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America’s Human Rights problems

This story was posted 3 years ago
5 June 2020
in OPINION/COMMENTARY, Politics
4 min. read
Arley Gill
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by Arley Gill

The revolutionary and radical American human rights activist, Malcolm X, said, “A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire…or preserve his freedom”; and, he believed “that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing.

I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”

Once again, the world is witnessing Black Americans’ persistent struggle for justice, freedom and human rights in the United States — the land of the free.

Malcolm X — born May 1925 in Nebraska to a Grenadian mother — emerged as a radical human rights leader at the forefront of the fight for Black liberation from the 1950s to 1965, when he was assassinated.

It is 2020 and that struggle continues — as Black men and women are killed by police violence. And, once again African Americans and allies are taking to the streets to voice their frustration at a system that continues to devalue Black lives.

From the outside looking in — many would agree with me that African Americans have made significant civil rights progress in the United States. After decades of disenfranchisement — African Americans are now able to vote and Americans elected their first Black president, Barack Hussein Obama, in 2008.

Additionally, there are no longer Jim Crow laws — laws that publicly segregated and discriminated against Black people. However, the struggle for human rights has become subtle, entrenched and more systemic than ever before — evidenced by what seems like annual extrajudicial killings of Black men and women and the birth of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “I am dismayed to have to add George Floyd’s name to that of Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and many other unarmed African Americans who have died over the years at the hands of the police — as well as individuals such as Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin, who were killed by armed members of the public”.

Recognising the systemic and institutionalisation of racism, she continued: “Procedures must change, prevention systems must be put in place and, above all, police officers who resort to excessive use of force, should be charged and convicted for the crimes committed.’’

Let us be clear, the killing of unarmed Black men in America is not some random act by deviant white police officers. These actions are symptomatic of the system that currently exists. These white police officers understand that they may not be charged for these offenses; if they are charged, they may not be convicted; and, if convicted, they may be pardoned or – at least – get a light sentence. They know that!

When these police killings happen and are caught on video — they know it will get international attention. They know they may be statements and speeches by international organisations and prominent individuals — and, yes, they may be demonstrations, burning and looting at nights. They know that!

Then, they know that when these protests are over and the spotlight is no longer on them — things will return to “normal.” It is America!

The United States of America has imposed sanctions on many countries — most notably Cuba — for so-called human rights violations. Who will impose sanctions on America for these human right violations perpetuated against Black men in particular and non-white people, generally — time and time again?

No one — obviously! Might is right!

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Commission Chairman for the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), in condemning the killing of George Floyd, urged authorities in the United States to “intensify their efforts to ensure the total elimination of all forms of discrimination based on race and ethnic origins”.

International pressure must be brought to bear on the United States — forcing the US to put systems in place to reverse and remedy this entrenched system of anti-Black racism and discrimination.

And, this effort must culminate in a United Nations resolution condemning the human rights abuses in the US against non-white people. I reckon this may not be enough but an effort must be made. But, we have to start somewhere.

The United Nations is a good place to start and an investigation by the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism is one way to show that the international community is paying close attention to America’s racist policies and practices.

In 1964, Malcolm X argued that it was time “to add a new dimension to the civil rights struggle in the United States and this could be achieved by ‘internationalising’ the negro question at the United Nations in the manner that South African apartheid was transferred into an international problem.”

I believe that the time Malcolm X had hope for has come — more than 50 years later.

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Tags: apartheidarley gillmalcolm xracism
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Comments 7

  1. Faith Donahue says:
    3 years ago

    I dislike the divide “white” & “black” when fact is we more light brown and dark brown. And, most important to remember is that God create us all and He created our colors. When he was done, He was pleased. We were taught to love one another, however we ignore the teaching of Jesus. Time has come for all to be on our knees and ask forgiveness then rise and conduct ourselves in a manner that pleases the Lord our God.

