"The U.S. Military Academy announced [yesterday] that no punitive action will be taken after an inquiry concluded that 16 cadets who appeared in a photograph with raised fists did not violate Department of Defense or Army regulations.
The inquiry concluded that the photo was among several taken in the spur-of-the-moment. It was intended to demonstrate “unity” and “pride,” according to the findings of the inquiry
In addition to concluding there was no violation of DOD Directive 1344.10, the findings state, “that based upon available evidence none of the participants, through their actions, intended to show support for a political movement.”
“As members of the Profession of Arms, we are held to a high standard, where our actions are constantly observed and scrutinized in the public domain,” said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., academy superintendent, in a letter. “We all must understand that a symbol or gesture that one group of people may find harmless may offend others. As Army officers, we are not afforded the luxury of a lack of awareness of how we are perceived.”
~Snopes
I object to this standard on the basis that white people are habitually afraid of black people that stand for solidarity.
In fact there's a story out right now that indicates that white people are afraid of black people just going about their daily business.
This story, based on anecdotal evidence provided by police officers, is making the rounds right now. Police Officers are sounding off about how many times they've been called by white people afraid of black people doing things as mundane as jumping a dead car battery.
see "BEING ALIVE WHILE BLACK"http://thankherforsurviving.blogspot.com/2016/05/being-alive-while-black-reason-to-call.html
A black person adjusting their behavior
on the basis of how
1) white racists
and
2)"average white people" who absorb white supremacy daily, without being aware of it
PERCEIVE THEM
is unacceptable in 2016.
As black officers, these women are not afforded the luxury to forget they are black, to forget who it is they identify with....EVER.
It's time for the perceive-ers to change.
It's time for those obsessed
with how politically incorrect
they're allowed to sound (usually white),
those obsessed with
which racial stereotypes and epithets
they're allowed to say out loud
among racial others
to change.
It's time for white people to stop
being obsessed with how things sound
as they come out of their mouths
and be obsessed with who they are
based on what motivates them
to say the offensive things they say.
The military may have all sorts of rules against verbal and physical racism. But you can't stop racism and racist attitudes with rules. That's why this photo became an issue to begin with.
The women in this photograph KNOW that they are part of an oppressed group and that solidarity is absolutely necessary to survive living in the U.S. with your sanity intact. It is 2016. We've had a black president. It's time for white people's fear of retribution for slavery, for official Jim Crow and unofficial Jim Crow, and today's racism to STOP being the basis of OUR "correct" and "professional" behavior.
File This Under: Willful Denial Of The Effects of Past and Present White Racism
Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. on their "lack of awareness"
Isn't that ironic?
http://www.westpoint.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/Supt%20Letter.pdf
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