ALYSSA BUMP
Assistant Life & Arts Editor
ANALYSIS
Israel Ortiz, a Fredonia student, is continuing to advocate for Black Lives Matter through his empowering words and actions.
Despite the fact that Black Lives Matter is no longer trending on social media, Ortiz understands that this movement is not over.
In fact, the fight for justice and equality still has a long journey ahead.
Ortiz is not only still attending peaceful protests, but he has also given a speech at a rally in Hamburg.
He was invited by one of the organizers, Michaela Hangen, to speak at this rally on June 14.
Because Hamburg is predominately white, it was important for the organizers to have Black voices educate the audience.
Including Ortiz, there were five Black speakers at the Hamburg rally.
Ortiz’s speech was both moving and empowering.
It even resulted in the only standing ovation at this protest, as well as multiple requests for a copy of the entire speech.
To start off the speech, Ortiz said, “Welcome to the dark side of America. On this side things are different. There is no American Dream. There is no first amendment. There is no freedom. There is no equality. There is no hope, not on the dark side.”
Ortiz continued by describing why the “dark side” is the way it is.
He went into detail about poverty, drug use and other struggles Black communities face regularly.
Ortiz said, “Because of you, your people, their persecution, their despotism… we live in the ashes … but you know what they say: ‘In order for a Phoenix to rise from its ashes, it first must burn’ and we shall rise … when the time is right.”
Ortiz was implying that “your people” are white.
White people are to blame for creating systemic racism in the past, but they also have helped continue its wrath in the present.
Many white people would be quick to deny this fact.
However, many white people don’t see the issue because they have never experienced or felt the grips of racism.
Ortiz continued by saying, “The Bible is written in our likeness, the savior of man is of our creed, Gods of all faiths model our complexion. From the beginning of time, Black ruled. Africa was the richest continent in the world and the societies inhabiting the land were far beyond their time. Math, science, astronomy, architecture — Africa had it all — but one day — one day everything changed. Slavery changed everything.”
America in particular created a country built on the backs of Black men and women.
Yet instead of receiving recognition or praise, they received years of abuse that continue on today.
Ortiz pointed this out by saying, “It’s ironic to think America, the land of the free, created the only slavery dependent on race. Our Founding Fathers preached freedom, equality and liberation — but almost all of [them] were slave owners. Many of which would not relinquish their slaves until their death.”
Many American schools teach about slavery, but they make sure to sweep the horrifying details under the rug.
They make sure to preserve the reputation of the Founding Fathers, despite the fact that most of them partook in owning slaves.
James Madison had over 100 slaves.
Thomas Jefferson had approximately 175 slaves.
George Washington had 317 slaves at Mount Vernon.
The irony continues, though. Ortiz said, “Slavery lasted 244 years in America, and in those 244 years, a system was created that was so deeply calculated and so carefully woven that the very amendment made to free us, kept us trapped for almost 160 years.”
The 13th Amendment is just one of the ways America has kept systemic racism alive.
It “abolished” slavery, but kept it alive in American prisons.
Ortiz continued to explain, saying, “That amendment that I mentioned that ‘freed the slaves?’ Well, that amendment locked away more Black men and women than we have ever seen. 13th Amendment loophole: ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.’ Directly after slavery came a large wave of Black incarceration.”
Black incarceration was fueled by Jim Crow laws, Black Codes, gerrymandering, red lining and the war on drugs.
Racism and slavery were running rampant behind closed doors.
However, opening these doors wasn’t hard. Many people just preferred to leave them closed.
In fact, the Ku Klux Klan was openly racist and committed a multitude of hate crimes.
Ortiz said, “Someone asked me once, why the KKK wore hoods; ‘if they’re so proud of what they’re doing and their culture, why hide their faces?’ And I told them: ‘It’s because when those hoods come off, they’re our police, our teachers, our politicians, our doctors and our neighbors.’”
This is an uncomfortable statement made by Ortiz, but it is bold and true.
Some of the most uncomfortable truths are the ones that desperately need to be exposed.
Another truth that Ortiz exposed was that, “The introduction of crack and ghettos: as you may know many people of color live in these neighborhoods referred to as ‘ghettos’ or ‘the hood.’ What I bet you didn’t know is that white people created these areas.”
Between gerrymandering, red lining and the crack epidemic, Black people struggled and suffered at the hands of their own government.
“This oppressive system that consumes us is what we call systemic racism. It is a system that is contingent on distributing disproportionate opportunity and freedoms,” said Ortiz.
“This is a deeply rooted issue and the system itself is a system more carefully planned than anything we have ever seen. This is so deeply intertwined with every horrific action that has taken place in this country over the past 450 years. From fires, to lynchings to assassinations, open your eyes.”
Because Ortiz is a Black man, he truly understands how systemic racism has affected him and his community.
He said, “Growing up without privilege I had to fear for my safety every time I went outside, not because of other Black people, but because of police officers. The boys in blue, and the white men and women who feel like they are above the law.”
This is why the unjustified deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless other Black men and women hit so close to home for Black people across the nation.
It is their reality. Each time they see another Black soul taken too soon, they see themselves.
This is something white people just cannot fathom.
Ortiz said, “Black people cannot be racist because it is impossible for the oppressed to oppress the oppressors … Escape is near impossible and while you’re going to college thinking it’s nothing, I’m in competition with my people. If I make it, I’m taking an opportunity away from someone else who needs it just as much as me.”
White people do not understand the guilt many Black people feel.
Unfortunately, even when Black people break free from their invisible shackles, they have to leave behind loved ones that were too oppressed to succeed.
Ortiz continued, “This nation was founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I have lived life. Yet, I have seen no liberty. And because of the cultural parameters, I can pursue no happiness.”
America may have been built by Black labor, but it was built against Black people.
No white person will ever be able to understand this, but Black people have to live that reality every single day.
Despite the odds, Ortiz continues to fight. He said, “We will assemble an army of incomparable measures, not an army of brutes and their brawn — but an army of thinkers and intellectuals. That is the white man’s true fear, not the Black man with the gun but the Black in the suit.”
To close this speech, Ortiz made a call to action for the white people in the audience.
“Now… White men, white women … Are you ready to take my hand, and join my army? My army to rid of the darkness. And to bring freedom to all people of a kind. This won’t be an easy fight, but you can use your privilege to end white privilege.”
Although white people will never be able to understand the true depths that racism reaches, their privilege can be useful in ending the race war that has wreaked havoc for centuries.
Educating yourself as a white person is the most important step to take. Reading the entirety of Ortiz’s speech or listening to it on Facebook can be the first step.