Dreams of a Better Human Race
Something transcendent when Dr. King shared his heart wrenching vision, a searing cry of hope, cut through the global consciousness… A lyrical note, a melody and sentiment that truly captured the tragedy of a people.
It would be nice if Martin Luther King’s ‘I have A Dream’ speech, wept, bellowed and sang from the most significant political space in America, opposite a pyramid topped spire created any real change after 60 years… the fate of black persons in the western sphere improved to a degree that it reflects the life and opportunities of the ‘dominant races’, sans segregation, outside of the sports or entertainment spheres.
The distressing truth is that the majority of black lives remain systemically unchanged from that era. With respect to basic guarantees of unalienable rights or the ability to secure opportunities enabled by such rights.
This dark realisation was perhaps dawning on Dr. King towards the end of his life, as he was questioning his approach of passive or unified ‘peaceful resistance’ to the laws of the land. An approach that hoped to embrace all the ‘have-nots’ in modern society to create a popular social movement for change, which was unravelling. That is, despite his universally admired messaging that was heavily resonating, even with a ruling elite.
His strategy for enacting legislative change relied on themes of love, personal dignity, humanity and peace as an unstoppable and unstoppable mass movement. Unlike his noted rival Malcolm X, who Dr King eventually wondered, weather that was the true route to equality. Enforcing respect. Pushing back. Separatism. “By any means necessary”, but especially fundamentalist anger, radical personal education and a propensity for organised economic and combat readiness.
Both these approaches are flip-sides of the same coin, reflecting the psychological bind of the condition of being stateless, unheard and black in the West. At any time. The roots of this problem emanating from the existential condition of enslavement and the act of civic emancipation from complete dispossession.
These not being having access to ‘40 acres and a mule’, or any financial awards — but to the inalienable protection of the most basic civic rights, in order to be able to integrate into functional civic society. As a start. Especially against the predatory and prejudicial application of law and regulation to ensure that the personal condition of peoples lives’ can improve, within society.
Today, it has to make you finally wonder ‘is this truly the impossible journey for a people to complete in a systemic and diametrically hostile host-nation?’ For a community who are permanently designated as the ‘other’ by state and institutional forces. A continued symbol of unfair and irrational societal threat that is more reflective than objective.
Both Dr King and Malcolm X would have realised this, in the barbaric final moments of their extremely poetic lives. The inescapable double-bind of this unresolvable position. Their symbolic lives and works ending with sinister attempted murders, and successful assassinations. As opposed to their integration into the political discourse within the halls and palaces of change.
Any hopes of progress on these ideals, especially in the form of fundamental legislative protections and guarantees for re-humanising a dispossessed people, suppressed and brushed under the carpet — of a system unable to change.
This nonetheless is what makes them icons. Icons of political dignity against the natures of systemic pride, prejudice and power that is unable to change. They represent undeniable but avoidable Truths. Systems that were ostensibly built through slavery cannot learn to work without slavery, much less when slaves matter to social and societal progress, more so than the kings or presidents. They just get killed by the state. That, certainly, is nothing new in human civilisation.
But, such systems can not only be transformed through an honest collective reflection and healing… but also the direct aggressive action, social discord and a propensity to social warfare: to inspire and demand implementing a new way.
It takes an ugly reaction, akin to a teenagers irrational rage in a family, to highlight that there is a grave social sickness that is being suppressed and denied. A belief that basic civic rights can be ignored and forgotten. Having been swept under the carpet since the 60s and beyond by murders, assassinations, systemic state warfare, socio-narcotic infiltrations and virtual decapitations of strong role models. As opposed to political and legislative negotiation with valid, qualified black or excluded voices of any kind. Actions that would make the bonds within society stronger and more equitable.
What is the dream today?
Today the policeman and trooper in military attire has to reach out to the rioter to shake his hand and ask, “should there be another way? I simply cannot do this against you.”
He has to wonder: “Why do we have to fight as if to the death, when as persons, even in the extreme cases of divided-ness, we would probably- actually get along.
But, I am in a position of power and am able to help or hurt you, but likewise you, for me. I cannot be at peace within my soul and at war with you.”
Perhaps if the person on the other side had the basic opportunities and stability, or vice versa, he would be in the others very shoes.
“Perhaps a generation or two ago, I was in your place, here or somewhere else. We may not be that far apart. Is a time and period in history the only things that divide us? Why are we both really here?”
What really divides these people is fundamental economics: job security, access to personal defence equipment worn on the one side and stability of income to ensure personal and familial welfare, that is in diametric economic opposition. As a rule, both would be happy to be spending a wholesome day with family. A barbecue, a bit of drink and music. Sports TV… But, no, they are here, adrenaline fueling emotions of rage and injustice into alarming public eruptions. Today…
Why?
The police forces in Western nations require a type of person who acts provably dangerous to justify large militarist spending, stockpiling and politically legislated powers of unwarranted or disproportionate arrest. Without the convenient structural epidemic of the black ‘social threat’ and scourge, these facilities would not exist — and be used against any party deemed socially troubling.
