PSA-For my Allies with an Open Mind

My fellow humans and more importantly non-melanated colleagues and associates.  Consider a few things for me if you would. People who look like me are being harassed, injured, or flat out murdered for all to see. People who look like me were told they were less than human and regarded as livestock at one point and time in this country. Later, they were told they were 3/5’s human. Then they were told you can’t sit, eat, or travel in the same place by your ancestors. Some of your grandparents, or possibly yourselves were actively pushing this agenda.
    There was a time when we were segregated (in many ways we still are) and were thriving whether it be Tulsa or Rosewood (Google Black Wall Street and Rosewood). Your ancestors chose to burn our ancestors’ homes, murder them, and even use military force. When leaders peacefully protested your ancestors either hosed them, attacked them with dogs, or imprisoned them on false charges. Your ancestors also said and say, “Go back to where you came from!” This is the ultimate insult as not only did they contribute to our being here, they themselves did not originate from this country, and they murdered/exiled the natives of this wonderful land.
    Despite all of this, we are here now together, some of us are neighbors, co-workers, and also family(marriage/adoption). However, today we are divided now more than ever. We (melanated people), are told to pull ourselves up by our boot straps. This is insulting whether you realized it or not. Lending practices, educational funding, and the list goes on have been an at a major disadvantage to people who look like myself.  It’s as if you ask me to run a race on a skateboard and you are in a Ferrari. Not only that, but before the race, my ancestors had to help yours build both their financial budget, pit crew, and their Ferrari. Upon completion of the job I went back to my lane and got on my skateboard and headed to the starting line. To all those reading, please let that sink in.
    Fast forward to right now. We have rioting, looting, traffic jams, and violence all across the United States. Some of my friends have told me that people shouldn’t be out there rioting, looting, holding up traffic, and other demonstrations. While I too am not one for rioting and looting, I am one for understanding frustration. The recent murders of melanated people in my home state and all over the United States are despicable. You know what’s more despicable? Being told after several decades of peaceful protests, assassinations, and false incarcerations you need to find another way to solve your problems. It’s amazing to me that instead of addressing the source or root of the wrong doing, we are told to look at the symptom.
    Some will say the source is the murdered victim (usually melanated). They say if “Victim X,” would have listened and not resisted.  I believe we can agree that we understand that resisting arrest isn’t going to help the situation. However, if we do a quick Google search we will find countless instances of cops not killing people who are Caucasian. What’s worse, is that oftentimes the Caucasian’s behavior who was being arrested was worse towards the officer then that of the murdered victim. It appears that when it’s a person of color the victim is often put on trial instantly by the court of public opinion. The act of unnecessary force, the lack of suspensions for officers for repeated complaints, the lack of psych evals done, and the covert/overt suppression/omission of what really happened is the problem. You can’t have good cops if you have a broken system. 
    If you truly are an ally, first and foremost research the history and treatment concerning people of color. Second, understand our upbringings were different and that contributed to your reality. This means that your view of the world and your reality could be VASTLY different from mine. Third, understand that finding new information and formulating new opinions is a key part of life. In short once you have new information, it’s okay to change your mind. All lives matter is a blanket statement that ignores a specific demographic that is being persecuted. All lives are not facing systematic racism. Finally, if you were/or are a person who still feels that all lives matter, please try to understand that until those that society values the least are treated like those they value the most, positive change will be tough to come by.