Why Black People Are So Mad
Black people are furious. And rightfully so. We are angry, because for too long, we have been unlawfully murdered, strategically oppressed, and unjustly condemned by a system that calls us citizens. However, what is more bewildering than the centuries of murder, oppression, and condemnation of black people is the centuries of civility in this same group of murdered, oppressed, and condemned people.
After yet another death of a black man, George Floyd, by the hands of—scratch that…by the knee of—a white police officer, the black community has gone berserk. Or at least that is what people want you to think.
By no means do I condone loitering, vandalism, arson, and/or harming others, but allow me the time to tear down the false idea that the people of Minneapolis and the people of thirty other US cities are rioting. They are not rioting. They are protesting, and I have not an inkling of a doubt in that label. They are protesting. It is not peaceful protesting. But they are protesting. It is not nonviolent protesting. But they are protesting. And it most certainly is not how the government would prefer that they protest. But that does not change the fact that they are indeed protesting.
For those of you who disagree with me, I would love to know what you believe protesting to be. Every source that I have referenced defines protesting as a statement or action that expresses the disapproval or objection of something. Some sites like the Cambridge Dictionary use adjectives to describe the intensity of the disapproval, i.e. a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or opposition. Some sites like Collins Dictionary use adverbs to detail where the disapproval takes place, i.e. the act of saying or showing publicly that you do not approve of something. However, whether you condone the acts or not, what is taking place across the nation is in fact protesting. We have just been conditioned to think that it is not—largely due to a certain clause within the First Amendment (…“the right of the people peaceably to assemble”) and due to how the Civil Rights Movement has been taught to us.
Concerning the First Amendment, let me remind you that “having the right to do a certain thing” is not the equivalent of “being forced to do that certain thing.” American citizens have the right to peacefully assemble and petition, but that right is not Americans only option of disapproval. In the same way, the Fourteenth Amendment reads, “…nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This statement, too, is clearly seen as optional by American persons and organizations.
Then, concerning the teaching of the Civil Rights Movement, I would like to assert that the “civil” in Civil Rights comes from the Latin root “cīvīlis,” which means “relating to a citizen” and does not mean “being polite or respectable.” Somewhere down the line, when concerning Civil Rights, we Americans substituted the latter definition of civil for the former. So, what we teach now is the decency and morality of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. instead of teaching his rights as a citizen. We emphasize not that Africans American citizens were protesting for their rights but that they were protesting peacefully. And as result, a nationwide movement carried on the shoulders of a hurting people group is watered down to no more than a clever marketing strategy.
It is no wonder people are struggling to comprehend what is happening in Minneapolis. Our history has conditioned us to think that “nice black people” are “good black people.” And that “mad black people” are “bad black people.” We’ve been conditioned to think that dark skin plus anger equals danger (Dark + anger = Danger). What a tragedy. We see angry African Americans and instead of trying to understand why they are angry, we flee and save ourselves—condemning them as we escape. And if you don’t believe me, then tell me, “What are your thoughts on the Boston Tea Party? You remember it, right? From elementary school social studies. You know the story that you thought was so fascinating! The one about men who dressed up and went out in the dark of the night to ransack and vandalize the property of their governing power. You know, the story about the grand act of defiance by a people who were angry and frustrated that their voice was going completely unheard. The one about a people who demonstrated to their ruling authority that they wouldn’t just sit back and take oppression and injustice without a fight. Surely you know the story. Of course, you do. And by what name did we learn this historical event? A protest! And have you ever questioned the validity of this title? I doubt it. So, if you can empathize with US colonists who lived almost two centuries ago, why can’t you empathize with your fellow countrymen who live alongside you?
