permeates our culture. Apparently these people have no sense of history and lack the empathy to consider its effect on the present. They exist in a world removed. Most can claim at least one African American friend of whom they know very little. They see the great accomplishments of a few and believe that all can achieve the same. They would never consider that the effects of slavery, oppression and institutional discrimination prevent many from enjoying their unalienable rights. They are quick to assert that slavery was abolished. African Americans should be grateful and get over it.

Many Americans have served valiantly in defense of our country, returning from combat, physically and psychologically scarred as a result. Some use drugs and alcohol as a panacea, setting in motion a cycle with detrimental, long-term consequences. I could remind them their tour of duty is over, admonishing them to be grateful and get over it. However, I understand the far-reaching emotional and psychological effects of trauma, further increasing my respect of and appreciation for our men and women in uniform. Their sacrifice is unquestionable. Still, as a nation, we consistently fail to honor them properly. We place them in the care of the Veterans Administration, sleep in and take advantage of white sales on the appropriate holidays.

Similarly, the nation fails to adequately celebrate African Americans for our innumerable contributions. If not for slave labor how would the country look? Africans in America are responsible for innovations enjoyed the world over. Among them; the shoe-lasting machine, the hair comb, the ironing board, the clothes dryer, the elevator, the automatic gearshift, the traffic signal, the electric trolley, the street sweeper, the pencil sharpener, the fountain pen, the electric lamp, the mop and dustpan, the sprinkler system and lawn mower, the air conditioner and heating furnace, the refrigerator and this is the short list. Despite unending oppression and terrorism, African American ingenuity has never suffered.

The trauma from intimidation, degradation and dehumanization is very real. Some of us are so damaged we cannot imagine how it would feel to be whole, well and free. History has taught us to remain on the defensive and we stand poised and go there when prompted. Last week the New York Post took us there. So much so that the Rupert Murdoch, the king of biased media issued a personal statement of apology, which I publicly refused to accept. On Facebook I received this comment:

That is hilarious , The post called bush a chimapanzie, and a monkey not one person said a thing , Suddenly obama is president its racist BULLSHIT. Freedom of speech and ots people liek you that are getting rid of our freedoms

What the commenter fails to realize is there are far more ethnic slurs to describe African Americans than the few he may use. In addition to moulinyan and several others I don’t care to repeat, we are called coon, jigaboo, darky, pickaninny, spade, spook and every manner of primate. These are not terms of endearment. They are insults, demeaning to our character and painful reminders of a not-so-distant past. I am hard-pressed to believe an educated editorial staff did not expect, even anticipate the public outcry. Similar stunts have increased their visibility in the past. The loss of Liz Smith will most certainly result in decreased circulation, but sensationalism sells, even in the absence of credible journalism as the Post has proven time and again.

Certainly freedom of speech and expression must be respected. The Post has every right to print what they want just as I have the right to respond how I wish. People like me can’t stop them, but we can certainly choose not to feed the monster.