Black and Blue
“Our police force was not created to serve black Americans; it was created to police black Americans and serve white Americans.” ― Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race
“Most middle-class whites have no idea what it feels like to be subjected to police who are routinely suspicious, rude, belligerent, and brutal.” ― Dr. Benjamin Spock
I’ve been a loud advocate for and supporter of Black Lives Matter, throughout the past several weeks; on social media, that is. I've been using my white privilege to loudly proclaim that black lives matter, Indigenous lives matter and People of Colour's lives matter. I have always been supporter and an ally but haven’t been this loud. And, shame on me for that. It shouldn’t have taken me so long to be this loud. I guess I just didn’t see the immediate and absolute necessity to do and be this loud; until things got this bad. I didn’t see how bad it truly was. And, as I said, shame on me for that.
I think it was naïve hopefulness on my part; believing that we were more civilized and loving than we really are. Believing that the majority of people weren’t truly that explicitly racist, and believed BIPOC lives mattered as much as their own lives do to them. But I was wrong. Many people still believe that they don’t.
BIPOC lives do matter. BIPOC voices deserve to be heard. White privilege is real, and both individual and systemic racism still exists. Period. If you disagree, feel free to unfollow me; on this blog, and anywhere else you follow me. Or, if your instinct is to respond to that statement with, “all lives matter”, educate yourself. Because the truth of it is, that saying black lives matter isn’t saying that other lives don’t matter; it doesn’t diminish the importance of white lives. It is saying that, those whose lives have always mattered don’t seem to understand that black and BIPOC lives haven’t always mattered to others; particularly not to white people. And, have historically mattered quite noticeably less, the further south you go in North America.
To this day, the KKK and other white supremacy organizations, like the Arian brotherhood, exist to both, oppress and do harm to the black population in both Canada, and America (globally, really); and exist to convince others that black lives don’t matter. To this day, systemic racism and types of segregation still exist in our educational systems, in our governmental systems and in our justice systems (to name a few). It was only 53 years ago, yesterday that interracial marriage was legaized in the United States. Not centuries ago, 53 years. Only three years before I was born, it was an arrestable offence to marry someone with a different coloured skin than your own.
Less than 60 years ago, an American civil rights activist, then six-year-old, Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate an all-white School in Louisiana (in November 1960). Ruby attended school alone, for the first year because all of the students had been pulled out of the school by their white parents, because they didn’t want their kids to be in the same school as a black person – a six-year-old child. Not centuries ago, 60 years ago.
And, to this day, both explicit racism; like the actions of racists, white supremacists, and those like the parents who pulled their kids out of Ruby’s school (and others with hate in their hearts), and implicit racism exist in both Canada and the U.S. (and globally, as well).
Implicit racism is the more subtle and insidious kind of bias; like where you clutch your purse, or cross the street when a black person, or person of colour you don't know comes near you. It is the most insidious kind of racism because people do it without thinking, or realizing that this makes them racist. It’s an automatic response; like that of responding to the statement, “black lives matter”, with, “all lives matter”, or saying that you’re, “colour blind”; when really, people want you to see and acknowledge their colour, their history and their culture. It is thinking and acting as though you are loving and tolerant of diversity but demonstrating your hidden biases with one, unintentional but automatic response.
Or, intentionally ignoring differences because you are ignorant or fearful of what those differences look like, or afraid of offending someone because of your ignorance. Afraid of asking questions and embarrassing yourself with your lack of ignorance. Instead of just allowing yourself to be uncomfortable enough to acknowledge that ignorance, and ask difficult questions that might help you grow. But knowing this now, you can change this; by asking those kinds of questions, and educating yourself on things like black issues, black history, indigenous history and issues, etc.
Racism stems from ignorance and fear. Ignorance and fear, left unchecked creates hate in our hearts and minds. This perpetuates the cycle of racism and biases of all kinds. All biases stem from ignorance and fear. All biases exist because people have a tendency to generalize and paint everyone from the generalized demographic with the same brush. And, don’t see the harm that they are doing by doing so. As I said earlier, I’ve always been a support and ally for anti-racism, but these past few weeks I’ve been a loud supporter and ally for the anti-racist movement that is rising up globally, right now. Because I believe that black and BIPOC lives matter, and that we need to acknowledge that they still don’t matter to everyone, and that not everyone sees this. And, until black lives matter to everyone, no one can say, “all lives matter” with real conviction. Because if even one life doesn’t matter to one, then all lives don’t matter to all.
