There is a civil war of mindsets waging in Cincinnati. Over the past several days, events have escalated from the peaceful and justified protesting of the unjust and racially motivated abuse at the hands of the Cincinnati Police Department to the savage rioting that is vandalizing our communities. Recently, events are tearing down Cincinnati’s pseudo sense of racial harmony and leaving many citizens, who have lived their lives sheltered from the bruises of racial discrimination, feeling disillusioned and fearful, and unknowingly succumbing to unfortunate racial stereotyping: possibly the most undetectable form of racism. I have listened inquisitively to conversations regarding recent events, amongst whites and blacks; I have passed their huddles of two or three, whispering their masked disapproval. Whites, typically suburbanites whose understanding of the “black experience” goes as far as their “Jay-Z” compact disc or the time they saw “Boyz In The Hood,” have the basic mindset that “those people are crazy. It’s just ridiculous to tear up their own stuff.” Would it truly be more acceptable if the rioters traveled to Indian Hill or Forest Park? On the other hand, a few blacks are exclaiming, “Well, I understand what they’re doing. When you’ve been pushed too far, you explode.” Neither of these mind frames are wrong in and of themselves. However, there is a much more expansive frame of mind that seems to be being underwritten; the majority of blacks in Cincinnati feel as outraged and shocked as the white community over the behavior of the inner city’s youth. In addition, they are sympathetic to the plight of the racial inequality in this city that lies beneath institutional ordinances and mechanical smiles. Thus, the civil war unfolds.
It is important to understand that, though the African American community is outraged over the rituals of brutality among police officers toward blacks and they feel the urgency for change and action, they do not condone such heathenistic behavior. The African American community is forced to watch in utter horror the heartbreak of their youth acting out the very definitions of their stereotypes. It is saddening and heartbreaking for the black community as a whole to not only have to live under the fist of discrimination and poverty but also have to emerge from under the shadow of this smudge against its character. Most blacks agree that an orderly form of protest should be organized and carried out in order to tear down the walls of racism in Cincinnati politics. African American leaders are gathering to propose ways to fight the injustices in the court system. The 1960s gave the African American community a more powerful voice, which, if used correctly, has the force to demand change. The Caucasian community needs to understand and be assured that most blacks do not share the reckless view of those who are looting and pillaging their neighborhoods. Furthermore, 9 out of 10 looters are not concerned with “the cause” at all; they are simply utilizing an opportunity to steal and act out their aggression.
This is not to discredit or take away from the reality that racism and discrimination does still exist for African Americans as well as other ethnic groups. Many black males have to undergo humiliating treatment by police officers, including racial profiling. Many black males do feel as though they are game for hunting. This, however, does not excuse criminal behavior, but if one is treated or lives as an animal for too long, one will take on the characteristics of an animal. Needless to say, this violence is doing more damage than good. The explosive acts of hate have taken the attention away from the real issue, the reoccurring killing of black, unarmed men, and placed it on trying to reclaim the city’s streets. The time it is going to take to rebuild the face of the city might have been spent on righting the wrongs of the judicial system. Moreover, as I walk past circles of segregated students, bonded by mistrust of the one or fear of the other, I realize that the city will have a far greater fight to heal the racial bonds between blacks and whites. One of the more tragic realities of this entire situation is, and I say this to each African American citizen who is breaking windows, stealing, and harming innocent people, “You are reinforcing the negative stereotypes that may have laid dormant in the minds of many whites in this city. You are living up to every insensitive comment made about our communities. You are strengthening the views that breed the very racism you complain about. In addition, to the Caucasian community I say, “Empathy builds bridges.”