If the social discourse existed from the 1960s onwards, or at any stage, to demand, facilitate and enact the most basic social protections for these communities, these conflicts may not exist at all. Today.
Today, the people with the least security in any professions are still black. The highest group of overeducated and over-skilled workers doing unskilled frontline work will be black — unable to spend adequate time on the upbringing of their children, who will remain at a permanent loss. The next generation of a disengaged, disconnected and undesirable civilians.
In the professional sectors, black contractors and tradespersons providing services can expect to be the first entities denied payment when creditors face cash-flow problems or otherwise, due to the ease of characterisation that black efforts were under required standards. Especially where they represent minority contractors. Black employees in the workplace are easily pushed out of the workplace to resolve corporate challenges or disputes as disruptive influences. Black business or media innovators will have their IP freely and cruelly appropriated by multibillion conglomerates. Without realistic avenue for penalty, consequence or shame. Their contributions and innovations in culture erased. Black candidates for employment will be overlooked as not being able to ‘fit into a corporate culture’ of most companies, regardless of experience and skill level. Because this ‘culture’ is built on mocking the weak, the unpolished or the unfortunate and flaunting resources alien to an underclass. Such repeated everyday events, that deny all basic social protections with severe and devastating economic implications are rampant and commonplace in society. Today. This list is literally without end... Such experiences disproportionately dominate the black experience in society, than any other group.
These are social and economic realities that ensure black always comes last, in the West. Ever since Darwin’s theory of evolution provided a confirmation of a need, a permanent bias, and fearful suspicions or expectation in the psyche of the western consciousness in the era of ‘Western Enlightenment’. A destructive bleaching of human consciousness, and history. Its OK to trample on the fundamental rights of this group, without any fear of accountability or reasonable penalty. Fair legal and judicial consequences must be discharged.
It is in fact typically encouraged as a social sport to generate institutional humour and pathos, or superficial hand-wringing and hypocrisy at best.
The media and politicians simply expertly exploit these suspicions and fears of the ‘otherness’ to further these raw and unfortunate social divides in society. The right wing in direct opposition to this ‘otherness’ and the opportunist left wing in assuming the role of disabling, dehumanising caretaker or ‘politically accurate’ spokesperson. As if positive labels can create social equity… they can only create confusion and eventual resentment. Laws not labels, change lives.
Both the media and politicians just create more pitiful social distance while reinforcing stereotypical fears and assumptions, if they do not include the voices of the un-heard. Nonetheless, these undertakings work very well to sell papers or get easy votes.
Especially wherever this is in opposition to incorporating any meaningful dialogue with persons of colour into the ‘rules-based’ political and legal governance of society - ensuring people can heal and live together, and also co-operate in bettering themselves. To build real bridges between citizens.
From Today, enforceable legal protections of basic rights have to be wrenched out of this global upheaval that protects all persons and classes. To ensure that our societies in the West can be stronger and stable. What is required today is to ensure black rights are respected on an equitable basis as every one else, with fair legal penalties and consequences wherever they are not. Especially where access to basic rights and the opportunities are concerned.
This includes change in law enforcement practices, but equally so for the unfair prevention to fundamental economic, employment and education opportunities. NO more social and cultural exclusion.
As unfashionable as discussions on meaningful structural adjustments may seem for such basic reparations. What is paramount is not the eradication of personal bigotries or individual views, which are within peoples personal rights. It is to unravel institutional and organisational prejudices and culture, which are so thoroughly embedded and structurally internalised, through proactive legislative protections and penalties. These are the real policies and practices that affect peoples livelihoods and their mental health.
A hard, politically inconvenient and perhaps impossible introspection with the help of direct dialogue with affected people, along with positive social action has to be put in place to save society from itself. If not, the West falters and eventually falls on its greatest structural fault-line. Unable or unwilling as it is to address such basic issues, whoever they may affect. All due to subconscious cultural pride, vanity and conceited assumptions — some of which perpetrate grave, ignored social dangers and risks.
Because, whenever there is a global crisis — it is black and coloured lives that are somehow pushed out to the sharp end and at the forefront… of the front-lines. Its not asking much to ensure that the rights of these persons are taken seriously after events of global calamity subside.
Fundamentally, the idea that one people are greater or better than another is always flawed and dangerous. Even if it is a subconscious cultural perspective.
Peoples (in identifiable groupings) rise and fall with the ages throughout human history and civilisation (which may be much longer and richer than is currently assumed). The pyramid on the spire, opposite from where Dr. King implored the world to heal is symbolic of this fact. A permanently erased, bygone civilisation of black supremacy. The pyramid itself, representing a principal icon for human achievement and capability as attempt at permanence.
To be truly great, Today, it is time we see ourselves as one, and the same. We will need to be united to face whatever future crisis will challenge us next. As one.
What we should change are laws.