It's About Us

I have found myself involved in a number of conversations recently, in which it has been my express intention, to put forth the notion that "race" is a bogus concept. What I have concluded from my interactions with people, is mainly that we, as a nation, as a people, are not ready to embrace this concept. There are many different reasons why people are resistant to this idea, all of which are understandable. We derive satisfaction by taking pride in our various ancestral heritages. Our lives are enriched by participating in the unique cultural nuances that form the fabric of our communities. For those who have experienced the bitter frustrations of discrimination, segregation, and oppression; this type of constant social assault lends to a feeling of solidarity and strength among those subjected to it. So much so, that it becomes a badge of courage and honor, to be a member, or part, of the persecuted minority.

When I mention that there is a greater struggle that we all share, people do not want to hear this. In many cases, they indignantly conclude that it is my intention to subsume the issue of racism, sweep it under the rug, ignore it. They imagine that I am implying we ignore gender inequalities, pretending they don't exist. Whatever our primary focus, our personal battlefield; the -isms by which we are afflicted daily, we fear that by acknowledging a greater conflict, it will diminish the focus and intensity of our individualized struggles. In reality, it is simply asking that we all come together, and unify under the common banner of humanity, bringing with us our specialized & specific fights, and help one another to resolve all the issues, together, as a core group seeking to repair this class based system.

History contains no shortage of examples where opportunity existed, through which we could have set precedent to this notion. When Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton opened a dialogue discussing the merits of unifying the Abolitionist movement with Women's Suffrage, they had before them a chance to merge their efforts, but instead, both groups feared that in so doing, they would diminish the context of their own individualized causes. Fast forward a hundred years, and review Martin Luther King's Letter From Birmingham Jail. In it, he details that his greatest disappointment stemmed from the reality that in their most dire hour of need, the Civil Rights Movement received no help (save for a few individuals) from the "white" Christian or Catholic churches. These same institutions that claim to foster the edict of human brotherhood. 'Not our fight' was their reply.

How long will we continue to live this way? "Not my fight." Nothing could be further from the truth! It is everyone's fight. People feel that because they are not directly impacted by specific -isms, that they don't need to care. But here is the catch, we are all affected by all the -isms. We are social beings, we live in a structured system of community that functions like an organism, and we humans are the cells that form this animal we call society. To continue on with this analogy, imagine that you have just been diagnosed with cancer. What is the first thing that you do? The answer: everything you can do to get rid of it! During such time as the cancer is still growing within you, all other areas of your body are affected by this, having to compensate and work harder to make up for this damage, this disease. Only with us, it goes far beyond a single cancerous anomaly. I would liken it metaphorically to having A.I.D.S.. This society in which we, as Americans, currently reside, is suffering from systemic ideological breakdowns, similar in many ways to a body which no longer supports a healthy immune system.

It is our fight. The sooner we swallow our pride, and set our egos aside, the sooner we can begin to make a difference. Understand that all the -isms are equally relevant in that they form up the bones of a greater struggle that looms like a large umbrella, blanketing all our smaller battles with a shade born of confusion. This is what they want, it works in their favor that we are divided. The 1% that actually controls our world, countries, states, benefits by maintaining the status quo, and keeping things exactly the way that they are right this minute. If change were to occur, it would damage their business model, interrupt their ability to exploit this planet's resources, humanity included.

It's a class struggle people. I am not saying that one fight is more relevant than another, or that we should focus on just abolishing class status. What I am saying, is that we owe it to each other to be mindful of the greater whole, and by so doing, empower each other in such a way that we share our fights, and we unify our goals. It's not about you or me, it's about us.

Tags: Abolitionists, Civil Rights Movement, Class, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, -isms, Letter From Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Race, Status Quo, Suffragettes