The number of white-on-black hate crimes in America is considered a big problem in today's society (Laughland). 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) 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 was to forgive Dylann Roof, but Gay chose to not. Historical events have occurred which are similar, where blacks are oppressed by whites. Historical figures such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X have written about the same problem. Although the victims, Gay, King, and X have faced the same problem, each of them had a different approach to reconciliation. 

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 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, others who say the act is unforgivable, and others who ask that the lengths of forgiveness be defined -- asking if people would forgive the terrorist of 9/11 that committed a just as horrific act with different motives. Although the family of the victims publicly forgave him, Gay says, "I, for one, am done forgiving" (Gay). This is a very powerful quote from the article and it captures the loss of patience that Gay has with white people who have treated black people unfairly. 

Gay writes many articles, some of them refer to unjust 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 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 (Gay). Another article she wrote was "Where Are Black Children Safe?" This article speaks of the incident not too long ago, at Spring Valley High School 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 Americans' being mistreated in the past and how they continue to be mistreated in the present (New York Times).  

In history there are many other people, like her, who have had to deal with oppression of blacks by whites; for example, Martin Luther King. 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 in jail for civil disobedience after 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 (King). He uses Jesus Christ as an example, and states 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 (King, 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 in that we should forgive those who commit the same sin against us, rather not forgive all those who sin any sin against us (Gay). 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 (King)." 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. 

Malcolm X was a civil rights movement leader in the same period as King. However, Malcolm X had a different approach; 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)," therefore he was not a fan of King's approach to the issue.

Malcolm, Gay, and King's approaches to racial inequality, social injustice, or discrimination are all different because of their experiences. Malcolm became an orphan at a young age because his father was murdered by white supremacists and his mother was institutionalized a few years later (Babbitt). He spent most of his time on the streets unlike King who lived in a segregated neighborhood, where a strong faith in God was instilled in him. 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). Gay, likewise, 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 is also tired of nobody else speaking out about it. She has written three articles on events on injustice acts committed against blacks that have occurred in America. 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. Racism still exists and is still a big problem that is overlooked by many. The same problems that have occurred years ago continue to resurface. Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X have faced the similar problem that Roxane Gay and every other African American that feels oppressed are facing this very day. Both King and X have failed to solve the problem and Gay is done trying to mend the issues between the minorities and whites. Equality will always continue to be a problem as the years come and go. Roxane Gay writes her articles in hope that more people will become 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. The problem began years ago, with slavery and continues with the want of equality. 

