"The Great Departure"
It began with reports of tragic incidents in parks senior centers even churches. Older people were taking their lives singly, and in small groups. Older Black people, and 'only' Black people. It was just a few at first. Local news gave minor coverage.
Reporters interviewed family, and friends of the departed. They had no answers. To all it was inexplicable. There were some doctors giving chapter, and verse about depression among the elderly but that was it.
These "departures" as they would soon be called went on for several more days. Then stopped as suddenly as they had started.
Life carried on. The suicides were buried as other news cycles piled on top of them. Celebrity scandals, and other trivia took their places as the centers of interest.
However a few months later it began again. This at the start of the Holiday season. Once more just a few happenings. Again no apparent reason. Slight coverage, and once more forgotten.
Then came Christmas night.
All across the country from coast to coast came reports of not just handfuls, but of whole communities of Black people departing. The dead were found everywhere. In places of worship homes their cars public transportation even sidewalks.
As the night progressed news of this burst onto the many mediums. What was this "Black Death"!? Some suspected everything from poisoning by the government to space aliens.
Emergency medical teams all over the nation were trying to save those they could. Many wondered how this could come to pass. The truth though before us was unseen.
Except for a few.
Some more thoughtful commentators noticed that it was mostly the "Civil Rights" generation of Black Americans. The late middle aged, and elderly that had decided to leave.
An "Exodus" of a kind was in progress.
Emergency services were overwhelmed. Mass burials commenced. Parks ball fields even playgrounds became final resting places.
This as political, and religious leaders pleaded with those likely to perish to reconsider.
Yet as the new year 2019 came others applauded the "Event". David Duke spoke at an early spring mass Nazi Klan rally in Atlanta. A city with now with only a portion of it's former Black population.
Duke said to cheering tens of thousands of white nationalists, "...I see the hand of G-d in these glorious days!" "He has made his judgment, and returned America to it's rightful owners!"
'And so it went.
Then came Christmas night.
All across the country from coast to coast came reports of not just handfuls, but of whole communities of Black people departing. The dead were found everywhere. In places of worship homes their cars public transportation even sidewalks.
As the night progressed news of this burst onto the many mediums. What was this "Black Death"!? Some suspected everything from poisoning by the government to space aliens.
Emergency medical teams all over the nation were trying to save those they could. Many wondered how this could come to pass. The truth though before us was unseen.
Except for a few.
Some more thoughtful commentators noticed that it was mostly the "Civil Rights" generation of Black Americans. The late middle aged, and elderly that had decided to leave.
An "Exodus" of a kind was in progress.
The year 2018 had seen a spread of regressive politics all over the world. America with it's election in 2016 of a President sympathetic to white nationalism was part of the trend. he later openly called himself a "Nationalist".
Violent incidents against the "usual suspects" increased. Especially in the summer, and fall of 2018. Cumulating with the Mass Murder of Jews in Pittsburgh.
...the leavings continued.
Emergency services were overwhelmed. Mass burials commenced. Parks ball fields even playgrounds became final resting places.
This as political, and religious leaders pleaded with those likely to perish to reconsider.
Yet as the new year 2019 came others applauded the "Event". David Duke spoke at an early spring mass Nazi Klan rally in Atlanta. A city with now with only a portion of it's former Black population.
Duke said to cheering tens of thousands of white nationalists, "...I see the hand of G-d in these glorious days!" "He has made his judgment, and returned America to it's rightful owners!"
'And so it went.
The National Guard performed regional mass burials. Regular Army units defended the former communities of the departed where there were still many Blacks living. This defense was against organized raids by white nationalist militias. They were looting shops, and homes of the departed. That, and lynching what living blacks they could find.
The president had no coherent response.
However the vice president in a rare show of humanity made a special nationwide media appeal to those yet to leave.
He said, "....I know,...we know how our great nation has failed many of her loyal citizens. Yet we have made progress. I admit slow painful progress towards justice. Yet I ask you to have the faith in this great republic. The steady faith you have always shown in the past. We are brethren."
The Departures increased.
The numbers are not complete, but as of the present date December 25th 2019. The first anniversary of the "Great Departure". It is estimated that one fifth of the Black population of the United States is gone. Millions of people of African American decent have taken their own lives rather than live within our borders.
The Departures continue.
