On the brutalisation of black and brown bodies: From Baton Rouge to Baghdad

From Sir Chilcot’s damning condemnation of Tony Blair’s illegal and brutal war in Iraq to the recent murder of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, we are reminded daily that Black and Brown people are constantly living in a state of terror, with violence – in its physical and psychological manifestations - as the main medium of this terrorism.

Now I could rattle off numerous examples of how violence has been and still is enacted upon our communities, from the sheer brutality of the transatlantic slave trade and European Colonialism in Africa, South America and Asia, to the current series of decimating interventionist wars, across formerly colonised regions. If that wasn’t enough consider the fact that black and brown people are disproportionately affected by austerity measures, often segregated in areas rife with poverty, high crime rates and in essence there is very little opportunity for social mobility.

But what is equally as devastating is the intense violence in the language used towards us. Today, it is hard to differentiate between the visceral tones of the ‘civilising mission,’ and the ‘white man’s burden,’ from the xenophobic and Islamaphobic rhetoric that has gripped the west. We continue to be othered, orientalised and dehumanised, often having to validate our existence in order to justify the importance of our humanity.

I really would not be mistaken in saying that there is a systematic attack on our communities.

I am not saying anything new here and in fact I shouldn’t have to demonstrate our suffering, but why is it the case that our pleas for mercy and respite are falling on deaf ears? I believe this can be attributed to the eroticised nature of violence against black and brown bodies. This is so deeply embedded into the psyche of white supremacist capitalist society that we have collectively become desensitised to racialised suffering. Videos of Black victims of police brutality go viral in 24 hours, hashtags are released and statements are made, yet no justice. Almost daily we are bombarded with explicit images of bloodied bodies in the Middle East and Africa, plastered across our computer and T.V. screens, yet no changes in foreign policy. Nonetheless, what is often ignored is the damage occurring in our minds, the draining of energy, demoralisation, emotional fatigue and the sheer lack of self-worth within our communities.

There is almost an acceptance that to be born Black or Brown, resigns you to a life which inevitably involves violence and brutality as a common trope. Hence why there are not as many tears for Baghdad as there are for Brussels, why victims of state sanctioned violence are put on trial rather than the perpetrators, why individuals experiencing the trauma of a colonised and racialised existence are ignored and ostracised.

Make no mistake about it, the societal tolerance of the physical and psychological violence that we face daily, highlights an acceptance of the questioning of our humanity.

I would like to stress here that although we as a community experience the collective trauma of a violent existence, there should never be an attempt to homogenise our experiences as they deserve to be highlighted in their own respects. Notwithstanding, I strongly urge that during trying periods, we prioritise self-care. It is fine to switch off when it becomes overwhelming and seek comfort in our safe spaces. Support and validation are key in the process of our healing. Most importantly, we must always remember that our humanity is valid regardless of events that tell us otherwise, therefore with that in mind we should continue to push to have that recognised across all facets of society.

#rascism #blacklivesmatter #policebrutality #blackandbrownbodies