This Is the America Black People Have Always Known

Following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed white woman monitoring ICE activities in Minneapolis, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson urged people not to let the tragedy harden their hearts toward fellow human beings. The authors, writing from a Black American perspective, argue that while many are shocked by this violence against a white woman, Black communities have endured centuries of such state-sponsored violence and are not surprised by these events. They note that history shows white people have faced deadly consequences for defending racial justice, creating a chilling effect that reinforces white supremacy by warning people to stay silent or risk their lives.