“Councilwoman Hanifa H. G. Shabazz said the hyper violence in Wilmington is a remnant of slavery and is causing mental illness, causing black people to become self-destructive. She said she came to that realization after watching the movie 12 Years of Slavery.”
First off, it’s “Twelve Years a Slave”. Secondly, Solomon Northrup, the guy who actually was forced into slavery for 12 years, used the horrors of his experience towards a positive end. He became a ferocious abolitionist and lecturer on the realities of slavery. If anyone had a right to see himself solely as a victim and make excuses for his actions, it was probably this guy. But he didn’t, despite going through ordeals that quite frankly probably would have broken many of us.
If the Councilwoman really wants to make things better, it’s time to stop making excuses and start facing the problems head on. That won’t get her re-elected, though. And it’s so much easier to blame than fix.
Hanifa is on to something here. Seems certain to be mental, but not so sure it is an illness.