#Ferguson

I have spent a day or two trying to think of how to write something eloquent and poignant about Mike Brown's death, but I feel like my sentiments have been shared by a majority of the people that I follow on social media.  There are so many questions and not enough answers.  People are angry, and justifiably so.  Although we don't know everything that there is to know about the incident we do know another young unarmed black man lost his life at the hands of police.  There is a deep, looming sense that this country doesn't value human life.  A country that promotes human rights with such vigor as to condemn, disparage, and invade other countries is itself in gross violation of human rights.


And yes people, this IS a race issue.  This is not about what crime Mike Brown allegedly committed before he was gunned down.  This is a consistent, anarchic slaying of individuals who would likely still be alive if some officer did not look at them and find them "blocking traffic" or even worse "wearing a hoodie"...all while being black.  For the naysayers that contend the police are just doing their job and it has nothing to do with the color of their skin I challenge you to find the same alarming circumstances and statistics for white teenage boys.  Though I can honestly say I have a slight mistrust for police I don't believe in generalizing.  I know that not all officers set out to kill black kids and some are scared and inexperienced.  However, their cowardice and lack of experience is not our problem.  This should not be our problem.  THAT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM.  Our problem is that too often when a life is taken in the same manner as Mike Brown, the victim's families don't have any recourse or resolve.  No one pays.  No strong message gets sent.  Our problem is that we have media that sensationalizes the story and provides inaccurate, irrelevant or completely false reports.  The sad part is I think many journalists don't realize or forget the role they play in the grand scheme of things.  It goes far beyond journalistic integrity.  The media (and I say media because although bloggers are not journalists in the traditional sense, they report the news and are just as responsible for the proliferation of these stories) has a social responsibility to those who engage and rely on accurate reporting.


I don't believe in rioting.  It should be common sense that trashing your own neighborhoods or that of others does not further your cause.  I get that you want to show how angry you are, but if the fight is against violence toward your people, why show everyone how violent you are?


Some real questions I have that I would like answered:


1) If there wasn't any police misconduct on their end, why haven't any substantive details been released?


2) Are celebrities doing enough?  (I wish there were as many celebs talking about Mike Brown's death as there are doing ALS ice water challenges)


3) Is social media really a platform for change?


4) Can states pass a law prohibiting the use of deadly force by law enforcement were there is no visible threat of deadly force?


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, Jr.