To Skate On Sun

Yesterday, a twitter debate with someone who was trying to convince us that Ron Paul is not a racist ended with this. “the fact of the matter is today we live in a society where you are free and we are equal. So why linger?”

Boom.

- What time is it?

- Where are you?

- (Who are you) What is your name?

Most people of color cannot answer these questions correctly. Most people will answer these generically, suggesting answers like “3:30” and “my home”.

These are not the answers I am looking for. 

Name: If you are from an immigrant family, more than likely (unless you are from an asian country or a european country) you have a name that was given to you through the process of colonization. If you are an African American person (with an american last name) that is not your name - that is still your title. Most of us carry the last names of our family’s owners - specifically, our slave masters. Think about that for a few moments: tell me how it makes you feel.

Time: The time is not 3:25, the time is now. Ask yourself what is happening right now, in the world, in your body, in your mind. 

Where: You are here. Wherever here is. But you need to know where here is. Here is not ‘New York’, or ‘Boston’ - organize your mind to know the social climate, to know exactly where the world is and how the place we are in oppresses you and your people. 

^^ This is consciousness.

The man who ended our twitter conversation with that statement obviously has no idea where we are, who we are, or what time it is. Had he known these things, he would never have suggested (so carelessly) that we ‘get past it’. We are not free. Not physically, not mentally, not monetarily.

And we are definitely, definitely not equal.