My Thoughts
June 1st 2020
So many thoughts this morning… I woke up in the middle of the night last night to a friend’s text asking me to be safe and careful and though I’m beyond grateful for them I found myself wondering if I had been blind to imminent danger. Earlier the same day I was at a mall that predominantly serves the Hispanic community in Fort Worth and after I had mentioned that to a good friend that lives close to that area, I was cautioned to be careful due to recent activities in the area. Just the previous night (Saturday) I was casually having a cocktail with some friends that I hadn’t seen for some time. I was approached by someone who I would consider an acquaintance at best an asked what my “relatives” (referring to the protestors) were doing up the road because there has been some recent protest in our local area. “My Relatives, My Cousins, My People”. Really?! Because I’m Black, they’re with me! That’s my Team Right?!
If you know me personally, I try to remain measured, respectful, and understanding and many of my friends ask my opinion on various subjects both private and public. I generally don’t rely on or utilize social media as a good theatre for mature dialogue because people tend not to be measured, respectful, or understanding. However, in light of recent events, I feel I should share my thoughts. These are my thoughts! They may align with you, they may not but if nothing else consider them.
1. Empathy, Respect, Common Sense – For many years now I’ve said that the issues with the world and our nation is that people lack Empathy, Respect, and Common Sense. Respect should be the cornerstone of everything we do in this world and more often than not this idea is laughed at. We should demand respect from one another but most importantly we should respect ourselves and conduct ourselves accordingly. The definition of Empathy is “The ability to understand and share the feelings of another”. So many of us look at the world through our small, individual views and put up blinders when we see fit so as to not inconvenience ourselves. Just because something doesn’t happen to you or a movement doesn’t affect you does not mean it doesn’t exist or has validity. We all know what is right and what is wrong and that should be our focus. If you see injustice or simply something wrong and you know it’s wrong do whatever you can to make it right. Don’t wait until it affects you personally before you decide that there is a problem. My parents both use to say Common Sense isn’t common to all people. They were right. We all know what is right and there is no right way to do the wrong thing.
2. Mosh Pits, The Number 1 Rule – Before I became a Western Sports photographer, I photographed a LOT of concerts, and every opportunity I get to shoot a show now it takes me back to my roots. With that, I shot countless rock shows and at every rock show, there will be and forever be a mosh pit. And if you’ve ever taken part in the festivities of a mosh pit, a circle pit, a wall death, or even a little crowd surfing there is one rule. The rule is “If someone falls, pick them Up!!”… Now say it out loud! “IF SOMEONE FALLS, PICK THEM UP!!” Let’s pick each other up! Together!!
3. I’m not Racist but… - Let’s get this out the way because I’m sure we will all have future dialogue on countless racially charged subjects. If you start any sentence with the words “I’m not racist but… or I don’t have a racist bone in my body… or I’m not prejudice but… or I have no ill feelings towards anyone but.., etc” You are 9 times out of 10 about to say the most racist shit I’ve heard all day. Just be aware because I am aware. This doesn’t make you a racist it just means you haven’t come to terms with your racist thoughts. Also, when you’ve been drinking is more often than not the best time to try and verbalize your thoughts.
4. I’m not doing anything wrong but... – Many years ago, at least 5 years ago my brother and I would jokingly have these taglines we would say to each other. More often than not they were based on the social climate or something current. Well, one year the tagline was “I’m not doing anything wrong, but I am Black” and then we would laugh. We’d laugh because it was better than crying and Men don’t cry…Right? Maybe we were too concerned with what other people thought or maybe we were conditioned by society to always look over our shoulder. And I know that this breaks some people’s hearts but that feeling is REAL and IT EXIST… TODAY AND NOW! Like I said before, this “tagline” is easily 5 plus years old but it’s still current.
5. AFRICAN…AMERICAN – A little over a year ago I was sitting in an after-hours group get together and a young lady asked me in the middle of our conversations why I used the term African-American instead of American. She made a very valid point. Why did I say African-American and not just American? Why does the distinction even exist? After reflecting on the moment, I wished I took a little more time to put together my response but at the time I think I mentioned that it was what I was used to saying but I don’t disagree with the practice of simply referring to each other as Americans. However, with a little more thought there is one piece I wanted to add. As Americans, we are “equal” and I believe that is how it should be even if we are not all treated equally (hence current events). However, as Americans, we are not the same. This country was founded on immigration and our differences should be celebrated and not used to categorize our races. Yes, I am an American! I am also an African-American… a Black American and I am created equally. 2+3 and 3+2 equal the same but they are different.
6. Bad Apples, there can be none! – I have countless friends; many I would consider family that protect and serve our communities and nation as police officers and I’m Thankful for what they do each and every day and I love each one of them. As a Police Officer, you are and should be held to a higher standard. You have been entrusted with the lives of the people in your community to help them live each day as safely as possible. At this point, our nation knows who George Floyd is but if you don’t; George Floyd was an African-American man who was arrested on May 25, 2020, for the alleged usage of a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli in Powderhorn, which is a downtown neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Due to the improper techniques used by four local Minneapolis police officers to restrain Mr. Floyd, he died on the scene primarily due to being suffocated to death. If Mr. Floyd used a counterfeit bill at this deli then yes, he committed a crime. However, Mr. Floyd was murdered that day because last time I checked it was a police officer’s job to enforce the law. It is not their job to suffocate a man to death who is already restrained by 3 other officers. That punishment doesn’t fit the crime. I understand people can be strong and police officers must protect themselves while protecting the community but they are not the judges and they are not the executioners. THERE CAN BE NO BAD APPLES!!! THOSE TREES NEED TO BE REMOVED BY THE ROOTS.
7. Our community should not suffer – Our community should not and cannot suffer because of anger and division. I get it! I’m Furious! I watched a man die on replay on my phone and on national tv. That could be me! That could be you! We should protest because it’s our duty to hold elected officials and the people tasked to protect us accountable. We are angry! We are upset!! This is what happens when people turn a blind eye. When they don’t show empathy for someone else. I’m not asking you to pick up a sign and protest safely and fight for human rights!! I’m asking you simply to understand that it isn’t rainbows and sunshine for everyone. And sometimes you can’t just pull up your bootstraps. However, we cannot destroy the very things we are trying to protect. Protestors are not Looters. Looters will take in the heat of the moment but be the first ones to complain that they can’t shop somewhere a month later because either the establishment is closed or under repair. We should not put each other in danger trying to prove a point because when you lash out in anger the only thing people see is your actions, not your words or your intentions. Civil Wars are real, they do happen and we haven’t even recovered from the last one.
8. Ignorant and Ignant – The definition of ignorant is “lacking of knowledge or awareness in general” The definition of Ignant is “the choice to lack knowledge even when you know better”. Ignorance is a bigger issue that plagues this nation so if you want to be better, educate yourself. The definition of Nigger is “An Ignorant person” so don’t be one.
9. This Greatness Is Ugly – America can be Great! To be great you must be “considerably above normal or average”. Do you feel great today? Does this country feel great? Or is your hubris telling you we’ve never been better as people and as a nation? This isn’t politics, this isn’t the media, this is us. We can watch and access any information we want. We choose to watch the outlets and platforms that make us feel most justified and positive as citizens. The truth is we haven’t come to terms with our own ugliness. We as a people have not come to terms with our wrongs both past and present. We’re too caught up in it being us versus them, we versus they, this side versus that side. This isn’t a damn football game. People are walking out of their front doors and not coming home and that’s not great. That’s not good, not average, and it shouldn’t be normal. You deserve better, I deserve better, Humanity deserves better!