Finding Pride in Violence: Alabama Boat Brawl Shows Black Unification
<p>We have a zero-tolerance fighting rule at my school, and my students feel this is unfair. We usually discuss the issue in class at least twice.</p>
<p>The first time is when we discuss reasoning and instinct. Most animals act on instinct, but humans, in theory, should be able to reason. If they are placed in a situation that calls for violence, but they can walk away or talk themselves out of it, they should be proud.</p>
<p>The other is from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em>To Kill Mockingbird.</em></a> Atticus Finch walks away from Bob Ewell after Bob spits on him. I always have at least one student that inevitably says some version of “<em>I would have punched him</em>,” or “<em>Atticus is a punk.</em>”</p>
<p>I remind them that Atticus understands the repercussions of his actions. Violence is not always the best answer.</p>
<p>But…</p>
<p>Sometimes, maybe it is.</p>
<p>It is hard to tell a group of people to sit down and be peaceful when they have been beaten, killed, and told they are less than for centuries. Peaceful protests are a great way to work within many systems, but as <a href="https://collectiveliberation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Lorde_The_Masters_Tools.pdf" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Audre Lorde</a> stated decades ago, “<em>The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”</em></p>
<p>We have centuries of history that show change is often just a way to quiet the rowdy while keeping most systems in place. They make a few tweaks, change a few words, or make a few temporary concessions.</p>
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