Terror Does Not Act Alone

I scrolled through various social media postings this morning and felt the familiar rising in my chest—the jolt of anger, pain and incredulity that has replaced my morning coffee. There was a new battle to fight. There were more names to etch onto our collective conscious.

Cynthia Hurd

Susie Jackson

Ethel Lance

Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor

The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney

Tywanza Sanders

Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr.

Rev. Sharonda Singleton

Myra Thompson

Nine Black people were murdered in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina by a racist white terrorist named Dylann Roof. Those are the facts. There is nothing to dispute or question in regards to that statement. Yet, predictably, news outlets and various political figures beg to differ. Because white privilege.

There are those who question if he was motivated by racist intention. The racist paraphernalia on his clothing, admission by his friend that he told racist jokes, historical importance of the day of the attack nor the terrorist’s own declaration of “I want to shoot black people,” are enough evidence of racism. What, exactly, is the burden of proof for inhumanity?

Others concerned themselves with gathering the terrorist into their bosom of sympathy. He was a “shy and quiet” boy whose life “drifted off track.” Although neither of these qualities invalidate a claim for him being a mass murderer, they are used to create a humanizing narrative. He is not an “animal,” as the angry protesters in Baltimore were. Despite his criminal history, he is not a “thug,” as Trayvon Martin was. Countless people were quick to pull out the magic “mental illness” wand that is reserved for white criminals to excuse premeditated acts of violence and avoid the implications of their actions.

Still, the most insidious sentiment that flooded the conversation was that this was an isolated incident that involved a lone gunman. Roof was just some crazy, messed up kid who went haywire. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley can say that this act of terror is not something South Carolina ever thought they’d have to deal with whilst the confederate flag flaps in the breeze at the state capitol.

No.

This incident was not a random tragedy. The senseless persecution of black men and women in America is healthy and far from isolated. We are choking on stories of white violence and injustice against black people. I do not have time to properly address the pain of one incident before I’m bombarded by reports of another.

Roof did not see black people as fully human. He could not have sat and prayed with a group of people for an hour and then murder them if he did. The kind of hatred and cruelty that it takes to perform such a heinous act isn’t something you stumble upon and decide to take on out of the blue. That kind of hatred is slow-cooked— marinated by a culture of “southern pride,” lovingly tended by family and friends who don’t discourage the behavior and basted by an irresponsible media who refuse to face racism.

The media is complicit in dehumanizing black people. We are not allowed moments of frustration or anger without dangerous implications and generalized statements. Black children are not given the benefit of the innocence of youth. When our people are shot down like prey, we are not even allowed to grieve before we are asked to “stay calm” and begin the process to healing. How can we heal if you won’t even acknowledge the realities of the wound?

So no, Roof was not a lone gunman. News outlets pulled the trigger with him when they waited for hours to report this story. When they couldn’t name him as a terrorist and racist. When they entertained notions of him possibly not being white. When they bent over backward trying to figure out a motive that was abundantly clear.

And so, we’re asked again to endure as we fight yet another battle in a war for our humanity. And we show up…because we have to. But each time, the burden is just that much heavier.