Monthly Mentor: Dear Privileged People, an Op-Ed
By Johnnie Morgan
Here are some questions asked by Americans and America in general:
“Is racism real in America?
Can black people clean up there communities?
Do black people care about black on black crime/ murder?
Isn’t America the land of opportunity for those that work hard to include blacks?
Why do black people blame and call anyone who doesn’t agree with their platform racist?
Haven’t slavery and Jim Crow been over for 50+ years? Why do we need to talk about it over and over again?
Plenty of other European nationalities have came to America with nothing, why don’t blacks work hard like them and make something of themselves?
Why do just black lives matter, shouldn’t all lives matter?
Why do BLM protestors have to riot and loot, whenever they protest?
Why isn’t BLM a terrorist group?”
Here is my story about America and how I’m treated.
I believe on both sides of my family meaning, my mom and dad’s sides, nobody ever spent any extended time in prison. With that being said, I was also blessed to attend some pretty awesome colleges through the military and as a civilian. I’ve invested in stocks, bonds, and real estate. I’m considered one of the best in my current field of work. Normally when I apply for a job, 90% of the time I’m interviewed and 70% of the time I’m offered a position.
In other words, most people of privilege would say, ‘Why can’t other black people be like me?’
First off, there are a lot of black people who are like and truly much smarter and better than me. Here is the kicker: I believe in my heart each black person who is successful gave part of our soul to be successful. We’ve had to bite our tongue. If we make a mistake, it will be amplified and held over our heads. We had to wait while others less qualified received promotions, and yet we stayed the course. We’re fearful that our peers think we got promoted or achieved success, because of affirmative action and not just hard work.
We feel the weight of our families and communities on our backs to stay the course for they sacrificed for us! The saddest part is. no matter how much we accomplish, at the end of the day it’s skin color that America sees first. This is why BLACK LIVES MATTER! If I drive in a neighborhood that someone with privilege doesn’t believe I should be in and calls a LEO, I’ve just been put at risk. If I was white, would they have called? I’m one of millions of successful black people in America! Yet the focus isn’t on those doing good. It’s always the black person doing wrong. My success carries the burden of my people’s failure. This means I can’t make an excuse, even if it’s warranted!
So in the world of privilege, they would say you’re making my argument: “Why can’t other black people be like you and other successful blacks in your communities?”
The truth is they can, except the rules or more importantly the goal line is moved. Most people want to make it seem anyone that works hard can be successful. The truth is hard work needs cultivating like a plant needs water, sun, fertilizer, etc., so it has a chance to survive. If one thing is missing, the plant will potentially survive, and yet we know it will never thrive without all of those things. These are the issues that need to be addressed in America.
How is the goal line moved? The goal lines are rules put in place, so as the rules change it causes the goal line to be pushed further out of reach. Let’s briefly talk about how zoning and education causes black communities to suffer. Zoning is used to steer industrial activity towards minority neighborhoods, leading to disproportionate toxic exposure and depressed land values. “Environmental racism,” associated with zoning, serve as a channel through which minorities remain disadvantaged and isolated.
Now that we have these industrial activities in black communities, Part 2 begins. 90% of these businesses get tax breaks. Why is that important? Because taxes pay for almost 90% of our school resources. So because of zoning and industrial business black communities are put at a disadvantage. This now leads to crime/murder or better known as “black on black crime.” Let’s discuss black on black crime, because eventually no matter what happens to black people it always turns to this subject by the privileged or conservatives. Do black people kill one another? Sure they do. 90% of black murder victims are killed by black assailants. But guess what? White people kill one another, too. 83% of white victims are killed by white assailants. See, the vast majority of violent crime is committed within — not between — racial groups. Crime is a matter of proximity and opportunity. People victimize their own rather than drive across town to victimize somebody else.
Back in 2014 the Bureau of Justice Statistics study showed that persons from poor households experienced the highest rates of violent victimization, and these rates were consistent for both blacks and whites. When sociologists asked “Is Poverty’s Detrimental Effect Race-Specific?” they found the answer was no: policies aimed at reducing poverty effectively reduced violent crime and the crime reduction rates were similar in both black and white neighborhoods — meaning it was poverty rather than race — that contributed to the violent crime rate in the first place. Here is why black on black crime is so sad, because politicians and media will never say “white on white crime.” Why? Because that means they have to fix the system. If you do a little Google research, you will see in black communities where there are jobs, transportation, good schools, and opportunities, crime rates are the same as white communities with those same resources. So, in reality, black on black crime/murder is a systemic system created through zoning and a lack of opportunities. The same way it is in rural white American areas that lack opportunities.
Think of the cities where coal mining went away and how crime and drug usage went up! Matter of fact, this is how President Trump was elected. Rural white America felt left out of the American pie of success! Yet not one politician or media brought up white on white crime? Just like any race we have both good and bad people. I’m 100% against looting and rioting. I support all good LEOs 100%. I also believe that the DNA of the black community is one that only wants a chance to make their families lives better, just like rural white America only wants opportunities. Throughout black history we follow the U.S. Constitution. It just seems like the U.S. Constitution was written for everyone else, but not us. I say this because if you look throughout our history, here are our plans if something wassn’t fair. Always, our Plan A is to peacefully protest. Plan B is fairly new, using technology advances to video our complaints/ problems. Our Plan C is how other Americans have done for centuries: riot and loot, because we learned it from white America in white male-written history books.
Think about it. Taking a knee it was our Plan A, and America said we disrespected the flag and military. We showed 100s of videos of us being treated as less than animals. When rioting and looting started, we showed videos of white people starting and participating in it as well, yet only the BLM movement was held at fault. BLM isn’t Antifa, yet people want to call them both terrorist groups. All we want during our initial Plan A is for America to acknowledge our pain and our request to be treated the way the U.S. Constitution says all Americans are to be treated. Instead, everything else is brought up to cause a distraction, so we never solve the root cause!
Please don’t think I expect anyone to change their mind, because we only see what we want to see and believe. In reality, I’m saddened by how people can’t see me and the weight on my shoulders as a black man in America. How everything I’ve done in my life correctly doesn’t matter, because the first thing most people in America see is my skin color. I know some will say, “I don’t see skin color,” and I laugh. Not seeing my skin color is like saying God made a mistake, if you believe in religion! My skin color determines if I will be followed in a store. If I’m a threat for reaching for my registration by a LEO. If Karen will call 911, because I was driving in a nice neighborhood going to play a round of golf. We’ve always had problems in America, except in 2020 who would have thought we’re still dealing with skin color!
No I won’t change their mind, so I have to carry this burden on my shoulders. I have to pray my skin color will not cause someone with privilege not to feel uncomfortable. This is my reality and burden no excuses allowed in a society that will never give me the benefit of the doubt due to skin color! You don’t have to walk in my shoes to have empathy! It’s ok to say, “I can’t protect everyone and focus on those within your family and friends circle.” I’m not trying to change your mind. I just want you to see I’m more than my color.
