The Power of Riots

What positive changes can we hope for as a result of these riots all over the country? Perhaps some laws will be passed, but on a deeper level, how can mindsets be changed? When racism is so ingrained into every single part of our country, many people are blind to the racist views they hold.

Even those who are aware of their racist attitudes don’t want to change. And how can we make people change? Throughout the entirety of American history, we’ve always been stuck in this battle between those advocating for social change and those holding onto views that say certain people are less than human.

The systems change through time, but the racism stays intact underneath it all. People say that societies change slowly, but we don’t have time to wait any longer! White people could barely wait two months during coronavirus to get a haircut. Imagine waiting hundreds of years for a little bit of respect! Lives are at stake. Entire segments of our country have had to live their lives waiting for breadcrumbs when they deserve a share of the feast!

Are riots too extreme? Absolutely not. In fact, they’re long overdue. I mean, is basic human respect really too much to ask for? In the past, peaceful protests happened and were met with anger! “How dare you not accept these breadcrumbs, you ungrateful pigs! You are just being too sensitive!” As if being treated like a wild animal and shot by cops without mercy is something that should be taken in stride.

These are the same people who say that, despite all the positive that Planned Parenthood provides for women, they are inherently flawed as an institution because they kill unborn fetuses. Shouldn’t the same logic be applied to cops? If police officers take even one innocent life, their entire force should be questioned.

But of course it’s not about life. If someone was truly pro-life, they would be pro-life in every sense of the word. Either they aren’t actually pro-life or they don’t see black people as human beings. There is no in-between.

People say that blue lives matter and you can’t lump all police officers together, but criticizing the police is less about each individual and more so about the institution itself. Clearly there are flaws deeply embedded in the police force that need to be addressed.

First of all, why are so many racists able to slip through the cracks of interviews, training, etc. and given power? Surely it isn’t wise to give someone like that a position of authority.

Secondly, police officers are technically community servants. Last time I checked, servants are supposed to serve, not reign dominant over their constituents. If nothing changes, nothing changes. We will continue to see unarmed black men and women wrongfully killed over and over again until we demand that it stops. Peaceful protests weren’t enough, so we have to kick it up a notch until it’s taken seriously.

We are living in a revolution right now and you can either be on the right or wrong side of history. It’s your choice. There is no in-between when it comes to this. If you stay silent, you side with the oppressors. We all must speak out, educate ourselves, and not sit idly by as black men and women continue to lose their lives.