 Experts have testified George Floyd died because White police murderer derek chauvin pressed his knee into George Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes ... derek chauvin put additional pressure on George Floyd's back with George Floyd's hands handcuffed behind him ..derek chauvin "short-circuited" George Floyd's oxygen supply as George Floyd laid on the ground, his face pressed into the concrete. derek chauvin literally choked George Floyd to death...and we saw the diabolical murder of George Floyd by derek chauvin on video, all disgusting 9 minutes+ of it. With such a line-up of experts and their expert testimony, and the videos showing chauvin killing George Floyd with impunity, you would think the verdict would be a foregone conclusion. It would be were it not for two inescapable realities...WHITE SKIN AND BLACK SKIN. As long as derek chauvin feels he can "get off" by ONE WHITE JUROR saying he is NOT GUILTY," he walks out the door with a hung jury. The fact we know it COULD happen, is a testament to White American Racism. This case has nothing to do with proof, witnesses, and expert testimony. THIS CASE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EVIDENCE. THIS CASE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHITE RACISM, AND FINDING A WHITE POLICEMAN GUILTY OF KILLING A BLACK MAN ... AS THE EVIDENCE CLEARLY SHOWS. The Struggle Continues!
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I had the pleasure to watch the students of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts last night April 9, 2021) in their production, "D. A Hands." To say it was a treat is an understatement. These young gifted Black and White students, tackled some of today's "thorniest" problems in an upfront and honest "issues production" about Racism, Respect et al, under the direction of faculty member Keith Johnston. They wrote the script, as I understand, and of course were the actors. One of the key "acts" was set in Jacksonville in the mid-20's and revolved around Douglas Anderson, the Black community leader who was responsible for the construction of this segregated school for Blacks in 1922. The school was named for Douglas Anderson in 1945. These students understand many of the issues they are facing during this "integration generation" as many Black students did during the "segregation generation." They dealt with the "uncomfortable array of subjects" including Race and Racism in less than an hour, traversing more than 100 years here in Jacksonville. Their insight could have been--and is--instructive for many adults. In addition to the varied school persons in attendance, many of whom I did not know, let me drop a few names of those I do know who attended to show "support" ... a delegation of alumni from Douglas Anderson Junior Senior High school during the days of school segregation ... Chris Janson and family...Rudy F. Jr. Jamison and Lauren, Temeka R. Perry, and Tiffany Clark. Great job to all the students, and especially Douglas Anderson students and actors-Danyel Clark and Lydia Hanson-pictured with me. (I hope I spelled Lydia's name correctly.) They still had another performance later last night. VERY PROUD! ASE'!  MEMO TO SOME WHITE FOLKS, FROM SOME BLACK FOLKS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BENT BACK NEGROES SOCIETY4/16/2021 It is tantalizingly amusing at times, when some of you act as if you give a damn about race relations and my "well-being," when We know you only do when it conveniently suits you.
Some of you were obviously upset when Major League Baseball moved the All-Star game from Atlanta because of your core racist attitudes. Cue the whining Georgia Governor Brian "I really did steal the election from Stacey Abrams" Kemp who was upset at the "misinterpretation" of Georgia's Racist voting rights bill which was the cause for the game's move. Of course, according to Racist Kemp, and others of a comparable ilk, the ONLY reason the bill "was passed" was to assure a fair election, which WE know really means, "keep the Niggers from voting." Now, Georgia's Christian governor is concerned moving the All- Star game will "hurt" minorities. Wow! You really want me to believe you give a tinker's damn about my being hurt about moving a sporting event when YOUR Racism was called out? Some of you Racist White folks might think Black folks are damn fools when we hear your empty echoes and fake cries of compassion over and over again. Your doo-dah handkerchief head Negroes, continue to convince you, that you are experts on me. YOU ARE NOT. Take a lesson from your loser former cult leader and do not show any compassion at all, fake or otherwise. It keeps you in character. Finally, let me reassure you, your Christian Kumbayah BS played out long ago. We understand sacrifices. We have had to endure sacrifices since YOU kidnapped US and brought to these shores in the bowels of slave ships. And believe you me, the satisfaction of hearing many of you Racists squeal when your Racism is "outed" makes it all worthwhile. BTW...I am very glad they moved the Major League Baseball All-Star game. If you are a Racist when you become a policeman or a policewoman...you are then a Racist who can legally wear a badge and carry a gun...harboring your same core racist attitudes...with LEGAL LIFE AND DEATH control over me ...and those whose hue of skin are Black like mine. LEGAL RACIST MURDERS...And we see it EVERY DAY!!  Let’s stop pretending Race is not a problem, when we know it is.
Let’s stop pretending Racism is not a problem, when we know it is. Let’s stop pretending getting together and holding hands and singing songs in a church or in a park, make a difference, when we know it does not. Let’s stop pretending only Black preachers can solve problems in the Black community, when we know they cannot. Let’s stop pretending “giving pittance (money) to Black organizations to solve crime” will solve crime, when we know it will not. Let’s stop pretending donald trump will “grow into the presidency,” when we know he will not. Let’s stop pretending White America believes in Integration, when we know they do not. Let's stop pretending White elected officials have their Black constituency at heart, when we know they do not. Let’s stop pretending America is the Moral Leader of the world, when we know it is not. Let’s stop pretending White Christian Evangelicals are not Racist, when we know they are. Let’s stop pretending White Christians believe in “Brotherhood” and “Sisterhood,” when we know they do not. Let’s stop believing those Whites who voted for and continue to support donald trump are not Racists, when we know they are. Let’s stop pretending NOT talking about Race and Racism will somehow make it better, it will not. Let’s stop pretending “Diversity and Inclusion” mean something, when we know it does not. Let’s stop pretending White America did not knowingly elect a Racist as president, when we know THEY DID. Let’s stop pretending America is getting better, when we know it is not. Let’s stop pretending...Period. We can talk further when you stop pretending. The Struggle Continues! I get disgusted EVERYDAY watching the news and YOUR new found "conscience" when the pathology of YOUR bigotry and the pathology YOUR Racism are "discovered."
