The Montgomery Brawl II: Newton's Law
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Last week I began a series in which I asked questions about the implications of the Montgomery Brawl. You may already have media fatigue in regards to this story especially if you are on any social media platforms on a daily basis, but I feel it's important that we talk about this. First it was the barrage of videos from the site, then the commentary, GIFs, memes, images, news stories, etc. It's been a lot. These images and the narratives associated with them took center stage. These reactions whether humorous or critical have fed and will lead to a political narrative during this upcoming election cycle and I believe will see and feel Newton's law: for every action – in there emerges an equal and opposite reaction. While we might not see the reactions in real time, the will materialized through underground efforts, quiet sleight of hand, resistance and they are definitely heading to the polls to vote for people who understand and are sympathetic to their concerns. In this article, we take a quick look at Sir Issac Newton's Third Law and explore the connections between this scientific principle and the forces at play in our modern political climate.
Sir Isaac Newton was a physicist, mathematician and philosopher who lived in the seventeenth century. He did groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for the laws of motion. "His three laws of motion are: Every object moves in a straight line unless something pushes or pulls it; if you push or pull something harder, it goes faster (with the speed depending on the weight of the object being pushed); and finally, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." It's possible that I could use all the laws to explain the implications of the Montgomery Brawl, but I'm going to focus on the third law. My goal is for us to have a better understanding of how our actions and reactions awaken and fuel other forces in our society.
Just like Newton's third law, which pertains to motion and physical interactions, this concept can be applied to our social and political environments as well. Once again, I want to emphasize that I was glad to see so many people defending the gentleman who was attacked simply for doing his job. However, the optics of the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl were divisive and underscored the deep-seated racial problems that continue to plague American society. This incident, captured live on camera and widely shared across social media platforms, really demonstrates how situations like these can rapidly spiral into full-blown conflicts fueled by racial tensions."
"The images of Black and White people fighting along racial lines stirred up a plethora of emotions. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that stems from witnessing countless incidents of Black individuals being beaten or killed in public leaves us with a profound sense of collective trauma. To witness yet another incident, this time involving a Black man being beaten by a group of White individuals, only added to that trauma. Collectively, we found ourselves thinking, 'Here we go again.' However, as other Black people at the scene stepped in to help and defend the victim, we all felt a sense of relief and many celebrated. While I do not condone violence, I also felt that sense of relief. Nevertheless, I did not celebrate because I recognize that the implications of such a fight will reverberate widely. Furthermore, I found some of the memes and reactions, particularly those involving the folding chair, to be excessive. So, applying Newton's third law, while many of us reacted by celebrating, it's worth considering: What might the other side be doing? How will they respond?"
"I can tell you; we will see their reaction in their political actions and movements. We might witness some physical incidents taking place, but most of it will manifest in the form of laws, ideas, policies, and emotions. Political rhetoric today often leads to strong and opposing reactions; however, the optics of this fight will likely generate even more intense responses. While there have been some reactions from Trump supporters regarding the brawl, we haven't seen a significant amount yet. I can assure you, though, that they are planning and plotting. The images of a White woman being hit with a folding chair and a group of Black people beating on White people will play a significant role in the upcoming election."
"So, while many are celebrating this act of resistance, it's also important that we take the necessary steps to respond on both political and social fronts. The celebrations send messages promoting solidarity on both sides. For us, it might have been collective relief, inspiration, and joy, while for them, I'm not entirely sure, but maybe collective fear, concern, and outrage. Regardless, it is equally important for us to channel our reactions into preparing for what's next. We must stay informed, engage in constructive dialogue, and actively participate in local and national politics. The relief we experienced due to this brawl will be short-lived if we don't also get involved and VOTE."
Stay Tuned: Next Week… Montgomery Brawl III: Who Are We and Who Do We Want to Be?
Sophia Brewer (M.L.I.S.) is Collection Development and Serials Librarian, Grand Rapids Community College; Co-President of the Greater Grand Rapids History Council; member of the Grand Rapids Study Club and serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library, Board of Library Commissioners (Elected 2016-2021). She is a former Head of Programs, Grand Rapids Public Library and former Branch Manager, Madison Square Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library Congresswoman
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