How Should We Respond To This?
When the color of your skin prompts conspiracy-making, hatred and evildoing
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This is an open question and I am grappling with it. And I know I am not alone. I can’t possibly be alone, but it certainly feels as if minorities like myself are all alone — even within the very minority group itself it oftentimes feels quite lonely. Every American (hyphenated or not) needs to consider what kind of response would be sufficient to quell this societal ill in which racial homicides are perpetrated like the one done by a white man occurring on Saturday, May 15th, in the year 2022, at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY.
My immediate reaction was measured stemming from having become so inured by racism, but as more time passes it eventually elevated to outrage, confusion, anger and suspicion. From initially suffering in silence, to an outburst in disgust, then to now writing. The process can be so alienating that talking with other minorities seem to be an exercise in futility, whereby it becomes this self-fulfilling prophecy of helplessness.
It is when I see the protests and or vigils that follow that my self-estrangement is heightened. It is such a disporportionate response to crimes involving racism. This is all the more reason why a proportionate response to events like these are warranted.
It is difficult to manage a flood of emotions to such consistent threats to my right to life and pursuit of happiness, especially when one is a minority and the target of both an ancestral and present-day shadow of discrimination and bigotry.
This time, albeit not different, judging from and standing witness to a past riddled with racial violence, warrants a proportionate response in defense of forming a more perfect union which is undeniably both the essence and the engine of this country.
Little by little we will learn more and more about this racist in particular who drove over 200 miles from his community to commit murder in a predominately Black community for and by the white supremacy. Former classmates and friends who describe this racist as quiet, unassuming and smart are obviously not being completely honest about him especially based on public record. This racist had help with the introduction to as well as the…
