America the Dichotomy

I hope the harmony and clash of this patriotic song, mixed with historical facts… this American Dichotomy, makes you uncomfortable for all the right reasons. And challenges us all to think about the narrative we hold and how that narrative can help us collectively be better. America the Dichotomy

The first colonizers who came to America, in part came to escape their own political turmoil, poverty, and warfare. And eventually, due to further financial and political restrictions they decided to collectively declare war on Britain for what they deemed their God given rights.

But their sworn constitution was a Dichotomy. Because the very rights they were willing to once shed blood for, after gaining their independence they were now willing to shed blood for their very suppression to others.

Most people know of Americas story of slavery up to 1865. But what some may not know is that over the next 60 years post so-called freedom of black humans, who were not Americans, there were nearly a dozen institutional condoned massacres carried out specifically to suppress economic, education and political advancement for people of color.

1868 Louisiana Massacre: 233 killed to reverse political gains made by black citizens

1874 Vicksburg Mississippi: 150 killed to disband a political meeting to support a black sheriff.

1898 Wilmington Coup: 60 killed overthrew political rise of black representation

1919 Elaine Ark: 200 killed dismantle first black farmers union for fair cotton policy

1921 Black Wall Street: Bombing of Tulsa bankers, doctors, lawyers

This is the story, the story of the American Dichotomy.

Could you imagine being born just after slavery ended and told that you were free and equal. But over the next 60 years of your lifetime seeing almost every attempt to live up to that freedom burned, slaughtered, raped, and hung from trees. How do you think that would affect you?

Well, this was the world of my grandmother’s parents. And these stories and that energy was inherently passed to my grandfather and rubbed off on my mother and the mental and emotional stains of blood trickle down to me and the generations of today. But though this is our history and present, this story is not the whole story.

 Slowly and surely each generation has moved us closer to this vision and dream. A country that is… and can be… more beautiful by each generation and day to come. A country that is, today, full of great economic, education and political advancement. I myself am a testament to that. A black man in America who has spent much of his life in prison, today has more opportunity and freedom than more than half of our global population. For this I must give thanks. For this I have a responsibility… as we all have a responsibility. To honor those who sacrificed so much to create a more just society.

So, as it relates to being an American today, the only question that remains is what part have you played?

Will you play, to ensure the Dichotomy of our country is forever drowned out by its beauty.

In what ways can you learn from our painful history and in what ways can you be a part of a better future? 

Seneca KMIR Alma is currently living in Dallas and works as a personal trainer and yoga teacher in Deep Ellum. He is also the co-founder of Social Medialess, a movement encouraging society to spend time away from social media. To learn more or get involved, email Seneca. You can read more about Seneca’s sacred story in our blog series Invitation to Heal: Racism in America.

You can also read some of his Seneca’s story here in a piece he wrote Untraditional Prison Stories.

Retreat House Spirituality Center hosted a Martin Luther King, Jr, Day or Remembering. Seneca and musician Moni Gee shared Dichotomy of America through song and speaking.