The Contrary view of a Current Ideology
Today the mantra that is permeating our media and consciousness is the devastation of Systemic Racism. Systemic oppression, White supremacy, Structural Racism, Mass Incarceration.....
Contrary to the current appraisal, the historical and spiritual evolution of our America and other Western societies reveals that we are definitely on a very different journey. A journey towards ever increasing Human Rights, Planet Rights, Animal Rights ... you name it. The glorification of Rights has replaced Responsibilities as the predominant societal virtue.
In America, there has long existed an under appreciated spirit of charity and benevolence. The historical persistence and triumph of this courageous charity and kindness is an integral part of our culture. It has produced systemic benevolence and defeated racial supremacy. Moral human supremacy prevails. Human supremacy places our common humanity above tribe and race. Most Americans are not aware of the centuries of struggle in which people of good will of all races stood up to prejudice and hatred. The contemporary simplistic view is of a binary perspective:
Oppressors vs the Oppressed.
Yet Americas imperfect founding paradoxically was a phenomenon of perfection. It perfectly set in motion the beginning of the death of oppression and suffering as the norm of human existence.
The Question is Why and How was this era of Oppression defeated?
Here is a partial list of new Americans that were persecuted and mistreated for generations after their arrival .. groups who fought the good fight of perseverance and endurance… who eventually rose to prosperity thru tremendous personal initiative, legislative reform and support by many people of good will:
Irish
Jews
Italians
Chinese
Japanese
Mexicans
Puerto Ricans
Africans by bondage and thereafter
When groups have long suffered… When ALL OUR ANCESTORS paid unjust dues… it not only produces SHARED BONDS OF OVERCOMING but a heightened sense of the precious [Bonds] value of our shared achievements.
There is enough persecution and generational pain to go around. My community, African American, has no monopoly of being mistreated. But somehow America changed and departed from this dismal behavior.
The following groups were persecuted, mistreated and murdered by their common countrymen abroad [partial list]
The fear and hatred of the “other” has plagued EVERY NATION.
Chinese in Malaysia, Vietnam, South America etc
Jews persecuted in every location they lived in Europe,
Indians in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda
African Ibos in their home of Nigeria, by fellow Nigerians
Tutsi and moderate Hutus by their fellow countrymen, the majority Hutus
On the side of good here is a partial list of movements towards progress:
Abolitionist movements agitated for the end of slavery, supported escaped slaves and sought legal justice from the late 1700s onward.
After the Civil war thousands of young Northern white women [mostly from the American Missionary Association] tempted fate and destiny and moved to the south as teachers. It was illegal to educated blacks. Many of these teachers were assaulted and worse for showing compassion for newly freed blacks.[Wiki link]
In 1871-72 President Grant destroyed the KKK with 3,384 indictments nad 1,143 convictions. This was preceded by him obtaining the passage of the Ku Klux Klan Act. This act gave the federal government power to suspend habeas corpus, declare martial law, and send federal troops to the South. State governments were not protecting its black citizens. They and white southern republicans were being murdered. Now the Federal government could prosecute cases when the State failed to act. Grant also in continuing his fair and even handed treatment of blacks as equals during the civil war, integrated the civil service with hundreds of black appointments. All Unprecedented, correct and courageous actions. Our SYSTEM acted in a benevolent fashion.
Blacks joined with Julius Rosenwald, to finance the construction of thousands of grade schools for blacks in the south. In the half-century following the Civil War, northern sources contributed an estimated $57 million to Negro education, and blacks themselves contributed an additional $24 million. The resultant achievement of literacy was historic. Our SYSTEM acted in a benevolent fashion.
A search of the US Code of laws reveals thousands of laws that systemically legitimize the concepts of racial Justice, Opportunity and Civil rights [Laws]
The goals of the Civil Rights movement were embraced nationally and Jim Crow was defeated. A culture of white southern superiority was destroyed. Today in the south and nationally, scores of blacks hold positions of significant authority, leadership and independence. CEOs, Mayors, Chief of Police, Commissioners, Congress/Senate seats, etc.. These realities could not exist in a country infected with Systemic racism and White Supremacy. In the south the races work together for the common good. That’s a major development. Our SYSTEM acted in a benevolent fashion.
The supremacy of the moral and benevolent human spirit has existed and prevailed over the sins of the last three centuries. Preserving the union and ending slavery was a package deal. About 6 slaves were freed for every union soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. These soldiers are the greatest of American hero’s. Without their courage and benevolence there would be no United States of America and the suffering of black slaves would have dragged on for possibly generations.
There were plenty of forces on the side of evil that perpetuated myths and imposed brutal systemic racism and supremacy in the south. Even in the face of a multitude of federal laws and 3 constitutional amendments. Less than a short 100 years ago, southern blacks lived in fear of the klan. These tribal and backward ideas also existed nationally. But the 20th century was triumphant in finally imposing the good and the just upon the entrenched southern ideology….and the entire nation for that matter. There were people of the south who chose the moral path. Our SYSTEM acted in a benevolent fashion.
The cause of justice, human rights….the ideal of endowment of unalienable rights… all have been riding on an arc of steady progress. That’s because there has always been a critical mass of Americans committed to the good. They have fought and won the battle of good versus the evil in our midst. The war for what is right will never end. The battleground is now on a new front. The new/new Jim Crow [Janari]is the code of silence and fear existing in gang controlled, gun violence infested vulnerable black communities throughout our country. Good people and children in these communities deserve protection, safety, security and freedom from fear. [Janari1]
In our shared America, Systemic benevolence and Human supremacy is alive and well. It is triumphant and will remain vigilant. There is no turning back to the darker days of the past. Racial supremacy is dead. The “System” is on the side of Human Rights, Civil Rights and the “Good”.
Racial disparities have existed in every nation thruout human history. They are not proof of the leading group oppressing the lagging group. Does Black Supremacy account for blacks systemically dominating the NBA or NFL? Has Systemic Racism prevented blacks from rising based on their talent and skills to positions of leadership of Global Corporations [Merck, AMEX], US Legislators, US President, Mayors, Police Commisioners/Chiefs, etc..
The evidence on the ground, in the boardrooms and on the workforce prove that the days of stoking the fires of racial competition, resentments and power struggles can quickly die a quiet death.
We have all inherited a proven effective triumphant blessing. All our ancestors paid serious dues. Its time to embrace the truth about our countries authentic predominant nature of benevolence and perfecting of our Union. As my father [Faith] who lived thru the depression, Jim Crow and WWII, loved to say:
KEEP THE FAITH! And Fight the Good Fight!
You've hit on something important here: perspective. We don't have to deny the horrors of the past by acknowledging the victories we've achieved. That also doesn't mean we don't have more evolving to do. But I would imagine that people with a hopeful outlook accomplish more than those with a defeatist one.
Great read. We all need something hopeful with an overview of the whole truth