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Don't Come For Us

by Gabrielle Grant

February 25, 2022 561 views
 

Don't Come for Us!

When so many people are dying from a disease that has crippled nations, Black people must be simultaneously fearful of driving while black, jogging while black, sitting at home while black, and being victimized by those who were sworn to serve and protect while Black. 

Now, bomb threats have moved from middle and high schools to our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In the past few weeks, several HBCUs have received bomb threats. So, now we can't educate ourselves without the threat of being bombed? Sound familiar? 

It is no coincidence this is happening to HBCUs. There is a message within the message. The message is, we see you! We see you, and we don't like it!

So, what do they see? They see Black people:

  • Achieving greatness
  • Accumulating wealth
  • Building communities
  • Influencing culture
  • Exercising their right to vote
  • Protesting
  • Leading

 

They see Black people as a threat.

They have attempted to destroy the Black family for hundreds of years by removing our husbands, fathers, and brothers from our homes through slavery, imprisonment, biases, divisiveness, and creating a believable narrative. However, as stated in the introduction of The 1619 Project, created by Nikole Hannah-Jones, it is time "to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contribution of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative." 

We understand the assignment! We must work together in our communities. Buy back the block! Do not allow family homes to be turned into coffee cafes unless they are black and family-owned. Create environments where neighbors know neighbors and share a common belief of community, love, and support — the Village.

Although the pandemic has been painful, it has moved many Black Americans to start their own businesses. The pandemic saw Black-owned businesses increase by a phenomenal 38 percent. In fact, it is said to be the most significant surge in the last quarter-century. Those who were already business owners pivoted to create products and services useful during these challenging times. We are sharing, learning, growing, and representing.

Our college athletes are returning home to HBCUs to experience "a diverse and inclusive community of scholarship that celebrates the richness of the entire American experience," according to HBCU First. We can train our young athletes to survive on and off the field. We can help our Black students to understand Critical Race Theory, which is a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or a divisive dialog pitting people of color against white people. 

We have been positioning ourselves to live in a world of fairness and justice, knowing it would take hundreds of years to get there. We have settled for one small win at a time and considered it a victory. We continue to strive for racial justice, closing the racial wealth gap, affordable health care, fair and affordable housing, and the right to vote. So, the question remains, what can Black people do to change racism in America?

  • Educate yourselves on the process of change, implementation of change, and change advocacy.
  • Donate money to causes led by people of color for bail funds and organizations working to have immediate intervention into the criminalization of poverty.
  • Support racial justice every day by donating time and money to grassroots efforts in your immediate community.
  • Create honest dialog and communicate and condemn racism consistently.
  • Exercise your right to vote in every election, whether it's a city, county, state, or national election. 
  • Support your local or respective HBCUs.

 

Instead of threatening to bomb our churches, schools, and communities, join us in changing the narrative and eliminating this centuries-long illness of racism. We have a responsibility to finish what our ancestors started. We have the opportunity to use these tumultuous times to understand systemic racism is more than police brutality. We should address racism in the workplace and education and increase our political engagement in the communities where we live and work. 

This is a call to action! Remember to shop Black, buy Black, study Black, promote Black! In the words of Issa Rae: root for everybody Black!


[Updated on March 1, 2022]

 
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Gabrielle Grant
I am a native of Birmingham, Alabama. I am a Southern GIrl and I wouldn't change that if I could. I love everything Southern.....good food, good music, and sports!!!
 

 

 

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