safe

(i can't decide if this is micro post or macro post, and won't be able to i write and post the next piece i am working on. but i'd love to hear what you think.)

It’s something I am realizing that does not apply to me, or anyone in (the) Diaspora*, for that matter. Because all around the world, safe is for those in power, for those benefiting (READ: white, American/1st World, owning class, middle class, straight, able-bodied, etc.) from the status quo, whether they know it or not. For example, safe** here in Brasil, so very visible, means locks, gates, barbed wires, military-like police armed with machine guns. But after 20 years of being conditioned by the NYPD, and over 500 years of being policed, I still feel that my physical well-being is at risk. It was actually terrifying when I first got here. For the first time, I was on the inside of the gates, my American and educational privilege placed me there. And although that is very real, my new position with concern to these gates, I know it is very superficial, temporary and fickle. And even within them, I don’t feel protected or free from the possibility of danger or assault, I still don’t feel safe. And what about my people on the outside of those gates? If part of what the way that I understand myself as an African, Person of Color*** means that I understand me as we, then what is safety if it’s only one of us, and not our entire communities? I know that I am bordering on sounding like the romantic, idealistic, and well removed from the practical basics revolutionary, but seriously. Until we are all (safe), none of us are. Because there will always exist the moment where the fingers and systems pulling the hand on triggers, taking away our food and violently extracting our labor, won’t bother to note the difference on what side of the gate that I/we are standing****.

*Yes, I am rethinking of what this means. But to avoid a really long post, I will just save those thoughts for conversation.
**The part of society that placed those protections there, is safe. The part of society that was deprived of their basic necessities and freedoms for the profit of the first part, is not safe. In fact, we are never safe. It is a (false) luxury, based on the construction of fear. And us Americans, should know (false) fear very well. If drives us to consume ~30% of the world’s resources.
***Also rethinking this, post to come soon.
****Whoa! I know. I just re-read this and thought to myself, you are lucky enough to have that “superficial, temporary and fickle” shield of safety and protection. For the purpose of time, organization and a reasonable length-wise post, I am saving my observations, analyses and feelings about all these contradictions in myself for a separate post. But still. Comment as you see fit. I want/need to learn from you too!!!