2014-2015 Editorials:
The Importance of Black History Month
by THS Media Reporter Walter Canady
Black history is much more than just the remembrance and celebration of black heroes. Black history month should be seen as the reminder to African-Americans to proceed to persevere through the obstacles set in front of us. We have been blessed to have ancestors that had the heart and will to sacrifice themselves and things they love to pave the way for us now. From slavery, to the Jim crow years; all the way up until now.
Black history should really be seen as American history, but not until the year 1926 black history was recognized and celebrated in just one week out of the year called “Negro History week.” But in the year 1979 it was re-named Black History Month, and celebrated throughout the month of February. This alone is another accomplishment in the history of African Americans. African Americans had one of the biggest roles in the construction of the United States, in fact the reasoning of slavery was to do just that. Africans were eminent at skills like building, agriculture and cleaning. These are all the things that would be needed in the cultivation of the United States. So would it be right to say that slaves were the true “founding fathers” of America?
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King is a well known leader in the African American history, one of many black leaders, but what he is saying here is that we as not only black people, but as humans have to stand up for what we believe in, and prioritize what we put our efforts in doing. People like Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and many more used their life trying to create a way for someone else’s. Researching about your own history should be not only a priority to African Americans, but it should be a must to every culture. Do not wait for your cultures history to be taught, go get it! We spend time on social media, watching reality shows, and just all around wasting time. The time that you are given should be used to feed your brain, learning about you, where your people come from and how did your culture make it this far, I mean it is your story, and learning about your history may create a future for you and your people.
Unity; the state of being united or joined, combined into one, oneness. Martin and the other black heroes stood for this word. Malcolm X said, “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.” Our black ancestors worked very hard to put this generation in the great position we’re in, its time for us to create a way for the next. Marcus Garvey declaimed, ” A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Black history should really be seen as American history, but not until the year 1926 black history was recognized and celebrated in just one week out of the year called “Negro History week.” But in the year 1979 it was re-named Black History Month, and celebrated throughout the month of February. This alone is another accomplishment in the history of African Americans. African Americans had one of the biggest roles in the construction of the United States, in fact the reasoning of slavery was to do just that. Africans were eminent at skills like building, agriculture and cleaning. These are all the things that would be needed in the cultivation of the United States. So would it be right to say that slaves were the true “founding fathers” of America?
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King is a well known leader in the African American history, one of many black leaders, but what he is saying here is that we as not only black people, but as humans have to stand up for what we believe in, and prioritize what we put our efforts in doing. People like Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and many more used their life trying to create a way for someone else’s. Researching about your own history should be not only a priority to African Americans, but it should be a must to every culture. Do not wait for your cultures history to be taught, go get it! We spend time on social media, watching reality shows, and just all around wasting time. The time that you are given should be used to feed your brain, learning about you, where your people come from and how did your culture make it this far, I mean it is your story, and learning about your history may create a future for you and your people.
Unity; the state of being united or joined, combined into one, oneness. Martin and the other black heroes stood for this word. Malcolm X said, “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.” Our black ancestors worked very hard to put this generation in the great position we’re in, its time for us to create a way for the next. Marcus Garvey declaimed, ” A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Radicalism at Home
by THS Media Reporter Melynda Robinson
Ever since Sept.11, 2001, the world sees the radical side of Islam, of Arabs, of Muslims. Please keep in mind that an extremist groups actions, does not define a group of people.
1988: Al Qaeda is formed. Its founders: Osama Bin Leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Dr. Fadl.
1998: Bin Laden issues out a fatwa saying any American citizen not following Islam was a potential target to Al Qaeda.
2001: 2,996 die in Sept.11 attack, including many Arabs and Muslims who are AMERICAN citizens.
2002-2003: In between this one year interval there are numerous counts of bombings and massacres. The US tries to invade the organizations headquarters, but have found little success.
2004: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi initiates Al Qaeda.
2006: Zarqawi is killed in US air strike. Abu Hamza al-Muhajir has been appointed leader of Al Qaeda.
2010: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes leader of the organization after Abu Hamza al-Muhajir and a couple of others die in an US joint operation towards Iraq.
2013: Baghdadi reinstates Al Qaeda , renaming the group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq).
