Moving Forward Together Against Racism

As published by the Chicago Tribune, July 24, 2020 by William J. Booker

Racism has hurt America in many ways, from policing our citizens, to housing and voting, to someone simply taking a jog. And although we appear to be moving backwards as a nation, in many ways, we are also moving forward towards racial tolerance. 

"If Trump was not president, the conversations we have about race and racism, infecting this country like a virus of its own, might be a mute talking-point."

It is because the majority of Americans agree that racism is a horrible thing, and that something needs to be done to root it out of institutions and expose people who perpetuate racism, and promote hate; that better days are ahead of us. 

"In the wake of the death of Civil Rights leader, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, America is moving forward together, and against symbols of hate." 

Gone are the days of honoring Confederate generals, or taking pride in the flag of the Confederacy for no good reasons. We no longer value racist opinions, or views no matter who it's coming from, whether the name of a football team, the views of a well-known celebrity, or the name brand of maple syrup; times are changing and history will judge us on how we respond to this moment. 

We are a nation of people who will no longer stand for the killing of unarmed people of color by the police under any circumstances. And it would appear that the whole world is in agreement with us. As crazy as it may sound, America is going through a metamorphosis and a purge at the same time, and will become a much better place despite the president's divisive, and shameful attempts to stoke the flames of hatred and cultural divide.

Black Lives Matter Powerful Reckoning

As Published by the Chicago Sun-Times, July 7, 2020

I was watching a discussion about Black Lives Matter on the TV program “The View” and it dawned on me that some people really believe the BLM movement will someday end. Allow me to clear up a few false assumptions. Black Lives Matter won’t ever end. Public support for the movement has increased steadily over the years, since the fatal shootings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown to the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

"As long as racism and racists exist, threatening the lives and livelihood of Black people, the BLM movement, which has transcended globally, will continue to thrive."

BLM is not a fad political statement. It is not some bill waiting to be passed by Congress. BLM is a proclamation, made by the emergence of liberated, socially conscious and economically empowered group of people who refuse to allow this country to further systematically kill, imprison, terrorize, marginalize or oppress Black people. BLM is unequivocally the beginning of a modern-day Renaissance. 

It will define the future of this country for generations to come — for all people.

As crazy as it may sound, America is going through a metamorphosis and purge at the same time. History will be rewritten, and America will become a much better place despite the president’s divisive and shameful attempts to stoke the flames of hatred and cultural divide.

William J. Booker

Founder of Black Men Matter

Chicago

The Legacy of Slavery Continues

By William J. Booker, as printed by the Chicago Tribune, June 1, 2020.

They did it without any moral conscience for the human lives they were taking, destroying, raping, killing, torturing. There was no game plan when white America enslaved African Americans, and sought to deprive us of our rights. There was no game plan when our culture was taken from us, our dignity stomped out of us, our women and children raped, our civil rights leaders murdered. There was no game plan for what would happen if the people from s---hole countries were suddenly free. There was no game plan because all the cards were on the table. Any and everything America wanted to do to black people, they did. They lynched us and smiled about it.

"Slavery was started more than 400 years ago, and still today we suffer from the abuse from many white Americans who believe that black lives don’t matter, and black votes don’t count. They wave their American flags, and wear their MAGA hats with pride."

When will the violence end? When will the destruction and looting stop? I don’t know, you tell me. When will America own up to over 400 years of injustice? When will we be finally free of the tyranny from racist police officers we face every day in our communities? You want peaceful protest? The day America decides to take its knee off the necks of black and brown Americans, and give us equal justice, is the day we won’t need to loot or burn down buildings to express anger and outrage. You say we’re in this together — then tell me, why the hell are we the only ones dying? 

Black Lives Matter :: Stop the Violence

"Stop hunting down your Brothers and Sisters. You have nothing to gain from the senseless destruction of your own people. If you must kill something, kill the enemy within you that keeps you believing that in order to have something in life, you have to take something from someone else. You are capable of great things. Don't allow yourself to fail simply because you have decided to give up. Your life is not over. You can change, if you truly desire to. We all make mistakes but they don't define who we are; absent a father or mother. Now that you have learned how to fail, you can't help but to succeed."

:: Objectification of Black Women ::

As Published in the Atlanta Voice, 1/13/18 by: William J. Booker 

The objectification of black women must end. As African-Americans, we must stop contributing to and allowing others to shamelessly profit from the demoralization of black women. The negative and salacious images of black women portrayed in rap videos and magazines today have a profound effect on all women of color, and has no doubt contributed to the emotional, physical and verbal abuse many black women are subjected to in abusive and destructive relationships.

"When we buy into television shows, music and publications that dishonor black women--we devalue ourselves, our mothers, our daughters and our community, and help to substantiate the reasons why black women are often portrayed negatively in mainstream media."

We must stop buying into negative propaganda that destroys our identity and untimely our future, and the future of our children and the women we care about.

In solidarity,

‪#‎BlackWomenMatter!                                                                                            www.facebook.com/BlkWomenMatter