A Letter to All People Staying Neutral about Black Lives Matter

Al Giwa, LLB MD MBA MBE FAAEM

Just when we thought life These last few years (and weeks) have revealed the in 2020 couldn’t get any worse after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked continued racial disharmony that exists in America, most havoc on all of us, we are now in what to many seems like an uprising; while pronounced between Blacks and whites. others see it as another series of lynchings. And then there are the rest of us, who just don’t want to be bothered, and are not they were innocent? Why were they speaking back to the officer(s) so taking a stand or even having an opinion. So it is you my fellow “stay out rudely? Innocent people don’t do that…or do they? Then George Floyd of it” colleagues that I’d like to talk to. happened. And it became painfully clear, I am one of them. I was like so many of you when it came to all these cases of people Despite my being part of a respected profession, when I enter a con crying injustice at the hands of the police. I refused to fall prey to the venience store, no one seems to recognize my half a dozen degrees. cop-bashing or the twisting of the narrative from an unarmed person Instead, I become just another Black man, and hence require that ad being shot to it being justice for a “bad hombre.” Personally, I think I was ditional scrutiny afforded only to people of color in the United States of in denial, because in my mind that was “their” problem. But in reality, I am America. Until you have been profiled and assumed to be a criminal just one of them. because of the color of your skin, it is very hard to say things are “fair,” or These last few years (and weeks) have revealed the continued racial in this country. One thing that white privilege has made painfully obvious, disharmony that exists in America, most pronounced between Blacks is their lack of awareness of racial injustices that are realities for people and whites. Sadly, many briefly focused their hate on Asians during the of color. And despite my upbringing, education, and current living circum height of the COVID-19 pandemic but have now returned to hating and stances, I am one of them. killing Black people. From these repeated killings of unarmed Black that one should be “grateful” for the opportunities and “privileges” to be people came forth the “Black Lives Matter” movement, and I must say I One of my proudest accomplishments to date was becoming an officer was initially conflicted about it. After all, I drank the Kool-Aid; I was a good in the U.S. Armed Forces, where I work alongside courageous men and Negro and moved to the suburbs and did all the acceptable things to be women from all socioeconomic, racial, and national origins. My desire to accepted by white America. Most importantly, I never brought attention to serve was borne out of an upbringing based on hard work, dedication, my Blackness, nor involved myself in anything that could be considered responsibility, as well as a belief in the duty to serve to one’s nation. I divisive or offensive, lest I offended anyone’s sensibilities. I supported accepted the calling, and now proudly take care of the men and women arguments that seemed on the surface to make sense, and even echoed of the Armed Forces who ensure the liberties for each and every one of that “All Lives Matter.” Why were those Black troublemakers being so us in this country. My military service has taken me to many parts of this divisive and running counter to a united people? So when unarmed Black country where race relations are not always the best, but generally wear men and women started dying again and again at the hands of police ing this uniform has given me great access to a people I would normally officers, I largely ignored discussing it and listened to the narrative of never be able to speak to. I am happy that I have been able to present a trying not to second guess police officers who must make life or death real-life person who shattered negative preconceptions of Black people decisions in a split second that can understandably not be exactly how to those willing to listen. But at the end of the day, I am still one of them. the media portrayed it. However, when I would ruminate out loud about Sadly, it has taken my accidentally stumbling across Trevor Noah’s poi my own, or most especially my kids’ safety at the hands of a police of gnant discussions on what the Black Lives movement truly meant, for ficer, I was reassured that those Black people were different. After all, why me to finally understand that unless Black Lives Matter, All Lives cannot were they struggling with the officer(s)? Why were they running away if matter. I missed in the screaming and protesting by angry Black people,

>>