This can be said for all demographics who are feared, shown hatred or whose lives are threatened or at risk.
I’ve been a loud supporter of BIPOC issues, and have been actively anti-racist. However, I haven’t been a loud supporter of my brothers and sisters who wear blue. Not because I am afraid of the consequences of supporting police right now. Or, of being seen as "taking sides"; or supporting those seen as racists. On the contrary, my brothers and sisters in from this demographic have seen me support and advocate for anti-racism for years. Many are actively anti-racist, themselves. And, they know that I support them, as individuals; but not the 'blue' ethos or the narrative of 'blue lives matter'. Because 'blue lives' aren't really a thing. The people inside those uniforms are what matter, not the uniform. The people inside the uniform; the individuals who work in these jobs, are both good and bad. Their lives matter, but the uniform, itself doesn't deserve to be respected until those wearing the uniform earn that respect. And, the ones who wear this uniform, who matter to me, agree with me on this.
That said, I don't support the 'ACAB' narrative, either. It is possible to support good cops, as the human beings that they are (inside the uniforms), and the victims of bad cops, at the same time. It is possible to still see and be disgusted with the corruption and racism within the justice system; as long as you're speaking up. It is possible to highlight those who are doing their jobs well, and without as much bias and prejudice as the bad cops who harm or, (some) even kill people from the BIPOC community; as long as you're not thanking them for simply being normal decent human beings. And, as long as they're not 'virtue signalling' by suggesting that they should be thanked for being anti-racist, either. It is possible to back the individuals who wear these uniformas, and love them, but still want them to do better. Because truly supporting your friends that wear that uniform means calling them out on their racist behaviours and other toxic and harmful narratives. How else will they learn to do better? How else will they grow?
I know it is possible because, after being a cop, myself, I want to see the 'blue' do better, as greatly as those within the BIPOC community do. But that can only happen by not giving up on them. It can only happen by educating the people inside those uniforms. Hating the police and wanting to kill police, because of systemic racism in the justice system is both repaying evil with evil, and is giving up.
We know that corruption and racism exists within these institutions, because of fear, ignorance and hate. We don’t remove hate by repaying evil with evil. We have to repay evil with love. We have to meet fear with grace and strength. And, we have to teach and educate the ignorant. And, we need to take action to effect change, not just talk about. Stating ACAB isn't the solution. Defunding the police might be though. Training cops in de-escalation techniques. Better screening. Better, more appropriately staffed supports for MH calls. Re-allocating funds from police to social programs, etc. are definitely good starting places.
Those who are unteachable and unreachable, need to be removed from the police organizations that they serve. Right from the bottom up, and throughout the entire justice system; not just police. There needs to be an overhaul; including training and better screening throughout recruitment and training. There needs to be better oversight and more accountability. And, a way in which to report racism and violent behaviours, as well as, harsher punishments for those who are sworn to serve and protect their community. And a massive change in the justice system in Canada, and in the U.S. but the answer is not saying ACAB, or killing police officers.
We need to be able to differentiate between what they’re doing, and what the real issue is; what the BIPOC community is trying to see done. Not hating or killing the people inside these uniforms, but helping them to serve and protect their community better. And, helping them stop the violence through policing more justly, and effectively. Delivering justice to all who need it delivered; with equity and equality. Stopping the spread of hatred and violence; within every community and demographic, through patience, compassion, understanding and love. And, by doing their job without fear, ignorance or hate in their hearts, as well.
The answer to hate, is never hate, though. Repaying evil with evil only perpetuates the cycle of violence and hate. Nothing ever gets solved, it only gets worse.
Yes, police need to do better (the entire justice system does) but treating the individuals inside the uniforms as though their lives don't matter and advocating for violence against them and their families doesn't stop the cycle of violence and hatred. It perpetuates it. And, is no better than hating any other human being because of biases.
And yes, all lives SHOULD matter, but until ALL people are treated equally and their lives are seen as equally as important as other human lives, then all lives DON'T really matter, do they? Until BIPOC lives matter to everyone, all lives don't matter to anyone. Until we stop being hateful, bigoted racists, and until we stop repaying evil with evil, then things won't change.