The Taboo Topic that Keeps Racism and Social Injustice Alive… The Pink Elephant in the Room!
You can’t end racism by constantly being racist! You can’t stop violence by being violent! Duh!… you say. But let’s explore further.
At the heart of racism is treating a certain group of people a certain way, simply based upon a certain element unique to that group. It’s drawing attention to the unique element, even if that element is irrelevant to how they should be treated.
In everyday life… on television, on the radio, in the news… do we see and hear from anyone that constantly draw distinctions between black and white? Repeatedly drawing attention to the color of one’s skin, when it is to one’s benefit, while simultaneously demanding not be judged by the color of one’s skin when it’s not.
Everyone recognizes the pink elephant in the room, but no one talks about it.
Last time I checked, there wasn’t a TV station called “WET” (get your mind out of the gutter and stay focused). Could you imagine the outrage if someone started a channel called White Entertainment Television? Yet, BET is totally fine.
Last time I checked, there wasn’t a group called “NAAWP.” Could you imagine the outrage if someone started a group called National Association for the Advancement of White People. Yet, NAACP is totally fine.
Back in November of 2019, Charles Barkley told a female reporter, “I don’t hit women, but if I did, I would hit you.” Then, when she objected to his insensitive and unacceptable remark, he told her that she could not take a joke.
If Charles Barkley was white, he would have been fired that day! Even he knows it! Instead, we still have to listen to the privileged millionaire share his opinions on social injustice. I’m sure we all wish our bank accounts could experience such injustice!
Not once in my life have I called someone the “N-” word. It’s never even crossed my mind. Yet, I have been called that on more than one occasion by angry black men (part of the reality of practicing some family law). A little bit of the “do as I say, not as I do.” Does hypocrisy ring a bell?
Speaking of “do as I say, not as I do,” I want to share with you a piece of “social injustice history” that you won’t find in our history books. If you’ve never heard of him, Google search Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin. Some recognize him as a Civil Rights Leader, although “civil” has not been his modus operandi.
He is an American activist, writer, and black anarchist. He also is a former member of the Black Panther Party and Concerned Citizens for Justice.
In 1969, he hijacked a plane to Cuba to evade prosecution for allegedly trying to kill a KKK leader. Although he was the first person ever to receive a life sentence for an aircraft hijacking under U.S. law, he only served about fifteen years in prison.
In the 1998, Mr. Ervin and two other men were prosecuted for disrupting a public meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the time, that was a Class C misdemeanor, that could carry a maximum of 30 days in jail.
In essence, the group known as the “Chattanooga 3” intentionally ignored the requirement of getting placed on the agenda at a City Council meeting, in order to be heard. Rather, they insisted on promoting their anti-police brutality message when they wanted to, rather than be heard in the manner by which everyone else complied.
Their anarchist activism… “I don’t have to live by the rules”… caused a major disruption and near riot at the meeting. They were subsequently charged with disrupting a public meeting.
In my late 20’s at the time, and still wet behind the ears, I was the Assistant District Attorney assigned to prosecute that case. In light of the infamy of Mr. Ervin, I received several threats from all over the world, demanding that I dismiss the case. Some of them, death threats!
After in-depth discussions with my boss, it was decided that justice must be served, and not to cave to the threats of violence. And so, the case was set for trial.
Prior to the trial, I had alerted the presiding judge of the threats of violence surrounding this case. In response, the judge instructed the court officers to scan the trial “audience” with wands as they entered the courtroom, because the courthouse did not have metal detectors at the entrance at that time.
We spent most of the morning picking a jury and then took a recess for lunch. After lunch, as everyone in the courtroom had settled, I stood up to make my opening statement. Before I could say a word, one of the court officers swiftly approached the judge, and whispered in her ear. She looked like she saw a ghost!
“Counsel, can I see you all in chambers?” She said emphatically, before exiting out the hidden door behind her chair.
Realizing that something was seriously wrong, the attorneys quickly walked back to the judge’s chambers, with me almost in a sprint!
Without any prelude, the judge dropped the bomb on us, “One of my court officers found bullets taped underneath one of the benches in the courtroom!”
Before I could change my diaper, the courtroom was then cleared, and the officers completed a more thorough search.
Eventually, the trial went on and the “Chattanooga 3” were convicted. Fortunately, no one was hurt! Peace had prevailed.
To put things in perspective, my life and that of others were in danger because three men did not want to adhere to the simple task of getting their names put on a City Council Meeting Agenda, and they didn’t like that! The good ol’ “I don’t have to live by the rules.” “Don’t treat me differently, but treat me differently.”
When are we going to discuss the pink elephant in the room? It’s not okay to make “just black” things, accept the “privileges” given to blacks that aren’t given to any other race, accept black people calling people the “N-” word, and accept violence as a way to protest violence?
What’s wrong is wrong, no matter who does it!
Is it not hypocritical to demand that things be a certain way, while doing or expecting the opposite? Is it not hypocritical to demand equality, yet constantly insist on being treated differently and expecting more privileges than others?
Most people have been treated unfairly at some point in their lives. Some, most definitely many black people, more so than others. But, two wrongs never make a right! We all must practice what we preach! To stop racism and social injustice, we all must treat each other like human beings!
Until everyone, yes everyone… whites, blacks, yellows, pinks, purples… stop making distinctions between them and everyone else, based on their color, racism will never end.
The “do as I say, not as I do” must stop! We didn’t accept that when our parents said it to us, and we shouldn’t accept it now.
Demanding equal treatment while simultaneously expecting different treatment is not the answer. Can you say hypocrisy? I knew you could.
