Two weeks ago a young man named Michael Brown was shot by Officer Darren Wilson at least six times in Ferguson, Missouri. This story has taken over the social media world like no other.
Brown was shot four times in the arm and twice in the head. All of the bullets were fired in the front of Brown so it was clear he wasn’t running away. According to ABC News, it was possible Brown could’ve survived the first four shots, the final two shots to his head were the shots that killed him.
There are two general sides to this story. According to CNN, the first side of this story includes Brown reaching into a squad car attempting to remove the officer’s gun, which results in the “self-defense” of Officer Wilson.
The second story is the story of local witnesses, also according to CNN, these people claimed to have seen Brown attempt to push the officer away from him while he was being pulled in through the squad car window. Once Brown was freed from the officer’s grip, he ran away because there was a shot inside the police car. Later witnesses claimed Brown surrendered by falling to his knees and putting his hands up. Instead of noting this surrender Wilson shot Brown.
While it is obvious this information is “he says, she says.” It’s about which one you believe is true. You could either take the side of a cop who uses authority as an excuse or stand by the side of the people. If the people are telling interviewers the same story more than once, why take the side of the badge.
Police men like to use their authority as an excuse.
Of course racism goes way back in history and every century we seem to overcome a massive, racism problem. It is now the 21st century and we haven’t overcome race profiling or stereotypes yet. Maybe this is the year we open our minds and give everyone a fair chance.
Racism and stereotypes are everywhere you look, think of Trayvon Martin that was walking down the street wearing a hoodie, unarmed, carrying nothing but skittles and Arizona.
Abigail Fisher was denied admission into the University of Texas, not because she wasn’t intelligent but because she wasn’t exactly what you would call a diverse aspect. If she put in the work to get accepted into the school why wasn’t she accepted?
Racism has gotten to the point where it is bigger than color because everyone blames everyone around them. Instead we need to come together, look at the bigger picture and invest time in solving real problems.
Michael Brown’s death was the final straw for inequality, not because he was African American and shot by police but because his death brought together protesters from all over, protesting for his justice – against those that abuse authority. The bigger picture has finally been seen.