*I’m convinced – when it comes to matters of social justice, “feeling good” is more important to black people than actually doing what’s necessary to stimulate progress.
Let’s briefly take a look at the protests – and riots – that followed George Floyd’s assassination (by a white police officer) in Minnesota.
I’m sure most of everyone involved was participating for the right reasons.
Nevertheless, in all honesty, these demonstrations lacked focus, strategy and balance.
For nearly three weeks, large mobs of protestors (and troublemakers) dispersed across the entire nation to speak against police violence in communities of color.
Celebrities participated. Politicians cheered (from a distance). Professional athletes tweeted their support. The media provided 24-hour news coverage. Al Sharpton regurgitated slogans he’s been using since the 1980s. There was also a mixture of interpretive dancing and outright “twerking” in front of police officers. Cars were vandalized. Businesses were looted and graffitied. Whole buildings were burned to ashes. Symposiums – featuring the same ol faces of black intellectualism – were held.
It’s was a glorified circus pretending to be something more.
Meanwhile, there’s still no evidence of an actual plan being implemented to solve the problem.
What’s the hold-up? Where is the progress report?
Perhaps I’m asking for too much. After all, as I mentioned earlier, black people have mastered the art of grandstanding to spark emotion. It’s our wheelhouse.
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Even the great Dr. Martin Luther King used buzzwords and clever catchphrases in his speeches to prompt an emotional response from those listening.
But again, I ask – how will any of this lead to sustainable change?
Emotions don’t pass laws or implement policy. Virtue signaling and showboating aren’t keys to progress. Why do these “movements” generally LACK substance?
Let’s be honest – “Black Lives Matter” is a phrase that’s good for two things – hyping up crowds of protestors, and triggering the angst of critics who refuse to acknowledge how racism often fuels hostile encounters between police and African American men.
This phrase has become more of a trend to say on Facebook or Instagram, but it appears there’s no weight behind it – especially if you consider the alarming spike of black on black violence occurring in various cities nationwide.
The phrase “Black Lives Matter” originated in 2013 after Trayvon Martin was killed. It conveys a powerful – albeit polarizing – message. Nevertheless, seven years after Martin’s death – what’s changed?
There’s something fundamentally wrong with this movement, and it’s obvious.
Just use your eyes and observe the letters “BLM” being spray-painted on every vacant building, street corner, or dumpster in the alley.
Use your brain to deconstruct the rhetoric and virtue signaling constantly regurgitated from media puppets like Don Lemon and crafty, self-serving politicians like Nancy Pelosi.
Use your nose to sniff out the bullshit that comes from race pimps like Jessie Jackson.
Now, use your dominant hand, cock it back as far as you can, take a deep breath, and with all your might, please, SLAP YOURSELF for being played by these idiots masquerading as social justice “warriors”.
You know … I have a bone to pick with black people. I seriously wanna know how we continue to fall in every trap that’s put in our path?
I won’t mimic Candace Owens and scold blacks for allowing themselves to be used as political pawns by the Democratic Party every election cycle.
I’ll leave that to her.
However, I just have to ask – why are so many of us obsessed with emotionalism?
I remember when Marvel released “Black Panther” and negroes far and wide flocked to movie theaters dressed like they were fresh off the set of Coming To America.
I’ve never seen so much kente cloth in my life.
We spent millions domestically to support a film that’s owned by white folk.
We told ourselves that seeing a black superhero in a major film was an example of progress, and we rejoiced as if he were the second coming Malcolm X.
Of course, once the hype dissipated, and Marvel pocketed all of our money, reality slowly began revealing itself.
The famed Black Panther, and his fictional homeland Wakanda, were just figments of our imagination. They served our community’s appetite for symbolism and emotional satisfaction.
The same goes for our devotion to religion. Many of us visit our local churches to experience the emotional highs of singing the gospel and shouting hallelujah. Then of course, when the preliminary foolery is over, we subject our ears to the shrieks, inflections and gesticulations of the pastor or evangelist.
What do we really take home with us from these sermons anyway? Sore throats (from yelling “amen”)? Empty pocketbooks (from contributing our last pennies to the offering)?
Where’s the substance?
Well, here’s the truth – we don’t care about substance. We prefer to be energized and entertained.
We value symbolism and empty gestures because they provide temporary satisfaction to our brains, but there’s never any real meaning behind them.
This brings me back to Black Lives Matter. What’s the goal of this movement?
They say it’s to raise awareness of police brutality in communities of color, but all I’m seeing from those involved is a bunch of grandstanding, virtue signaling … and empty symbolic gestures.
I’m seeing “BLM” painted in the street, crowds of rowdy “protestors” overtaking freeways and restaurants. I’m seeing pro-athletes launch generic, self-important tweets about racism and “oppression”. I’m watching the NBA allow players to wear social justice messages like “Power to the People” on the backs of their jerseys.
Really, “Power to the People!” As if these clowns aren’t earning millions to dump a ball in a hoop.
How will any of these things help the cause long term? When has symbolism and empty public gestures ever created sustainable change or progress?
Cory A. Haywood is a freelance writer based in Southern California. Contact him via: [email protected] and/or visit his blog: www.enterthehat.com, or send him a message on Twitter: @coryahaywood
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