Still Invisible?. Elvin J. Dowling

the necessity of rooting out racism at its core, if America is to ever deal with its "original sin" once and for all and truly become a more perfect union. "There is power in naming racism for what it is, in shining a bright light on it, brighter than any torch or flashlight. A thing as simple as naming it allows us to root it out of the darkness and hushed conversation where it likes to breed like roaches. It makes us acknowledge it. Confront it." (Pritscher 107). But before racism can be effectively confronted, it must be universally recognized for what it is.

      In his 1964 concurring opinion in Jacobellis v. Ohio, reversing the conviction of Nico Jacobellis, the manager of an Ohio movie theater, for his repeated screening of the movie "The Lovers" which the state had classified as obscene, US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart laid plain the reality of a "thing that speaks for itself," in writing: "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it..." (Jacobellis). For hundreds of years, the United States of America has demonstrated to her citizens of color that it operates on a system of racism and discrimination designed to keep minorities in a permanent state of disadvantage. As such, if there is one thing most Black people know when they see, like Justice Stewart was with obscenity, its racism; an odious disease of the spirit they can smell a mile away.

      In his article, "Trump Ain't New: America Has a Long History of Racist Presidents," author David Love of The Grio.com delineated the multiplicity of examples of American presidents that have exhibited racist behavior before, during or after holding office. George Washington, who owned more than 300 enslaved Africans at his death, approved of whipping them into submission and working them into old-age. Thomas Jefferson, our third president and author of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States regularly raped his subjects and then enslaved the children he forced them to carry to term. So, what Black Americans are experiencing now, in the current renaissance of white nationalism, is certainly nothing new. In fact, the history of America has demonstrated time and again that it is not unusual for the United States to elect political leaders to the highest offices in the land that are committed to upholding the vestiges of white supremacy and social privilege. "Andrew Jackson–Trump’s hero– was one of the worst American presidents, and also one of its most racist. He owned hundreds of slaves, and censored anti-slavery mailings from Northern abolitionists while president. Nicknamed “Indian killer,” he committed genocide against of Native Americans, including women and children. His Indian Removal Act removed 46,000 native people from their land, making 25 million acres available to white settlers and slaveowners, while 4,000 Cherokee people died during the “Trail of Tears” forced relocation to the West." (Love). As the conscience of the country, Black Americans are not shocked by the antics of the current occupant of the White House who wants to keep it just that way--a WHITE House. For them, its par for the course and business as usual.

      Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." For far too long, too many "good people" have remained silent while an overt assault on the human rights and basic dignities of all people in America are clearly being stripped away. And yet many say nothing. Absolutely nothing. Instead some choose moral equivocation when faced with a choice of "us vs. them," which pits otherwise peaceful neighbors against one another and is demonstrative of an unhealthy country. According to Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Anna Brown and Kiana Cox of the Pew Research Center, in their "Race in America 2019" Report, the public's 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