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John -- My heart is heavy today. Black America is already being suffocated: COVID-19 is ravaging black communities in disproportionate numbers. Our small businesses are struggling and being shut out from critical relief funding that is instead going to wealthy corporations. Yet, a third pandemic has once again reared its ugly head to plague our communities -- as another cluster of black Americans were openly murdered by police officers. The pandemic of police brutality. In February, Ahmaud Arbery was shot to death by white vigilantes in Brunswick, Georgia. In March, Breonna Taylor was gunned down -- in her own home -- in Louisville, Kentucky by white police officers. Just last week, a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled for 8 tortuous minutes on the neck of an unarmed black man -- George Floyd -- cutting off his air and snuffing out his life. The suffocation of Black America is ingrained deeply in our nation’s history. Before we can expect real change, we must first recognize that the legacy of slavery, the affliction of racism and white supremacy, and the privilege that whites enjoy as a result, negatively affects the lives of Black people who live in America. Racism is alive and well in 2020, and has yet to be rooted out. And until that happens, Black lives like Breonna Taylor’s, George Floyd’s, Ahmaud Arbery’s, Christian Cooper’s and many more will be vulnerable to gratuitous violence. For 400 years, this country has had its knee on the neck of black communities. It is long past time we remove it -- and it will take a collective effort to do so. Toleration alone is inadequate in order to turn the tides of injustice. Inclusion, individual-by-individual, is what our goal must be. We each have a personal responsibility to actively fight for the inclusion of Black people in this nation that has not yet been fully realized. That’s why I’m calling on you, John, to take a pledge to accept this responsibility and take meaningful action in your own life. We owe it to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and every other black life that has been tragically cut short to take a stand. Will you take my pledge to commit to take personal responsibility for fighting for inclusion?
The American dream shouldn’t be a nightmare for any of her people. Thank you for joining me in taking meaningful action to put an end to these needless traumas and tragedies. In solidarity, -- Hank |
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