People Need To Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

By: Parker Public Relations
 
ST. LOUIS - Jan. 19, 2015 - PRLog -- As a Black person who writes about race, I have many fruitful conversations with readers. I believe that American culture shortchanges its citizens, in that, there are few healthy venues for conversations about race. Americans are hungry for a dialogue about race. Of course, there are various reasons for wanting the conversation. However, at this point, it should be clear to everyone that the media (especially those in St. Louis) does not want a conversation about racism. Some are not "Comfortable Being Uncomfortable." Do St. Louisans want a conversation about racism? I do.

In 2014, 159 people were murdered in St. Louis. 159. That’s 159 human beings with 159 families. St. Louis has a public health crisis. I will not repeat the common steps to rail about other mass shootings receiving attention. We get it. We know. It is clear that America still believes that Black people are something other than human. America still believes that Black people are genetically coded to kill themselves. Because there is very little time and effort given to the root cause of the violence. We can give short shrift to the violence because it does not feel urgent or relatable to our lives. And there is nothing in pop culture, that addresses the root cause - racism.

The general messaging in the media. There is no dissection of racism, patriarchy, sexism, economic marginalization, nothing comprehensive and incisive. Not on BET. Not on CNN. Yes, on MSNBC, and the whlole FOX News network is a joke in itself. The phenomenon of these murders are not relevant to our lives. We do not experience the shootings as happening to “our family. If we did, we would approach them differently. We would provide the context for the murder, address root causes and offer comprehensive and compassionate solutions.

Yet and still, the television landscape is changing. Last weeks morning’s news of Academy Award Nominations makes us hopeful that things are shifting in the culture,but clearly when the Director of a fine film like Selma is not nominated, them the landscape has not altered. I do believe, as Black representation shifts in media, Black lives, on the ground, will improve. Perhaps that is naive. Considering, we had Oprah for over two decades. And we have a Black President in the White House. The symbolism is significant. Yet, violence still disrupts the lives of Black America. Not just gun violence. Domestic Violence. Why? Yes, lack of opportunity, economic marginalization, a legacy of disenfranchisement. We, as black people get that. We need to take this a step further and figure out how ALL of us, specifically, content creators, can disrupt the violence.

And we have to disrupt "lazy racism". White society, the overseers of most major institutions, are participants in what I refer to as, “lazy racism”. Usually, I don’t see a need to qualify the word racism, but there is something afoot that needs to be addressed. I interact with White  people everyday. I interact with Black people everyday. Both have a responsibility to DO BETTER. And I do believe Black people are getting that message.

For me personally, difficult situations, are the ultimate learning tool for culture.  Black people are, actively, challenging racist tropes and ideas that permeate the visual landscape in this country.

Allowing me to order first at a coffee shop (hot chocolate, I don’t do caffeine), is not combating racism. Smiling at me on a plane, is not combating racism. Gentrifying my neighborhood and offering a smile or a kind word, is not combating racism. Combating racism means making a concerted effort to change your work environment. To expand your pool of friends. To become as enraged at the loss of Black life as you do about the loss of White life.

And, mind you, I don’t believe any one has to do this. Nor am I waiting for White folks to do it. I just need to state this, clearly. Having Black Facebook friends is not combating racism. This is lazy. Many would say If, at this stage of the game, you have not read bell hooks, or James Baldwin or Malcolm X or any number of books available to you, it is safe to assume you have no desire to the change racist practices that have a stronghold on this country. I am not that extreme.

I believe White people should stop with the shortcuts. Stop leaning on Black people like me who write about racism, to do your race homework. Go to the library. Inform yourself. And then, only then, engage us. Read. Engage. Your inability to recognize and truly accept Black people simply illustrates your lack of commitment to moving this country forward, to racial equity and out of the mental landscape of the 1950’s.

Unless, of course, that’s where you prefer to be.

John Parker is a senior public relations and marketing professional, activist, journalist, author, and President of Parker Public Relations, a minority owned public relations firm in St. Louis, MO. He is also the Founder of the organization Evolution Today (www.evolutiontoday.org). He is well experienced in crisis communications, and public affairs with over 15 years of diverse experience in media relations, political operations, social activism and connecting individuals and corporations with the world through communications.

Media Contact
***@parkerpublic.om
314-363-1102
End
Source:Parker Public Relations
Email:***@parkerpublic.om
Tags:John Parker, Lazy Racist, St. louis murders, St Louis
Industry:Media, Society
Location:St. Louis - Missouri - United States
Subject:Reports
Account Email Address Verified     Account Phone Number Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
Page Updated Last on: Jan 19, 2015
Evolution Communictions Group PRs
Trending News
Most Viewed
Top Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share