Campbell's Commentary - OF RACE RELATIONS AND SYSTEMIC FRAUD IN AMERICA

By Aubrey Campbell

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, June 09, 2020 – Brothers and sisters, welcome to the second pandemic ‘pon’ top of the first pandemic, and already we know which one of the pandemics will win.

Hold on. There could be a third pandemic lurking out there, somewhere. More on that one later.

Folks, we saw what it took to flatten the curve, bringing it to manageable proportions and giving the relevant authorities at the city, state and federal levels, the confidence to signal the general populace back to work.

One hundred days is not an easy spend when every facet of the human sensibilities was disrupted during the ‘flattening’ exercise, and not only that, for some, their basic human rights were trampled on, and tragically so, causing the second pandemic!

It is fair to say that the events of the past 100 days, are a stark reminder that all men are not created equal!

And while you ponder that, chew on this. How can a people, a race that has and continues to do so much, mean so little to so many?

During pandemic one, we got our lungs crystallized before the ventilators could be delivered and during pandemic 2, we got the life snuffed out of us by the unjust, justice system, the kind that will keep its knee on your neck, until you are breathless, the kind that a brave governor Andrew Cuomo rightly calls repugnant!

Sir, what we don’t want is for you to just pander to the camera. It took you and your team one hundred days to flatten COVID19. And it took that racist police officer in Minneapolis, under 9 minutes to show the world, what MAGA America thinks of an unarmed, black man in 2020!

Are you with me?

So, let’s just start with Rodney King in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. That’s 29 years ago! And we thought we made progress when we elected a black president!

The hope is that George Floyd did not die in vain. Then again, hope springs eternal!

On the 76^th anniversary of D-Day, we are faced with a new norm, the faces, and the voices are younger, more daring and more determined, stepping together to change the national and global narrative on race relations.

Yes, we need a revolution but without the violence, without the looting, the burning and criminality. Do not become a criminal while fighting for change, and so my heart goes out to the young man who is now facing attempted murder charges for his action against a police officer here in the city!

As we face this pandemic of racism, let’s ask those responsible to take their knees of our necks so that we can breathe! Our lives matter and so is our vote.

Folks, we can’t be fooled by the noise in the marketplace, we have to stay focused, stay the course, and pay attention to the quality and price of the goods on sale!

In the Governor’s words. America is better than this, and it should not be taking this long for real change!

We are into the month of June, when we take the time to recall and recite the achievements of persons from the Caribbean region, those persons whose blood, sweat and tears are soaked into the fabric and the landscape of these United States…

Let’s pause for the cause whenever we can and recognize the month of June as Caribbean American Heritage Month, through House Resolution 425!

And we must keep in the back of our minds, the fact that June also is the start of the 

dreaded Atlantic Hurricane Season, the kind that threatens every facet of life for peoples of the Caribbean community and region…!

I think I have bored you enough for one session but just indulge me for a minute more.

Last week, I referenced the ‘crab in the barrel’ mentality among us in noting that another Jamaican saw it fit to name his business ‘bickle’ while being fully aware of the entity established by Irwin Clare, Sr., and company some 25 years ago.

If you do not know who Irwin Clare, Sr., is, google him!

Turns out that when this individual was approached and asked to explain why he would do such a thing, he did nothing more than seek to ‘hype up’ himself, like the buffoon he’s turning out to be!

If you are just coming into business, again, do not be fooled by the noise in the marketplace. You should know that brand loyalty means a lot to the principals at Team Jamaica Bickle and so, the infringement will not go unnoticed, in the first instance.

Just imagine that as a ‘newbie’ and/or ‘neophyte’ – your choice – you cause harm in the public space and suddenly, every bickle gets thrown into the pickle. What will you say?

Brethren. A word to the wise. Cease and desist! No need for the confusion. Leave that to Confucius!

Oops! That third pandemic I mentioned at the top…the Atlantic Hurricane season.

Enough for this week. Be safe and as usual, you have the floor!

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Editor’s note. Aubrey Campbell is producer/host of Caribbean Conversation, a magazine program, airing on WVIP, 93.5 FM, Sundays, 2-4 pm, and streaming on the Wee Radio Network at; www.weeradioonline.com.