What we can learn from Ferguson Tragedy

Ferguson!

 My opinion!
I am usually outspoken about different social issues. My take take on Ferguson tragedy is somehow very limited since I did not follow the whole story from the start. I must however be clear to say that tragedies like the recent one in Ferguson Missouri and the (Oakland C.A in the 90s) happens everyday in many American cities everyday. Race related issues tend to divide a nation. Or should I say that they expose the division within a nation. If you ask my opinion on the issue of race relations and racial disparities in America today. I will tell you that this is a nation that has made great progress in this regard and I will also tell you that a lot can still be done. The real Ferguson is in mainstream of governing systems, that includes the lawmakers, Law enforcement, Judiciary, Prosecution, Public Safety and various communities in different counties and zip codes.

One of the test question that I was asked a lot in my early years when I first came to this great country is, How is America? Or " What do you think about America? I hesitant to answer this great question for fear of trying to form a quick opinion on such a big port of stew. I am grateful that I resisted that temptation.Fourteen years later, I am still learning new things about this country and its people. Here is what I have learnt in short. I have observed that people are different.Someone might says yea that is obvious and what do you expect. Well I meant that not all black people think the same. The same applies to white to people, they look similar but their are different. I also discovered that people of color that includes black people or "African Americans" do not subscribe to the same school of thought.I can safety say this because, I have had the opportunity to interact with a lot of people both in work places and at their homes.( I once had a job that gave me an access to see people in their residential places) I also worked in various public places.

I interviewed black people of various classes on various issues and various age groups both male and female. The result were stunning. I was amazed that even during the time of the late Rev Martin Luther Jr, not all black people or (Negroes if you like) supported the cause that he fought for. There was never one school of thought. While still there, for those of us who have seen the non racial movements video clips of the fifties and sixties on television, you cannot help will realize that white people also played a vital role in many areas including marches. Some to the the point of death. America is a country that thrives on ideas. The history of this country is filled with great heroism even from the times of ending slavery to desegregation in the sixties. Speaking at the NCCAP the former President George W Bush noted that as much as the American constitution begins with the phrase, "All men are created equal, it was only in the last fifty years that the phrase became a reality" I must also point  out that there are some scholars who argue that desegregation  dealt a great blow to black people. They say because "the best of the best" left their communities and as a result the black community suffered a great deal.

Now here is my opinion if you have been waiting for it. First and foremost I do not want to sound apologetic to racism in any way shape or form. Let me be clear as I stated earlier that I think this is nation that can still make progress. The late Rev King famous speech "I have a dream" delivered on the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 calling to end racism in America, is in itself a standard and a scale that we can use to measure the progress in racial equality. Obviously the ground is not yet level. Many scholars on the other hand argue that America has not progressed fifty years later. That I agree. The dream of vision of "Negroes child playing side by side with white counterparts was not an end but was a means"  It was not a promised land. Rev Martin Luther himself noted that the haves not are in many colors. It is now harder that ever to make a case of racism and discrimination because the issue is not hundred percent color. The are many factors involved. I have seen favoritism in work places,white privilege, sexism and so. And funny enough in some places its mere ignorance about the people of a different race, hence one feels threatened by them.

I have lived mostly in so called white neighborhoods and I know how it feels when you get the feedback that you are an outside, even without you do anything. I will never forget a "funny incident" that I saw on one television news broadcast. It happened that a bank in a small town was robbed allegedly by a black person. Seeing the story on TV, I concluded that that small town must have had zero percent black people. The Sheriff appeared after the robbery announcing that if anyone sees a black person, they must report him to the Police right away" I did not know the end of the story but I to me it was sounded racially sensitive. Again that news cast was meant specifically for that small town. Putting myself in their situation, How else would the Sheriff had phrased it? I am pretty sure he meant no offence but hey that was what he said.

Co-operation with Police is key.

