Ending Racism Will Take More Than Just Conversations
Action is Absolutely Required
[This piece was written as an op-ed on June 9, 2020, before joining Medium and before knowing that Colin Kaepernick joined the Medium Board. The information about Colin Kaepernick was taken from the internet. To “take a knee” in American football is done for various reasons including for the quarterback to stop the play or it can be to show respect when a player is injured. Colin Kaepernick used it as a way to symbolize injustice. It is not meant to show disrespect.]
In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic, the world has been in turmoil. Racism is on the minds of nearly everyone. It is hoped that something good will come of the attention being brought to important issues of racism. Conversations must be held, but ending racism will take much more than just talking. Meaningful action will absolutely be required.
Since my name is Floyd and my birthday is May 30, this year was a memorable birthday as my name was being repeated all day and night on the television. It was referring to George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis. The news was reporting on protests being held throughout the country against the unjust treatment of George Floyd.
Some demonstrations against racism on that day had turned violent with rioting and looting resulting from what had started out as peaceful protests. As an American of Japanese heritage, I have experienced my share of racism but not to the extent that many African Americans face on a regular basis.
George Floyd is being remembered as one whose life was lost through the brutality of the police against Black men. He was not a hero in the normal sense of the word, but people will remember his name for a long time. Unfortunately, there have been many other Black people who have also experienced a similar fate.
Colin Kaepernick was born to a White mother and a Black father. He was adopted by a White family. As a quarterback in the NFL, he tried to bring attention to the issue of police brutality and racial inequality against Black men. He would kneel during the National Anthem at his pro football games to draw attention to the plight of Black people and to protest against racism. Some other players joined him as he used his platform with the public watching to protest the unjust treatment that Black men regularly received at the hands of the police. It was done for the sake of others.
Instead of the movement gaining traction, Kaepernick was criticized and accused of disrespecting the American flag and the military although that was not the case. Vocal and harsh criticism came from the top leaders of this nation and was effective in causing Kaepernick to lose his job. It took a lot of courage to do what he did, and he paid for it.
Perhaps if people had listened to Kaepernick in 2016, there could have been reform against racism and police brutality of Black men. If changes had been enacted then, a lot of hardship and killings could have been avoided including possibly that of George Floyd in 2020. The NFL recently changed their stance in supporting what Colin Kaepernick had tried to do. This came after pressure from other Black athletes.
Hatred is the major part of racism. At the start of World War II, Japanese Americans and immigrants from Japan were immediately seen as the enemy. Because of hatred, the government removed 120,000 people of Japanese heritage on the West Coast from their homes and incarcerated them in camps. This was a result of racism against people who looked different than the mainstream population.
No one came to the aid of the Japanese Americans except Quakers and a few others who tried to support them to no avail. After the war ended and largely due to the patriotism and sacrifices of the young Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. military, mostly in the segregated 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion, Japanese Americans were eventually able to gain some acceptance and respect as American citizens. Racism had caused much pain and suffering to them.
African Americans have endured racism and discrimination for far too long. Some Black families have experienced racism for generations and have not been able to overcome it. Many African Americans have been able to rise above racism, hardship, poverty, and discrimination to become top leaders in government, law, medicine, education, sports, acting, music, commerce, and all fields of endeavor. Yet racism still continues to hold many back, especially if they are treated unfairly by the police and others in places of authority.
It is safe to assume that there may always be hateful, ignorant, and intolerant people in the world. There are those who feel they are superior to others. It will be difficult to eradicate hate and racism, but it should be possible to make the world better if enough good people are willing to do their part to improve race relations. It is gratifying to see so many White people, other ethnicities, and especially young people joining Black people in the peaceful protests to fight against racism.
Vandalism, looting, destruction of property, violence, and harm to people should never be part of the equation. Those actions hurt too many innocent people. Conversations, negotiations, and peaceful protests can help to bring about change, but change will take action on the part of many leaders and ordinary citizens alike.
Meaningful conversations at all levels of government and with the general public along with individual families are necessary, but talking alone will not end racism. Leaders should be more willing to make changes needed to improve race relations. Parents and educators need to teach children that racism is not acceptable. There has to be a change of attitude and love expressed in the fight against racism. Tolerance needs to be a bigger part of everyday living. Accepting others who are different is key.
Fighting racism will take compassion, understanding, acceptance, kindness, caring, consideration, empathy, and more love. People have to be willing to help each other. People who are bullied or called names with racial slurs hurled at them should be defended by others, whether friends or passers-by. Those who have “made it” can give back. People who profess NOT to be racists must not act like racists. Ending racism will take positive action by the masses.
The state of race relations in the United States is at a critical juncture. There is too much divisiveness and hate. Conditions can and must improve. We can all do our part and make a difference whether it is by speaking out, protesting peacefully, meeting with people, donating to worthy causes, educating others, voting for good leaders, or simply being more kind and accepting of everyone. Lending support to one person would be a start. We may not be able to make a huge difference, but we can do something.
Racism is a dangerous disease which must be curbed and contained in order to have more equity and justice in this life. We need to get involved in trying to end racism.
