I’ve been feeling a lot of things lately. Mostly shame. As a white individual, I feel embarrassed to have not stood up sooner, not recognized glaringly obvious inequalities, and benefitted from them along the way. I feel relieved to have so many courageous, patient people determined to educate. There’s a lot I don’t know. There’s a lot I’ll never fully understand, but I am a student once again, ready to listen, ready to learn. … I see a powerful, national, mostly non-violent call to action. I want more than anything for this to bring about real systemic, social, and lasting change.
Rashauna L.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 10:08 AM
I’ve been on this earth 69 years. I remember all kinds of tragedies in America: John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Meager Evers, Malcolm X, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark assassinations. I remember meeting Emmett Till’s mom 30 years after his lynching, and she was still fighting for justice. Every major riot I can recall has been a result of racism and police brutality. Now I’m seeing Black men assassinated in the public view. We keep missing the boat on these conversations. They only focus on the problems and not the solutions. Just as Black America has not recovered from slavery, neither has White America. Many still believe we are slaves and less than dogs. That’s why a white policeman can hold his knee on a Black man’s neck for 9 minutes with no remorse. He has a slave master mentality. So, yes, let’s have these conversations, but make sure you come out the box of limitations. People need psychological healing to move us from four hundred years of slavery to healing.
Sheila A.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 7:22 AM
I want to learn more about ways that I can speak up for black people. But also is it crazy to want to walk up to any black person that I meet and somehow let them know that I am on their side? … I believe that they are entitled to walk around and not be afraid of getting attacked by police. I believe they should not have to live with prejudices and racism from others. How can I say all of that with a smile or a hello? Can we come up with a new socially distant sign of “I’m on your side“ and not have it be tarnished by people using it wrongly?
Betsy S.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 9:00 PM
I’m a retired police officer of almost 30 years. I would love for you to see the world through my eyes. I was spit on, yelled at, physically punched, shot at and oftentimes looked down upon as I tried to do my job. Despite the negative experiences that I had, I was able to make a difference in my community. I know many of the victims of crimes that I helped were glad I was there doing my job. Even some of those I arrested are thankful for me helping them change their lives. In my career, I did see “bad officers” and they were dealt with by the administration. Police work is not for everyone. I often say it is a calling, just like a minister is called to serve; those who are not there for the purest of reasons should be removed. … Please don’t continue to fan the flames of hatred. There are so many more good, honest, hardworking police officers that should be praised. Creating an us versus them, someone has to win at all cost mentality is absurd. We can work together to make a change that can benefit all.
Ed K.
to Carlos Watson
Thu, Jun 4, 5:25 AM
This societal stasis cannot be allowed to remain! Why is it accepted that an entire RACE or gender or preference is hated? … I’m constantly baffled by the animosity and pure hate our current leadership espouses. Time for them to go. Time for a braver, more loving and accepting generation to take their place.
Angel P.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 10:41 PM
As a Black woman, I find it hard separating my activism and maintaining a level of professionalism while at work. Lately I’ve been in a state of rage with all the unrest and injustice in this nation. With the current pandemic, I’ve been able to work from home 3 out of 5 days but usually feel policed whenever I walk into any boardroom or meeting — anything from the way I wear my hair or my outfits. Aside from that, issues of injustice are barely if ever discussed. It’s as if racism and other forms of inequality don’t exist because no one brings up the issue or wants to engage on the topic. It’s infuriating.
What I have learned is to give myself time or a break to step away from the office setting to take deep breaths or sometimes pray. I have to give myself the relief even though it’s not offered to me.
Rhena P.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 1:31 PM
The times are changing and the world is getting metaphorically smaller. As interracial relationships become more of the norm and as whites become a minority race in America, racial bias will begin to disappear. But don’t think it will be a natural or easy transition because the white man has a firm hold on what goes on in America, and the white man doesn’t want to be in second place — ever. There will be many dirty tricks and potentially unlawful tactics used to suppress voters and keep the “power of money” candidates in office. And since there is no longer any transparency or effective means of oversight within our government, journalists are our only lifeline to the truth. Throughout this presidency, the politics has been quite ugly. Politics has become a team sport. Honor, dignity, pride of country and respect have all gone out the window. In some ways I see Trump as a necessary evil. The turmoil that is being caused by his words and actions, combined with the effects of the pandemic, frequent natural disasters due to climate change ... and the impending COVID collapsed economy, will provide the environment for change to take place. Or, it will all boil over. I never thought I’d live to see a second American revolution, but right now it looks like we’re heading for one.
