Looking at the footage from Ferguson, I can't help but think damn the more things change the more they stay the same. Oprah once said that being born in America is like winning the lottery. Unfortunately, that's not really true about black boys and men in this, the greatest country in the world. When you're a black man...the day that you're born here, there's a target on your head. From the day that you're born here, assumptions are made about you. If you wear your hat to the side, you're a thug. If you let your pants sag you're a criminal. The Justin Beibers of the world can dress the same way and people will say oh he's just a kid. Russel Brand and Wiz Khalifa dress damn near the same way but guess who gets the snide looks? JR Smith has tatoos all over his body and so does David Beckham, but guess who's artwork guess criticized? It's crazy!! Both Marion Berry and Heath Ledger were drug abusers. When they both died, who's headline do you think mentioned drugs?
With that being said, I don't know what the solution is. The media scrutiny has only intensified and with social media becoming increasingly relied upon for opinions it's only going to get worse. When I looked at the pictures from Ferguson, I teared up. It's a scary sight. When I looked on Facebook, I saw post after post about what was going on there....by my black fb friends. Only one white person even mentioned it. Black Lives Matter people. They matter to me and they should matter to you, regardless of your race. We are the human race. We should all find something wrong with the "system". We can't sit by and say oh well, it ain't my son...my brother....my.....!!!! I don't know what exactly I can do to help bring about a change. But, I do know that I will pay closer attention when it's time to vote!!!
Speaking ill of people that had nothing to do with what happened or worse harming and using destructive behavior towards them is idiotic. Throwing paint on NY's Police Commissioner???? Really??? What does that do???? Torching peoples cars, businesses and homes???? Why??? Looting???? Robbing??? Killing???? STUPID!!!!!
VOTE people!!! Become an active member of your community!!! VOLUNTEER!!! Listen to the concerns of your fellow citizens. Speak up and out about others that may not exactly look like you or even live like you. Be a voice!! This isn't a political issue it's a human issue!! What type of human are you? What type of human do you want to be? Do you have children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren? What lessons are you teaching them? Showing them? THINK ABOUT IT!!!