Why does race matter?

In 2013, the world seemed to be brimming with energy, and not the kind that brings people together. Tensions were rising everywhere, from gas prices and the cost of living to new laws and political shifts that many of us weren’t even aware of. Amid all this, the pressure kept building, and the atmosphere seemed more volatile than ever. The Trayvon Martin verdict highlighted the deep divisions within society, leaving many of us scratching our heads. On one hand, we saw echoes of past racial injustices, reminiscent of Jim Crow laws, with hate crimes receiving increased media attention. On the other hand, there were signs of unification—people were mad, and they agreed on that much.

The anger was palpable, but the growing racial tension that followed felt confusing and disheartening. After witnessing the outpouring of emotions following George Zimmerman’s acquittal, I felt compelled to speak up.

It’s Bigger Than Race

Let’s be clear: what’s happening in this country is about more than race. The issue runs deeper than the color of our skin. The real issue is how we’re being distracted and misled by forces that benefit from our division. The American people are under attack by a system that’s designed to keep us fighting amongst ourselves. The political powers that be are pulling the strings, yet we’re so caught up in racial debates that we fail to see the bigger picture. Why does the color of your neighbor’s skin matter?

I grew up in Whiteville, North Carolina, and yes, it’s a real place, though it’s not filled exclusively with white people. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I became friends with a girl named Mary. We hit it off instantly, bonding over our shared love for fishing, Hot Wheels, and Barbies. We’d ride our bikes all over town, her in the “old projects” off of W. Burkhead St., and me in the Pinewood subdivision. Mary was white, but her ethnicity never made me look at her differently or treat her any other way than I would any of my other friends. Our families saw us for what we were: two kids who loved playing together.

It wasn’t until I befriended another little girl, Jennifer, that I began to notice the differences that society would later try to emphasize. Jennifer lived right next door to Mary. They didn’t get along, mainly because their mothers didn’t. One day, Jennifer sat next to me on the school bus and made an off-hand comment about how much she disliked Mary and her family because they were white. I remember being confused. To me, Mary was just like me—our adventures had nothing to do with our skin color. But Jennifer’s comment marked the first time I realized that the world wasn’t as simple as I had imagined.

At What Age Do We Learn?

At what age do we learn to assign value to the color of someone’s skin? When do we start treating people differently based on their race? I’ll never forget that conversation with Jennifer—it was the first time I thought about race, and it left a lasting impression. Before that, I didn’t even know what race meant. To me, “race” was a competition, like the ones we’d have at the racetrack near my home.

That night, I asked my grandmother a series of questions: Was it okay to like white people? Was I wrong for being friends with Mary and not Jennifer? Her response was simple but profound. She told me that friendship had no rules—who we choose to befriend should not be dictated by race. She reminded me of the famous James Brown lyric, “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud,” and added, “If I were white, I’d say, I’m white and I’m proud.” The color of our skin should never define who we are or who we can love.

Racism vs. Cultural Differences

Racism is a form of cowardice. When we attack someone based on their race, we show our weaknesses and fears. Hate is learned, not innate. Social groups built on hatred are, to me, a reflection of deep inner pain. What drives this kind of animosity? It’s a learned behavior that gets passed down from generation to generation. It’s not something we are born with.

Sometimes, I still feel like that wide-eyed little girl, asking my grandmother questions about the world, wondering, “Why does race matter?”

The Trayvon Martin Verdict and the Bigger Picture

The Trayvon Martin case shook many people, myself included. When Zimmerman was acquitted, it felt like the system had failed us all. The fact that it took months to charge Zimmerman, despite the evidence, made many of us question the fairness of the justice system. It wasn’t just about race—it was about the failure of the system to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Yet, in the aftermath, I began to notice how quickly people jumped to sign petitions, particularly those focused on civil rights. But how many of us understand what we’re signing, and what real change will come from it? While emotions ran high over the verdict, I couldn’t help but wonder what the government was doing behind the scenes. Why are we so focused on divisive issues like race when there are more pressing matters at hand—issues like the environment, corporate control of food production, industrial pollution, and the ever-growing prison system?

A Call to Focus on What Matters

What’s frustrating is that, rather than focusing on these systemic issues, many of us are letting media-driven narratives about race divide us even more. Instead of focusing on a pointless debate about race, why not focus on the real problems facing our country and the planet? Why aren’t we paying more attention to the dying wildlife, deforestation, or the growing inequalities that continue to widen the gap between the rich and the poor?

Racial tensions, fueled by the media and the political elite, are distractions. They keep us from addressing the real issues that affect us all. This isn’t about race—it’s about power. The American people, regardless of their color, are all being oppressed by a system that benefits from our division. Race, class, and social status are being manipulated to keep us fighting among ourselves while the powerful continue to profit.

The Real Enemy: Divisiveness

In the end, the issue isn’t about race—it’s about how we’re being divided by those who stand to gain from our disunity. The rich keep getting richer, while the middle class is slowly being erased. Instead of educating ourselves about the true nature of the problems we face, we fall into the trap of division. We need to wake up and stop teaching our children that race is what defines us. It’s time to focus on what truly matters.

Updated 12/23/24

Written by

BlaqKharma is a devoted mother, artist, and entrepreneur. You can get her RAW perspective here about any and everything under the sun. You can also purchase her vegan personal care products and original art @ flowersnflames.com

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