(40) Unity is Key

A Chicago negro youth was accused of unwelcome attention to Roy Bryant’s most attractive wife. He was later found shot to death and found in a river in Greenwood Mississippi in 1955.

Is it possible that Emmett Till was a victim of the fear mongering that was taking place about black people at this time in this country, and that this person may not have done anything wrong?

Most likely so, and stimulus generalization was a factor of Emmett Till being brutalized from the fear that escalated in the people due to the hatred that had been placed upon black people at this time. Most likely the situation evolved because the person did not appreciate or want any black person around or anywhere near her vicinity. Open terrorism, and so like the Mathew Sheppard hate crime act An Emmet Till federal anti-lynching act was enacted into law which makes lynching a federal hate crime.

These laws define lynching as any conspired bias motivated offense which results in the death or serious bodily injury.

Section 249 of title 18 United States code to specify lynching as a hate crime act the 117th congress revised to include serious bodily injury passed March 29, 2022.

Now the fear mongering that instigates hypersensitivity in the members of society need to be addressed, because the underlying mechanism that raises fear is the leaders that push for, and the groups that form as a result of blatantly generalizing people by the use of stereotypes and labels to categorize individuals to specific groups. Now they generalize the person further by what may be assumed, expected, or predicted of someone that would fit the bill of someone from that group. How much hate is involved may be indicated by how blatantly and to what extent the individual is categorized which is correlated to the level of violence, harassment, and bullying that the person can expect. The level of hate can be seen as a spectrum or a continuum, but categorizing people is not right due to the lack of seeing people for any kind of individual differences or unique contribution that they may have to offer. In contrast, people that categorize others are hardly open to any alternative perception or interpretation of the people that they label. Studies show, if someone challenges the status quo and opposes the label that has been impressed upon them, then this instigates violence and hatred at the highest level. This partially explains the mob violence that led up to the civil rights movement, and the anti-lynching acts that have recently been legislated.

Other dynamics to consider that lead to hatred and violence is the use of black/white, and, either/or thinking then the us against them thing begins. The emotions rise and groups form as a means to justify deeply held ideological beliefs. Getting as may people on your side as possible is what dictators do to build a political movement. Authoritarian leaders also are notorious for lowering restraint and increasing arousal to push a biased agenda based on social movements as a method to boost political support and gain a stronghold of that power and social control that they are so thirsty for.

Open terrorism is not so prevalent, but still exists in a hidden and covert fashion, but It is brazen and bold to the person being discriminated against. There is no place for prejudice and discrimination. We can see unacceptance and a lack of appreciation toward human differences in this country has escalated to an all-time high, and mental health issues are on the rise as well. It is obvious that discontent and tensions are high, and the pandemic, and the economic hardship that is rising is only sure to make tensions worse. It is important to be aware of the things that raise stress, frustration, and displaced aggression, so that we can counter these things to keep tensions in check and keep American’s strong. This goes for the leaders of our organizations and institutions as well, because they set the tide, the country is unraveling, and it is important to look at the bigger picture and be strong together. Today America is under its biggest challenge ever things like value differences, technology, and generational gaps are higher than in colonial times but racism and bigotry existed then. It still exists now, but we can make a difference being angry and roughing people up is not the answer. I have gone to school 11 of the last 15 years so I can pay it forward, and I chose to take classes long ago because i was grateful for my life and wanted to learn and find some way and some area that is needed that I could give back. I am still on this quest and I am not going to give up and you shouldn’t either. So c’mon remember in the end nobody wins unless we all win.