I’m writing this post as a testament of current events and a response to a growing sentiment of hate and racial division within the United States of America. America has come a long, long way in the area of race relations as even Martin Luther King Jr. pointed out in the Late 1950’s but he also acknowledged that America has a long, long way to go. Today, is no different, our great country has come a long, long way. We have seen the election of the first Black President, there is much more equality now than in the 1950’s and 1960’s. BUT, things could be much, much better!
As things reach a boiling point in the shooting death of Treyvon Martin, a 17 year old black teenager in Florida who was shot by a Hispanic Neighborhood Watch leader, George Zimmerman, my concern grows for the furtherance of race relations. It has become a hot button, black/white issue with hate propaganda overloading the airwaves. As a local police officer, I wonder how a seemingly local issue has become a national debate? It’s not as if similar crimes have not occurred on a somewhat regular basis across the country. I’m not saying that justice for Martin and/or Zimmerman should be ignored but it seems as if there was an agenda behind this case…an agenda which seems, in part, motivated to set-back race relations. There is so much hate and tension building and no good can come of it.
I began reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s April 1957 speech “A Realistic Look at the Question of Progress in the Area of Race Relations.” I found some great insight…King says:
“My friends, I cannot leave you without saying that as we move on let us be sure that our methods are thoroughly moral and Christian. This is one of the basic things confronting our nation. No matter what we suffer. I know it’s really hard when we think of the tragic midnight of injustice and oppression that we’ve had to live under so many years, but let us not become bitter. Let us never indulge in hate campaigns, for we can’t solve the problem like that.”
For the sake of my children I hope the hate rhetoric is quelled quickly. I hope we start hearing the voices of reason. Let our justice system work and not have people take matters into their own hands when it comes to handing out justice. Street Justice is not the answer. The flaws with the process and the system should be addressed through rational and peaceful channels. Lawful channels.
“ Somebody must have sense in this world. And to hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of hate in the universe. We must not use violence. Maybe sometimes we will have to be the victims of violence, but never let us be the perpetrators of violence. For if we succumb to the temptation of using violence in our struggle, unborn generations would be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness and our chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos. We must not use violence.”
I believe we must send a message of love and respect. Approach our differences with humility. If we honor the opinions of others and approach our conflicts through admirable action over pointed words our common ground can be found. What we want as, black, white, yellow or brown is not that much different. We must restore our values. King continues:
“Our aim must never be to defeat the white man or to humiliate him. Our aim must be to win his friendship and his understanding. Oh, no matter how much we are mistreated there is still a voice crying through the vistas of time saying, “Love your enemy. Bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.” And then, and only then, can you matriculate into the university of eternal life. We must get a hold of this simple principle of love and let it be our guiding principle throughout our struggle.”
In this challenging time in America, there is much division over politics and now race. Many of us have not been sucked into the game of words, but I urge everyone to pay attention to what is going on. Apathy today will only cause you to awaken tomorrow to a world you don’t recognize. I am looking for the leaders to emerge. Leaders that will set us on the right path, take the wheel and correct the course of this great nation. Sadly, I have seen few. Our government and our media are not providing the voice that is needed. Be weary of those who speak with charisma, ensure they are sending the right message…
“This means that through this period we will need leaders on every hand and at every scene who will stress this. This is a time for sound and sane leadership. This is no period for rabble-rousers, whether the rabble-rouser be white or Negro. We are grappling and dealing with the most complex, one of the most weighty and complex social issues of the centuries. This problem is deeply rooted in the emotions, deeply rooted in the customs and traditions of the South. And we can’t solve the problem with misguided emotionalism. This is a period for sane, sound, rational leadership. We must be calm and yet positive at the same time. We must avoid the extremes of hot-headedness and Uncle-Tomism. Oh, this is a period for leaders. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with justice. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.”
It is with great hope that I can one day, years from now, look back on this blog and reflect and say America has come a long, long way since Treyvon-Zimmerman. Now lets keep working towards the next great achievement.
I encourage everyone to look up and read MLK Jr.s entire speech “A Realistic Look at the Question of Progress in the Area of Race Relations.”
