Why Black Americans Should Be Concerned About War – Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

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Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
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As the U.S. moves closer to conflict with Iran, Black Americans cannot afford to ignore the risks. From disproportionate frontline military service to a long history of state violence at home and abroad, Black communities have always borne the brunt of war. Bombs may be colorblind, but American policy rarely is.
Black folk should most definitely view a potential US/Iran war with deep concern because bombs are “colorblind.” In other words, any smoke Iran has for the U.S. will hurt us all.
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And how did we get here? How did we come to a point where the U.S. is flirting with provoking another world war by bombing Iran?
Well, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, for roughly 30 years, attempted to get U.S. presidents to join him and his crew in a war against Iran. For 30 years, Netanyahu has told U.S. presidents the same thing: Iran is just years away, maybe months away, maybe just weeks away from having all the materials needed to create an entire arsenal of atomic and/or nuclear weapons.
Another way of looking at that is to say Netanyahu has been lying his butt off for 30 years, but no U.S. presidents fell for the okey-doke. Until now.
And of all the countries in the “Middle East” that the U.S. makes a habit of belittling and threatening, Iran ain’t the one. They may or may not have all the firepower Netanyahu has sworn up and down (since 1995) they were two weeks away from building. But whatever they have, they will bring it.
And again, Blackfolk can’t sit on the sidelines with this issue. Because bombs (and/or all forms of political and military violence) are “colorblind.”
At least… kinda.
Because truth be told, historically, global and domestic conflicts disproportionately impact people of color, with race often central to their genesis and execution. White supremacist ideologies inherently escalate tensions, readily advocating for “war” against non-white communities (Black, Latino and Asian) far more frequently and aggressively.
Pick a year. Pick a decade. Pick a century. This country has always been quicker to pull the trigger on political/military violence against Black folk. The easy examples are Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, Florida’s Rosewood, and Arkansas’s Elaine, AK Massacre.
But don’t forget the MOVE bombing in Philly in 1985. Or the assault on the Black Panther leadership, including the Dec. 4, 1969 assassination of Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the National Black Panther Party, chairman of the Illinois chapter and head of the Chicago chapter.
And if you go beyond these American shores, bombings, coups, military overthrows and invasions have visited country after country, nation after nation, of predominantly Black, Latino and Asian peoples.
And U.S. global conflicts have impacted Black folk and other folks of color more than others in other ways. It’s we who have made up the majority of frontline troops — the ones most in harm’s way. And it’s been Black veterans who were least likely to access GI benefits in the war’s aftermath.
All that being said, it’s still very true that if attacks from other countries target U.S. soil, those bombs won’t care if your people are the descendants of the once all-Black Seneca Village (now NYC’s Central Park) or generational residents of Stone Mountain, GA (the once heart of the Confederacy). We will all feel the heat.
And for what?
This piece was originally published in Word in Black. For more information, visit www.wordinblack.com.
Make a contribution to support community journalism today. All levels of support are greatly needed and appreciated.
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The MSR is a for-profit business. Your support is not tax-deductible.

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