In These un-United States of America

@chadloder points out via this image, “Proud Boys marching and flashing the “OK” sign under a Knights Templar flag, also known as the Crusader Flag. 

     The flag (and the hand gesture) are both favored by white supremacists including Br*nton T*rrant, who murdered 51 people while they prayed at a mosque in Christchurch.”

The fight for equality in these un-United States of America; I hope was never thought to be a static one, but dynamic and continuously necessary. Let’s remember that the, “United States” is a concept— an idea.  So, to think we’d rest on our equality laurels and accomplishments to-date, or at any other time, is faulty thinking at best. These images above depict a reality of ongoing resistance in this country that have existed for centuries.  So at best, these images of hate, resentment, and racism were forced dormant— patted on its head and told to lay low until its time reigns again. This is that—and now the virus of racism and hatefulness’ implosion has been triggered. Trump being the finger to pull it back. He’s by far not the cause—he was an imminent symptom whose time has come. He’s their king. And on that note, to wonder why the sudden need to reactivate executions—the death penalty, is rhetorical. 

     Many of us have grappled with dissonance between who we want people to be vs. who they really are. Trump has been the adverse, racist, and malignant leader some felt he would be. And despite that—and because of that, 71 million people voted for, are fighting for and will continue to follow him. This is the brazen reality of who and how we abide in these un-United States and it’s never going to change— it’s woven into the American quilt. Although our ideals have made us admired amongst other countries, even amongst ourselves, the truth is, if not for those of us who continue the fight for those ideals, our democracy experiment could have failed under this president’s reign. But fortunately, though stretched on every corner, democracy’s ideals won. But we should be alarmed at how close we came to its end. And speaking of an end... what about that slavery-era-enacted electoral college voting apparatus?

When Dr. King said, according to Harry Belafonte, “I fear I am integrating my people into a burning house.” He was completely accurate. And another truth is, that fire would never be fully extinguished—the embers would (will) forever burn awaiting its fuel again and again. So now that we have forged our way into a burning house, we have to own our responsibility of being the proverbial firewomen and men fighting these perpetual fires. Fighting to protect (not for) our God-given humanity and rights to dignity in our own country.  Fighting with the hope that future generations won’t have to inherit a burning house. But we are realistically aware that they will because as it stands, while “America” may be regaining its “moral vision,” there are 71 million Americans who have not—and some, of which, are vehemently opposed to doing so.  

“I’ve come upon something that disturbs me deeply. We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I know we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house. I’m afraid that America has lost the moral vision she may have had, and I’m afraid that even as we integrate, we are walking into a place that does not understand that this nation needs to be deeply concerned with the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Until we commit ourselves to ensuring that the underclass is given justice and opportunity, we will continue to perpetuate the anger and violence that tears the soul of this nation. I fear I am integrating my people into a burning house.”

Reference 

Autodidact, (2017). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: ‘I fear I am integrating my people into a burning house. Retrieved from 

http://m.amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/jan/12/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-i-fear-i-am-integrating-m/

Copyright © 2021 by Christie Y. Shaw