Jessie Williams Is the Real MVP
We’ve known for awhile that actor Jessie Williams is perfect. His recent Twitter essay just confirmed it. The actor and activist dropped knowledge on the history of rioting on Twitter Monday night. Read below:
If you don’t actually care about Black people having equal protection under the law, why are you making suggestions to those who do?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
What are the critical elements that constitute a “riot” and when do riots offend you?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
If we view rioting as a mass temper tantrum expressed through violence & property damage, white sports fans do that monthly. #Tradition
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
1 group can burn & loot when a team scores less points than another but when paid public servants kill citizens, we gotta be BaggerVance?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Where are all the think pieces & coverage of the pathology of white culture every time white frustration vents violence & destruction? — jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
There is nothing “black” about rioting. How do you think we got all this land? — jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Historically riots have been tools for intimidation; destroying populations, taking land & valuables. #BlowingOffSteam #BoysWillBeBoys
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Whites rioted throughout the early 1900s, slaughtering, burning & looting entire thriving black townships, just because of the adjective.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
You’ve watched hulking bullies w/ badges, robes & money brutalize, kill & cage human beings every yr of your entire lives & said nothing.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
So Exactly What Kind Of Violence Don’t You Like?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Police & policies have been rioting on our bodies; destroying people & property every single day of your lives. But here you come…
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
…When the beaten, marinated in centuries of trauma, pain & distress, manage to muster a response, here you come, squealing; revealing.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
You seem to really hate when people do “things that aren’t helping” like contextualizing issues based on empirical evidence. #UghTheWorst!
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Things that “aren’t helping” happen every single day though, which means you’ve had a million opportunities to research & contribute. #But
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
You have so much to say, yet we’ve never seen you out here you before. Who shows up after the event & criticizes the audience’s reaction?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
So tell me again, what kind of violence it is that you detest? I keep forgetting. ToWhom? FromWhom? HowOften? For how long? InOrderToWhat?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
The reaction to oppression has always been spun & marketed as validation for the status quo.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Notice how the party slogan, no matter the font or cleche, always boils down to #NeverChange.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
You want us to condemn black folks being violent against PROPERTY but you NEVER condemn police killing actual PEOPLE. #Explain #JustTry
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Photo: Twitter