2014: ISIS kidnaps 140 Kurdish boys in Syria, demand them to study Islamic theology.
2014: ISIS starts taking control of many towns. The organization closes down many borders to stop fleeing citizens from leaving their homes. They then announce a new beginning- the caliphate (Islamic State), erasing all state borders. According to CNN.com 1.2 million Iraqi’s were forced from their homes.
Aug. 19, 2014: James Foley, a United States journalist,finally surfaces after missing for two years in Syria. Only to be beheaded by an ISIS militant. The militants then posted the video on the Internet for the whole world to see, targeting America.
June 30, 2014: The Pentagon announces the US will be sending 300 troops to Iraq.
July 3, 2014: ISIS takes control of Syria’s largest oil field (al-Omar).
Sep. 2, 2014: The second victim, US journalist, Steven Scotloff, is beheaded. The executioner is believed to be the same man. Sense he wore the same all black outfit and has the same British accent in his video beheading Foley.
Sep. 13, 2014: The third execution of a journalist this time from Britain, David Haines, is beheaded. At the end of the video the executioner threatens the United States and Great Britain stating if Britain doesn’t want to see more destruction, stop “evil alliance” with America.
Sep. 23, 2014: The USA initiated airstrikes against ISIS in Raqqa, Syria.
Oct. 3, 2014:The fourth victim, Alan Henning, a British aid worker, is beheaded. This time the anonymous executioner blames the UK for this. Saying because of them joining forces with the US.
Nov. 16, 2014: The fifth victim, Peter Kassig, a former soldier turned medical worker, gets beheaded while in Syria trying to help the Syrian people.
The war has just begun.
For the most part I think most people judge Arabian culture (especially the women) on religion. Saying women are “oppressed” because of religion. Religion doesn’t oppress people, people oppress people. In this case it’s men oppressing women.We, as a society, inflict the oppression on each other. Religion is used as a scapegoat because without it, no one can fully agree to their extreme opinions on a culture. The lack of opportunity, pain, and inequality in a society is shaped by the the person(s) with power, abusing it.
The people in power that abuse their power, feed off of negative energy. Tending to prey on who they view as weak, which is most of the time- women and children. Until the minority is strong enough to speak up, oppression will still be present. Culture can be a very ugly thing and it can be very beautiful. It dictates lives probably more than religion ever will. People are very much attached to it because it gives them an identity. You won’t even be able to tell the difference because they believe in it so much.
The world has a way of bringing other countries faults into the spotlight, but when the spotlight turns on us we turn away. The news only seems to highlight ISIS only when one of our people (Americans) are involved. At this point Barack Obama needs to stop being arrogant and admit that he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t have a plan, where if ISIS did strike, We as a nation would be in turmoil. This situation goes beyond the Middle East, this is a world crisis. If we don’t stop ISIS now they might be in our country tomorrow.
No one will ever know the seriousness of ISIS unless you are living in/from the Middle East or have family in the Middle East. Myriam Khalil, my grandmother explains her current situation and how she feels about ISIS.
“I have been removed from my home. I don’t know where my husband or the rest of my family is. They have taken everything. Who has ever heard of that? Arab going against Arab? It breaks my heart. Iraq was once so beautiful. Their little planes and weapons might be striking us, above us. But they have forgotten Allah is above them. He is not pleased,” Khalil exclaims.
Throughout all of this many still have hope. Hope that one day religion/race won’t divide us. That the desert sand will encounter many feet. With stories not of pain and suffrage, but love and unity. For many countless years it’s always been a feud between different groups over who was and who isn’t Arab. No matter if you’re: Iraqi, Moroccan, Kurdistani, Saudi, Lebanese, etc. We can’t go against each other just when we need each other now more than ever. The whole world is watching, to see what’s going to be the next move of the people. It’s time to put all differences aside and merge.
Ask yourself, have you ever met a:
Muslim
Amish
Christian
Jehovah Witness
Agnostic
Atheist
Buddhist
Hinduism
Druidism
Wicca
Mormon
Catholic
Paganism
Judaism
The second we lay eyes on someone, unless they’re wearing a symbolic piece of their religion, we have no perception of who they are, or who they represent. We as people put labels on ourselves. Which there is nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong is when you persecute someone because they do not express the same idealism you believe in.
