The number of white-on-black hate crimes in America is looked at as a big problem in today's times. Many African Americans feel like they have faced years of oppression and hate from whites in America; from "slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws, lynching, inequity in every realm, mass incarceration, voter disenfranchisement, inadequate representation in popular culture, to microaggressions and more (Gay, lines 81-84)" as Roxane Gay wrote. One of many recent events of white-on-black hate crimes in America, was the church shooting, in Charleston, committed by Dylann Roof. Roxane's approach was odd considering the approach the relatives of the victims took. But everyone is unique and have different ways of dealing with problems such as this one. 

Roxane Gay wrote an article, which was published in the New York Times, on why she cannot forgive Dylann Roof, the young man who took nine lives in the shooting. Gay had no personal connection to any of the victims in the shooting but yet, gives no forgiveness to Dylann Roof. Referring to the comments left on the article there are a mixture of people saying she should forgive Dylann Roof and also others who say the act is unforgivable or others who ask would people forgive the terrorist of 9/11 that committed a just a horrific act with different motives. Although the family of the victims publicly forgave him, Gay says, "I, for one, am done forgiving (Gay, lines 98-99)." This is a very strong quote from the article and it captures the loss of patience that the writer, Roxane Gay, has had with white people who have treated black people unfairly. 

Gay writes many articles, some of them refer to injustice acts or crimes committed against African Americans. She has written an article on Sandra Bland the woman who was arrested for not putting out her cigarette and was found dead in her jail cell three days later. The police officers claim she committed suicide by hanging herself, but it will continue to remain a mystery as to what actually happened to Sandra Bland. In her article about Sandra Bland she speaks about how black people have to be careful and how they are mistreated because of the color of their skin. She ends the article by saying that white people are destroying the "black spirit" and that she does not feel alive. Another article written by her was "Where Are Black Children Safe?" This article speaks of the incident not too long ago, at Spring Valley High, in Columbia South Carolina. In this article, Gay focuses on " -- acting inappropriately against the black body." Roxane Gay is not afraid to speak or write how she feels about African American's being mistreated in the past and how they continue to be mistreated in the present.  

Unlike Roxane Gay, Martin Luther King was a man who based his beliefs around God and the bible. In the bible, forgiveness and loving the 'enemy', or in other words those who actively oppose you, are things people should do. King wrote the sermon, "Loving Your Enemies," that was presented on Christmas in 1957 in Montgomery, Alabama at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Surprisingly enough, King wrote this while put in jail for peaceful disobedience at the bus boycott in Montgomery. In King's sermon, he says you must always love your enemy, you may not like them but you should always love them. An example he gives is Jesus Christ, and how Jesus knew it was hard to love your enemy but regardless of how hard it is, it should be done. 

A great point King makes in his sermon is that there is good in everyone. King states, "The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls "the image of God," you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God's image there ... And as you seek to hate him, find the center of goodness and place your attention there and you will take a new attitude (Loving Your Enemies, lines 87-93)." King's attitude was not like many. He lived in harmony with what he preached. King and Gay both speak of discrimination and racism but both have different approaches on the problem.

Both, King and Gay, mention religion and forgiveness in their articles. King is aware of the bible and chooses how to act to situations based off of the bibles teachings. Gay is also aware of what the bible states but chooses to interpret it differently such as that we should forgive those who sin the same sin against us, rather not forgive all those who sin any sin against us (Gay, lines 35-36). Gay says she will not forgive those who show no remorse but King's sermon states, biblical scripture, Matthew 5: 43-44, "Ye have heard that it has been said, 'Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.' But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you (Loving Your Enemies, lines 16-18)." Those who curse you show no remorse, yet you should bless them, those who hate you show no remorse, yet you should do good to them and those who despitefully use you show no remorse, yet you should pray for them. Forgiveness is not about he who does wrong being remorseful but rather about the victim moving on. 

Martin Luther King was a civil rights movement leader, as was Malcolm X. Malcolm X also had a different approach than Martin Luther King, instead of peace and forgiveness, Malcolm wanted a revolt. Malcolm's approach to racial inequality was to incite emotions into his followers in order to take over and defeat the enemy, the enemy being white people. "Malcolm did not believe reconciliation between both blacks and whites was possible (Babbitt, lines 31-32)," therefore he was not a fan of King's approach that involved "attempts to build positive relationships with the oppressor (Babbitt, line 50)". 

Malcolm's, Gay's, and King's approaches to racial inequality, social injustice, or discrimination, are all different because of their experiences. Malcolm experienced becoming an orphan at a young age because his father was believed to be murdered by white supremacist and his mother was institutionalized a few years later (Babbitt, lines 19-24). He spent most of his time on the streets unlike King who was lived in a segregated neighborhood, where he instilled a strong faith in God (Babbitt, lines 14-15). King had loving parents who sheltered him from racial discrimination and he excelled in school and went to college to get a PhD in theology (Babbitt, lines 16-17). Gay on the other hand, has had to experience living through a time where African American's continue being mistreated and sometimes killed, by police, the people that are supposed to be the one's protecting the citizens.

The way many people approach a problem is molded by past experiences. Gay has stated time and time again that she is "tired". Not only tired of seeing injustice occur daily but she also seems tired of nobody else speaking out about it. She has written three articles on events that have occurred in America, where an African American is being treated unfairly. Her articles are targeted for African Americans, and she excludes whites from her articles. Through her writing she is oppressing white people by labeling them all as a whole. All people are unique and all people have different views, but she does not consider that. She refers to "the power of whiteness" and that white people do not ask for forgiveness but "demand forgiveness."

Although many years have gone by, times have barely changed. Yes, there are more technological advances but racism still exists and is still a big problem that is overlooked by many. Writer, Roxane Gay writes her articles in hope of more people becoming aware of what is not actually being looked at, and that is that, white people have not changed. Her articles are influenced by Malcom X, not in the way that she wants to revolt but in a way that she wants to spark an emotion from them causing them to stop forgiving like King did in the past. Historical events influence articles such as this. She mentions how harm has been inflicted starting from slavery until now. Roxane Gay is one of many people that feel oppressed in today's time but it will not change, because problems will always continue to strive on. 