Lou M.
to Carlos Watson
Tue, Jun 2, 10:56 PM
When the pandemic started and life was paused … we have been forced to adopt a new lifestyle. So with everyone being limited on where we can go and what we can do, our distractions have been decreased tremendously. God got our attention on an issue that never went away, and that's racism and how it is still an issue everywhere. With no distractions EVERYONE witnessed several horrific events during this pandemic. We also see how people really feel about those murders. … I think this is a time to see if our elected leaders are really for the people. The true test is during a crisis. Some have failed us and some have stepped up.
Nicole A.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:54 PM
African Americans should come back home to Africa. We would rather have them than other races who have shown us their worst during the COVID pandemic.
Edward M.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:27 PM
The destructive elements among us have succeeded; they've set back race relations no less than a decade. Will the rioters and looters rebuild the scorched communities in the name of George Floyd?
Daniel C.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:50 PM
When the pandemic started and life was paused … we have been forced to adopt a new lifestyle. So with everyone being limited on where we can go and what we can do, our distractions have been decreased tremendously. God got our attention on an issue that never went away, and that's racism and how it is still an issue everywhere. With no distractions EVERYONE witnessed several horrific events during this pandemic. We also see how people really feel about those murders. … I think this is a time to see if our elected leaders are really for the people. The true test is during a crisis. Some have failed us and some have stepped up.
Nicole A.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:54 PM
African Americans should come back home to Africa. We would rather have them than other races who have shown us their worst during the COVID pandemic.
Edward M.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:27 PM
The destructive elements among us have succeeded; they've set back race relations no less than a decade. Will the rioters and looters rebuild the scorched communities in the name of George Floyd?
Daniel C.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 1:50 PM
As we as a nation try to navigate what is currently going on, trying to understand the blatant murders, violence and riots, we are straddling the many lines of Black and White, Love and Hate, Anger and Indifference, Frustration and Apathy (there are so many more). Those of us who understand that Black Lives Matter (and ALL lives matter) and stand with peaceful protestors, comprehend why the riots are happening. We are also upset that the rioting does not honor Floyd’s life. However, by the same token we realize that Floyd’s murder was the last straw on the camel’s back. That all the hate and racism people of color have suffered (over the centuries) has created this turmoil. … I don’t blame people for being at their wits end and rioting. I don’t. I’m trying to overcome the anger and the hate I have for those officers. I’m a Christian and I’m struggling with forgiveness. What are the answers, I don’t know.
I do know, however, that we need to make changes in our police and judicial systems. It’s not enough that officers attend “sensitivity” training. We need a way to weed out the bad apples before they get into academy. Another is obvious — teach our children well, love not hate.
Glorida A.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 3:03 PM
As we as a nation try to navigate what is currently going on, trying to understand the blatant murders, violence and riots, we are straddling the many lines of Black and White, Love and Hate, Anger and Indifference, Frustration and Apathy (there are so many more). Those of us who understand that Black Lives Matter (and ALL lives matter) and stand with peaceful protestors, comprehend why the riots are happening. We are also upset that the rioting does not honor Floyd’s life. However, by the same token we realize that Floyd’s murder was the last straw on the camel’s back. That all the hate and racism people of color have suffered (over the centuries) has created this turmoil. … I don’t blame people for being at their wits end and rioting. I don’t. I’m trying to overcome the anger and the hate I have for those officers. I’m a Christian and I’m struggling with forgiveness. What are the answers, I don’t know.
I do know, however, that we need to make changes in our police and judicial systems. It’s not enough that officers attend “sensitivity” training. We need a way to weed out the bad apples before they get into academy. Another is obvious — teach our children well, love not hate.
Gloria A.
to Carlos Watson
Mon, Jun 1, 3:03 PM
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