I think it’s safe to say at this point, that there’s no end to ISIS in sight. Before there is an end to ISIS, there definitely will be more bloodshed and war. There will always be a swinging pendulum for religion in the world. I think the whole world needs to come together on this. If we keep turning our heads it will soon be in our backyard.
1988: Al Qaeda is formed. Its founders: Osama Bin Leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Dr. Fadl.
1998: Bin Laden issues out a fatwa saying any American citizen not following Islam was a potential target to Al Qaeda.
2001: 2,996 die in Sept.11 attack, including many Arabs and Muslims who are AMERICAN citizens.
2002-2003: In between this one year interval there are numerous counts of bombings and massacres. The US tries to invade the organizations headquarters, but have found little success.
2004: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi initiates Al Qaeda.
2006: Zarqawi is killed in US air strike. Abu Hamza al-Muhajir has been appointed leader of Al Qaeda.
2010: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes leader of the organization after Abu Hamza al-Muhajir and a couple of others die in an US joint operation towards Iraq.
2013: Baghdadi reinstates Al Qaeda , renaming the group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq).
2014: ISIS kidnaps 140 Kurdish boys in Syria, demand them to study Islamic theology.
2014: ISIS starts taking control of many towns. The organization closes down many borders to stop fleeing citizens from leaving their homes. They then announce a new beginning- the caliphate (Islamic State), erasing all state borders. According to CNN.com 1.2 million Iraqi’s were forced from their homes.
Aug. 19, 2014: James Foley, a United States journalist,finally surfaces after missing for two years in Syria. Only to be beheaded by an ISIS militant. The militants then posted the video on the Internet for the whole world to see, targeting America.
June 30, 2014: The Pentagon announces the US will be sending 300 troops to Iraq.
July 3, 2014: ISIS takes control of Syria’s largest oil field (al-Omar).
Sep. 2, 2014: The second victim, US journalist, Steven Scotloff, is beheaded. The executioner is believed to be the same man. Sense he wore the same all black outfit and has the same British accent in his video beheading Foley.
Sep. 13, 2014: The third execution of a journalist this time from Britain, David Haines, is beheaded. At the end of the video the executioner threatens the United States and Great Britain stating if Britain doesn’t want to see more destruction, stop “evil alliance” with America.
Sep. 23, 2014: The USA initiated airstrikes against ISIS in Raqqa, Syria.
Oct. 3, 2014:The fourth victim, Alan Henning, a British aid worker, is beheaded. This time the anonymous executioner blames the UK for this. Saying because of them joining forces with the US.
Nov. 16, 2014: The fifth victim, Peter Kassig, a former soldier turned medical worker, gets beheaded while in Syria trying to help the Syrian people.
The war has just begun.
For the most part I think most people judge Arabian culture (especially the women) on religion. Saying women are “oppressed” because of religion. Religion doesn’t oppress people, people oppress people. In this case it’s men oppressing women.We, as a society, inflict the oppression on each other. Religion is used as a scapegoat because without it, no one can fully agree to their extreme opinions on a culture. The lack of opportunity, pain, and inequality in a society is shaped by the the person(s) with power, abusing it.
The people in power that abuse their power, feed off of negative energy. Tending to prey on who they view as weak, which is most of the time- women and children. Until the minority is strong enough to speak up, oppression will still be present. Culture can be a very ugly thing and it can be very beautiful. It dictates lives probably more than religion ever will. People are very much attached to it because it gives them an identity. You won’t even be able to tell the difference because they believe in it so much.
The world has a way of bringing other countries faults into the spotlight, but when the spotlight turns on us we turn away. The news only seems to highlight ISIS only when one of our people (Americans) are involved. At this point Barack Obama needs to stop being arrogant and admit that he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t have a plan, where if ISIS did strike, We as a nation would be in turmoil. This situation goes beyond the Middle East, this is a world crisis. If we don’t stop ISIS now they might be in our country tomorrow.
No one will ever know the seriousness of ISIS unless you are living in/from the Middle East or have family in the Middle East. Myriam Khalil, my grandmother explains her current situation and how she feels about ISIS.
