November 27, 2014
“What are these people? You tell me, Jesus. What are they?” Stamp Paid, pg. 180, Beloved by Toni Morrison
Stamp Paid has just found a red ribbon stuck to the bottom of his boat (that he uses to ferry escaped slaves across the Ohio River). The ribbon’s color attracts his attention; his horror comes on closer examination: ‘ he tugged and what came loose in his hand was a red ribbon knotted around a curl of wet wooly hair, clinging still to its bit of scalp…’
Morrison’s artistry involves using precise images and moments of apparent beauty that reveal the horror of slavery just beneath the surface in deft, astonished responses. Stamp paid is trying to understand—we are all still trying to understand—what makes people enact unspeakable violence and injustice based on skin color. I have had the privilege to think—just to think—about the complex structures of racism in the last few days since the Ferguson decision on Monday night. I have watched the riots in response to the complete acquittal of the police officer who shot an unarmed black teenager and read the agonized posting from friends all over the world. I have also read the backlash against the protests and outraged responses of injustice and I think again: ‘What are these people?’
Of course, these are my people—well, at least we share skin color and a nationality. How vehemently I do not want to be grouped with this mentality—with these people whose understanding stops at their own white fence. But this is what racism does—it creates groups based on a superficial commonality—and my agony at being connected to white racists gives me a glimpse—a small glimpse from a position of privilege—of what it might mean to daily, constantly be aware that your skin color inspires fear and revulsion in the ignorant. But o, how powerless I feel to respond in any meaningful way to these institutionalized and historic injustices.
I crawl back to my favorite works that explore the effects of racism on human relationships—seeking answers or at least perspective.
When human behavior becomes inexplicable—what else can we do but turn to the best products of the human mind—the art—the modes we have for trying to explain ourselves, for offering up what is most beautiful and hopeful in the human spirit…
As I am writing out these thoughts, I learn that a former colleague and friend—he hosted my going away party when I moved to Paris—we all ended up in a hot tub together—that’s how the best parties end in California—was shot and killed while hiking in one of the most beautiful parks in the Oakland hills.
I have some time to sit quietly with this news—though all I want to do is run down the streets screaming.
“What are these people? You tell me, Jesus. What are they?”
Yes, I know the human race has always been astonishing in its appetite for violence—but we have such a capacity for generosity and compassion, we live in an extraordinarily beautiful world that we seem determined to trash, we know more about the mind and the wonder of the human body –and still we behave as though life has no value.
The two person ‘of interest’ (not confirmed, not known, not even identified) in David’s killing are both black men or men of mixed race—and the comments on the articles announcing this crime are filled with a racist vitriol that throws itself up against the outrage at the recent lack of conviction of the white police officer who shot the unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
Examples: from http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Man-shot-dead-in-Huckleberry-park-in-Oakland-hills-5918503.php
ink_zen Rank 832
A white man killed by two black men. Yet this will not be called a hate crime – no one will go on TV and talk about the injustice of a white man being murdered by two black men. This is just another Tuesday for Oakland. In our society, it has become acceptable for white people to be murdered.
DEPORTthemALL Rank 4762 @ink_zen Where are the REGRESSIVE liberal “leaders” to protest a WHITE man being MURDERED by BLACK men? Where is the 1% of the 1% Dear Leader Barry Hussein, race baiter charleton Al Sharpton? Adulterous race baiter Jesse Jackson? Guess Mr Runzel does “look” enough like them for them to care! Pathetic liberals!
fullomalarky Rank 5945
@ink_zen Yes, Ink, that is exactly right. What about the 4 policemen that were killed in Oakland several years back and the black men/man who did it….well you never saw any white people hit the streets with riots and looting. Says something don’t you think? We seem to be able to control our anger and deal with in a mature manner
No.
No no no—these two murders do not equate. It is tearing me up that David was killed—in a beautiful park, a person of great heart and gentleness was inexplicably gunned down—but the outrage of this tragedy is at a society that so cheapens human life that the rights to be armed trumps all reason. If there is a connection between David’s murder and that of Michael Brown, it is in a society that teaches and shows young black men that their humanity is not valued. Does it not follow that some –a very violent few- would then turn that dehumanization around and reflect it back towards other humans?
Moments like this scratch at my soul: am I doing enough? Am I using my mind and my skills to change the global narrative of despair and injustice? Not enough—it is not enough.
The ability to create and explore the best of human endeavors—the great works of art or music or film or literature—do not seem just a distraction—but a place where hope may be kindled—or injustice and outrage is voiced, explored. So that is where I turn when the narrative of life seems too weighted down with inequality, death, debt, struggle and sadness. I use my language to question and discuss injustice—and express outrage against racism and xenophobia. I look to writers that I admire for help redirecting—and I look to the incandescence of human relationships that surround me to feed this feeble flame of hope. David was one of these writers– and used his gifts to guide others into the beauty and power of language to celebrate the miracle of our living.
Ultimately, the best we are is in our love for each other. Let it shine.
Happy Thanksgiving.
A Settlement by Mary Oliver
Look, it’s spring. And last year’s loose dust has turned into this soft willingness. The wind-flowers have come up trembling, slowly the brackens are up-lifting their curvaceous and pale bodies. The thrushes have come home, none less than filled with mystery, sorrow, happiness, music, ambition.
And I am walking out into all of this with nowhere to go and no task undertaken but to turn the pages of this beautiful world over and over, in the world of my mind.
****
Therefore, dark past, I ’m about to do it. I’m about to forgive you
for everything.
I know it isn’t spring, and it does not feel possible to forgive the dark past–especially the recent past killings of Michael Brown nor David Ruenzel nor any of the others who have died from fear and ignorance, but damn we need some mercy around here.
I am so sorry that you have lost a friend and the world has lost a good man. What an odd circumstance, shot-mid-afternoon-Oakland Hills — somehow does not compute. (I have lived in SF.) And the witness “descriptions” are rather racially biased — dreadlocks=murderous intent — overweight and over-friendly=dangerous. Alternative narrative (if white) might be thin man worried about obese friend says lets take advantage of this nice drought weather and take a healthy walk in the Hills. And the comments just make me despair all the more for my home country. I read last night that a majority of states now have open-carry laws. I think the country is way past the point of ever rolling back the idolization of weapons. Every mass shooting incident brings looser gun laws, not the outrage and tightening to be expected from rational people. I can’t even begin to write on how outraged I am about Ferguson, the militarization of the police across the country, and the blatant and acceptable racism unleashed by the election of a mixed race President. I hope the criminal/s who murdered your friend is/are caught quickly in a fair investigation and dealt with fairly by the justice system.