“The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied rights granted to others.” – Julian Bond.
The United States would be so much better if more of us shared Julian Bond’s perspective. However, the sad reality is…we don’t.
Bond, the great civil rights activist whose life’s experiences helped to shape America passed away last week at the age of 75. In addition to heading the Southern Poverty Law Center and the NAACP for extensive periods of time, Bond also served in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate.
Throughout his life, Bond advocated for the oppressed and those discriminated against because he recognized the humanity in all people.
Recognizing and acknowledging that all of us are humans who deserve equal respect and treatment is not only a gift, but our right as human beings. While there have long been issues of distrust, abuse of authority and discriminatory practices between police officers and communities of color – particularly Blacks – America has seen an influx of them in recent months in large part to video recordings bystanders documented and even body camera and dashboard cameras donned by police officers and law enforcement vehicles.
The increased attention to the overt maltreatment of Blacks by police officers led to the launch of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. According to its website, #BlackLivesMatter is “Rooted in the experiences of Black people in this country who actively resist our de-humanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society. Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes.
When we say Black Lives Matter, we are broadening the conversation around state violence to include all of the ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state. We are talking about the ways in which Black lives are deprived of basic human rights and dignity.”
Last June, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was criticized for using the phrase “all lives matter” during a speech at a historic Black church in Missouri. During her remarks, Clinton shared antidotes she learned from her mother.
“I asked her, ‘What kept you going,’” said Clinton. “(Mom’s) answer was very simple. Kindness along the way from someone who believed she mattered. All lives Matter.”
Recently, activists from the Boston division of the Black Lives Matter movement had a 15-minute meeting with Clinton. In addition to getting clarification from Clinton on her “all lives matter” statement, they asked her about mass incarceration, racial tensions and crime legislation passed during President Bill Clinton’s administration.
Clinton replied by holding firm to her past experience, saying, “I’ve spent most of my adult life focused on kids…to try to give kids – particularly poor kids, particularly…Black kids and Hispanic kids – the same opportunities to live up to their own God-given potential as any other kid.”
The group also asked Clinton what she would do to strengthen the Black Lives Matter movement and change American hearts and minds.
Clinton’s response was monumental and better places things in proper perspective so effective change can come and the lives of Blacks (and other oppressed groups) will be valued. The former secretary of state stoically said, “I don’t believe you can change hearts. I believe you can change laws, you can change allocation of resources, you can change the way systems operate. You’re not going to change every heart. You’re not.”
Sure, changing hearts and minds would be great. And yes, living in the harmonious, treat everyone as you would want to be treated manner Julian Bond and so many others (including myself) strive for, would be fantastic; the reality is that won’t happen…at least not in a mass-appeal type of manner.
Instead, we have to work to change laws, hold people (including police officers) more accountable for their wrongdoings, institute effective policies and procedures of change, and have higher standards of excellence. Then and only then, will we see true change. If hearts and minds are changed throughout that process, all the better.