“I have been removed from my home. I don’t know where my husband or the rest of my family is. They have taken everything. Who has ever heard of that? Arab going against Arab? It breaks my heart. Iraq was once so beautiful. Their little planes and weapons might be striking us, above us. But they have forgotten Allah is above them. He is not pleased,” Khalil exclaims.
Throughout all of this many still have hope. Hope that one day religion/race won’t divide us. That the desert sand will encounter many feet. With stories not of pain and suffrage, but love and unity. For many countless years it’s always been a feud between different groups over who was and who isn’t Arab. No matter if you’re: Iraqi, Moroccan, Kurdistani, Saudi, Lebanese, etc. We can’t go against each other just when we need each other now more than ever. The whole world is watching, to see what’s going to be the next move of the people. It’s time to put all differences aside and merge.
Ask yourself, have you ever met a:
Muslim
Amish
Christian
Jehovah Witness
Agnostic
Atheist
Buddhist
Hinduism
Druidism
Wicca
Mormon
Catholic
Paganism
Judaism
The second we lay eyes on someone, unless they’re wearing a symbolic piece of their religion, we have no perception of who they are, or who they represent. We as people put labels on ourselves. Which there is nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong is when you persecute someone because they do not express the same idealism you believe in.
I think it’s safe to say at this point, that there’s no end to ISIS in sight. Before there is an end to ISIS, there definitely will be more bloodshed and war. There will always be a swinging pendulum for religion in the world. I think the whole world needs to come together on this. If we keep turning our heads it will soon be in our backyard.
A New Veteran’s Day
by THS Media Reporter Wanda Wolfe
One soldier said, “The year others knew as youth, I spent learning the meaning of death. The times others spent learning to love, I passed hoping to live through endless nights. The moments others remember as terror in the jungle. The instants of pleasure taken for granted by others, I remember as forgotten hopes… Long ago crushed by the reality of war. The unfulfilled dreams of others are yet to be thought by me since I am in search of my exclusive youth. Looking for years lost in combat, which are no more and never will be.”
My grandpa Mike Martinez, was three weeks out of high school when he joined the army. He served in Vietnam from 1969-1970. He signed up to be a door gunner on a helicopter, life expectancy of a door gunner was only six weeks. On his first day at the unit, he was sent on his first mission, he didn’t have time to unpack his things.
My grandpa has been diagnosed with PTSD, it means Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is not a mental illness, it is a reaction to the extreme stress encountered during the war and upon returning home. He also has prostate cancer due to the Agent Orange exposure. He is being treated at the Veterans Hospital in KC. Also due to the Agent Orange exposure he has Parkinson’s disease.
My grandpa Mike Martinez, was three weeks out of high school when he joined the army. He served in Vietnam from 1969-1970. He signed up to be a door gunner on a helicopter, life expectancy of a door gunner was only six weeks. On his first day at the unit, he was sent on his first mission, he didn’t have time to unpack his things.
My grandpa has been diagnosed with PTSD, it means Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is not a mental illness, it is a reaction to the extreme stress encountered during the war and upon returning home. He also has prostate cancer due to the Agent Orange exposure. He is being treated at the Veterans Hospital in KC. Also due to the Agent Orange exposure he has Parkinson’s disease.
Agent Orange was a blend of herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1961-1971 during Operation Ranch Hand in the Vietnam war to remove trees and dense tropical foliage (leaves) that provided enemy cover. The name “Agent Orange” came from the orange identifying stipe used on the 55- gallon drums in which it was stored. The U.S. Department of Defense developed these tactical herbicides specifically to be used in “combat operations.” They were not commerical grade herbicides purchased from chemical companies and sent to Vietnam. The ingredients in the Agent Orange herbicide combination were equal amounts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2-4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5,-T) which contained traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Dioxins are pollutants that are released into the environment by burning waste, diesel exhaust, chemical manufacturing, and other process. TCDD is the most toxic of the dioxins, and is classified as human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. There are many symptoms to Agent Orange and it can take months to years to show up. Health problems are: birth defects, skin diseases, transient peripheral neuropathy, may also be responsible for some instances of Parkinson’s and heart diseases, altered liver functions, immune system impairment and damage to the nervous, endocrine, reproductive system in developing fetuses, Hodgkin’s disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, type two diabetes, and also causes a neurological disorder known as acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy.
