The Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott their playoff game versus the Orlando Magic on August 26th. We're not talking about practice. We're not talking about a game. We're talking about the playoffs. Playoffs? Yea, playoffs. This was done on the reaction to another police shooting. Many other teams including baseball, hockey, and womens basketball followed suit by not suiting up for games. Jacob Blake was shot in the town of Kenosha, WI which is about 40 miles south of Milwaukee. The Bucks decided to buck the trend and say buck this stuff that keeps happening to people around the nation. Why does this continue to happen? Malcom Gladwell has some theories in his book Talking to Strangers. (you should read it) His theory: the trend is a response to the training police officers that makes them divert from the norm of defaulting to truth. What happens when serve and protect is transformed into sever and suspect? Everyone is guilty and dangerous we just have to find out what makes them that. This state of mind provokes fear from both sides. Officers afraid of the suspects because they continually think that are dangerous and suspects afraid of officers who could shoot them at any given moment. When animals are afraid the response is usually predictable. (fight or flight) Is that a world we really want to live in? In a state constant fear? We do not and we hope you do not either. Fear is a constant these days. There are so many options. Viruses, Fires, Hurricanes, Police, and whether or not Jessica is going to wear that same dress you bought together to the dance tonight. (it doesnt get any scarier than showing up to a party with someone having a matching outfit) What is the end goal of the sports protest? (we think that everyone has a right to peacefully protest for the beliefs they have) Is the end goal to end racism right now? Unfortunately as much as most of us would like to see that happen... it is not realistic. The structural kind of change that is needed is one that has (to) come slow. (For those on the taking it side, it is always too slow.) It has to come from the people being oppressed by the system to get involved in it. We need more black teachers, police officers, and representatives. We need them to get into these positions with a clear conscience of making true change and not simply to get revenge or to even the score. They need to take the high road because clearly there are some people that love to drive down the low road.
The end goal of ending racism is lofty and most likely unattainable but it is something to shoot for. (please dont actually shoot) People are still people. They will still prejudge people on the way they look. If you have white sunglasses on people are going to assume you are a douche. That is their fault. If you open your mouth about how you just got jacked up on some roids, then brag about the 3rd girl you hooked up with this week, you are a douche and thats your fault. The point is that this stuff is going to take a while! Dont expect results right away. (although cops if you could go ahead and stop shooting people that dont need to be shot that would be great) Dont let slow progress stop the process. Stay grinding and keep dreaming that dream so that one day someone will wake up and take it for granted.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This was a quote directly from Donald Trump... Ok, its obviously actually from Martin Luther King Jr. How can you judge a person by the content of their character if you dont listen to what they have to say? How can you judge if you do not have empathy to their situation? How can you judge? The easy way to judge is on prejudice, bias, and preconceived notions that we know everyone based on what is on the outside. But if we did that there would be no dream speeches. We need to stop taking the easy way. On this day August 28th, 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. Dont give up on it.
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