“Johannes Mehserle, the BART police officer who shot Oscar Grant in the back while pinned to the ground, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter yesterday. The verdict has left many, in a community soured by experiences of police misconduct, feeling that justice was not fully served.” L.A. Activist Publication
While watching the news coverage of Officer Mehserle receiving a two-year sentence for the murder of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, I listened to the chants in the Oakland streets, “We are all Oscar Grant”. I found myself pondering several questions related to the anti-Obama hysteria reported in various publications:
“[Elements of anti-Obama opposition] include ultra-conservative Republicans of both the Pat Buchanan and free market variety; anti-tax Tea Party libertarians from the Ron Paul camp; Christian right activists intent on re-molding the country into their kind of Kingdom; birth certificate conspiracy theorists, anti-immigrant nativists of the armed Minuteman and the policy wonk variety; third party “constitutionalists”; and white nationalists of both the citizens councils and the Stormfront national socialist variety.— Bill Berkowitz, US: White Supremacists Crash Anti-Obama Tea Party, Inter Press Service, December 22, 2009”
Is the U.S. one of the most racist countries in the world? Did the 44th President of the United States martyr himself for the interest of the greater good? On November 4, 2008, was he aware of the possibility of his demise when he stated with such optimism:
“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer, young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled, Americans have sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of red states and blue states. “We have been and always will be the United States of America.”
Surely, he must have realized the implications of being the first black President of the United States. But did he understand the degree of racism and bigotry that still existed in the democratic republic of his birth? Did any of us?
“Threats against President Obama have increased by 400% since President George W. Bush left office, the highest numbers on record. What makes this situation particularly worrisome is that they come not only from fringe elements in society. Thinly disguised, they also originate from certain political leaders who seem intent on creating an atmosphere of violence and disrespect around the President and the presidency. Racism and racial discrimination have profoundly and lastingly marked and structured American society. The U.S. has made decisive progress. However, the historical, cultural and human depth of racism still permeates all dimensions of life in American society according to Cesar Chelala, a contributing editor to The Globalist.
One can only be disheartened to see the racist roots of American culture crawl above ground to overtly breed once again. The message of hate that reverberates throughout the media, congress, corporations and even churches has created stifling conditions. The underbelly of U.S. society has hardened, determined to swallow up the unified dream of millions of voters in 2008. Dwindling natural resources, the corporate takeover of national wealth, and the demographic changes of the American people has exacerbated fear. Decent citizens are paralyzed by the litany of negative actions from the extremist Right. White supremacist ideals are wrapped in palatable euphemisms that have historically stoked the fears and resentments of the dominant culture.
Historically we have survived this infectious disease called racism. Most of us find a way to avoid the ultimate cost; some hide or assimilate, some are helpless, while others stand up only for themselves. But then there are always the martyrs, Americans who offered themselves to the horrific implications of racism for the greater good. National martyrdom’ reminds us that we can only survive as one nation. This time, will these martyrs be enough to save ‘lady liberty’ from choking on her saliva?
On November 4, 2010 the newly elected Speaker of the House, tearfully stated before his constituents; “I have chased the American Dream all my life…” It was a sad moment. Imagine how difficult it was for John Bohener, for two years to endure the thought that the U.S. President was possibly a black-socialist-immigrant-Muslim. Surely, from Bohener’s point of view, he has suffered. see below “Bohener’s Tears” by Taaj
We have all suffered. We have lost our homes, jobs, retirement, civil rights, wealth, and health care. We have quietly watched a kind man extend the olive branch again and again with honor, respect, and dignity in hope of bipartisanship, only to be vilified by bigoted obstructionists. What are we to do? Unlike Bohener, we do not have the option of returning to the “good ole days”.
We can’t return to nation building through free labor, the destruction of indigenous nations, extreme discrimination, and full segregation. There are no benefits, for our descendants or to most of us, if public policy is based on greed and bigotry. We have no choice but to resist. Racism may be our most powerful institution and those who really benefit from its existence have no further need to stand “by the shores of Gitchee Gumee”, they now stand on the shores of countries where our jobs have been outsourced.
As I watched the black, brown and white faces of anger, anguish and disbelief over the sentencing of a police officer who took out his gun, shot a young man who was lying face down, frightened and defenseless; I knew Oscar Grant was still wandering this land, in search of common decency. As I watched the martyrs on the streets of Oakland cry for justice.
Each of us must find our “national martyrdom”; join, and do not lie down without a good fight!
By Taaj