#BLM: Getting Justice When It Is Just Us

By Qye Woodard '20

It is no secret that our people are hurting right now. Not one of us is exempt from the pain and hardship. As a black boy growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood with predominantly white schooling, I understand how the system can eat at you from the inside, and often without you even being conscious of it. Unfortunately and regrettably, this has occasionally resulted in personal inaction and even active opposition to our overall cause due to fear of being ostracized or villainized. But the days of passivity are over. And the oppressive restrictions they have taxed us with for 400 years are coming to an end.

Society has illustrated us as savages for all of history, when in reality, we are not the actual roots of evil. White people looted and raped the entire continent of Africa for Centuries: whether that be European colonization and the exploitation of black people and their resources during the Scramble for Africa or The United States with the slave trade. And sticking with the perspective of the US, after whites poached these people from their homes, and enslaved them, they “let them free.” But this was not freedom, with the emancipation resulting in the exploitation of Blacks and subsequent unfit and inequitable compensation for their work, as well as literal lynchings, burnings, theft of black people and businesses and even WHOLE TOWNS (Tulsa 1921 — Black Wall Street). Looting and rioting doesn’t change or resolve anything? Or is that only the case when it comes from Black people?

However, I do agree that small business owners and black business owners should not be targeted AT ALL. If to be done, only the big corporations that participate in exploitive capitalism because they have the means to fix and replace stores easily, which is all because of intercompany wealth disparages and poor employer-employee wage relations.

I agree: Two wrongs do not make a right, but we are not trying to correct the system.

We are trying to fundamentally change the system so we don’t really need it to add up to a “right” right now.

If black people want to destroy a country they built for FREE, who are you to impede on that? It’s violent, it’s scary but name one major revolution throughout global history that didn’t result in some sort of violence. Personally, I do not believe I could partake in these violent acts, but that does not mean what is happening is not valid.

For the non-Black people: Continuing along the topic of activism, this is a time where — no exaggeration — everyone needs to be involved. And if you are on our side,

you need to be doing EVERYTHING you can.

Passivity is identical to aligning yourself with the racism and oppression the system stands for. If you are not speaking out against them, you are speaking out against us, whether you like that or not. On the opposite side of the coin, though, if you are merely posting for

A) validation (whether that be personal or general)

B) reputation protection

C) just to say you did something

then you are not an ally and can be considered one with the opposition.

And to my fellow Black community, it is necessary to realize and recognize the tactics that are currently being used to weaken our movement and our progress. Do not get sucked into the videos of cops kneeling and marching with protesters. It is only to ease tensions in that moment and there are many examples of violent actions being incited by the police very soon after these sort of demonstrations. Not all cops are BAD per se, but the system that they uphold and protect perpetuates oppression and is inherently racist. And this will continue to be so until the racist police system is abolished

Secondly, we must not place all of our faith in the November elections. Change needs to happen now. How many times do we need to elect an old white man to lead us for us to realize that HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US? Of course, get out and vote (local + state elections as well, not solely Presidential), it is very important, but that is not the end all, be all, and we should not expect it too. Again, real and complete change will only come once a system designed for the equality of ALL people arises.

Finally, my Brothers and Sisters, we will win this fight.

I have truly never been more optimistic, and you should be too. This will be read about in our Grandchildren’s history books and I cannot be more excited to share stories about the eternal strength of our people. We are making history, and if you do not want to end up on the wrong side of it, you must take action NOW!