YOU act as if Racism against Asians... just like YOU act as if Racism against Blacks...is something new. It is NOT. YOU recoil in horror with news a White Racist murderer "gunned down" Asian citizens. YOU did the EXACT same thing when a White Racist murderer "gunned down" 9 Black worshippers in church. This country was founded on YOUR Racism and YOUR Racist acts of violence and murder which happen everyday in this Racist country. These acts are aided and abetted by White Racist elected officials... who are aided and abetted by a White Racist media which refused to report on a White Racist president who facilitated White Racism from the White House and refuses to report on the continuing Racist atmosphere he "cultivated." Unity...Togetherness ... Healing... and PROGRESS cannot occur until... how about I let these words speak on this... "If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven't even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound. They won't even admit the knife is there." ---Malcolm X. The Struggle Continues! As we approach Easter, the Holiest of Days in the Christian year and the Christian calendar, let us not lose sight of the fact the Bible, in addition to being a spiritual book, is also a history book, and historical accuracy and geographical fact should prevail, and not the usual myths found in many Western religions.
Notwithstanding what you have been taught, and what White Hollywood puts on TV and on the heretofore celluloid screen, remind and inform young Blacks and young Whites, and not-so-young Blacks and not-so-young Whites, the Bible takes place IN AND AROUND the Continent of Africa, and NOT Europe. Correspondingly, physical representations of the people who lived during that time and place, including Jesus, the Christ, should be properly reflected. Racism against Asians,
like Racism against Blacks, is as American as denying you are a Racist. I POSTED ON FACEBOOK, "YOU CANNOT USE JACKSONVILLE AND PROGRESSIVE IN THE SAME SENTENCE." Nothing is truer, for me. And as expected, I received “pro and con” comments from my Facebook Friends. From “I know many Progressives in Jacksonville” to “Jacksonville is not as bad as some other places I know” to “I could not disagree with you more.”
So, Lets unpack: 1) I did not post MY comments asking for your support or your blessings or your agreement. I could give less than a Tinker’s Damn if you agree with me that Jacksonville is NOT Progressive. 2) I do not work for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, so it is not my responsibility to be a Jacksonville Cheerleader. 3) Jacksonville is still very much Racist and even with a Pro Football team. I see very few changes in that. 4) Jacksonville’s religious community both Black and White are as passive and non-threatening as other White folks and Black folks in the Jacksonville community, and they act as if they just found out Jesus Christ was crucified. I don’t know if some of them who believe in the Bible internalized that Jesus also arose from the dead. But that is how "un-engaged" they are with what is happening in Jacksonville. Speaking out against Racism and For Civil Rights ... Against Police Brutality and For Equality...Against the continued naming of OUR schools after treasonous and seditious Racists and for the advocacy of being a Real Christian...is Necessary---Just not From My Pulpit! But let someone give out "pennies" as offerings to FIGHT CRIME and they are the first ones in line with their hands out, as if they are law enforcement officers. 5) Many Blacks in Jacksonville who should know better, have taken a Go-Along-to-Get-Along posture as if speaking out against Injustice and Police Brutality and Racism will sour their “good” relationships with their White Friends. Not only is being "silent" a sign of complicity, but saying nothing will not make Racism disappear. 6) Jacksonville still refuses to have real conversations about Racism because those conversations make Whites in Jacksonville and Blacks in Jacksonville, Uncomfortable. Whites in Jacksonville ALWAYS want to tell me what THEY think is best for me. I call it “The White Expert on Black Folks Syndrome.” And they get their feelings hurt when I tell them to “Throw that stupid sh*t out of the window.” Then Black folks go along with the “White Experts” as if that is a way to make peace. White Experts, like White Privilege and White Racism is a White Arrogant Lifestyle which has permeated Jacksonville since time Immemorial. Fairness...Equality...and Civil Rights...are not even footnotes in Jacksonville’s history and its conversations. You have Blacks in Jacksonville who would dare say, “I know a LOT of White Progressives in Jacksonville." Well Whoop-De-Doo. You must keep them hidden. Jacksonville can join hands and sing... have prayer vigils... rally around art... go to luncheons and dinners ... have vague study circles about Racism...and visit each other's churches all you want...all a “contribution to Progressiveness," but if you think that is ALL that is necessary to call yourself a Progressive, you are only fooling Yourselves. Jacksonville is still Jacksonville...with its feet in 2021...and its head in the 1950’s and the 1960’s ... and IS STILL not Progressive. Jacksonville is the home of my birth and my late wife’s birth and my children's birth and my grandchildren's birth and my great grandchild's birth and many of my friends' place of birth. I went to school in Jacksonville...I attend church in Jacksonville and I fight Racism (and fought Racism) in Jacksonville. I reserve the right to Criticize Jacksonville Whenever I want and Wherever I want, until Jacksonville does better...and that is With or Without your help. And I certainly do not need your approval or blessings. BTW...IF you think Jacksonville IS NOT Racist, listen to the Robert E. Lee High School alumni as they spew Racist venom in their misplaced zeal to maintain the name of a treasonous-slave owning-Racist on a high school building. The Struggle Continues! |
AuthorRodney. L. Hurst, Sr. 
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