06-03-2020, 07:45 AMjRuutu Wrote:

06-03-2020, 07:26 AMBaelor Swift Wrote: Honestly, probably. What else is there to do? At the end of the day, things can be replaced. Lives cannot.

I don´t know, pretty extreme to me to trash everything. Are they still going to protest when everything is on the ground? If they are, why go through the step of destroying everything?

Again, it is to be heard because peaceful protests ultimately never did anything at all. Yet even peaceful protests were demonized.

06-03-2020, 07:45 AMjRuutu Wrote:

06-03-2020, 07:26 AMBaelor Swift Wrote: The smartest people in the neighborhood are leading these protests and directing the protestors to use common sense by targeting police stations, government institutions, large corporations that are also very complicit in enforcing a system that preys on the poor, who are disproportionately people of color, telling people to stop when crossing a line, discouraging violence against human beings. But, yes, you are right that they want to cause chaos but that is not all the vast majority of the protesters want. I will say it again - they want to affect changes on an institutional level to create a society that affords all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. an equal opportunity.

Does not sound very smart to me, are those same community leaders responsible when things do get out of hand? You could say things have gotten out of hand already. Are they the ones who clean the streets and communities when its all over? Are they going to rebuild anything?

If the goverment/cities refuse to rebuild those destroyed parts, what are the the rioting/protesting people going to do?

Actually, many community members are voluntarily cleaning up the morning after riots and protests all over the country. So that is a start.

And we will see what happens. I don't think most people want to destroy things for nothing. I would imagine that people will rebuild their communities, especially if actual changes are made to address an inherently racist system.

06-03-2020, 07:45 AMjRuutu Wrote:

06-03-2020, 07:26 AMBaelor Swift Wrote: Of course not. But let's not forget that it is not the norm for the police to be killing/acting violent/overstepping the boundaries of so many people and it is so obvious that there is a huge need for accountability.

Does the race of the police officer matter? More than likely fair to assume that not all police officers are white? Can a black person be a racist towards another black person?

Not all police officers are white and, while I know it may be unpopular, I very much do believe black people can and do act in a prejudiced and even racist manner towards black people and hold racist beliefs against black people/people of color. When we live in a world where people of color have had to play by different rules for centuries, people begin to internalize these rules as the norm and begin viewing the world as if everyone has been on a level playing field. As a result, they believe that certain people are inferior because they do not achieve at the same level as others, without acknowledging/realizing/accepting that the deck is still so stacked against people of color in today's world. And this mentality is something everyone can believe and even act on, regardless of race. Mental slavery is real and yet another damaging effect of institutional racism.

06-03-2020, 07:45 AMjRuutu Wrote:

06-03-2020, 07:26 AMBaelor Swift Wrote: Civil disobedience is one of the best ways to get in touch with the government when peaceful protests fall on deaf ears.

Sure, no denying that, but burning stores and looting, is that really needed?

Obviously so. People have been protesting these issues for decades. Finally, white people and people in power have no choice to remain wilfully ignorant and pretend that people of color are not systematically discriminated against. And this inability to ignore this issue or act like it doesn't exist is a daily reality for people of color.

06-03-2020, 07:45 AMjRuutu Wrote:

06-03-2020, 07:26 AMBaelor Swift Wrote: You don't hear news on it, no. The media is naturally focused on negative stories. Black Lives Matter is actually a really tremendous organisation that is trying to do so much for underpriviledged people and communities but only gets publicity when they are protesting, unfortunately. If you are interested, I encourage you to browse their website at https://blacklivesmatter.com/ and take a look at the actions they are taking that include promotion of black leaders, artists, politicians as well as checking out the chapters across the United States that are engaging in community building.

Would still be nice to hear more about the ´other side´, in social media for example and not just pure negativity all the time. Black on black crime is a real issue as well. Thanks for the link!

Gang violence (which I assume is what you are alluding to when discussing black on black crime) is a real issue. However, much of it is a result of an environment created by a system that victimises black people constantly, a system that makes it extremely hard to escape where you come from. If you didn't know, zip code of birth (essentially the town/area of a city where you were born) is one of the best predictors of one's future education level and wealth. And it is because of a system that makes it so extremely difficult to escape poverty, leaving generations upon generations stuck in a cycle of poverty that many families have literally never escaped since their ancestors were stolen from Africa because they've never had a fair chance. It's an extremely complex issue we're talking about when it comes to gang violence that is 100% perpetuated by systemic racism.