There was a shooting last night not too far from my neighborhood. Three kids and one 18-year-old got shot, the 18-year-old fatally. Police are still working the case and haven’t released many details but they did let the neighbors know it wasn’t a random shooting and that the shooting had nothing to do with the neighborhood. The fact is, this could have happened anywhere. I followed the story as it unfolded on the local media websites, trying to assure folks that my area of town isn’t a bad one. Later this afternoon police arrested a suspect: a 24-year-old man, apparently Hispanic.
Because the shooting happened in East Raleigh, some forum commenters somehow assumed the victims and suspect were black. Out came the ridiculous comments deriding African Americans. Then when the suspect was Hispanic, even more heated comments appeared leaping to the conclusion the suspect was an illegal immigrant. Some went so far to say that if he’s illegal he should just be lynched!
At first I thought I could engage these folks in a civil discourse but it didn’t take too long to convince me that this would be a waste of time. Still, I was taken aback by how virulently racist some people are.
I’ve heard some black people say that in the past it used to be easier, when folks didn’t try to hide their racism. At least you knew where you stood, they said. I remember Klan rallies once were held in downtown Raleigh. Fortunately, I haven’t heard of those lately but it doesn’t necessarily mean folks have become enlightened. Many have just taken their racism underground. Now you might not know you’re being discriminated against. It’s still discrimination, only now it’s more subtle.
As the chair of the East Citizens Advisory Council, I lead a very diverse group of neighbors during monthly meetings. All socioeconomic backgrounds are represented. In fact, I consider it to be the most diverse neighborhood in Raleigh. Folks treat each other as neighbors, too, sitting side-by-side. When a city survey asked what I thought was the East CAC’s strongest attribute, I listed its diversity. Everyone looks out for each other, which is how it should be. As the rap group Public Enemy, playing at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh this weekend, said “at the end of the day, we are all God’s children.”
How I wish that everyone saw it that way. Some don’t, though. Some (both black and white) draw their strength from dividing us. They try to condition us to think it’s us-versus-them when in reality we’re all in this together. Some are looking for someone else to blame, and that’s wrong.
I have little patience for those who wish to divide us.