The Social Contract Says Black People Should Riot Everyday
By: Abdoulaye Cisse
Tags: Police, Crime, Police Brutality, BlackLivesMatter, Philosophy

image credit : pixabay

“No Justice No peace” has been heard at marches across the country and beyond for some time now. The infamous protesting statement implies that peace is a privilege earned when justice is given. This idea of peace in exchange for justice outlines what 17th century philosophers call the Social Contract Theory. The social contract theory basically says individuals only accept, and subconsciously play by the rules of society because playing by the rules would benefit themselves and everyone else equally. Philosophers during the Age of Enlightenment explored the state’s authority over the individual and concluded that individuals have agreed, either explicitly or tacitly, to limit their behaviors and submit to authority in exchange for social order and protection for their remaining rights.

Like all other groups, African-Americans have been told to be good and play by the rules, submit to authority and they too would have their rights protected and enjoy the benefits of social order. But for African-Americans this contract has been violated time and time again. If for some reason you’re unaware, I’ve made a few points below on how African-Americans are socially violated.

African — Americans are asked to behave for the good of society BUT:

police officers brutally prey on innocent black men, make false arrests, and then make real-time decisions to become their judge, jury and executioner.

banks have a history of deceptive and fraudulent lending practices with the black community. I.e, Redlining.

black neighborhoods lack adequate resources and school systems create a pipeline for prison instead of the competitive job market.

black employees have to be overqualified to be hired, and have to over-work for promotions.

black businesses and products don’t get the same distribution and exposure as competitors.

As a Muslim, I can draw parallels from the social contract theory, a secular philosophy. As a Muslim, we live our lives limiting our behaviors and submitting to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith in exchange for eternal happiness in the afterlife. My personal belief is that humans aren’t naturally good. Humans can be good. But being good is a decision that we make as individuals in exchange for a greater cause. The teachings of Islam motivate Muslims like myself to curb evil human ways for the promise of a great afterlife. Contrary to popular belief, most African-Americans are really good people. The African-Americans I know are educated, hard-working, and honest law abiding citizens. They too have consciously, or subconsciously agreed to limit their behaviors and submit to authority in exchange for social order and protection for their remaining rights.

image Credit: usi.edu

Just last Saturday, 12/19/20, Jamar Mackey, a black man, was profiled and dehumanized by a police officer when he was wrongfully handcuffed while eating with his family at a food court. These types of injustices disproportionately happen to only black people in America. For Jamar Mackey and so many other African-Americans, the social contract has been violated millions of time. Maybe being disorderly and causing chaos is what African-Americans should do everyday. Why should Jamar Mackey and the African-American community be peaceful and buy into the social contract in America?