~First, I want to say that I am white, and have never been directly affected by racial discrimination. Please prioritize the voices of the people that are. Im posting this because I dont wish to remain silent.~ While I may have been slightly mistrusting of police as a teen, due to a few inconsequential pull-overs and questionings (for things like trespassing, drinking underage, and driving at night with long hippie hair) I have always felt relatively confident in the fact that I would be able to leave the situation with at most a ticket or a slap on the wrist. Truthfully, I have probably gotten away with some things that easily could have caused me much more trouble. The current mass discussion occurring on social media and on the streets has served as an enlightening reminder for people like me, a privileged white male, of what it means to fear for your life from someone who is theoretically there to protect you. I know that this type of discrimination has always been an issue in the USA, but I have never been forced to truly appreciate this harsh reality that for some people can be a daily struggle. Obviously there wont be change overnight, but lets hope that this national conversation helps move us in the right direction. People not directly affected by these issues: talk to someone who is and try to have a better understanding of what it means for them. Bring the topic up in conversation with people who may not be completely aware of the current situation and its implications. It might seem bizarre, but many people who live outside of the cities or away from diverse areas, and who arent connected to the internet or social media, might actually not be hearing any of the current conversation. Share your views with them, help them become aware of the issue. Its harrowing how many articles/videos/news reports I could link to this post. Here is a video of a guy who was shot after being pulled over for a “seatbelt violation”. He was shot while reaching for his wallet, then he was shot with his hands in the air... The officer shot him at least 4 times... This is the difference between being stopped by police as a young black man compared to be stopped as a young white man: a legitimate fear for ones life. How is it that this is OK? Why does our society allow this to happen, why does it allow these officers to operate with impunity? Why do we need to say #blacklivesmatter, as a way to change peoples perceptions? Shouldnt this be self evident? Unfortunately, this is the reality, and it needs to change.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:03:38 +0000
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