#28/08/2019
I'm watching 'A Black and White Killing' on The BBC iPlayer.
It is really disturbing, shocking, nauseating.
The programme covers the murder of a young black man, Larnell Bruce, by a white supremacist. I cannot emphasise enough how disturbing the programme was. The mindset of many of the people interviewed is scary.
The hatred that is so evident from some of the white supremacists is repulsive; the fact they try and blame the victim for his own murder speaks volumes about their twisted ideology.
One of the individuals showed his 'White Pride' tattoo on his lower back. He defended it, arguing that "you can have brown pride or black pride or whatever else, and it's looked at in a non-negative light, but as soon as you say anything white pride people get up in arms and label you as a racist or white supremacist or what-not"
The ignorance portrayed by such comments is startling.
It echoes some of the ridiculous comments made by some of the white supremacists interviewed, who suggested that it was actually white people who were under attack.
Black Pride is about standing up for black people and recognising the abuse they have suffered over not just years or decades, but centuries. It is also recognising the fact that discrimination against minority groups, especially based upon race, religion and gender, is still a serious issue.
White Pride is what? Can we really have pride in the countless horrors we (as white people) have perpetrated against blacks and other minorities?
Murdering people who refused to convert from their own religion to Christianity?
Taking black people as slaves, personal possessions, and abusing them?
Treating black people as cheap labour.
Invading other countries and colonising them.
When these extremists talk about white pride; they mean white supremacy.
And white supremacy is actually based upon the very worst character traits and is therefore evidence of the very opposite of white supremacy; it demonstrates the ignorance of those who hold such views.
You only have to look at America's racist POTUS to see the staggering level of ignorance shown by him and emulated by his supporters.
The rise in so-called 'far right' extremist groups on both sides of the Atlantic is a worrying trend and no matter how much these people protest that they're not racist, they are exactly that.
Russell Courtier, the white supremacist who murdered Larnell Bruce, was sentenced to a total of 28 years for the crimes of murder, improper control of a vehicle and the racially motivated attack.
Will he learn from this?
Sadly, I fear all he will learn is more hate.
He was sent to East Oregon Correction Facility, in which European Kindred (the white supremacist organisation that Courtier was already a proud member of) has a strong presence.
It is time that, across the world, people who are found guilty of hate crimes are given mandatory education on acceptance and inclusivity. In addition, to try and address the issue at an earlier stage, such education should be a mandatory part of the educational curriculum in schools and colleges.
Comments