The people decrying the actions of those rioting like to tut tut, click their tongues and say things like, "violence begets violence," as if to say that these people are bringing the harsh reaction of the state upon them by acting violently in the first place.
The problem? This is not "in the first place." This is the violence begotten by the violence visited upon these communities by the state for centuries in one form or another. You don't get to let the state murder a man for no reason and then turn around and say, "They started it!" when the community from which he hailed lashes out.
I totally get your point, but I think that's dehumanizing for "these communities."
If you rationalize the burning down of a store by black people, you make that the expectation, right? You're saying black people are so degraded as people that they can't help but burn down a pharmacy or resort to violence and looting.
If it's understandable behavior, why would anyone invest in these neighborhoods? What would anyone loan money to a business in these neighborhoods?
And, I think that's what black people in these poor areas need, jobs and investment. I think they would do better with jobs and investment than people being totally understanding and not tut-tuting at looting and violence.
