26 November 2014

Race



It's the sheer scale of the problem that daunts,
and the skew of things contoured by years
of seeing blacks as shadowed strangers.
Lack of contact clouds judgement, fears

fly without relief from here to the horizon
at each report of black on white crime
with dirt retold on 24 hour news again
and again magnifying fear each time

as if we were waiting to be reoffended.
Are we? Offended is the right word 
but are we? Women are blamed for rape
and violence against them. Absurd.

Only men, allied with women, can stop rape and violence
against women. Only whites, allied with blacks, 
can stop racism. So, increase contact, read, listen,
speak up, speak out, have each other's backs.


Posted for my biracial grandchildren and for Grapeling over at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads who gave us a word list inspired by his plane travel but which I took in another direction in the wake of Ferguson, MO and too many similar incidents. In spite of the scale of the problem, we must believe we can effect change and then do it. If not now, when? If not me, who?

26 comments:

  1. so true... only together we can make a difference and bring change...
    .. and your grandkids are beautiful mary

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    1. They are and I want them to be seen as who they are and not solely the color of their skin.

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  2. If only people always had each other's backs, this world would be a much better place for all.

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  3. I've seen so much change since I was young, but there still is a long way to go. Keep up the fight.

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    1. For our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

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  4. It makes my heart sink when I see things like what is going on in Ferguson. You think things have come a long way... and yet... it constantly pops up in another place or at another time. Will it ever change completely? I wonder. Change comes too slowly... and fear (on all sides) makes it worse.

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    1. It's systemic change that's needed but it starts with each of us. We must not become weary of well doing.

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  5. I am beginning to see police behavior as a particularly pressing issue because race and poverty do come into play and because there is so little transparency and accountability. Not to mention that some police units have military equipment now. The issue of government intrusion into citizens' lives (and deaths) may be something that conservatives and progressives can agree on as well. What I just wrote sounds very dispassionate...I'm just worn out from talking about it the last several days. Weeks. Years.

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    1. It's important to find the common ground. Then make it personal- talk to your grandchildren about my grandchildren. We're in this together.

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  6. Brave and very true Mary! One just cannot fathom the hypocrisy still coloring the brushes of freedom of choice. It just makes one so helpless in wanting to right the wrongs. And pity that things are brushed aside or hidden under the carpet of bigotry tendencies to allow false smiles to go around! Great lines!

    Hank

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    1. We aren't helpless. We can read, listen to the experience of people of color, become allies, speak out. All lives matter, all lives have value.

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  7. Yes, we all need to work together. It is a human issue, and we all should be part of the solution.

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  8. Perfect message for today, Mary!!

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  9. i agree in that it will take us coming together...as opposed to separating and dividing that will bring and end to violence...

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  10. brava, Mary! grazie... glad to read this, and for you to add your voice ~ M

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    Replies
    1. I wanted to write about this but your word list inspired the direction.

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