We are seeing it again! People are behaving in a manner not expected in our “civilized” society. Some people call what happened in Baltimore this week, Ferguson, Missouri two months ago, and New York recently “ riots.” Others call the same activity nothing more than protests. It all depends on the eyes of the beholder.
Many pundits are acting like this is something new or rare in America. How little we know of our own history. We have had rebellion, riots, demonstrations and other forms of unrest since our very beginnings. You might say that the Civil War was the ultimate happening.
How often have we seen reenactments of the Boston Tea Party? Was that not a riot – hooligans breaking the law and destroying private property? It is always easy to teach rural economics by using the Whisky Rebellion in the western part of two states soon after our government was formed. That one saw the President of the United States intervene.
Many people reacted to the demonstrations against the draft and the Vietnam War in the 1960s as if they were unique in American History. Yes, those were nice white, middle class American kids burning down ROTC buildings on university campuses. We only have to look to New York City in 1863 to see another demonstration (riot) against the draft. Yes, and Lincoln used federal troops to put down that demonstration.
The history of labor in this country is replete with violent demonstrations and violent reaction to them. Just to name a few is a reminder that this has happened in our history. The Pullman Strike in the 1890s, the Haymarket Riot in Chicago and the Ludlow Massacre are some of the strikes or demonstrations that have occurred in our history.
If we really think about civil unrest in America, we realize that the unrest did not occur suddenly. They evolved over time – as reactions to governmental policies or lack of policies. In many instances, the offended groups had tried to remedy the situations. But when redress didn’t happen, anti-social action became the answer.
Do I condone the burning of buildings and destruction of property? No, but I understand a little of it. There are times when the looted business represents the suppression that a group feels. Analyzing destroyed businesses, we frequently find the owner was an absentee owner. We find the neighborhood store owned by neighborhood people is not included in the pillage.
To associate violent anti-social behavior to one ethnic group is wrong and we must understand that. America was founded by violent reaction to government.
Social unrest is created by real or perceived inequality or injustice. We may not perceive that particular action or lack of action as an injustice, but until we “walk a mile in that man’s shoes,” we won’t truly understand. Recent happening should cause all of us to stop and look at our society, not as we perceive it, but as it really is. We need to quit looking at American society, justice and opportunity through rose colored glasses.
Jack Linden is a retired history professor and a local volunteer.
jlinden@satx.rr.com
