Knowing Yesterday we went over Miranda Rights (please pause and read yesterdays post) Today we will be discussing the difference between knowing your rights and asserting your rights. I believe that even though African Americans may know their rights, when faced with generations of genocide, apartheid and terrorism, they may hesitate to assert their rights for fear of being annihilated. Sandra Bland knew her rights, Philando Castille knew his rights, and they are now among the ancestors. So knowing our rights and having the confidence to assert our rights are two different things.
Every African American has to consider whether or not the assertion of their rights will end their life. This fear was grounded in the history of slavery in America. Enslaved Africans who dared to assert their right to freedom or education were beaten publicly or worse. So that trepidation you feel is embedded in your DNA.
Tread lightly and trust your instincts. We do our children a disservice to teach them their rights without advising them of using wisdom when asserting them. To quote the great Ice Cube: “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.” What do you think?
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