“We are supposed to fight for Willy.” This quote from the iconic movie, A Few Good Men, speaks volume to the ills that continue to plague and prevent our society from taking a giant step forward in race relations. What is even more telling and just as much an indictment on the ethics and morals of the majority community is the sentiment, “We did nothing wrong.” That quote aligns with some attitudes of individuals that sit on the sideline idle, allowing systemic prejudicial behaviors, patterns, biases, indifferences and police brutality to puncture and permeate our society and especially black people.
America, you cannot just fight for Willy. You have to fight for Jerome, Cedric, Hakeem, Shawanda, Lakisha, Carlos, Roberto and Rosia. If not, who will advocate for them? Who will defend the people who can’t fight for themselves due to systemic racial issues, policies and practices?
To our courageous Anglo community that fights for people that can’t fight for themselves we salute you, please know that you are making a tremendous impact.
Regarding the sentiment, “We did nothing wrong,” that is at best a controversial position. This generation of Anglos may not have done anything directly to impede the progress of blacks or may have never uttered the ‘N’ word; however, that in no way totally absolves them. You probably never beat a black person; however, you have benefitted from the prejudicial practices of your ancestors. Consider these facts: 1) When blacks were denied education during slavery and afterward, Anglos had no restrictions – that’s a benefit. 2) When blacks were denied the opportunity to purchase land, Anglo’s had no restrictions – that’s another benefit. 3) Even today in 2020 when black’s salaries are still not equitable to that of their Anglo co-workers with the exact same education levels, skills and experience – that’s a benefit. 4) When black teens are charged, they are automatically assumed guilty and have to prove their innocence.
Even when Anglo teens are charged and convicted their sentences are extremely low compared to black teens. Study after study substantiates these facts and more. Can you handle the truth?
Can you even fathom a black teen getting two years’ probation for killing 4 people? Well, we know blacks are found guilty and incarcerated even when there is less than questionable evidence – please don’t forget the Central Park 5. Right here in Dallas County, the lists continue to grow of blacks being exonerated from past jury verdicts.
How do you mitigate or even attempt to correct the wrongs of the past? You must create solutions and policies to balance the scales. Affirmative Action and Quotas/Set-asides are railed against by some and others sit silently on the sidelines failing to advocate for these tools that will assist in trying to level the playing field. These corrective action tools are viewed negatively and the narrative has been totally hijacked by small-minded people that refuse to accept the truth.
People are talking about the looters and sharing their disgust, but my question is which looters? What about the corporations that took millions of SBA PPP dollars? Municipal, state or federal registration is required to open a business; therefore, a governmental agency had the appropriate information that could have been vetted prior to releasing the funds to those looters. Can you hear the chorus, ‘We did nothing wrong?”
Drew Breeze’s comments only amplified the perspective – “We did nothing wrong.” In his attempt to declare and defend his allegiance to saluting the flag due to his father and grandfather’s military service (which we honor the service of all veterans), he only shined a brighter light on the issue. He totally neglected to consider the fact that black NFL player’s fathers, grandfathers, great-grand-fathers served this great country also. The biggest difference is when his father and grandfather returned to America, they did not have racial restrictions to compete with.
Finally, the most iconic quote from the same movie, “You can’t handle the truth,” epitomizes the attitude of too many. When people disparage Affirmative Action or Quotas, they are actually failing to recognize and accept the fact that the field is not level.
We know race is perhaps the most polarizing subject in the public sphere. Generally, Anglos get defensive and retreat to the attitude of – it wasn’t me. Blacks tend to retreat to the position of ‘disingenuousness’ in order to reduce tension and to placate the audience.
Everyone has biases; however, you can’t allow them to prevent the upward mobility or advancement for blacks. This is when you should say we will do something right and do it, faith without works is dead.
Systems, policies and patterns of behavior are the enemies. Those items have to be eradicated in order to move America beyond this current quagmire. When you hear and see Black Lives Matter, what is being said and said emphatically is simply we know Willy’s life matters; but, what about Jerome, Cedric, Hakeem, Shawanda, Lakisha, Carlos, Roberto, Rosia and Esmeralda?
Ricky C. McNeal, NAACP Garland Unit, President