Baltimore

I know I am the last person who should be chiming in on what is happening in Baltimore. I am a white female who lives in the South & admittedly does not watch the news or keep up with current events very well. But I also think that lends me to offering another side of the conversation.

I don't know the details of the death that lead to the riots in Baltimore. All I know is he was a young black man who died in police custody. I don't know why he was in custody. I don't know the manner in which he died. I don't know his story. I don't know the history of the police department that was detaining him.

But all lives matter. It is saddening when anyone is injured at the hands of another. That goes for this young man as well as the many that have been injured in the riots. I have a hard time believing that everyone in the streets in Baltimore "making their voices heard" even knew this young man. So why are they so upset that they cause other hard working men & women their possessions or livelihood. Property being destroyed more for sport than for cause.

I know racism still exists. And it exists in those of every skin color - not just white. Racism is an expression of hatred, fear, judgement and pride.

What I wonder is what the rioters believe they are accomplishing. What is the message they are trying to express. Because I feel fairly certain that they are unaware that they are sending a different message entirely. What I assume they are wanting to say is that they are upset. That they won't stand to be mistreated any longer. That they are making a stand. That they are being heard.

Which is selfish. It is all about them. It's no longer about the young man who died. They will say it is about him. That it is to honor him & those like him that have died at the hands of racism. But the reality is that they are stealing items they can not afford. They are damaging property because it is fun. They are feeding off the power of being feared.

You think you are standing up for this young man, but you are really stomping on his memory. Now every thought about his life or his death is about violence & destruction.

You think you are giving a voice to the mistreated, but you are mistreating others in your attempt.

You think you are taking pride in yourself & in your city, but you are destroying your reputation & your home.

Change needs to happen. Quickly. Across this nation. But this is not how it needs to happen. This is not how it can happen.