Thank you for writing this. Hard for me to wrap my head around all of this even as an American - its embarrassing to consider how we look to the rest of the world.
About 97% of my students are black and it’s heartbreaking (and infuriating) to see that their future is to be simply seen (and treated) as expendable and lesser.
And like you said, it’s hard for me to feel like a real ally for my kiddos, having lived a life of white privilege and comparative ease.
Great post David (or not great post really because the world is fucked up)
I feel your words, as a white australian I can feel removed from it, I’ve never even SEEN gun in real life let alone have to be scared that a police officer will hurt or kill me. but of course australia is deeply flawed too, our cops are racist and we live on stolen land. but I never have to think about it, because I’m white.
We just need to do what we can to help I guess, I wish I could do more
There’s no reply that seems appropriate for this. My heart hurts. I won’t experience what those of color have experienced but I’m trying to change the culture through my own children and My classroom. Thanks for posting this. It’s so awful. What a year this has been. Australian fires, racist murders by police, covid, more police brutality and murders, riots, protests, no leadership in America...one gets the idea. You can’t bury your head because it’s all around. I miss leadership. I want leadership, but ya know what, with the trash we have now, it causes us to stand up more. Thanks for this. ❤️
Slavery & racism is a gooey fractal thing ... we have our work cut out for us to try & evolve out of such paradigms ... even in our safe spaces we can always discern our archons to overcome ... embrace a peaceful workable paranoia & be high functioning schizophrenics forever!
It's important for people far and wide to write about it, talk about, express disgust about it. That's the way the pressure mounts. And perhaps this time they see that they won't get away with it because we are all watching.
If you haven’t heard it/seen it before, take a look at Dave Chappelle’s “8 minutes and 46 seconds” stand up. The round-about way he comes at the issue and then dives right in - it made me cry.
Side note:
Also, the stanky pussy reference made me laugh. Prob true.
This just makes me think about how on top of all things going sideways ,this is what was the only thing missing . Not just for the US , but also world news . It makes anyone frown deeper , the country is a superpower and developed and yet there are such wide ranges of social issues that swirl and plague it.
Makes me question severely, why some people just love adding another layer of gravy to an already rotten dish. ....
First time reader of your blog, although avid follower of your more mundane activities on Twitter, but thank you for this. It's important all of us reflect on what is going on, both in the US but also nearer to us.
Thanks for sharing this. It's vital for us to know what other countries are thinking and seeing. I'm both terrified and ashamed to be an American these days.
Well Said! RIP George Floyd and Breonna Taylor! Per video shared by The Majority Report a leftist youtube channel. Apparently some undercover cop or militant right wing dude or provocateur from what it looks like was caught on video breaking a bunch of windows at Autozone with a hammer in Minneapolis, MN (one of the places where they reported looting happened during the protests). He was doing it in a premeditated way, and then he threatened protesters and ran off when they tried to confront him.
Thank you for writing this. Hard for me to wrap my head around all of this even as an American - its embarrassing to consider how we look to the rest of the world.
About 97% of my students are black and it’s heartbreaking (and infuriating) to see that their future is to be simply seen (and treated) as expendable and lesser.
And like you said, it’s hard for me to feel like a real ally for my kiddos, having lived a life of white privilege and comparative ease.
I am glad those students have a sane, cool teacher. Your role is hugely important. Go, you. Fuck yes.
If we can use words like "white privilege", then we can use words like "nose privilege"?
Great post David (or not great post really because the world is fucked up)
I feel your words, as a white australian I can feel removed from it, I’ve never even SEEN gun in real life let alone have to be scared that a police officer will hurt or kill me. but of course australia is deeply flawed too, our cops are racist and we live on stolen land. but I never have to think about it, because I’m white.
We just need to do what we can to help I guess, I wish I could do more
Australia has a tragic track record... in the past, and now. Awful. Stay strong.
There’s no reply that seems appropriate for this. My heart hurts. I won’t experience what those of color have experienced but I’m trying to change the culture through my own children and My classroom. Thanks for posting this. It’s so awful. What a year this has been. Australian fires, racist murders by police, covid, more police brutality and murders, riots, protests, no leadership in America...one gets the idea. You can’t bury your head because it’s all around. I miss leadership. I want leadership, but ya know what, with the trash we have now, it causes us to stand up more. Thanks for this. ❤️
Thank you for writing this! We need people like you who can make Floyd not be silenced.
Something needs to change. Long time coming.
Couldn’t agree more. We really never do listen. The cycle continues. Thanks for writing this.
Thank you for this post. I’m Italian and, in other ways, racism runs through our society. Maybe many people think that is not their stuff.
Thanks Alessandra. And hope you are staying safe over there from Covid - I know you got hit hard.
It's hard, but now the situation is getting better...thanks
Slavery & racism is a gooey fractal thing ... we have our work cut out for us to try & evolve out of such paradigms ... even in our safe spaces we can always discern our archons to overcome ... embrace a peaceful workable paranoia & be high functioning schizophrenics forever!
It's important for people far and wide to write about it, talk about, express disgust about it. That's the way the pressure mounts. And perhaps this time they see that they won't get away with it because we are all watching.
Thank you for using your platform.
Anyone with anyone who may listen must. Staying silent is criminal at this point.
Thank you for writing this.
All good, Lana. Thanks for reading.
If you haven’t heard it/seen it before, take a look at Dave Chappelle’s “8 minutes and 46 seconds” stand up. The round-about way he comes at the issue and then dives right in - it made me cry.
Side note:
Also, the stanky pussy reference made me laugh. Prob true.
I am not a giant Chappelle fan (never followed, and I find some of his politics a bit off) but this stand up was INCREDIBLE. Big fan.
Those policemen waiting with excitement got same face expressions as their president. Smugly. New word. Learned. ✔️
Nail on the head. Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to read it, Edele.
Hey david,
This just makes me think about how on top of all things going sideways ,this is what was the only thing missing . Not just for the US , but also world news . It makes anyone frown deeper , the country is a superpower and developed and yet there are such wide ranges of social issues that swirl and plague it.
Makes me question severely, why some people just love adding another layer of gravy to an already rotten dish. ....
Stay safe
XO
First time reader of your blog, although avid follower of your more mundane activities on Twitter, but thank you for this. It's important all of us reflect on what is going on, both in the US but also nearer to us.
Thanks, David.
Thanks for sharing this. It's vital for us to know what other countries are thinking and seeing. I'm both terrified and ashamed to be an American these days.
Well Said! RIP George Floyd and Breonna Taylor! Per video shared by The Majority Report a leftist youtube channel. Apparently some undercover cop or militant right wing dude or provocateur from what it looks like was caught on video breaking a bunch of windows at Autozone with a hammer in Minneapolis, MN (one of the places where they reported looting happened during the protests). He was doing it in a premeditated way, and then he threatened protesters and ran off when they tried to confront him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iokKGv93e30&t=538s
My pick is militant right wing idiot, but watching with curiosity. Just one example of many of white people enflaming things. It's cooked. So cooked.