Still Invisible?. Elvin J. Dowling

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СКАЧАТЬ view on race relations has worsened and most people blame Donald Trump. In a nationally representative online survey of 6,637 people, 18-years and older, conducted in English and Spanish, the researchers discovered an alarming rise in racial anxiety all throughout the country. According to their report, nearly seven-in-ten citizens believe that race relations are not only bad, but are prone to get worse. "Most Americans (65%) – including majorities across racial and ethnic groups – say it has become more common for people to express racist or racially insensitive views since Trump was elected president. A smaller but substantial share (45%) say this has become more acceptable." (Horowitz, et. al. 6). And, in spite of all this, Black people are still expected to keep their mouths shut, for fear of being labeled "angry" or, much worse, a "thug", rendering many of these men as voiceless as the "Invisible Man" was three generations ago. And white people are also expected to keep their mouths shut, for fear of being labeled "out of touch" or, much worse, "racist", effectively killing any opportunity for meaningful dialogue. And nothing ever changes.

      In his blog post, "According to White People, Talking About Racism Makes You Racist," author Gee Lowery of Onyx Truth, made a curious observation about the "freedom to speak" prohibitions placed upon Black people when it comes to talking openly about their daily experiences, even in the age of Trump. Lowery noted, "The new approach white society is attempting to use to deflect from Black people talking about systemic racism (the only form of racism most Black people are actually talking about) is to label Black people racist for SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT RACISM. That’s it. If you are Black and you start talking about racism, white people will try to label you as racist for talking about racism. Seriously. I’m not making this shit up", he observed. Provocative? Yes. Correct? Debatable. It depends upon the perspective. What is not up for debate, however, is the fact that even though Lowery's broad generalizations can't speak to the totality of an entire group's beliefs and/or opinions, his views do represent a broadly held opinion, particularly amongst people of color, that they should simply be silent in the face of incredible injustice. America, "love it or leave it," they say. Even to those who have earned the right to be here.

      What Can We Do?

      Martin Luther King, Jr., once prophetically declared: "In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Today, in the age of extreme racism, with vicious screeds of "go back to where you come from" emanating even from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, open discrimination and bold faced bigotry, the time has come for men, women and children of goodwill to stand up, speak out and be heard. Arm yourselves with the truth and give yourselves permission to empathize with the black male experience.

      When you consider the debt that is owed by you, and can never be repaid, as you begin this journey of enlightenment and understanding, it is important to remember that what makes the "promise of America" an idea whose time has come, is that each of her citizens are "endowed with certain inalienable rights" that must never--ever--be abridged! So until the tenet of total inclusion is realized by all Americans, the fight for freedom will continue.

      If America is ever to be "America" again, the time has come for those who love this land to pause, if only but for a moment, to acknowledge the extraordinary challenges that come along with being born a Black male in this country. Along with that blessing comes the burden of constantly being on the run from vigilantes who have questions and authorities who demand answers for doing what others do: going about your everyday existence. Nonetheless, you must run the race that is set before you, while never giving up on the promise of a brighter future.

      Famed Abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, once said: “If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” There are many reasons, as a Black male in today's America, for them to simply give up and quit on themselves. And there are plenty of reasons for everybody else to give up on Black males. But life in America would not be the same without the demonstrable contributions of African-American males. And America must never forget it.

       So, it is in this vain, with the hope of reigniting a dialogue that can no longer be ignored, I ask you to consider one critical question...

      

      Works Cited

      1 Shmoop Editorial Team. "Invisible Man Power Quotes Page 1." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 25 Jul. 2019.

      2 Hughes, Langston. Let America Be America Again and Other Poems.1st Vintage Books ed. New York: Vintage Books, 2004.

      3 Gramlich, John. “The Gap Between The Number of Blacks and Whites In Prison Is Shrinking.” Pew Research Center: Fact Tank: News In the Numbers, 2019, https://perma.cc/FUP7-KWUD. Accessed 26 July 2019.

      4 Prescott, Orville. "Books of the Times." The New York Times, April 16, 1952. https://perma.cc/RY2U-DB2X. Accessed 26 July 2019.

      5 Rich, Nathaniel. “American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60.” The Daily Beast. June 28, 2012: The Daily Beast. Web. 26 November 2014. https://perma.cc/LN2B-E6V4

      6 Rosenthal, Andrew. Editorial Page Editor. “Forcing Black Men From Society.” The New York Times. June 25, 2015. https://perma.cc/XQ5N-J58E

      7 Pritscher, Conrad P.,Skin Color: The Shame of Silence. Brill Publishers. Rotterdam, 2014, p. 107. Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378U.S.184(1964).

      8 Love, David. “Trump Ain't New: America Has A Long History of Racist Presidents.” The Grio. 15 January 2018. https://perma.cc/ECT9-ACE9. Accessed 27 July 2019.

      9 Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Juiana. “Race in America 2019.” Pew Research Center, 2019, p. 6. https://perma.cc/EJD9-VCJK, Accessed 25 July 2019.

      10 Lowery, Gee. “According to White People, Talking About Racism Makes You Racist.” Web blog post. Onyx Truth. Society, 29 March 2016. https://perma.cc/5R4R-4VHY. Accessed 20 April 2016.

      Chapter 1: Born With A Birthmark?

      Blackballing Boys as Babies

      They're my birthmark," I said. 'I yam what I am!'"

      - Ralph Ellison, “Invisible Man" (Shmoop Editorial Team, 13.33)

       (A racist cartoon depiction from 1876, drawn by A.B. СКАЧАТЬ