Black lives MATTER

1 of 4: series by Aubrey Prunty, @breezyartworks

From the editor:

Here at the toad, we generally steer clear of politics.

Sometimes, exceptions have to be made. This moment- one we’ll likely remember when we’re old- is one of those times, when we have to make the decision to speak up on a current issue because standing with those that are deeply hurting is more important than mere politics.

For our hurting black brothers and sisters- we hear you, and we hurt with you.

That’s what this feature is about.

A quick aside, for the other ‘side’:

Image from the peaceful, Joplin Missouri protest

For those concerned over the rioting and violence, we hear you too. I think a majority of those who are protesting actually agree with you; responding to violence with violence is rarely a great means to an end. We just ask that, as you ponder this, you do two things:

1: CONSIDER THE NUANCES OF PROTEST. Recognize that not all protesters- or even most protesters- are violent, murdering looters. You can recognize arson and looting as wrong, without invalidating the entire cause because of the actions of extremists. Consider a student who throws a tantrum, as I saw one post point out; of course, you must acknowledge that the behavior is wrong. But if you only ever acknowledged the extreme actions of the tantrum, you’d never be able to get at the root of the cause- that the child is hungry, in pain, and maybe even dealing with trauma and abuse at home.

The same careful and nuanced thinking can, of course, also work in reverse- we, and again most protesters, recognize that the majority of cops are not racist and cruel (kudos to the many officers who have actually JOINED in peaceful protests).

2: LISTEN. Please, not only listen to those who are like minded. Please, do not only share statistics and pictures of burning buildings; recognize, for a moment that an entire culture is trying to tell us- sometimes peacefully, sometimes not- “yes, racism still exists. Yes, we are still mistreated. Yes, there is more change that needs to happen.” I’m a white dude in the midwest; to be 100% honest, I have no idea what it’s actually like to be black in this country. But reading what a thoughtful black friend had to say, from deep in his heart, made me better understand (read for yourself below). No conversation with another white midwestern friend could have helped me understand as deeply.

And learning why people are rioting and protesting- why they are so hurt and so angry- that’s made me care much more about the systemic issues and the people affected, than about the destruction of property. Affecting change begins with attempting to actually understand. So begin by reading what my friend Matthew wrote- a poem punctuated by a new series from Aubrey Prunty, whose thoughts will also be included below.

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photo by Ron Burch

“BLACK LIVES DON’T MATTER”

2 of 4; series by Aubrey Prunty, @breezyartwork

I wrote this spoken-word awhile ago (like sometime last year), but have never done anything with it. In my opinion, it gets at the pain many feel. I've been intentionally quiet the last couple months - not because I don't know what to say but because I'm tired of the same ol' stuff that we tend to make a big deal of but then a couple months later we stop caring. Many people can't stop caring. Lament, plan, strategize and bring lasting change. 

"Black Lives Don't Matter"

Apathy rather than apology 
Naivety still leads to the death of me
Pac said it prophetically "Bang bang another casualty"
And that's what I am... A casual-thing. 

You cheapen me before you even see the white of my eyes because you have pre judged not that you hate my skin but that you don't care
The only reason you pay attention to me is because of my hair.
My imago dei body is labeled in your eyes secular
It is something, not demonic, but unholy.
It is regular.
Not beautiful. 
Bang bang another casualty. 

That is all I am. Another number on a report. Another face on the screen. 
Another consequence of my context and conscience.

Worse than hatred, is apathy toward my skin. 
Because the same wages are still given out but now I'm supposed to respond "reasonably" and not take it so seriously. 
It's just another casualty. 

For so long you said "We better because of your skin." 
Then you said "We hate you because of your skin"
Now you say "Allow amnesia to take its toll and forget you have melanin."
In other words, "Forget the history of your kin."
Bang bang another casualty 

I am descendant of that which was created ex nihilo but to you I'm just another casual thing. 
We say Black Lives Matter because history says and still says Black Lives Don't Matter 

-local poet and director of diversity at Ozark Christian College, Matthew McBirth

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3 of 4, series by Aubrey Prunty, @breezyartwork

Nothing gets better by ignoring it…

I didn’t know what I could do at this time but show support to our brothers and sisters through art, because I can use my voice to speak up for the voices who have been silenced or ignored. Every voice raised deserves to be heard, and it's hard to ignore all the voices speaking up today!

I have learned so much so fast about the truth of racism in our country, corruption of law enforcement and intentionally forgotten history that I have been completed floored, shocked and heartbroken.

I have had the privilege of growing up without bias of skin color, "people are people, all precious in God's sight" - never recognizing active racism or the consequences of discrimination. All I knew were celebrations of unity and integration, I thought our country had healed, and we only had a few radicals here and there but no sane person could truly be racist, could they?

4 of 4, series by Aubrey Prunty, @breezyartwork

Now I see that it has simply been quietly burning under the surface of our official systems, and has been normal for so long that the majority of the public doesn’t even notice where it fails. Things are changing, but so slowly that things like this continue to happen.

I feel helpless.

Bryan Stevenson - Human Rights Lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative once said of a client: "This system has taken away more from this innocent [person] than it has the power to give back." Even if injustice is brought to light and dealt with, it cannot erase the damage that has been done.

I can understand why our black brothers and sisters have struggled for so long and why so many are in the difficult positions they are now. Especially considering events like the Greenwood Massacre of 1921, which had never heard of that until now.

We need to actively seek to educate ourselves, do the research and learn from our history so we can change the future. We can't correct or make up for what has already been done, but we can honestly acknowledge it and use what we have learned as the foundation for corrections and accountability now.

-Aubrey Prunty