My grandpa has joined a group to help him with everything that he has going on. The group is called Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 243, they are a non-profit organization. The group also has a helicopter that was shot down 3 times during the Vietnam war.
Vietnam Veterans were not recognized when they returned home. They were known as “baby killers”, they were spit on and had things thrown at them. My grandpa didn’t wear his uniform through the airport. When he got to the airport before he was seen he had changed out of his uniform so he wouldn’t have things thrown at him.
On Sep. 12, 2009, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver held a “Welcome Home Celebration” at the Truman Library, which was long over due.
My grandpa has joined a group to help him with everything that he has going on. The group is called Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 243, they are a non-profit organization. The group also has a helicopter that was shot down 3 times during the Vietnam war.
Vietnam Veterans were not recognized when they returned home. They were known as “baby killers”, they were spit on and had things thrown at them. My grandpa didn’t wear his uniform through the airport. When he got to the airport before he was seen he had changed out of his uniform so he wouldn’t have things thrown at him.
On Sep. 12, 2009, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver held a “Welcome Home Celebration” at the Truman Library, which was long over due.
Brown: The Color and Case
by THS Media Reporter Melynda Robinson
The fatal shooting of 18 year old Michael Brown (Mike Brown) an 18 year-old eager to attend Vatterott College that Monday was gunned down by a Ferguson Police officer Saturday, Aug. 9 at 2:15 p.m. Since then this incident made St. Louis, Missouri civilians outraged. The unarmed teen was allegedly shot by an officer multiple times. Although many pay respect to Brown and his family, racial tension is very stagnant in the air. According to a government census in 2013, 47.9 percent of the St. Louis population is African American. Making African Americans the ‘majority’ of the city. Although they are majority, the Police Department as well as the mayor are predominantly all White. Many citizens fear the case might be biased based on racial point of view.
In a recent interview with Farrah Fazal from KSDK 5 News, a witness to Brown’s murder, Dorian Johnson, speaks up hoping his side of the story will be heard. In this interview Johnson justifies that Brown never made an effort to reach for the officer’s gun. According to Johnson, he and Brown were walking in the middle of the street that Saturday afternoon when a police car pulled them over on the side of the rode. What the officer didn’t know, was allegedly Brown had just recently robbed a convenience store for a $48.99 box of cigars. There have been many conspiracy theories on exactly what went down between Brown and the officer, even with the fact if Brown even robbed the convenience store.There is reported to be a total of three autopsy reports, in the first, the autopsy showed six bullet wounds on Brown. The second autopsy was demanded by the family of Michael Brown. This autopsy showed he was struck in the head (at the top) twice, the other four times were in the front. The third autopsy was requested by The U.S Department of Justice. Although there are limited witnesses, first hand witness Johnson describes his viewpoint of the shooting very vividly:
"My friend stopped running, his hands went immediately in the air and he turned around towards the officer, face-to-face. He started to tell the officer he was unarmed and that you should stop shooting me," Johnson explains. "Before he can get his second sentence out, the officer fired several more shots into his head and chest areas,"
Although this story seems to be taking the media by storm, there have been numerous accounts of other scenarios of the event. Some are even saying how could Brown have been running from the officer if bullet wounds were only found on the front and top of his body. Unless the officer missed Brown several times. Michael Brown was left at the crime scene for four hours before he was removed by the authorities. Friday, Aug. 15 the name of the officer who had killed Brown has been released, Darren Wilson. Some say that Brown did struggle for Wilson’s gun. Others are saying he was on the defense thinking that maybe Wilson had stopped him because, he knew about the robbery that took place not long before that. This case alone has caused numerous riots. Many of the crowds have started out peacefully, but have turned to violence.In every situation, outsiders that are not even from Ferguson have looted stores and have vandalized the city over everything but Michael, defeating the main purpose of a protest . Honestly, what good does that do. You’re actually fighting against the cause.
