History progressively reflects the politics of political maelstroms
By Derek Joy
Ironically, the march occurred as my Miami Northwestern Class of 1965 was nearing graduation.
Consequently, that eventful day, so often called “Bloody Sunday” celebrated its 50th Anniversary as my class prepares for its 50th Re-Union in Orange County, Fla., in April.
Ah, yes. Bloody Sunday.
That fateful attempt to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, was met with wholesale violence perpetrated by white policemen with their clubs, dogs, tear gas, waterhoses and more.
Despicable acts, heinous crimes showing man’s inhumanity to man – women and children, too.
Sure gives reason to wonder just how any of those surviving perpetrators, their descendants and other family members think about what was done on that day, before and after that moment in history.
Black Americans simply sought the benefit of the equal rights, equality. The Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, along with U.S. Constitutional Amendments 13, 14 and 15.
Instead, they encountered hostility, violence that resulted in spilled blood and countless injuries. All before the watching eyes of the media – print and broadcast. Put the racist terrorists on blast.
But a point that many overlook is the terrible beating taken America’s religious values. Thoughtless cowards whose values call for slavery, second class status in America. That’s what they do.
And they do it under the guise of religion, especially in the name of Christianity. Of course, the resulting progress towards equality and created an even worse monster.
Granted. It was historic, monumental that President Barack Obama – America’s first Black American President – spoke at that location on the 59th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
But America is still bloody. People like George Zimmerman, the self proclaimed neighborhood watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. Reported to Sanford Police, pursued, encountered, fought with, then shot and killed an unarmed Trayvon Martin.
Got away with it behind the Stand Your Ground Law. He pursued, engaged, fought, shot killed Martin, who was only going home without confronting Zimmerman or anybody else.
True. Some police shootings can’t be avoided, particularly if a life or lives are in imminent danger. Others may be questionable. And there are those that are inexcusable.
Worse is just how it is summarily accepted for Black Americans to murder other Black Americans at an alarming rate. See, say and do nothing when mainstream America so conveniently allows this violent crime to perpetuate itself with impunity.
Even worse that Black Americans don’t have the moral values to begin to hold themselves along with our elected officials and the governments accountable for what happens.
