America’s Ugly Truth

I stood in front of my television on January 6th, unable to find the words to adequately describe the foolishness I watched unfold in real-time. I shook my head and chuckled to myself at the absurdity. Oh, believe me, it was no laughing matter. I struggled to make sense of the chaos that ensued. I never thought I’d live to see something so outlandish, and this is coming from a millennial who has lived through quite a bit in my 34 years of life. I watched as unrelenting thugs rushed the Capitol under the direction of their leader, Donald J. Trump, a man I still cannot believe has been President since 2016.

In the wake of the aftermath of the Capitol siege that left several people dead and many more injured, it’s not hard to see how this brazen assault has further crippled the American political system. America, if it is to grow and evolve for the better, must face its ugly truth. The underbelly of this country has reared its uncultivated head yet again. It’s time for America to deal with its unhealthy obsession with political correctness, racism, and homegrown terrorism, conveniently disguised as patriotism.

America is deeply racist, hypocritical, and in disarray. I know this. You know this. Politicians know this too, although many choose to look the other way in favor of their own political ambitions. Some go as far as to pretend they don’t understand many of our movements and calls to action in the realm of social justice and equality. Instead, they antagonize and use red herrings to counter our concerns, especially that of Black people. It’s all a game to some of these folks. This is precisely why I believe politics has not done much to progress this country in my lifetime.

So where do we go from here? I’m not sure exactly. I’m glad the world now can see America’s true colors. It can no longer hide behind a wall of faux grandeur and self-righteous delusion. During the summer of 2020, Black American’s who desperately desired change was villainized for taking the streets in protest in the aftermath of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. We were called names for attempting to hold our justice system accountable for heinous crimes against humanity. Now, look at where we are in the early part of 2021. A large group of white men and women who couldn’t accept the election results has shown us who the real terrorist and thugs are. Will these folks really be charged, or is this all a smokescreen? Will Trump face real consequences for inciting a riot and getting people killed? Will America finally admit some of it’s most dangerous people wear lab coats, suits, and badges? I won’t hold my breath. Pardon my cynicism, but I don’t have much confidence in this system. The uneducated stereotype doesn’t hold up to the facts. It wasn’t just poor white folks from the backwoods raging on the Capitol steps waving their beloved confederate flags. It’s time to get real.

In closing, on January 6th, America’s open racism and passivity were on full display. Let it be known, my brothers and sisters would have been slaughtered right on the Capitol steps, if roles were reversed. President Biden tried to calm the fears of the country by insinuating what we all saw was not the real America. Sorry President Biden, I disagree, this is America.