Tuesday 1 March 2011

Alternative look on Black History

There is a common theory implying that man fears what he can’t understand and hates what he can’t conquer. An event in history mirroring this theory is the civil rights movement. It represented a time when many whites loathed blacks for resistance to their oppression. The fear factor was incorporated when blacks obtained the mindset that their state of existence was equivalent to that of whites. This heightened sense of worth puzzled whites in a way previously unknown to them. For whites, grasping the possibly of dividing a sense of superiority held solely by them for so many years most undoubtedly evoked fear. It is the deadly combination of hate and fear that is depicted in history books in the form of police dogs attacking blacks and fire hoses dousing African Americans in oppose to fires.

The civil rights movement suffered deaths and injuries at the hands of whites. This aggressive attitude toward the movement helps give the idea that it was effective, but more so in a manner that would definitely advance blacks status in society but not put them on the equal plane that they desired. Why is it though, that another movement, the Black Panther movement, which was both similar and variable to the civil rights movement, was exterminated by all means necessary? The daring methods utilized by the Black Panther Party were the kind that could have led to the overthrowing of whites as the governing race. Inevitably the Panther’s days were numbered from the moment that idea was conceived. Though the civil right movement was ultimately a success, it can be argued that if the government’s efforts to raze the Black Panther party failed, the panthers could have very well implemented a system capable of placing blacks in a position where they are not recognized as the sometimes struggling minority race.

To ignore the contributions of a movement that was a few flaws short of success would be unreasonable. The holiday and days honoring Civil Rights Leaders Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks are well warranted and demonstrate how much their efforts helped The United States to mature as a country. Conversely, to eliminate those who fought their same fight in a manner that was in several ways was more risky would be like disregarding all individuals who are unsuccessful in curing an infectious disease thought to be incurable. Their labors are not successes and frequently viewed as redundant but serve as building blocks to the triumphant path to the cure. The legacy of the Panthers is one where will they always be seen as the unsuccessful party but in time, can come to be known for their prospective success in oppose to their abrupt failure.


No comments:

Post a Comment