The Black Power Mixtape
“When someone asks me about violence I just find it incredible because what it means is the person who is asking me that question has no idea what Black people have gone through, what Black people have experienced in this country .” Angela Davis
A documentary albeit created around a decade ago is ever so timely in present day. The documentary displays the work of revolutionaries such as Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Stokely Carmichael, and Kathleen Cleaver. This iconic quote is salient to not only the current climate of America but also the climate of the globe. The current movement has opened the eyes to individuals and the world. The movement has furthermore cracked open Pandora’s box of Human Rights injustices particularly pertaining to people of color and minorities. It has forced people to admit their part in oppression of others even if it meant turning a blind eye. Despite the media demonization of those such as Davis the fundamental point revolutionaries such she pointed out is as people of color we (like anyone else) have every right to defend ourselves in any way necessary when under attack and that self defense should not be deemed as a crime nor considered taboo particularly when the affronts have been from those who have already oppressed people of color for centuries. With the current uprising many White communities and individuals are beginning to finally admit their white privileged attitudes and notice where they have either perpetuated many offenses, been a Karen, acted as a Becky, part of oppression with or without consciousness of their attitudes, behaviors and basically have been part of the problem not only in America but world wide. The revolution that is going on now has forced people to take a look at themselves in a way they never did before. My only hope is pseudo white allies just like any seedy kind who often are the worst examples from a group of people who only perceive movements as an opportunity to take advantage of it for only their own self promotion. Hence they are honestly more interested in clout chasing & garnering attention for their own selves than about human life — More specifically our lives thus do not try to insert themselves into positions to speak for people of color and attempt to hijack the movement for their own agenda as essential clout chasers have a tendency to.
This movement much like any Human Rights movement does not need clout chasers, saviors, hypocrites, or the ill meaning. For this movement to be taken seriously and successful in the long term requires everyone apart of it to be who and what they portray nothing less. To close this post if one aspect the George Floyd case has universally reminded everyone is what happens to 1 person always matters. If someone had spoken up, if someone had stepped in, if 1 person had immediately reported the offending police officers maybe the end result would have concluded much differently than another person of color dead by way of unjust violence.
“Shame on America for that. Shame on anyone who judges someone for defending himself or his family.” Erykah Badu
As with anyone clearly defending themselves.
