Thursday, May 28, 2020

Black Day in May

I have watched what I'll call the murder of George Floyd a number of times and my anger and sadness continue to grow. This should not happen "in the land of free." Just three years ago in the same metro area, Philando Castile was shot, while sitting in his car after being stopped, and killed by a police officer. I could list a number of other names of men of color who died at the hands of the police.

Such behavior by some police officers (notice I said some, not all) cannot be tolerated. It must be stopped. Why the other police officers did not tell Officer Derek Chauvin to remove his knee for George Floyd's neck, when he was in obvious distress (and already restrained) is beyond me. Such actions should be prosecuted. If I did to anybody what Officer Derek Chauvin did to George Floyd, I would be in jail.

I understand the rage that people of color in Minneapolis feel at this killing. I don't condone the violence, but that's me writing from my white Quaker perspective. I believe in non-violent protest as the best, most productive way. But I do understand that such oppressive actions such as the killing of George Floyd can cause righteous anger to boil over and erupt.

I'm old enough to remember the "long hot summer" of 1967 when almost 160 race riots happened across the United States. For a white sixteen year old, it was a scary, bewildering time. For the many African Americans I went to high school with I imagine it was less bewildering and even scarier. And here I am at age 69. I'm not bewildered. I'm scared... but for my friends and other people of color. And sad for a country that seems to be sliding further back into racial polarization than I could imagine. And so the violence does not bewilder me.

After the summer of 1967, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot wrote "Black Day In July" with a jarring arrangement much different than his usual gentler songs and these lyrics:

Black day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders
You can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted
And the children locked inside

Black day in July
Black day in July

And the soul of Motor City is bared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land

Black day in July
Black day in July

In the streets of Motor City is a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavement
No reason can be found

Black day in July
Black day in July

Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger
And the streets begin to fill
And there's gunfire from the rooftops
And the blood begins to spill

Black day in July

In the mansion of the governor
There's nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing
And the pendulum is swinging
And they wonder how it happened
And they really know the reason
And it wasn't just the temperature
And it wasn't just the season

Black day in July
Black day in July

Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening
And everyone's awake

Black day in July
Black day in July

The printing press is turning
And the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper
And you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing
Is it him or is it me

Black day in July

In the office of the President
The deed is done the troops are sent
There's really not much choice you see
It looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in
To patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate
The speech is made the dues can wait

Black day in July
Black day in July

The streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings
Strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen
And you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers
Why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the have-nots
Keep falling out of reach

Black day in July
Black day in July

Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders
You can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted
And the children locked inside

Two sections of those lyrics especially haunt me:

"And they wonder how it happened
And they really know the reason"

"And you say how did it happen
And you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers
Why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the have-nots
Keep falling out of reach"

We do know how it happened. We do know how it started.

Justice must be served. Injustice must end.

God help us.


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