As I was growing up, the term “white privilege” or “black lives matter” would not have been relevant. My siblings and I grew up in a large house, large backyard, in the neighborhood that had all different ethnic groups. It was the “united nations”. Some of the names were: Hughes, Wagner,  Falafaka, Suswal, Torres, Curry, Jimenez, just to name a few. Kids in the neighborhood would play in the neighbor’s back yard, playgrounds, or in a local indoor recreation center.

My father had worked at the Raritan Copperworks which employed many people who had immigrated from many different countries. Each year, there was a picnic for the employees. Later, my father owned a taxi service who employed men and women of all different backgrounds. If you were qualified for the job, you were given it. 

There were a lot of people of color who owned businesses and homes. It wasn’t anything rare. 

My mother and father were a perfect match because they took parenting seriously and wanted only the best for their children. They set an example for anyone to emulate if they wanted to succeed. The most important thing when raising a child first and foremost is to teach them love and to respect themselves and others. I only saw respect and love between my parents.  This also extended to my immediate relatives. 

Like anyone else, I was stunned by the sadistic murder of George Floyd. My feelings about this is only those who committed this heinous murder and their superiors who knew about the record of this one officer should also be held accountable.

I cannot blame the police as a whole for the horrendous actions of a few. No child should ever have to see their father tortured this way. A GoFundMe account for Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna has raised over $2 million. She has been given shares of Disney Stock from Barbara Streisand and a full scholarship to Texas Southern University. 

Colleges across the country are now offering George Floyd Memorial Scholarships. Some of them are $50,000 for the recipient. I’m sure that the Floyd family would exchange all of this to have him back. 

Look at the money being made off of George Floyd’s death. When they raised money for the scholarships, will all of that money go for the intended purposes? 

When of George Floyd’s family members were interviewed, he broke down when discussing the riots and looting that took place. 

This is exactly my point. Yes, you have peaceful protesters, but then it was marred by what I call accessories to murder which are the looters and rioters. A black business owner put on his store stating so, which would protect his property from looters. He was anguished when he stated: “They destroyed my business anyway.”

Another black store owner cried out, “Black Lives Matter! – No, they don’t! Look what was done to my store!”

Another heartbreaking video showed a family from New York who owned two pharmacies. There was a video camera showing looters breaking the metal gate, smashing the store windows and decimating the store. What was the most jarring, was that it was looters of all different racial backgrounds. The owners were distraught because they also took prescriptions of people who were being treated for cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. How sickening!

Many of the businesses that were owned, whether by black, white, or other people service communities and employed people in the communities. Now, these businesses are rubble . What about those black lives?  I am just so upset.

As far as Black Lives Matter, I personally have a problem with the organization. It seems that they only concentrate on police  brutality and killings involving white officers towards black men. 

No one wants to look at the elephant in the room which is the black gangs killing young black children and adults. Why is there no outrage over this? Why are the politicians not addressing this?

Any politician, peaceful protester, celebrity, who wants to go with me to a crime infested neighborhood, I am up for the challenge. At least I know, I’ll have protection – you know from the police department that some of you want defunded. Celebrities also have their private security with their guns.

I look at YouTube videos of mothers crying who lost not just one child, but multiple children to gang violence. Why don’t you look at the stats just for one month in Chicago, Baltimore,  and other inner cities. 

To the celebrities, with your apologies of having white privilege, just cut it. You are not doing anything except hoping to make yourself feel better. 

Do you think the peaceful civil rights workers of years ago who were attacked by dogs, beaten with police batons, and were hosed down forcefully with fire hoses had taking down monuments on their mind? No, they were doing serious work. Work that made a difference. They were not protected by the police like you are now despite calling them “pigs in the blanket” and “fry them like bacon”!

Way back then, try throwing some rocks at cops. You would be coming home if you were lucky in a body-bag.

Just remember today, I am only referring to the looters and rioters, and not peaceful protesters.

As a matter of fact, in Perth Amboy, the protesters were treated to hotdogs and water after the activities had concluded.

I also would like to commend Newark residents who stood up against potential looters and rioters and stated: “Our police are tired! You are not going to destroy our neighborhood!”

I was also moved by some peaceful protesters and some residents who were armed to protect their businesses and residents and they embraced one another.

There is hope after all.

Carolyn M.