    Reply
  2. Maria says:
    3 years ago

    Beauty chic. Well said enough is Enough and yes the government need to stop keep us in slavery when this old fool come to so call invest . Let them pay the workers more than minimum wage they need it and is working more harder and longer and more than what is required of them to do its a sham and yes . Racists begin with we stand up speak up for what you believe and stop making excuses why you will not say anything because you “need the little money ” what little money when you can feed your family or pay your bills and be able to save a little for sick days . So true I think all this change Is not just for the big world but for the Caribbean as well .The government don’t step in when there is a complaint they give you the run around cause they got paid by these inverter as a they them still we cannot see what they are doing for the country only themselves as always . Look at that next fool tobias left nnp to join ndc what a joke its all about money and power. Black people wake up and Speak up and stop criticizing the ones who want to speak up . Black Live Matter

    Reply
  3. Dan says:
    3 years ago

    White people are also killed by the police, in 2019 actually more whites were killed in custody than blacks in the US. Why were there no protests about that…..certainly no violent looting riots ensued.
    The biggest issue about black people being killed in the US, is the black people who are killing the black people, this is what the focus should be on…..not trying to make a martyr out of a very nasty criminal……though he certainly did not deserve to die in this nasty way.
    The American black people need to focus on the family structure, no fathers at home, lack of discipline, better education etc etc…..Many black American’s do very well for themselves, so can the rest of the black population if they want to try.
    Protest by all means, but peacefully, why do we not see this behaviour from Hispanic and Asian people in the US, they also get a lot racial hate.
    Martin Luther King managed to keep things quite peaceful and achieved change………

    Reply
  4. Beauty chic says:
    3 years ago

    I agree with John. His article is confusing. He needs to dig in history of Racism more. Its is a lot. But first of all Malcolm X was fighting for a great cause but his own blacks Muslim radicals killed him.
    The word racist were created by who I wondered. We are all the same human race. Our DNA is 98% the same. The 2% is what makes us different maybe our hair, the clour of the eyes. But we the same and scientific research states we all was originate from Africa. The system that are causing us black and indigenous people was created my the white people. They took ago the land from natives bought the black slaves to work for them, beat them, killed them, impregnated some of their wives. They couldn’t even speak up. They had to remain silent and that’s also in our culture, don’t complain about anything, we should be silent, we are strong by doing this. Bull shit.
    But think about it. The beating our kids with straps and men beating up women came from a generation curse. This is the white masters treat the black slaves. We lean that from them. They were very violent and they still behave like that. We black people are not violent and if we are, we learnt it from them. All the dam violence, rapping etc came from them way back then. We as black need to think about ourselves to stopped killing each other and the help each other where possible. Stick together, encourage our young black men to be themselves and to find something to do good in society. When they are getting in trouble with the law other black should get involved, mentor them. I know they are better than that.
    The system was created by white supremacists in the government, the judiciary system, the banking systems, the health systems for them. They use the black slaves to build their system easy back then for they riches and profits as they think we were dumb and uneducated.
    The white slaves were there first if people go and read history and was never talked about. Some of them were treated terrible.
    They white slave couldn’t endure the hard work. They were no physically strong so they went to buy the black because WE ARE STRONGER AND COULD ENDURE THE HARD LABOUR. WE NEED SOME OF THE PROFITS. PAY US BACK! WE ARE TIRED OF FIGHTING! STOP KEEPING BACK FROM SINCE 400 YEARS. WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP. NO MORE SILENCE AS WE TOLD TO DO EVEN BY OUR PEOPLE. EVEN AT THE WORKPLACE. DO NOT TOLERATE BIAS, PREDIDUCE AND RACIST COMMENTS. ALSO OUR GRENADA GOVERNMENT NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR BLACK PEOPLE. THEY UNDER PAID. UNEMPLOYMENT IS WAY TO HIGH. NO JOBS, MORE CRIME. INVEST IN YOUR PEOPLE. WHY WOULD DID A HOTEL OWNER I HEARD OF, NOT GOING TO MENTION NAME ASK PM KEITH MITCHELL IF THEY CAN PAY THEM LESS THAN THAN MINIMUM WAGE AND THE PRIME MINISTER AGREED TO THAT. THE HOTEL OWNER HAS NO RIGHT TO MAKE SUCH A REQUEST AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT RIGHT TO GET INVOLVED. HE THE PRIME MINISTER COULD HAVE SAID THE MINIMUM WAGE IS THE MINIMUM WAGE.
    THAT IS A FORM OF SLAVERY TO THE GRENADIAN WORKERS. KEEP US DOWN RIGHT!

    Reply
  5. Mike says:
    3 years ago

    Interesting that you should use Malcom X as an example, since he was assassinated by black Muslims.

    Reply
  6. John Thomas says:
    3 years ago

    I believe that this commentary has good intent but it is confusing.

    Racism is a global system. It is not limited to America. If Indigenous Grenadians pay attention, they will understand that out island is in such sorry state mainly because of racism.

    Reply
  7. Anthea Japal says:
    3 years ago

    This is a good read!

    Reply

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