In case you haven't heard, let me catch you up...
Last night a man named Dylann Roof entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church [pictured above]. After sitting in on a prayer meeting for approximately an hour, he stood up and began shooting. He killed six women and three men, including the politically active pastor Reverend Clementa Pinckney. Survivors quote him saying "You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go," in response to pleas to cease fire. Today, he was found and taken into custody in Shelby, North Carolina.
Since 1816, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church has been the largest predominantly African American church in Charleston, SC. It has also been a headquarter for civil rights activities over the years. These facts alone make it crystal clear that Roof targeted this church last night.
It is time to stop hitting the snooze button and wake up...
I think a lot of us, myself included, go about our daily lives trying to ignore the issues that are going on around us. We don't ignore it because we don't care but because the reality can oftentimes be too much to bear or think about. However, when people aren't even safe in their sanctuary and place of worship that's when we have an issue. No this isn't the first time that a church has been attacked [ever heard of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing of 1963?]. But it is 2015. The United States is supposed to be the "Land of the Free" and equality and acceptance are supposed to have replaced racism. Things like this aren't supposed to be happening...
Dylann Roof is a monster for the heinous crime that he committed. But he is not solely responsible for his actions. Most of society has contributed to his belief that he articulated when he said "You rape our women and you're taking over this country." The stereotypes of African Americans are constantly being perpetuated in the media and in our everyday lives. Just turn on vH1 and you can see it 24/7 with shows like "Basketball Wives" or "Love and Hip Hop." Turn on the news and you'll see mugshots of African American men and women who have committed crimes. Turn on the radio and you'll hear popular artists singing and rapping about money, sex, and drugs.
These mainstream portrayals of African Americans in this country, aren't necessarily the majority.
For every positive thing you hear about an accomplishment of our people, there are a thousand negative things that come right after it. Where are the shows about the successful black students in college or in the professional world making six figures and up? Where are the people who want to uplift not only African Americans but all minorities in this country? They are out there and they aren't hiding. Their voices are just being drowned out by the masses.
I don't have a solution to the issue that is the mindsets of the American people. Hell, I don't think anyone does. But what I can say is that it's time for everyone to open their eyes and see things for what they really are. Everything is not rainbows and butterflies. We have to begin to advocate for justice and equality. We have to push past the stereotypes about us and be everything that we aren't supposed to be. If we do these things then maybe we can make Roof's belief that we're taking over this country come true. And that's not a bad thing.
Sending all of my thoughts and prayers to the loved ones of the victims,
The College Natural
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