The limits of white compassion
***Posted to the African American Group***
Imagine if black lives mattered as much as one gorilla's.
http://www.salon.com/2016/05/31/the_limits_of_white_compassion_imagine_if_black_lives_mattered_as_much_as_one_animals/
Over the past few days, my Facebook Timeline has been filled with fellow Cincinnati natives weighing in on the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s decision to execute a silverback gorilla named Harambe, thus ensuring the safety of the small child who fell into the gorilla’s habitat. If people are reacting out of the compassion we are taught to exercise toward non-human animals, the “passion” root is equally present: people of various ages, races, and general points of view are hurt and angry over Harambe’s death. They call for apology, for petition, for policy change, for the parent of the fallen child to be held responsible somehow. It’s not okay to kill a gorilla.
The people are passionately compassionate—and with effect. The story is hitting national media; yesterday my partner caught footage of the encounter on CNN. Clearly, it matters how people feel, what they say about what is happening around them; their questions and their demands. In turn, the Zoo has defended its actions while lamenting its loss. Various experts have put forth their now moot prognoses of Harambe’s possible actions. There’s buzz, and meaning, memes, and some strange sort of solidarity in the air.
SNIP
At the moment, the general public is demonstrating more compassion toward a gorilla than toward Black people who were (are!) gunned down by police at an alarming rate in this country. Harambe is mourned more (com)passionately than the Black humans with whom gorillas have historically and degradingly been compared. Harambe’s death by shooting—an isolated, logical decision—is, apparently, less acceptable than the systemized, institutionally-protected and -reinforced deaths of Samuel DuBose and Paul Gaston by bullets, just the same. When Black people are killed by cops, whether in Cincinnati or anywhere else in the U.S., it is “what’s supposed to happen,” and so: no outrage. When a gorilla, due to a random, unforeseen event, is killed by zookeepers, hearts bleed. How can we be so misguidedly selective about the bodies we invest compassion in?
Luckily, compassion is a limitless resource. We don’t have to choose between loving people and loving non-human animals, between demanding some meaningful outcome of Harambe’s death and demanding a full renovation of our supposed justice system. The reason that more compassion is being shown toward Harambe than toward Black people—those named above and multitudinous others—is simply that while Americans are encouraged from infancy to love and honor animals, we are taught from that same early age, regardless of our race, that Black people are something less than human. Apparently, maybe something even less than animal.
SNIP
= new reply since forum marked as read
"Not sure why Harambe gets more empathy than Trayvon Martin."
And now that I think about it, why are those people eating factory meat? Only some animals are worthy of compassion. Only some humans are worthy. Some animals are MORE deserving than humans, I guess 
Being sad about a dead gorilla is easy. Fixing the problem is as easy as renovating the enclosure and you don't have to check your privilege to do so. Ending factory farming involves actual sacrifice since cheap meat taste so good. Being sad about the systematic harassment and occasional murder of black people by law enforcement requires some painful self-reflection (if you are white), so I guess most white people don't bother.
It is partially a racist thing, but it is also a lazy thing. Be sad about the things that are easy to fix and then you won't have to feel bad for very long.
