Amidst the chaos following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a couple I knew from graduate school, who live just a couple of blocks from the incident, found themselves grappling with unease. When their local Target was looted, I reached out to see how they were holding up. They shared their feelings of nervousness, yet they also conveyed a deep understanding of the mounting tensions between law enforcement and the black community. They loved Minneapolis and recognized that the situation had been deteriorating for some time. Rather than pointing fingers at the community for the vandalism, they acknowledged that many of those arrested were not from the area, often linked to external groups with malicious intent.
This perspective starkly contrasted the reactions I was witnessing online. Initially, the public was appalled by the video of Floyd’s murder, but soon outrage shifted to the destruction of property and rioting. Common queries arose: “What does this achieve?” and “Why would individuals harm their own neighborhood?”
As I observed the cleanup efforts in places like Downtown Crossing in Boston, it struck me how those who lived through the events had a more nuanced understanding than those merely reacting from afar. Empathy seemed to be sorely lacking in the heated discussions.
People sought logic in the aftermath of the riots, failing to grasp that such actions stem from profound anger and frustration—emotions born from years of feeling ignored and oppressed. Riots are seldom senseless; they are often the last resort for a community that feels unheard. In college, I studied Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, a powerful one-woman play based on interviews with individuals affected by the 1992 riots. The narratives it presented highlighted the collective frustration of a community that felt repeatedly overlooked by those in power.
Ultimately, I learned that riots erupt when people have reached their breaking point. They emerge when pleas for justice, safety, and basic human rights are met with silence. It’s not merely about broken glass or damaged storefronts; it’s the manifestation of a deeper societal rift that demands attention.
For those questioning why cities burn, I urge you to reflect on the profound anger and hopelessness that drive individuals to such extremes. Those expressing outrage over property damage are often in a position of safety and privilege, whereas many others feel they have nothing to lose. The sentiment is clear: if societal structures fail to protect them, then perhaps it is time to dismantle and rebuild.
This is not a justification for violence or destruction. Rather, it’s an attempt to convey the urgency of addressing systemic racism and the unjust killings of people of color. We cannot continue to focus solely on the consequences of protests without recognizing the injustices that sparked them. The moments of athletes kneeling in solidarity, statements from public figures, and the countless stories of unarmed individuals of color losing their lives are all calls for change that were largely ignored until now.
What happened to George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, and so many others is a tragic injustice that is compounded when society chooses not to listen. The real issue is not the looting or the broken windows, but the urgent need for systemic change—a change that was necessary decades ago and remains critical today. If the voices of the unheard continue to be ignored, the cycle of rioting will persist.
Riots are the language of those who feel invisible, and the only way to prevent such outbursts is through genuine listening and committed action. We must prioritize understanding and address the root causes of these frustrations.
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Summary:
The article discusses the underlying issues fueling riots, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding of systemic racism. It highlights that destruction stems from feelings of being unheard and neglected by society, urging a focus on addressing these deep-rooted problems rather than merely condemning the actions that arise from them.