Monday’s post of reasons why Black Lives Matter received very high readership. I want to continue for the next few days reflecting on some of those points and how love can make bridges for us. Let’s consider the itms on that list again that ask us to consider systemic and institutional racism:
Why at this time must it be “Black lives matter” and not the refrain “All lives matter?”
- Because African Americans are uniquely discriminated against and their lives are uniquely endangered.
- Because young African American men are uniquely at risk of death every time they encounter the police.
- Because the cards are still uniquely stacked against African Americans in this society, and they continue to be uniquely disadvantaged by past and present social, economic, and legal discrimination.
- Because institutional racism and entrenched white privilege are in a far greater position to do harm to African Americans than African Americans are to do harm to white Americans.
I cannot offer a better reflection on these forms of systemic and institutional racism than this very well done educational video. It deserves 6 minutes of our time and much more for our reflection. Bob Patrick
Thank you for continuing the topic. There is a new documentary, “Olympic Pride, American Prejudice”, that has the potential to be a great teaching tool and resource for whites coming to terms with white privilege and opening our eyes to the deep prejudice during the days of Jim Crow up until the current time–more subtle, but just as real.
The documentary tells the untold story of all 18 black US athletes who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Jesse Owen’s story has been told—but there were 17 others (including two women). It has had limited release and won first prize in its category at the Bronze Lens Film Festival in Atlanta. I shall be seeing it when it opens in Chapel Hill next week (for the third time). . .there is so much to glean to hone my own understanding and to consider all the ways it can be used to shine light for us all.
Thank you so much, Margaret, for sharing this resource. Right now, I don’t feel like I can get enough help in this work.
“The system is working. We have to break it.” Brilliant!