I still remember a time back in 2002 when I was fairly new here in Indiana. I lived in town called Speedway.Its situated within the city limits of the capital Indianapolis. I was driving from a late night shift after a daily work schedule. I was pulled over by a Police officer, who was under the impression that I had consumed alcohol considering what time of the night it was. He asked me if I had any drink and I replied him confidently, "Sir I have never consumed alcohol in my life" He then asked to hand him my driver's license of which I complied. After going back to his car to verify my documents, he then asked me to pull out of the car slowly with my hands lifted up above my head. Again I complied. He asked me to walk straight putting my foot one after another in such away that had I been drunk I would have fallen over in the process. I passed the test. He made me count down from thirty thousand to one thousand. Again I passed. He made me do another sobriety test for the third time. I willfully and gladly complied. While all this was happening, five other troops had gathered to support him in just in case. I was surrounded by police officers flashing every light each in their cars, all armed to teeth, some with dogs. In no time the other guys seeing my co- operation drove away. "Lo and behold" I was left with this officer who first pulled me over, and he is still trying hard to find something wrong with me. And Luckily he did not find anything.It does not mean that they are not going to be racists.I know a lot of friends who got their drivers license messed up this way.

 In some States tickets or license suspension is considered a felony and therefore it makes it hard for one to get a good job. No matter how qualified, especially if its DUI. We have to teach our young people how to behave when dealing with Police. And surely I know that its not always that the kids are wrong, but either way we are losers. The system has double standards does not care about us at all The biggest tragedy after the long and hard fought struggle for racial equality is that it was not narrated well to  this generation. They do not vote.Some times its by choice or default. It is also estimated that there are over two million black men in America's prison today. To put it in perspective that is like the whole population of Botswana. I must also mention that there is an increase in number of Police officer who die very year in most cities both black and white. I would suspect that is the reason why Police are so much alarmed. Either way its a tough situation because they are the ones who protect us. And really we are the ones who sends them. As for personal judgement in as far as their safety is concerned. Its a gray area. We will never know the truth. Its been said that the only reason why history repeats itself is that so many people were not listening the first time. We would hate to a have another Ferguson tragedy.

Is Bulawayo a sleeping a giant?

One thing that has always baffled my mind about the mindset of our people especially in Matabeleland region is the fact that most people do not understand the power they have at their disposal. This is in reference  to both in as consumers and as citizens in general. Many will argue that there are many factors leading to this. It would be foolish to deny that the people of this region have faced more intimidation that any other region to the point of death itself. As much as we all know that Bulawayo is traditional the political capital of Zimbabwe, since the fall of King Lobhengula back in 1893. History also has it that the biggest political movements started in Bulawayo in the early fifties all the way to the sixties. Even the present political leaders know and understand that in order for them to announce any major political developments they have to come to Bulawayo. Also a former industrial hub of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is still positioned as a major link in the whole Southern African region. Both on rail and by road.

President Mugabe who in his time as the leader of free Zimbabwe has done everything in his power to make sure that Bulawayo and the surrounding areas are not only under developed, but also stripped of the glory that they had before Independence. President  Robert Mugabe a self confessed hater of the City of Kings has done all to render the city a white elephant. He has from time to time told his supporters how glorious the City was back in the 1940s when his father left his mother for and married Ndebele woman kontuthu "ziyathunqa". Many people suspect that young Mugabe is still fighting for the jealousy and envy caused by his father's descent. As evidenced by his madness and anger towards the region of Matabeleland back in the early eighties when he first gained power from Ian smith. Prime Minister Robert Mugabe did not waste his time flexing his power on the people of the region. This would be his only ticket to his ambitious one party state system. It is known how many people died in this operation witch hunt effort orchestrated by a military winged formed outside the normal National Army channels known as the Fifth Brigade.This were hand picked form the ZANU PF Youth supporters and brain washed trigger happy child militias.

The then ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo who at the time was the only viable opposition suffered humiliation as he had to flee to England after Mugabe had instructed every member of the army to shoot and kill him. Some estimates put the number of those who died to a least twenty to thirty thousand. It lasted over five years. Those who survived were subjected to curfews and random home raids. This strategy was effective in making sure that people understood that they were under surveillance at any point and time. Some people disappeared over night without a trace up to this very day. Dr Nkomo had no choice but to give in tot he Unity Accord agreement. This infamous Accord was successful in stopping the violence that ZANU PF had long perpetrated on Ndebele people or any ZAPU supporters in Matebeleland and Midlands. A famous Bulawayo artist Maseko would later paint Dr Joshua Nkomo signing the unity accord while he under strict security surveillance and had blood was flowing down his head . Maseko could not have put it any better. To be continued!