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Saying ‘God Damn America’ Makes Sense When You’re Black
Composer Decommissioned Over Lyrics in Tulsa Opera
Black people and America are in a toxic entanglement. Society treats anyone darker than a brown paper bag like a second-class citizen while expecting patriotism in return. To say Black people pulled the short stick would be an understatement. Insisting that Black people only speak kindly of America is racist.
America never lived up to its end of the bargain. It’s failed overtime to provide equal opportunities and protections for its citizens. Now it’s time to consider what that means on the back end.
Saying ‘God Damn America’ makes sense when you’re Black. Our ancestors came over on slave ships. White people forced them to work for free, abandon their languages and cultures. The federal government has never issued an apology to Black people for enslavement. And systemic racism still diminishes our shot at the American dream. So, why should society expect Black people to accept an apology never issued?
Past injustices and crimes against African Americans need to be addressed with reparatory justice. (United Nations Human Rights, 2016)
Given how poorly America treats Black people, is it any wonder that many of us want to curse the very name of our nation? Before you…