Maybe we should call what is taking place across the nation “Tea Parties.” The Minneapolis Tea Party. The Atlanta Tea Party. The Denver Tea Party. Maybe that would kindle compassion in our white brothers and sisters. Maybe the protestors should chant “no taxation without representation.” Maybe then people would see that the same acts that are being condemned across the nation have not only been justified but have been glorified by our national history. But that’s not the worst part. No, the worst part is that the Boston Tea Party took place because Great Britain was uncaringly taking people’s money. Meanwhile, the “Minneapolis Tea Party” is taking place because police are uncaringly taking people’s lives. How dare anyone who hasn’t felt the pain of having a loved one unjustly killed by the police—the very establishment created to protect them—tell these people how they should and should not protest. How dare anyone who hasn’t felt the fear of wondering if their loved one will be next on the ever-expanding list of black deaths tell these people that what they’re doing is wrong.
Again, I say, by no means do I condone loitering, vandalism, arson, and/or harming others, but the people of Minneapolis and the people in over thirty US cities are absolutely protesting. Even more so, they are grieving. And society seems to be more focused on the “violence” of the protesters than on what could motivate so many people to turn to violence. The government sees violence by a dangerous group of people. I see resilience in a hurting, voiceless group of people. The government sees riots caused by the killing of George Floyd. I see acts of defiance caused by 401 years of a nation’s indifference to a people group. The government sees fire and smoke. I see blazing red-orange banners that read “Will you listen to us now?” billowing in the night. Tell me, what do you see?
Now, I am certain that my words have upset several of my Christian brothers and sisters. I am sure they will question my theology. I’m sure they will say, “How can you say that what they are doing is okay? How can you say that destroying property, setting buildings on fire, killing innocent people, and terrorizing communities are all okay? Jesus would never stand for these things.” And to my faith family, I say three things:
First, I am not saying that what these protestors are doing is okay, nor am I saying that what they are doing is “good.” What I am saying is that these violent protests are understandable. I understand why they have turned to violence and arson. I do not believe what they are doing is “good.” But I understand that what they are doing is quite effective. (To learn more about the difference between “effective” and “good,” read my last blog “Leadership Principles for Kids: What is does it mean to be a good leader?”)
My second point is that there are very few human behaviors—done by men and women—that were not first learned. Crying. Breathing. Blinking. Suckling. Sleeping. These behaviors are instinctual, taking place in us before we even have the capacity to know what we are doing. On the other hand, there are very many behaviors that men and women do that had to be learned before they could be performed. Destroying property, setting buildings on fire, killing people, and terrorizing communities are just four of the many behaviors that were taught to black men and women. And they were not only taught. They were modeled—shown to us via personalized demonstrations—again and again by white people. White people bombed black churches. White people set fires to crosses and black businesses. White people lynched innocent black people. White people terrorized black communities. And why? They did it to protest—to emphatically disapprove of—the advancement and the success of black people. So, you can say all day that these protests aren’t what Jesus would do, but the people who make these types of statements more than likely ONLY make these types of statements. They never act on these words. Their answer to death and sorrow and poverty is “What would Jesus do?” And it was this kind of phrase and mindset that allowed the Ku Klux Klan to run rampant. It was this type of phrase and mindset that stood passively by during lynchings. So, it will be this type of mindset that will once again do nothing to bring about peace to this broken land.
My third point follows my second. To Christian folks who are concerned about “what Jesus would do,” let me tell you what Jesus would do—what he would actually do. Not how he would feel about the protestors from a distance. Not what he would think about the violence and the destruction. But what he would DO. If Jesus’ three-year ministry had taken place during these dark times, he would have first and foremost gone from one person of color to the next and showed them compassion. How it looked would be different for each person, but those people would undeniably feel the pure, unadulterated love of the Father. And after that, he would have invited them to dinner—to eat with them and to listen to their story. He would have given space for their pain. He would have looked deep into their tired and solemn eyes—sitting through the tears, through the agony, through the fear—and he would have just listened. Then, once the last tears were shed, once the last words were said, he would have made the statement, “I do not condemn thee. Go and sin no more.” In spite of the stealing, the vandalism, the hatred, he would have loved them and then shown them a better way. And here’s the best part. At the end of his three-year ministry, Jesus would have loved them so much that he would have died for them—sacrificing his life and resurrecting from the grave—so that they (and the rest of humanity) could live a life of abundance.
The bad news: Jesus already walked the Earth. He already died and already rose from the dead. He isn’t coming back in flesh again to do any of the stuff I just stated.
