Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 28, 1993 TAG: 9309070177
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROGER TRENTON DAVIS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When there is a threat to the United States from any country around the world, this country is eager and willing to go to that country and remove the threat. Now the greatest threat that this country has ever experienced is right in its own back yard, and this nation refuses to do anything about it. Why? Because cocaine is viewed as a black problem. History tells us that America has never considered ``black problems'' as being America's problems until they threaten the economic structure of the white community.
In the case of cocaine, it is being used to boost the economic structure of the white community. When we notice that 95 percent of the judicial process is controlled by white people and 85 percent of the people in prison are black, we see the structure. Blacks are considered expendable. Drugs in the black community mean arrest, conviction, prison, thus creating millions of jobs for the white power structure - courts, jails, lawyers, police, drug rehab, analysis labs, prisons, parole officers, gun dealers, etc. In this respect, we see the usefulness of black people as defined by the white power structure.
Prior to the mid-1980s, cocaine was viewed as the drug of choice among affluent, white drug users. This view changed when crack cocaine appeared in inner-city areas, where it was packaged, priced and marketed to appeal to the economically disadvantaged living in these areas. As part of the 1980s drug war, political leaders allocated increased resources to apprehending and convicting persons engaged in illegal drug activity, particularly activity involving ``hard'' drugs such as cocaine. Much of these resources were directed at areas where drug activity was the most obvious and easy to target: the poor inner-city neighborhoods that have large percentages of black people.
The plight of black people in this country and the drugs are not by accident, but by a very cautious and creative design. Black people do not have the boats, planes and finances necessary to bring drugs to this country. But today they bear the liabilities of drugs' existence here. And what about the affluent white drug user of the early 1980s? Where is he? If not in jail he must be in the judicial system. He's the lawyer, policeman, drug rehab counselor, lab technician, prison official, parole officer and, yes, in the House and Senate. After all, it was his design.
I cannot and will not stand by idle and watch a people who have fought so hard and struggled so long to get this far be destroyed by a system that has always been insensitive to the human needs of such a large segment of the American people as the blacks of this country, whose value is judged by the amount of time he can be sentenced to serve in the penal system.
Black men and women have served this country faithfully for almost 400 years. We were here when the foundation of this nation was laid. We were here when Jefferson took pen in hand and began to write, ``When in the course of human events ... '' Although we were not accepted as a part of this great declaration, we accepted the declaration as a part of us. ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'' was not written or uttered with us in mind. But we were endowed by our creator to live in this nation as a part of his creation, to be made free by the will of God, not by man's decree.
I cannot stand by and watch a people just as American as Jefferson, who contributed just as much sweat and blood, tears and heartache as anyone in this nation's history, be denied the fruit of his labor any longer. For after almost 400 years, blacks are still referred to as African-Americans, meaning someone who is only half American, thus denying full citizenship to men and women born here. Saying that our beginning, our so called ``roots,'' are in Africa, and not in the Garden of Eden where God created man. Thus you deny me a true beginning. You deny me an end. You deny me manhood. You deny me my God. Therefore, you deny my existence.
You don't have to live the lie any longer, my people. You have earned the right to be here. You have earned the right to call America ``your house.'' You have earned the right to have a voice in your house, and that voice is yours, not someone picked by the white power structure for you who sees your only asset or contribution as being how much money can be made from your persecution.
You have earned the right to be protected from the so-called ``drug lords'' in South America, whose sole purpose is the destruction of this nation. You have earned the right not to be locked up for life while they roam free. You have earned the right to tell this system to keep that filth out of your house. To stop persecuting American individuals for the neglect of this nation's leaders to solve the problem which is within their power.
I beg you, my people, leave the drugs alone. For every time it touches your hand, that's another nail you drive in your own coffin. Every time you use it, sell it, condone it, you are aiding a corrupt system in your own ``genocide.'' You are providing the excuse for the condemnation of a proud and mighty people. The white power structure is aware of this. And now so are you.
Without the drug persecutions, think of how many people would be out of work. The court systems, police department, lawyers, drug rehab, lab technicians, prison officials and parole officers would all have to shut their doors; mass layoffs in the entire justice system. Those people would have to get real jobs. Oh, the beauty of it all. But more importantly, we as a people would survive.
We could live in a community, not what is referred to as a ``high-crime area.'' We could be called citizen and taxpayer, not criminal or ex-con. We could demand justice and equality with a clear and sober mind. We could raise our children in a family setting, not from a penitentiary cell. We could assure ourselves of a next generation of black people to carry on God's will for all humanity. You have to leave it alone, my people, please. We can't survive if you don't.
I am prepared to give up my life to save my people. I only ask you to give up the drugs to save yours. I ask you, my government, to please stop the persecution of the American people for drug crimes on American soil. It doesn't grow here. But turn your attention to the plantations of South America. To the root of America's suffering.
Unless this is done, I sacrifice my life to draw attention to the obvious: that the American government is allowing genocide to be practiced upon the black citizens of this nation.
\ Roger Trenton Davis, an inmate at Roanoke City Jail, wrote this when he was on a hunger strike. He's serving 20 years on his fifth drug conviction.
by CNB