I was in Mexico when young Malcolm Shabazz was killed. However, I just now heard about it -- three weeks later. This is unbelievable. I flew into Mexico City on May 4th (and then traveled to the west coast) and Shabazz was beaten to death, presumably by extortionist waiters, on the night of May 9th. And this news I only happened to learn via The Christian Science Monitor article about last night's mass kidnappings in Mexico City. Unbelievable!
Yesterday I read about the (white)Arizona mother jailed in Mexico because of marijuana found under her bus seat (yesterday I travelled through Mexico on the bus!) and, before that, the sensational torture and gang-rape of Spanish tourists in Acapulco plus other similar crimes to other similarly pale skinned peoples...but nothing - nothing - about Shabazz. This could be me. Or someone who looks like me. Why does this not surprise me? I'm shocked as all hell but I'm not surprised. As I write, "Mexico kidnapping" is 'trending' on Yahoo.
Why? Because it does not concern black people.
At the risk of sounding selfish, maybe even racist, Ain't this a bitch!
This could be me. Or someone who looks like me
It is very easy for white people to caution, Don't play the race card; Like rich people extolling the virtues of humility and having-not to poor people. The news of Malcolm X's grandson's killing should have blazed across headlines, if only for that weekend. But not a peep did I hear and I'm here in the country, itself. Didn't come across a remark by President Obama in the Associated Press - but I'm convinced he's a lanky phony, anyway - didn't come across a 'trending' ticker-tape, didn't come across a social network meme, and I certainly didn't hear it mentioned by anyone in passing. This could be me. Or someone who looks like me. If I disappoint white friends or fans or casual readers over this, then simply go your way. And don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.
Methinks I've had my fill of this country. Pity. I so enjoy Puerto Vallarta. The living is easy, the weather is wonderful and I have several friends here. I have connections here. There's even a burgeoning theatre group I was looking forward to working with next season. But hang it. If Mexico is a corrupt country, then that means it is filled with corrupt peoples who, by no coincidence, guide their actions by corrupt thinking. And as a man habitually thinks, so he behaves.
sitting ducks in a sea of amnesiac eye-witnesses
A nation populated by cowards who only know fear and might means we're all sitting ducks in a sea of amnesiac eye-witnesses. There is absolutely nothing to stop what happens in Mexico City or Sonora or Sinaloa or Oaxaca or Acapulco or Queretero from happening in Vallarta. Nothing. Bet your bottom dollar that when it counts, cowards, those erstwhile smiling neighbors and friends, will see nothing, hear nothing, and sure as hell, will say nothing.
Somebody who looks like me mightn't make the news. But that doesn't save the misfortune from befalling someone who looks like YOU.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment