Wednesday, February 01, 2023

Honoring Black History Month.

 

Today is the first month of February being the first day of Black History Month too. This month is personal to us as black people, because it is about celebrating our glorious past, promoting a better present, and building for a greater future. Our black people are a blessed people. Our lives are miracles. Our people survived the Maafa (the most vicious form of slavery in human history) to be great contributors to society from scholars to STEM experts. Life is not to be taken for granted which is why we will live life to the fullest in the right fashion. We make the world move. Maya Angelou wrote literature in a powerful, eloquent fashion along with Toni Morrison. Spike Lee directed some of the greatest films in human history. Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Levi Stubbs, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Babyface, and other icons made some of the greatest music of all time. Serena Williams and Michael Jordan are the GOATs in their sports. Robert Robinson Taylor, Norma Merrick Sklarek, and David Adjaye, and Beverly Loraine Greene, are some of the best black architects in human history. Therefore, we should never ever give up on our dreams and aspirations. The paradox of this time in February of 2023 is that we made so much of the world, and we have a long way to go. Now, we are still fighting for voting rights, an end to police terrorism, universal health care, housing rights, environmental justice, social justice, equality, and other rights that should be ours by birthright. Being on the right side of history is our M.O., and the best way to honor our black ancestors is to continue to achieve excellence earnestly and without apology.


Jason Whitlock has always been a self-hating coward in the black community. For those who don't know, Jason Whitlock is a sports commentator who spews far-right nonsense under the guise of spirituality and religion. The truth is that there are tons of religious Christians and people of other faiths who reject racism, police brutality, xenophobia, and far-right talking points. Jason Whitlock crossed the line for years. Recently, Whitlock blamed single black mothers for the death of Tyre Nichols. Whitlock is not only a liar, but he is anti-black. The truth is that crooked police officers, not single black mothers are responsible for Nichols's death. I was not raised by a single parent. I was raised by a mother and a father. Yet, I know tons of black people and people of every color who were raised by single mothers and lived very productive lives. 


Scapegoating black single mothers is disgraceful, it's misogynoir, and Whitlock should be ashamed of himself. Ciara did the right thing by calling him out for making outlandish statements when we fight for justice as black people. Whitlock said this nonsense on the show of the racist Tucker Carlson. Whitlock made the lie that young black men raised by single black mothers would act violently by virtue of being raised by a single mother. This is nonsense. Tons of black people were killed unjustly by the police who acted by the law, acted rightfully, and did nothing wrong. Misogynists like Whitlock can't even stick to sports with accuracy, and he can't stick to social commentaries correctly either. Whitlock said that women can't hold leadership positions in enforcement and government which is entirely false. Bishop Talbert Swan, Ciara, Rep. Monroe Nichols, and New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman exposed Whitlock's nonsense. In this generation, we have to defend black lives, despite the words of self-hating propagandists like Jason Whitlock.


We don't forget about the unjust murder of Tyre Nichols. Seven Memphis officers now have been relieved of duty. More charges are possible involving this situation according to the D.A. We know that slave patrols in the South acted as police forces in America over 100 years ago. We know about economic inequality and racism that contribute to the corruption of the system. We know about how black people have longer jail sentences than white people even if both groups of people are convicted of the exact same crime. Therefore, we need more than talk. We desire federal legislation to address police brutality and other forms of structural oppression. The tapes of Tyre Nichols's murder are clear that the police officers grabbed him out of the car without asking for a license or without professionalism. Nichols's rights were overtly violated, and we desire any officer involved in his death to experience total accountability. In NYC and in other parts of America, many special police units have harmed Sean Bell and Diallo. We don't want any innocent person to experience abuse or death. We want a much better society, and we are entitled to it.



Secretary of State Blinken visited Israel in trying to lower tensions in the region. It will be a long time in my opinion for peace to exist in the Middle East. Blinken wants Israel and Palestinians to de-escalate. Blinken has met with the far-right Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Middle East has a complex history. Out of all of the histories that I have studied in my life, the history of Israel and Palestine is the most debated history in human history. The fact is that Jewish and Arabic people lived in the Levant for thousands of years as proven by genetics, documents, and other evidence. When Israelis are murdered by extremists in Jerusalem, then that is wrong. When Palestinians suffer brutal occupation, exploitation, and death, that is wrong too. So, we should realize that both Israelis and Palestinians should live in a region filled with peace and tranquility. Yet, this goal won't be easy. It is hard and requires huge sacrifice.


By Timothy




No comments: