Inequality Still Exists

Inequality Still Exists.

How in five-hundred words will I be able to express the disadvantages minorities, still face post-Martin Luther King, Jr's , “I Have A Dream” speech?  People still fail to realize that minorities still face racism and adversity. Our nation has definitely grown away from the oppression of minorities, but inequalities still exist. Like, Michael Jackson said, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.” Racism isn’t going to magically disappear if we don’t talk about issues amongst ourselves.

Today’s racism is an unseen force that keeps people of color in a perennial second-class status. About 50 years ago, directed, egregious racism became illegal and less socially acceptable, leading White America to believe that racism was over. Jim Crow laws were replaced with new laws that were just as racist, but not as egregious, and looked better on the surface; but in reality, it enabled people to frame the ongoing struggles of the minority community as a character flaw.  

Education is a key rung on the ladder of opportunity. Property taxes give families with nicer homes a better education. In order to have good neighborhoods in poor urban areas, we need to build up  our communities by supporting and investing in our neighborhood businesses. This leads to more money in our communities, which can later fuel education. People need to realize what benefits minorities will benefit everyone in the long run. A better education allows more opportunities, resources, jobs, connections, and money.

Does the fact that our jails are filled with more minorities, lead us to question if they are being targeted? Take the late Walter Scott for example -- pulled over for having a broken tail light, only to be shot five times in the back by an officer. As we’ve seen in the media, you have heard of the names, such as: Mike Brown, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Thomas Allen, Tiara Thomas, Jonathan Sanders, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, Bernard Moore, Natasha McKenna, Brandon Jones, Paterson Brown, and more. All of these names belonged to unarmed minorities killed by the law enforcement. Movements like, Black Lives Matter, were created to campaign against the violence towards black individuals. Many people misinterpret this to mean that only black lives matter. This isn’t the case, but it is necessary to respond to what we are witnessing. We cannot dismiss the facts or speak over what is happening. People need to adequately research these movements and the purposes behind them, before they falsely judge their reasoning. If you still don’t understand the purpose behind the Black Lives Matter movement: an excerpt from the interlube of  Macklemore's song:

“White Privilege”, “Black Lives Matter, to use an analogy, is like if there was a subdivision and a house was on fire. The fire department wouldn't show up and start putting water on all the houses because all houses matter. They would show up and they would turn their water on the house that is burning because that's the house that needs it the most. My generation's taken on the torch of a very age-old fight for black liberation, but also liberation for everyone, and injustice anywhere is still injustice everywhere.”

Racism is a powerful institution built by four hundred years of slavery, one hundred years of overt discrimination, and now fifty plus years of covert discrimination. Legacy doesn’t disappear overnight. Just because we have a black president doesn’t mean racism and the oppression of people of color is over. America, we still have a lot of work to do. The way to bring change is to be aware of the realities of racism and inequality in America. Think to yourself: What’s really causing the problem that we’re observing in America? What advantages have White America been given -- often without realizing it? Be aware of your privilege. Be aware of your opportunities.

Author: Logan @blckfem 

Editor: Surraya @surrayaa