We Appreciate Black Culture, Not Black People: Daizha Lankford

Well, If you follow me on twitter you know my views on the very public and recent shootings of black teenagers, most of them being unarmed. I am usually politically correct, considering my fellow peers might not understand the outrage and anger some of the African-American race is feeling. Just today the riots in Baltimore for Freddie Gray were televised by no other than Fox News and CNN. However, what they failed to show was the weeks of PEACEFUL protest going on before the 100-200 or so violent protesters erupted this afternoon. Don't believe the hype, my friends, there are about 10,000 peaceful protestors surrounding the city as well. Of course, you will never see that because the media only likes to cover stories that show the bad side of the issue. Not because they are racist or biased, (That's what I tell myself to not go on a tangent every day), but because it makes a better story to see "Thugs and Savages" destroying the streets of U.S cities.

Now, What I find funny is how so many people will read the news and think " This is wrong, crazy, and stupid", yet you were just jamming to Beyonce this morning, wearing your cornrows, and trying to get your Kylie Jenner lips. You make jokes about being black and emulating the culture, but all become silent when the problems of the culture you are emulating surface. Have I offended you? Think about it. How many of you (my peers, white, black, Asian, or etc) are actually going to take a stand or even acknowledge the fact that black culture is praised, but black people are not. See, just the other day in our school a group of black juniors came out of the cafeteria blasting the music you jam to in your car, yet they were called ratchet and ghetto. Why? You like the music don't you? You just don't like it when the people whose culture it comes from is blasting it? Ahh, Have I offended you? Think about it.

Don't get me wrong every race and culture has its ignorant side. However, a white person doing drugs is praised but a black person is categorized as a criminal. Don't tell me you haven't seen it? At our school alone we have a whole group of people who smoke, drink, and sleep around with every straight white guy walking down the halls, but they are cool? if my brother did those things he could get shot dead in the street. Have I offended you? Think about it. It is a culture emulated, but a people hated.

Think about it.