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There Is Nothing “Beautiful” About It
Although racism, sexism and other -isms are rampant on and offline, there is always a showcase of “beautiful” moments where people come together and it becomes hailed as transcendent. It becomes about what is possible when love is handed out instead of hate. Often the media aids in portraying these moments, particularly when white people are involved.
This sparks anger and frustration in those of us who see more than just the symbol or beacon of love but see perpetuation of white supremacist agendas due to the level of exposure these moments receive in comparison with moments where lack of forgiveness — and lack of a white recipient — exist.
Amber Guyger’s trial was about more than a white cop killing a Black man. It was about the lack of accountability for white people and lack of value placed on Black lives and, as such, many hoped to be proven wrong with this case. They hoped to see justice for a crime committed by a white female cop and to finally see this white supremacist, patriarchal system show that all lives, including Black lives, matter.
This case didn’t give us that. In the end, it was never going to because it’s about more than one instance of justice, which this case didn’t even achieve. It is about consistent actions that demonstrate the value of Black bodies — not a single half-assed attempt before we go back to…
