Is There an Acceptable Way for African Americans to Protest?

The quick and simple answer as to why African Americans protest is because we want to voice our dissatisfaction of how we are treated by authorities in the United States. It’s amazing that no matter how we try to bring awareness to issues, the method receives more attention than the issue itself.

For example, Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the National anthem at the start of an NFL game to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the US. There was more focus on the act than the issue. White people were losing their minds because they felt Colin and other participants were disrespecting the flag, blah, blah, blah. They didn’t even try to understand the problems that Black Americans face on a regular basis.

They forget how White America responded when integrating schools became a law. Black kids had to be escorted into school buildings by the National Guard as grown ups yelled threats and lined the streets along the entrance carrying protest signs. It strikes me there is some fear they will lose the power they have in this country. As a result, any desire for minority groups to not just shut up and take it is met with criticism.

I don’t know if there will be an acceptable way for Black people to protest in the eyes of some White Americans, but we will continue to do so as long as it’s deemed necessary. I don’t feel it’s as effective as it once was because we lack Black leadership that we once had. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers and Malcolm X, all of whom were assassinated.

I asked a few people for their thoughts on the riots happening across the nation in protest for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others. This is their input:

Kristin (30 year old in NC) …my main feeling is that it’s a “heat of the moment” type thing like people get all up in arms and protest then as weeks go by the numbers fall...people go back to their normalized lives. Like now everyone’s focus is on the school system and virtual schooling ...I don’t think we have the persistency as people back in the day. I also feel like times are different from back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Protesting back in the day was because no one saw black people getting killed and murdered...so you protested to get your voice out there and your anger out (in a sense)....now everything is recorded so we are more reacting. Black man gets murdered and it’s caught on tape....we outraged....then we go back to normal…..repeat.

Donovan (24 year old in GA) …I drove through the area where they had to shut down parts of Atlanta for the protests yesterday and it’s like nothing ever happened. It kinda made me feel like change isn’t gonna happen in my lifetime. There are too many people that are rooted in their outdated ideals. That was reinforced with the decision on Breonna Taylor’s death.

Kayla (19 year old in DE)…I want to make people aware of the issue and upset the establishment. This method requires persistence. Voting seems to be somewhat useless, but I still research the candidates running for offices in local and national elections before I vote.