When will they ever learn?
SENATOR HAROLD METTS
The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis ignited anger, frustration, disgust and anxiety around the world and in myself. From slavery through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow era, systemic racism continues today as evidenced by the disparities faced by black and brown people, right up to the outsized effects COVID-19 has had on us.
I have to remind myself of Romans 12: 21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” I have to remind myself of the nonviolent protests of the 1960s and the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
When will we ever learn? Is history repeating itself?
I was 20 years old during the riots of late 1960s in South Providence. They were sparked by police brutality and the assassination of Dr. King, added to the already smoldering piles of injustice. The shopping center on Prairie Avenue was looted and set on fire with cries of “Burn, baby, burn!” (The only black business there, the Brown’s Liquor Store, was spared, since the owner and his family sat out front with shotguns). The community suffered a devastating blow to the local economy, as the stores never returned.
Sadly, today we see a similar scenario, with good protesters marching for justice, while evil looters use them for cover, taking advantage of this opportunity to steal. This included white looters, too. Their motive was to add to the chaos and racial divide; however, we are not fooled by their deception.
It is my prayer that the call of the Black Lives Matter Movement for justice and equality is truly realized. I take exception to propaganda that tries to hide and ignore centuries of injustice of rapes, lynching, murder, high unemployment, high incarceration rates, poor health outcomes including high infant mortality rates, inadequate housing and education, police brutality and poverty. The loud cry we hear today from the peaceful protesters is that they want systemic racism eradiated, especially the murder of innocent black folk.
America must live up to its creed that all men are created equal, so I question the motives of those who counter “Black Lives Matter” with “all lives matter.” The data, domestic terrorism and history of disparities and inequality speak for themselves. Is it ignorance, insensitivity or racist propaganda to stoke the flames of the racial divide? Unity is what’s needed!
It has been said that when good people are silent, evil raises its ugly head. We must not become zombies in a world of injustice. More than venting our outrage, protest must lead to positive action, otherwise the murder of George Floyd and others will be in vain.
The beloved community must wake up, rise up, stay awake and keep active. The black community has a legacy of making a way out of no way, and turning crisis into opportunity. Giving back to the community is vital. We need political and social actions that address our pain as well as our economic and societal needs, ranging from political education and voter registration to strengthening of black-owned business efforts and employment. Economic boycotts like the Montgomery bus boycott should also be considered to ensure corporate accountability to our community.
We also need to work much harder to improve the relationship of police to the black community. The community police model in the city of Providence has helped, but continued efforts are needed for diversity, training in cultural competency, recruitment and screening of applicants.
It’s time to move from peaceful protest to positive action remembering the words of A. Philip Randolph, “A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”
When will they ever learn?
Sen. Harold M. Metts is a Democrat who represents District 6 in Providence.