Baltimore Matters

For this post I would like to discuss the recent events in Baltimore, a topic that may alienate a few readers but I feel it deserves to be mentioned from the platform of my blog. At first I was quite hesitant to post on this subject but I felt compelled to as I continued to hear the unsettling slew of commentary. Frankly, I have found myself rather disappointed with much the discourse on social media but I also have been very moved by those who did chose to speak up constructively. For those in positions of privilege it can be difficult to see the problems at hand if one is not willing to challenge their own assumptions and biases.

One of the most persistent sentiments I’ve seen on mainly Facebook, is the outrage against the Baltimore rioting that followed the death of Freddie Gray, recently ruled a homicide. I am not making excuses and certainly do not agree with destruction, however, I can see the feeling behind it. Many view these actions as a lack of respect or some similar moral failing, to me it is a symptom of institutional oppression. These frustrations often stem from communities with crushing poverty, with compromised school systems and very few opportunities to succeed—where those tasked to serve and protect can sometimes, in fact, be the source of danger. 

No matter what your opinion may be or what the mainstream media may portray, these instances of rioting do not represent the majority of peaceful protests that have occurred in Baltimore and across our nation. The Baltimore movement and the larger, ongoing Black Lives Matter campaign, on social media and in the streets seeks to call-out the inequalities for black individuals within the justice system and in general. Some bystanders feel the need to interject All Lives Matter or Police Lives Matter, sort of missing the point that this is about a specific issue; if someone were to post about cancer awareness, it would be in poor taste to comment, "healthy people matter too!” Much like feminism is not about hating men, this is not about hating white people or all police officers, it's about systemic racism. 

There is evidence to support the fact that people who are black are statistically more likely to be victims of police brutality, are incarcerated at a higher rate, receive longer prison sentences, so on and so forth. It is also important to mention that within this group, transgender individuals and those who are mentally and physically disabled are especially at risk for being abused by police. I would like to be very clear that I do not believe each and every member of law-enforcement is abusive, I personally know some great people who are cops and respect the enormous pressure they are under each time they go to work. That being said, I still definitely think there are certain individuals and police departments that are more violent towards African-Americans. 

From my perspective, ableism (discrimination of disabled people) and racism are very similar in the sense that they are both issues that many believe to have been eradicated in the United States but are still very real. With any form of oppression it is crucial to listen to those who are disadvantaged and try to consider their position. It is no secret that I hold some very strong views that not everyone agrees with but I typically try to see things through the lens of empathy. I think it is important for us to be willing to take a hard, open-minded look at race in the United States, regardless of whether or not we are affected directly. I do not presume to know what it is like to be a black person in this country but I hope to at least be an ally. Words are my skill and passion, I believe I should try use them for good whenever I can.