The good news: Jesus lives inside of us (if we choose for him to), and therefore, we have the opportunity to tap into his level of compassion and his level of power. We can love like him. We can listen like him. We can sacrifice like him. If we choose.
Now the question is are you willing to love people when people have labeled them as “sinners?” Are you willing to listen to people when religious hypocrites have written them off? Are you willing to sacrifice your comforts and privileges to bring restoration to a nation—a restoration that cannot and will not occur without you?
Jesus states in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Christians, on today, let us stop giving the thief all of our attention. Let’s set our eyes on the things of Christ. And if we—African American, African, Caucasian, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous peoples—are the body of Christ, then no part of the body can experience abundant life until all parts of the body are liberated from an oppressed life. For black people in the United States, abundant life will not begin until our white brothers and sisters stand beside us, mourn with us, and speak against any and all who come against us. If God wasn’t concerned about physical and spiritual liberation, then he would have left the Israelites as Egyptian slaves and wouldn’t have let the waters of the Red Sea drown Pharaoh and his army.
This is why black people are mad. We have been killed, tormented, and deceived for too long. Too many times, we have experienced a person or an entity who claims to have our best interests in mind only to later find out that they are either inimical or indifferent to our advancement as a people. And in the event that we do find someone who displays compassion for our situation, we discover that even that person or entity—despite good intentions—is inconsistent.
Which are you?
a. Inimical – opposing or adverse in tendency or effect [regarding black advancement], e.g. a person who indirectly or directly perpetuates racism, stereotypes, or discrimination
b. Indifferent – having no interest or concern [regarding black advancement], e.g. a person who doesn’t concern themselves with the liberation or the oppression of black people
c. Inconsistent – acting at variance with professed principles [regarding black advancement], e.g. a person who mourns with the black community and who stands with the black community but only during convenient or extreme times
I bet you wish there was another option. I did, too. But the harsh reality is that the incredibly large majority of America falls into one of these three categories. I can be transparent and say that I have been inconsistent. Yes, even I—a black man—can admit that some days, I have the luxury of forgetting the struggle of my people. If I can, anyone can.
But there is hope. I told you that there were only three categories. However, there is a fourth that exists separately from the other three. You see, I believe that we as humans are called to live above the norm. That means we are called to live above our default. For example, if you and I were both drowning, our default would be to survive, and unfortunately, if it leads to my survival, I might out of desperation push your head under the water so that my head could stay above. This is living in our default mode. This is survival. This is what the true Christian faith challenges. If we were both drowning, my prayer is that the compassion in me would empower me to lift you up above the water, knowing that the added weight would force me under. This is living above our default.
Inimical, Indifferent, and Inconsistent are all defaults. Based on your upbringing and your current situation, you will settle into one of these three categories when concerning the black struggle. And this essay was written to call you out. I am not just calling those who are inconsistent but those who are inimical or indifferent as well. Today, I challenge you and me both to live above our default and to elevate to the higher mindset of being “Involved.”
Join in with those who are protesting. You can do so peacefully. In fact, I encourage you to do so peacefully. Remember to protest simply means “to disapprove of.” The reason some black people have turned to violence is because they feel that they have no voice with which to speak disapproval. Now, they let the shattered windows and crackling fires speak for them. They feel voiceless. But do you? If not, then I plead you to protest. Protest the hateful comments on your news feeds. Protest your friends and family who defend an unjust government system. Protest yourself when you find yourself slipping back into your default mode. No matter how you do it, protest. And then after you protest, show a black person love, invite them to eat with you and your family, and listen to their story. The story you hear will either move you to action—to sacrifice—or it won’t. And it’s okay if it doesn’t. But then find someone else. Love on them. Let them invite you to dinner, and again, listen to their story.
If the entire nation did this, hearts would be stirred. Minds would be renewed. People—in positions of power—will have no choice but to seek and maintain justice in all situations. The people who have turned to arson and violence will know that they have been heard. And black people will be able to smile once again.
Much love and thanks for reading,
Justis Ward
