I am not so naive to think that every single rioter was a citizen of Minneapolis or Chicago or LA or Fargo. But let none of us be so naive to think that none of the rioters were our neighbors.
When we are too quick to dismiss the entire riot as from "those outsiders," we ignore any anger from our own people whose frustrations with the system could no longer be contained in what we have defined as proper minority behavior. Even more dangerous, when we blame outsiders we free ourselves from taking any responsibility for a system that is so unfair to minorities and we proudly continue that system of oppression.
Yes, there is plenty of blame to pass around after a riot, but let us first search inside ourselves and clean up any ways we contribute.
Holz lives in Moorhead
