There is no question that America is the greatest country in the world. It is filled with the promise of a good life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the hope of a true union of the people of the United States.  But the killing of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota by a police officer who strangled him to death with his knee on his neck, diminishes America’s greatness. This event underscores the fact that racism remains endemic in America. For those of you who think that people of color are exaggerating how serious and frequent racist treatment occurs on almost a daily basis in housing, jobs, retail, and the criminal justice system, this is a clear statement that racism is alive and well in America. Mr. Floyd was arrested for an alleged counterfeiting crime. The crime he was arrested for does not carry with it the death sentence if convicted. Mr. Floyd likely resisted arrest but he was subdued, handcuffed, thrown on the ground, and a knee was placed on his neck for about nine minutes with three other policemen watching. Mr. Floyd told the officers he couldn’t breathe. Passers by informed the officers that Mr. Floyd was struggling to breathe. Thankfully the police officer who killed him was charged with murder and the other 3 officers have charges pending. This is a necessary  initial first step, but how can Americans continue to ignore racism and allow it to destroy our union from within?

Until we the people acknowledge that racism is a cancer in America, that left unchecked, it will absolutely usher in the chaos of Democracy and the the death of our Republic. The U.S. Constitution states that all men are created equal. When it was written, people of color were not treated as equals. Over the years since the Constitution was written, equality was legislated into the constitution but has not been enforced fairly or equally. It is time that equal protection under the law be enforced. It doesn’t make a difference if a citizen, law enforcement, or the military chokes the life out of someone with a knee on the neck for nine minutes, it is murder. Of course if there is an enemy in war or well documented self defense, a charge of murder is not warranted.

With regards to the riot that followed Mr. Floyd’s murder, there is no justification for burning and looting. There were a few people among a crowd of mostly peaceful protesters who triggered the riot. Those few should be brought to justice and prosecuted. The anger is understood, but peaceful protest is the only way to eradicate racism. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr proved that. We just need to use his blueprint to stamp out the last vestiges of racism and social injustice. Most Americans know racism is still a problem in America, but too few of you have voiced your concerns. This is a time in America’s history that we have to speak in one clear and committed voice that racism will no longer be tolerated, and equal justice under the law will be the standard everyone will be judged by.

Racism in America, simply put, is overwhelmingly white people taking advantage of and exerting force upon people of color. Why racism exist is more difficult to define. My guess is that throughout history, white people have dominated the world through theft, intimidation, and murder. Once civilization evolved to have rules, domination became less easy to maintain legally, and that  began to balance the power. Though the balance of power was becoming more equal legally, whites still maintained the advantage of the weapons of death and they used them liberally. Whites want to keep their advantage of overall power and are willing to kill to keep it. Other whites, because of ignorance and propaganda, fear people of color and sometimes kill because they think people of color will harm them “I was afraid for my life”.  White people, understand that people of color are not out to get you. Just stop the killing. They just want the promise the Constitution gives of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. If you don’t believe me check the FBI statistics on murder. As you can see, you are more likely to be harmed or killed by a white person than any other race. Beware of your neighbor, brother, sister, cousin, and white strangers. These are the people who are harming, stealing from, and killing you the most. This truth is true for every race. People are at more risk from people of their own race than people of other races.

So if you truly want a United States of America filled with truth, justice,  and equality, then you want to stamp out racism. This is your call to do and say everything you can, whenever you can, to make sure racism is relegated to the history books. Only when this is done will America be truly great. We can do better. We are better. Let’s prove it. May God bless us and may God bless the USA.