When Racism is Fatal:
Ferguson and Beyond. by monica young
On August 9th, 2014 Michael Brown, an unarmed black
teen, was shot and killed by a white police officer
in Ferguson, Missouri while walking home with a
friend. The incident sparked outrage within the
community and throughout the nation, resulting
in impassioned protest and a renewed dialogue
surrounding racial injustice in America.
Brown’s murder takes on particular significance as
it speaks to a larger problem in this country: one
in which black men are disproportionately targeted
and brutalized by members of law enforcement.
Despite this meaningful context, many Americans
have been all too keen to avoid overdue
conversations about racism within the criminal
justice system and have, instead, begun picking
apart Brown’s character, searching for justification
where none can be found (as was done in 2012 after
the killing of Trayvon Martin, another unarmed
black teen). While media outlets debate the ethics
of Brown’s behavior prior to his death, the officer
who took his life will, without question, receive
due process and the benefit of the doubt, rights
Brown was not afforded before he was killed.
Maybe it’s time that we, as Americans, step back and
evaluate what it means to be a person of color in
this country. Although we have made great strides in
the last 50 years, the path to equality is a long and
arduous one. While unarmed black youth continue to
be senselessly gunned down in the streets by those
tasked with protecting them, I think it’s safe to say
there is more work to be done.
To lea ɸ