Melanin-ated Man

In the wake of the #MikeBrown murder, I urge you to be safe out there melanin-ated man, the devils among us are hunting you because of your existence.

This is not just about being socially aware.  This is about the lack of justice!  We are living in a time where all people are supposedly treated equal, a democratic society, and in the land of the free, right.  So, why then, are people of color (Black or African American) not treated as equal, not treated as citizens with rights, not protected by their democratic government, and their freedom is all but free.  Why melanin-ated people are not offered the same due process as our non-melanin-ated counterparts?  Wait, the judicial system offers due process, but somehow we always seem to end up with the verdict that benefits the offender instead of the victim.  We pay the price for being free to breathe.  Let me clarify my choice of words “people of color,” I am referring to people of color who do not identify as Black or of African descent.  However, let me implore you, do not be a person of color and think that this injustice will not affect you.  We live under a democratic government, meaning run by the people and for the people where citizens in that democracy have rights.  For example, we have the right to speak freely, practice religion, vote, walk down the street, visit friends at their homes, sit in public places, buy goods from a local convenience store and so on.  My mind cannot logically process WHY innocent citizens are gunned down and murdered by the very ones that took an oath to protect and serve for the very same things that their democratic society governs they have rights-to.

As my cousin said to me, “all people practice racism.  It is a condition of evil acts against one kind, humanity is a heart and soul, which doesn't look for difference but stands in purity.  "who is the latter and how do you see yourself as such" is my question blog that for me.”

To answer your question Steph, I must first look at the definition of racism--it is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior (Wiki).  Yes, indirectly and on some level, I do practice a bit of racism because I prejudge, I discriminate based on the truth of my own experiences, and no, I have never antagonized or felt that my own race was superior and therefore treated another person differently because of it.  Let me be crystal clear, I am not a racist, I firmly believe there should be no division, we all are of one race and that is the human race-equal, where there is no black, white, or other.  I mean black and white does not describe skin color when you get down to the science of it all.  I love all kinds of people, which is where my humanity is pure.  In my opinion, a racist cannot practice racism and stand in purity, but a human with a pure heart and soul (pure) may indirectly practice racism, so I guess that makes me the latter.  In my response to Steph, I began to think about whether a racist who knowingly practices racism cares about humanity.  Ah, that’s a bonafide HELL NO because if they did, his/her conscience would not allow them to commit such heinous acts.

As I process what we are faced with in 2014, in comparison to that of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, faced with the raw truth that nothing has changed because they are still murdering black men and now the focus is on our young men.  Looking at the facts, the list of melanin-ated men killed during the civil rights movement because of their skin color, while in police custody, by police using excessive force, or under questionable circumstances involving police. 

Rev. George Winston Lee, 1955

Lamar Smith, 1955

John Earle Reese, 1955

Emmett Till, 1955

Willie Edwards, Jr., 1957

Mack Charles Parker, 1959

Herbert Lee, 1961

Cpl. Roman Ducksworth, 1962

Medgar Evers, 1963

Virgil Lamar, Ware, 1963

Louis Allen, 1964

Charles Eddie, Moore, 1964

Lemuel Penn, 1964

Henry Hezekiah Dee, 1964

Jimmie Lee Jackson, 1965

Oneal Moore, 1965

Willie Brewster, 1965

Samuel Leamon Younge Jr., 1966

Ben Chester White, 1966

Clarence Triggs, 1966

Wharlest Jackson, 1967

Benjamin Brown, 1967

Samuel Ephesians Hammond Jr., 1968

Delano Herman Middleton, 1968

Henry Ezekiel Smith, 1968

Phillip Pannell, 1990

Jonny Gammage, 1995

Amadou Diallo, 1999

Patrick Dorismond, 2000

Ousmane Zongo, 2003

Orlando Barlow, 2003

Tim Stansbury, 2004

Gus Gugley, 2004

James Brissette, 2005

Lance Madison, 2005

Ronald Madison, 2005

Travares McGill, 2005

Aaron Campbell, 2005

Sean Bell, 2006

Oscar Grant, 2009

Victor Steen, 2009

Steven Eugene Washington, 2010

Alonzo Ashley, 2011

Derrick Williams, 2011

Timothy Russell, 2012

Ervin Jefferson, 2012

Trayvon Martin, 2012

Kendrec McDade, 2012

Wendell Allen, 2012

Alan Blueford, 2012

Chavis Carter, 2012

Ramarley Graham, 2012

Dane Scott, 2012

John, Ferrell, 2013

Kimani Gray, 2013

Mike Brown, 2014

Eric Garner, 2014

Ezell Ford, 2014

John Crawford, 2014

Armand Bennett, 2014

Dante Parker, 2014

Tamir Rice, 2014

As I put the list together, with every name I typed, I experienced feelings of melancholy, anger, and resentment.  Each person on that list above did nothing to provoke losing his or her lives.  As if, there is justification for murder.  I think about this, every time a melanin-ated life is devalued and showcased publically, I never hear anything from the white people I know, they do not share their opinions, they do not offer any words of encouragement, and they are just mute.  Grant it, I understand, I mean I do get it, what do you say when you do not know what to say, it makes me feel as if they too believe black life does not matter.

To all my non-melanin people reading this, or those of you with melanin and choose to remain silent so as not to get involved in the debate...I don't hate you, but I do feel numb when I think about you.  And, I do wonder though, if a black person's life doesn't matter enough for you to speak up about right and wrong, then does my life not matter to you and why again are we even associated with one another.  I want you to remember that your silence shows lack of compassion, and to me, that exemplifies your acceptance of the any injustice against me.

To my melanin-ated sister and brothers reading this, we have to keep the fight by remaining vigilant, protecting each other, educating our young people first, and then unlearning the true lies for mental programming.

I leave you this to ponder, “the best way to program the mind is to tell one truth and build that one truth with nothing but lies.”

I’m out.  Peace.

#blacklivesmatter #nojusticenopeace