The
person in this photo is Christopher Sercye. He is a young Black male who
was shot outside of a hospital. The hospital workers smoked cigarettes and
watched as he bled to death. Police and family members begged them to help
but their hospital policy stated that they could not work outside of the hospital,
so the workers chose to do nothing. The victim was brought into the hospital
much later where he died from a cardiac arrest.
I was far from the Chicago hospital where the incident took place, so I don't know exactly why these events occurred in the way they did. Still, I can't help but wonder if these workers would have stood, smoking cigarettes and watching, if it were a member of their family dying in front of them. I also can't help but wonder if a young white boy would have been left to die in front of a hospital.
The mistreatment of that young Black man alone is enough to do an entire article on, and his life is surely more than an entire book could portray. Unfortunately, the constant mistreatment and injustice inflicted upon our race makes this story seem like just another statistic to be glanced at and forgotten. I don't think it should be forgotten though. Too many of us have been forgotten by the general society.
Disney is repeatedly making cartoons movies based on past stories and claiming that they have created a brand new masterpiece. Often these stories are derived from the works of specific cultures. Their movie, Aladdin was based on a story of Middle Eastern characters, and the movie featured people with Middle Eastern physical characteristics. Their story, Snow white was based on a European story and featured characters. As I write this, they are presenting a new movie which is based on an Asian story and features characters with Asian features. The movie that stands out is called "The Lion King", and is based on African culture. In this movie, instead of presenting characters with African features, the people were replaced with various animals.
I spent time wondering why Disney would make cartoon movies of Every other race of people, but would refuse to show a cartoon of African people. Is it that they do not feel that they can properly represent us? If so, why did they make a movie based on our culture? Is it that they are afraid to show children a cartoon of positive Black people? Are they worried that maybe their children will not think of us as more than just criminals and athletes? Maybe they are afraid people will realize that we have a culture, and that we did exist before white people made us slaves, that we had our own civilization, without having to be taught how to be human by white people. Maybe they are just trying to portray us as animals like television, radio, and newspapers do.
"Respect" is another one of those topics which could result in a very long web page. Before this page is complete, I would like to know what other people think about it, as well as their feelings about respect. It doesn't take long to send e-mail. Write something and tell me how you feel.
Website: African American Culture
http://straightblack.com/culture/
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