My thoughts on the abuse of police power in minority communities

I appreciate your passion and I, too, am so hopeful that a majority of Americans can pull together to fight the greedy powers-that-be who have wrecked our country and so many lives. I'm also grateful to you for mentioning white privilege -- so many resist even considering its existence, especially if they're poor and feel, understandably, frustrated and powerless. I can hear you trying very hard to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes. So I want to find meeting ground with you and with everyone who is tired of the status quo either because they've been beaten down by the system, or because they're empathetic enough to care about the suffering they see happening around them. I have listened to your words, not just read them, because I sense your utter sincerity. I hope you will listen to mine in return. I'm Native American and even though there's anonymity within this sub, I've already noticed a few others who declared they were poc. I took note of their reddit names. I pay attention to those things. It helps me feel I'm not all alone as I've so often been in classes and work situations. A few of us have tried to bring our thoughts and reactions into the conversation and too often people talk all around us, and our responses slip to the bottom, downvoted into obscurity. Some suggest we need to head over to subgroups, and I know this option is raised in good faith, but it's also an easy way to push us to our own separate space so we avoid having the conversations about race this country is so reluctant to take on. To be honest, your well-meaning statement would push away many of my young friends, poc of different ethnicities. They're so tired of white people telling them how they should think and react, what they should do. Racism is complicated. Racism is many things I can't go into here, but part of it includes condescension, presumption (we know what's best for you), steam-rolling (you have to do this). A whole lot of talking at us without creating an open space for poc to share THEIR own experience and thoughts and reactions without being shouted down and dismissed. I don't want to have that conversation in a separate room with other poc -- we spend our lives doing that. I want to talk with all of you about what's going wrong with Bernie's campaign when it comes to communicating with poc. He's doing so much right, which is why I adore him and support him! It's Bernie or bust, for me! It's why I'm taking time to write this lengthy response. I think you deserve my effort. In my opinion, as an indigenous person who has taught about race, written about race, lived and breathed these issues my entire life, Bernie needs to hire some poc NOW to advise him on matters of race. He's trying so hard, I can see it. His heart is absolutely in the right place. But he's used to communicating with white people. And it shows. You guys won't necessarily see it, so your remedies won't be the needed remedies. I know the first two states are predominantly white states, but it would be worth the funds to bring in more diversity on his staff because he's traveling the country right now and his rallies, as impressive as they are, are still not diverse. That's why they pull the poc forward to stand behind him (I don't fault them for that). I cannot speak for anyone other than myself, but imho I don't think this is an issues problem as much as it's a communication problem, and as long as poc are marginalized in the conversation, Bernie will struggle. And that would be tragic. Edit: Here's an example of what would happen if Bernie had connections with poc in different communities who could advise him. He's headed to Seattle and Portland. These are places with large populations of indigenous people. They might not turn up at his rallies, though I'd be stunned if there weren't a few in the audience. But if he mentioned that he realizes they are being killed in horrific numbers by police just as their AA brothers and sisters are, damn, don't you know our Native network would light up with shares!! Has anyone on his team heard of Misty Upham? She died in Washington state a year ago under mysterious circumstances. Native people remembered the anniversary of her death. Here's an

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