What took place on January 6, 2021 in the capital of the United States of America, is a lot of terrible things, but to some of us, it comes as no surprise. As the outgoing President of the United States stayed on brand by being, how can I word this, himself, he insights a crowd to march up to the US Capitol Building. At that very time a joint congress session is taking place to officially receive electoral ballots from all states and acknowledge the incoming administration. In this session are not only members, officials, and staffers representing from all over the United States, but also present was the sitting Vice President Pence and incoming Vice President Harris. I state the obvious to really layout the madness of this first world country, bedrock of democracy. The mob of white domestic terrorist answer the call of their beloved leader, Donald Trump, and head to the US Capitol. Once again, staying on brand, with the threats they have been spewing prior to their arrival, these terrorist breach the perimeter, climb walls (the irony), break windows, and storm the building. You can look up the incredibly destructive, disrespectful, and anti democratic behavior.
What we are here to discuss is the amnesia of white people who are ‘surprised’ and ‘shaken’ by this behavior that is way too consistent. What struck me yesterday other than the sheer audacity of white people who do not fear police or consequences is the same thing that struck me when I realized how young Ms. Ruby Bridges is. Now Mrs. Ruby Bridges Hall, as a six year old child she was the first black student to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans. The white adults that woke up early in the morning to wait for her to show up and terrorize her walking into the building and waiting for her in the afternoon with black dolls in a coffin, raised children. Those parents whose hate, vile, and violence raised a whole generation.
Mrs. Ruby Bridges Hall is 66 years old, about the age of those who raised millennials. She grew up in a time where black people continued to suffer unspeakable violence simply because white people did not get their way or felt black people did not respect the caste system in “their” country. A country whose growth was watered by the tears, sweat, free labor, and dehumanization of black lives, however I digress. My point is that the classmates and peers of Mrs Ruby Bridges Hall from all over the country were being raised by like minded mobs that stood outside her elementary school. Many people in those mobs that took place all over the country due to school integration, millennials fondly address as grandma and grandpa. Suddenly, when you process that reality the overwhelming response to Make America Great Again makes sense.
All I saw on January 6, 2021 as white domestic terrorist do what they do, terrorize, was another generation of parents who are raising children that will go to school with a lot of our children. When white people conveniently have amnesia again ignoring the genocide of Native Americans, atrocities of slavery, the callousness of slave catchers turned police, the burning of affluent black cities, the past and modern lynching of black people, riots after sports events, the terrorizing of hispanic, brown, black, and muslim citizens minding their own business, and political media dance that points the finger at everyone but them, we will never forget. Many of our lives depend on those memories.
As white domestic terrorist chanted, “USA, USA, USA!” and reminded everyone that the US Capitol House is their house waving confederate and American flags, we believed them. It is just another moment in history that as time passes by, amnesia absolves accountability while other communities are haunted by the remnants of destruction. In the absence of even regular police not to talk of militarized police that show up to Black Lives Matter protest, these terrorist recorded themselves, smiled to take selfies with officers, and made no effort to hide their faces. They were not afraid of consequences. And thats why the rest of us always need to be, if only a little.
