What is the definition of a terrorist act?

After the tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina at Emmanuel AME Church, I am hit with a barrage of confusing and conflicting messages in the media by various members of the political sector. Not one of those involved in the governing of this country has been able to publicly proclaim this violent act for the racially motivated terrorism that it actually is. When I look back into African- American history and regard similar attacks on Black Americans, I can hardly see a contrast between them. I then begin to question the definition of a terrorist act.

The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing as of September 25, 2013 was called, “One of the most tragic acts of US terrorism”. The October 4, 2014 publication of Financial Juneteenth entitled an article relating to the Tulsa race riot of 1921 as “April V. Taylor: the terroristic destruction of Black Wall Street”. Today politicians and civilians are quick to recognise the mass shootings at Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, as well as the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building as acts of terrorism.

Is this fact concerning the shooting at Emmanuel AME Church being overlooked because the victims were Black? If so, this further exposes the hypocrisy of the US. How can this country so self-righteously condemn and impose sanctions against other countries for violating human rights when it is the biggest perpetrator of this crime? The US needs to clean up its own backyard. Every empire that embraced greed, violence, and oppression and rejected moral values collapsed eventually. History has a way of repeating itself. Whatsoever a nation sows that shall it reap.

Kim Marion
San Jose, CA, USA