The 1992 Los Angeles riots were a results of police brutality against an unarmed African American man named, Rodney Glen King that most American adults remember quite well. He was mercilessly beaten and people took to the streets to revolt. This is the humble yet powerful way all revolutions start. Revolutions also lose momentum and tragedies in history repeat themselves if people are unwillingly to stay present and see them through to the very end. Malcolm X said about the civil rights and black power movement: “The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then you’ll get action.”
I was a pre-teen during the 1992 Los Angeles riots and I can recall my school shutting down for a few days while my parents sat in the living room flipping from one news channel to another. The scenes of shaky night time video lit by burning fire light, indiscernible figures running across the camera as terrified reporters informed about the vandalism, theft and arson to the Los Angeles area businesses and public buildings were terrifying. During the countless hours of news covering the riots, only small segments of the video of Rodney king actually being beaten were shown.
When Southern California schools reopened, there seemed to be an obvious difference in opinion and in the overall understanding of the events involving Rodney King by the kids my age. An argument erupted during recess between an African American and white student, when the later said, “He was probably doing something against the law? There are two sides to a story.” The two went back and forth until a teacher broke it up. The words that 11-year-old kid spoke may as well have been in another language because it was absolutely incomprehensible to me and many others. We all saw the same footage of the obvious police brutality against Rodney King but some people still questioned him; the victim. That kid was painfully and innocently unattached to the reality of his black classmate. Like the other children of color, I knew even without the aid of the video proof, that sometimes there is no other side of the story and that justice was indeed a privilege. Over the years I realized that that boy believed what he did based on his personal lack of experience with racism and racial inequality. He also trusted that the system was designed without fault to serve and protect ‘everyone.’
My immigrant parents didn’t sit me down to explain the obvious events of that May in 1992 the way I have tried to with my now, pre-teen and teenage children. Over the past few years, I’ve had to elevate my level of sensitivity when talking about racially charged issues with my kids and the recent cluster of crimes against African American people needed yet another level up. I asked them what they knew already and though they didn’t see or have access to the video of George Floyd’s murder they knew bits and pieces of the event. I gave them the information as factually and age appropriately as possible, trying hard not to sway their feelings in any direction. Finally, I wanted to gauge my children’s sensitivity to the entire situation and open up further dialogue. “Do you think Floyd died as a result of racism or do you think it was an accident?” I asked. They looked at me with a lift of the brow and I realized the infantile nature of my question. Like myself back in 1992, they didn’t need to see the footage of the crime to believe that racism could kill. I was surprised and admittedly out of touch with the reality that my kids too didn’t believe that justice was always on their side. At the micro level of the playground or school cafeteria they had heard themselves and other kids being called racists names, xenophobic rhymes made up and bullying that went reprimanded. I suppose not much has changed since I was a kid.
Racism has always been a part of life for the people of color in the United States but it has disenfranchised generation after generation of African American people more than any other. Police brutality is just one part of the injustices faced by African Americans; lack of health care, unfair wages, little to no college education opportunities, discrimination in the workplace still need to be addressed and we have a long way to go. We are just beginning to create and use appropriate words to define our weak societal condition, like systematic racism, marginalized people, Islamophobia, xenophobia, cultural appropriation and white privilege. All of these terms mean something and nothing. Each means something to the person living the experience and nothing to the person privileged enough to not know it at all.
I cannot even begin to explain the brutal injustices suffered by Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and nameless others who didn’t make headlines. I can only stand in solidarity with the oppressed the way I have been taught: Through action (peaceful protest, physical help, vote), through means (donate to worthy causes/movements, volunteer), through thought (objective thinking, dialogue, discourse prayer/meditation). As everyone’s Instagrams went black last week, we all paused to listen instead of speak but the revolutions born from cries needn’t be silent. With my humblest understanding and effort, I urge you all to see this revolution to the very end. Here are a few ways to be part of sincere change right now:
Text/Call/Write
Though the 4 police officers involved in George Floyd’s murder have been charged. Breonna Taylor, an EMT who was asleep in her bed when she was shot 8 times and killed by the police. She still hasn’t had justice. The 3 officers that were involved in Breonna Taylor’s murder are only on administrative leave. Text “ENOUGH” to 55156 or call the Louisville Mayor’s office and tell them you want justice for her. Check out the black lives matter page and pick a cause, if not all and with simple texts and even pre-written emails, demand justice. Also, join the #8cantwait campaign by Campaign Zero. Search your city in the drop down menu to see which policies in your city have been passed and which need to be put in place. If your city is not in the list, use this pre-written template,which asks specific questions about what your city police is doing to serve and protect/be accountable. Simply plug in your city name, rep name etc. and send to your city rep. Follow @voicebowl on Instagram and I’ll walk you through this process.
Vote
In your local elections. Go to Ballotopedia, click on your state and find out what, when, how and who you can vote for. Vote in the presidential election. Telling people who to vote for has always been discouraged but we can no longer tell each other to simply vote, no matter the side. The country has been brought to its knees at the lack of grace, tactlessness and hateful rhetoric of our current president. For the first time in history both, Republican and Democrat leaders/personalities are starting to take a knee for true justice and change. Be a part of it, not against it.
Donate
To Campaign Zero and use your buck for more meaningful bang – donate here. Campaign Zero is an organization which researches, identifies issues with police violence and creates solutions. You can also help protesters who demonstrated the power of people and were jailed for practicing their right to protest. Donate to Bailfunds by state.
Think
Educate yourself and your family. Learn about ending qualified immunity; a bill in congress that doesn’t give police officers and government officials a “get out of jail free card.” It’s time to hold everyone to the same standard! Talk about, post, and call your congressmen about this bill. Also read; check out PBS.com and pick a few suggested books on institutional racism, support African American authors past and present. Read or re-read books like, The Autobiography of Malcolm X to Between the World and Me.
Follow @voicebowl on Instagram. This week I will be showing you how easy it is to use the BLM template to write your city rep.
