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Let’s talk about comparing what happened at the Capitol on Wednesday with Civil Rights protests for Black lives, and why it’s problematic. A lot of people have been quoting Dr. King’s statement about “riots being the language of the unheard” as a form of reasoning or gotcha.
I’d like to add some historical illumination, and I’m hopeful that when you reach the end of this, you will have a different perspective. (Trigger Warning) (2)
Let's start off by looking at the context of Dr. King's words at the time, and ask what was going on in 1966 when he said that riots were the language of the unheard. (3)
From 1882-1968 3,446 Black people had been lynched in the US. For the span of King’s life- from 1929, up to -1966, 160 Black people had been lynched. (4)
In 1955 the nation had witnessed the aftermath of the brutal murder of Emmett Till and witnessed the trial that let his murderers go free. Black American’s were living under brutal and dehumanizing oppression: segregation, redlining, Jim Crow. (5)
Black families couldn't travel through the US without fear of being pulled over, breaking down, or ending up in a sun-down town after the sun went down. (6)
In 1961, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted into school by the National Guard while white people lined the streets calling her the n-word, screaming obscenities, and holding hateful signs telling her she was dirty, that segregation was godly, and that she was trash. (7)
In 1963 a house of worship was bombed. 4 little girls were murdered, and 1 of the little girl’s sisters was severely injured. To this day, most people don’t know about Sarah Collins and how she has and continues to be impacted physically and emotionally. (8)
In 1965, only 1 year before King’s statement- the march from Selma to Montgomery happened. And only after much protest, terror, death, and destruction, did our governing officials (many, reluctantly) pass the voting rights act. (9)
MLK had been jailed 30 times at this point. He had received countless death threats. He had traveled the nation looking into the eyes of hatred. Everywhere he went- he was met by people waving confederate flags, screaming, and threatening him. I could go on and on and on./10
To the white people reading this- do you ever wonder what that must have felt like… to be met with the hatred and complicity of white people who called themselves Christians and pastored churches but supported killer cops and the KKK? /11
What it must have been like to live in a nation you were born into because of the abduction and trafficking of your ancestors to be spat on, terrorized, and tortured, only to know that police, government officials, and clergy were in on it all? /12
To simply want to vote, but be dehumanized, terrorized, and murdered to prevent you from doing so? Can you imagine the hopelessness, helplessness, and trauma?
I think of it often. /13
I think of it often. /13
Up to this point, Black Americans had been living under racial terrorism that was supported and sponsored by the state, the police, elected officials, clergy, and others since the inception of this nation./14
These horrors and atrocities are just a sliver of context for MLK's statement that riots were the language of the unheard./15
I don’t know how to say this with more clarity, but there is literally no comparison between what was and still happens in this country regarding racial injustice and a group of people who stormed the Capitol- /16
many of whom were led by white supremacist, Qanon cult members- who believed in their heart of hearts that a free and fair election had been fraudulent, that the deep state is plotting to microchip us all, and that JFK Jr is coming back to save us. /17
The conjured outrage fueled by a President who retweeted Qanon groups and white supremacist groups, among others, in no way compares to the hundreds of years of the historical experience of Black people in this country. /18
I encourage anyone reading this to research the long history of racism and racial terror that Black Americans experience to this day, and I definitely encourage you to reject this comparison./19
To quote one of my favorite poets, @prophiphop - "Nuance is sacred work." And these very important conversations require a lot of nuanced understanding and thinking. Peace