Let’s Get Back to the Point

As some of you might have noticed over the last few weeks, I’ve been uncharacteristically quiet in regards to the civil unrest that has been flaring up in Ferguson, Missouri. It has been an intentional move on my part, but I feel like it is time that I added a little perspective to the conversation.

I’m not going to argue about whether or not Mike Brown stole a pack of cigarillos, whether or not he made a move for the police officer’s gun, or whether or not he was a gentle giant. I wasn’t there, you weren’t there, and about 99.9 percent of the people who have jumped to attack Mike Brown’s character weren’t there. So stop it.

Instead, what I am going to do is look at the facts that we do know.

1) An unarmed 18-year-old black male with no criminal record was stopped by police for walking down the street by white police officers. Although the exact details are unconfirmed, we do know that he was shot six times and killed.

2) Demographically, Ferguson, Missouri is a majority African-American community with a majority white police force. Around 67% of the population is African-American, and yet only 3 out of 53 of the city’s police officers are black.

3) The Ferguson Police Department has responded with overly-militarized force, has repeatedly withheld pertinent information about the case, has repeatedly detained members of the press, and has intentionally prevented people from peaceably gathering together to protest.

Regardless of whatever else might come to light in the upcoming weeks, these three facts are indisputable and highly problematic. Children should not be gunned down in the streets, public servants should be a fair representation of the people that they are supposed to serve, and basic freedoms of speech, assembly, and press should not be infringed upon.

Right now I am writing from a country that has more than its fair share of racism. It has what might be considered an overzealous police force that seems to be perpetually geared up for WWIII. It is illegal for citizens to gather and voice displeasure without a pre-approved permit (which is rarely given) and it is not uncommon for members of the press to be censored or detained without due process.

And yet when I look at the photos and videos coming from Missouri, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities.

So to my American friends, I have a favor to ask you. If you want to keep calling yourself the land of the free, start acting like it. Look in your mirror and ask yourself the hard questions about racism in your communities. When you see the rights of your neighbors being infringed upon – regardless of who they are or what they’ve done – do something about it. Hold your lawmakers and local authorities accountable for their actions.

And for God’s sake, learn to have a little empathy for the family, friends, and community of a young man whose life has been ended way too early. All lives are precious, even those of young black men.