Painting for Mother Emmanuel by Ty Poe
“They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.”
~ Jeremiah 6:14
I am deeply concerned at Hillary Clinton’s response to the events in Chicago. It is the height of ignorance and, yes, racism, to call for black forgiveness for continued violence against them. Until we as white people have acted vigorously to dismantle racism in America we have no right to call for people of color to continue to absorb its blows.
This is Clinton’s statement:
Many people of color are speaking out against Clinton’s statement, and I want to join my voice with theirs.
This response from Hillary is deeply problematic but also a symptom of white supremacy.
— Austin Channing (@austinchanning) March 12, 2016
And it’s favorite thing to consume is Black death surrounded by a negro spiritual and the promise of forgiveness
— Austin Channing (@austinchanning) March 12, 2016
Her narrative is deeply problematic: black victims forgave, people came together, the flag came down? Is that how we’re remembering now?
— Austin Channing (@austinchanning) March 12, 2016
I don’t remember black forgiveness magically lowering the flag. I remember @BreeNewsome climbing to take it down.
— Austin Channing (@austinchanning) March 12, 2016
Hillary Clinton’s statement is yet another example of white people being more concerned about the response to racism than racism itself.
— PantheR (@____PantheR) March 12, 2016
Racial justice is not achieved by suggesting that black people simply forgive those who exact violence against us. https://t.co/NUQiYoAxwD
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) March 12, 2016
I would like to repeat, fervently, what I wrote last June after the murders in Charleston. There is no justice in platitudes. There is no justice in crying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. Justice cannot be found in silencing the voices of the oppressed. It can only be found in truly hearing their voices, in calling out with them and for them, and in DOING THE WORK.
On the murders in Charleston
If you only have something nice to say,
Be quiet.
Now is not the time for niceties,
For crying, “Peace, peace”
When there is no peace.
If you have a voice
HOWL
If you have a soul
LAMENT
If you have a prayer, fine.
Say it softly to yourself.
But if you want God to hear you
SHOUT
If you want to pray for peace
WAIL
Rend your garments
Fall to the ground
And stay there until God answers you.
And then get up and do the work.
~ Jessica Kantrowitz
Ten Thousand Places 