Since the days that Blacks were involved in the slave system, they have been the recipients of organized violence in this country. When slavery was declared illegal in the 19th century, US laws have often been changed or have been manipulated in order to exclude Blacks from financial success, individual freedom, and public participation in our society. As Reverend Harriet Walden, who works on Black on Black violence in Seattle, WA, has said “We cannot talk about this without talking about white supremacy and racism.” From Jim Crow, to redlining, to racial profiling, these barriers have been effective in frustrating Black people’s legal efforts to support themselves and their families. And when people are unable to participate in a legitimate economy, they have at times turned to illegal economies. And those environments support and encourage violence. Since we have not yet achieved a period of true equal opportunity in this country, we are steering some people into illegal activity and lives with more violence.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Saturday, August 28th 2010 at 1:59PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
