I write this as I read and think more about the mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015. It seemed like the tide of evidence that racism is alive and well -- and deadly -- in America had to reach this point in order for white people to start paying attention. Was it enough to see a twelve year-old boy holding a play gun shot dead? No. Was it enough to see an unarmed black man choked to death on video by a white police officer? No. Was it enough to see an unarmed black man shot in the back by a white police officer? No. Maybe it will finally be enough to see the bodies of our black brothers and sisters taken out of a church where they were gathering to do the very "suspicious" and "dangerous" black activity of reading scriptures together and honoring Christ.
Is it enough, white America? Is it enough to make us look at ourselves and wonder -- am I part of this problem? Am I doing anything to change racism? Will my children be part of a new problem or part of a solution? Will my vote demand the politicians focus efforts on the problems of continuing racism in America today? Am I happy enough to have my white privilege and scared of what might happen if I lose it? Am I speaking loudly enough about race equality that I become a target of shooters, too? Because to me, it seems that these are the choices. Yes, they are stark. They are, dare I say, very black and white.
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