If the world (especially Ferguson) really wanted to take a stand towards racial profiling they wouldn't hurt their own city. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Yes, no one knows exactly what happened between the officer and Brown. But Brown was in the wrong too. You don’t go and rob a convenience store, just because you feel entitled for something. You either work towards what you want, or simply you can’t have it for the time being. If Wilson did shoot Brown based on racial viewpoint, shame on him for doing that. You judge someone based on how they carry themselves and their character, not a stereotype.
Worldwide #IfTheyGunnedMeDown and #JusticeForMikeBrown has been trending. Both of these campaigns are spreading awareness of how the media portrays Black people. For #IfTheyGunnedMeDown young black men/women show two sides of themselves in one picture. This trend holds true because it seems the media is more likely to use a photo of you that questions if you are a good person. Rather than using a photo for example, of you graduating. While #JusticeForMikeBrown shows supporting signs for the Brown’s family, it also has some very powerful images from communities.
Trayvon Martin, Renisha McBride and Eric Garner are just a few other young African Americans who are victims to gun violence or police brutality. As our hearts go out to the most recent, Mike Brown, I think I can speak for most of America when I say I hope the authorities are able to find out the real truth, and bring peace to the Brown family.
The fatal shooting of 18 year old Michael Brown (Mike Brown) an 18 year-old eager to attend Vatterott College that Monday was gunned down by a Ferguson Police officer Saturday, Aug. 9 at 2:15 p.m. Since then this incident made St. Louis, Missouri civilians outraged. The unarmed teen was allegedly shot by an officer multiple times. Although many pay respect to Brown and his family, racial tension is very stagnant in the air. According to a government census in 2013, 47.9 percent of the St. Louis population is African American. Making African Americans the ‘majority’ of the city. Although they are majority, the Police Department as well as the mayor are predominantly all White. Many citizens fear the case might be biased based on racial point of view.
In a recent interview with Farrah Fazal from KSDK 5 News, a witness to Brown’s murder, Dorian Johnson, speaks up hoping his side of the story will be heard. In this interview Johnson justifies that Brown never made an effort to reach for the officer’s gun. According to Johnson, he and Brown were walking in the middle of the street that Saturday afternoon when a police car pulled them over on the side of the rode. What the officer didn’t know, was allegedly Brown had just recently robbed a convenience store for a $48.99 box of cigars. There have been many conspiracy theories on exactly what went down between Brown and the officer, even with the fact if Brown even robbed the convenience store.There is reported to be a total of three autopsy reports, in the first, the autopsy showed six bullet wounds on Brown. The second autopsy was demanded by the family of Michael Brown. This autopsy showed he was struck in the head (at the top) twice, the other four times were in the front. The third autopsy was requested by The U.S Department of Justice. Although there are limited witnesses, first hand witness Johnson describes his viewpoint of the shooting very vividly:
"My friend stopped running, his hands went immediately in the air and he turned around towards the officer, face-to-face. He started to tell the officer he was unarmed and that you should stop shooting me," Johnson explains. "Before he can get his second sentence out, the officer fired several more shots into his head and chest areas,"
Although this story seems to be taking the media by storm, there have been numerous accounts of other scenarios of the event. Some are even saying how could Brown have been running from the officer if bullet wounds were only found on the front and top of his body. Unless the officer missed Brown several times. Michael Brown was left at the crime scene for four hours before he was removed by the authorities. Friday, Aug. 15 the name of the officer who had killed Brown has been released, Darren Wilson. Some say that Brown did struggle for Wilson’s gun. Others are saying he was on the defense thinking that maybe Wilson had stopped him because, he knew about the robbery that took place not long before that. This case alone has caused numerous riots. Many of the crowds have started out peacefully, but have turned to violence.In every situation, outsiders that are not even from Ferguson have looted stores and have vandalized the city over everything but Michael, defeating the main purpose of a protest . Honestly, what good does that do. You’re actually fighting against the cause.
If the world (especially Ferguson) really wanted to take a stand towards racial profiling they wouldn't hurt their own city. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Yes, no one knows exactly what happened between the officer and Brown. But Brown was in the wrong too. You don’t go and rob a convenience store, just because you feel entitled for something. You either work towards what you want, or simply you can’t have it for the time being. If Wilson did shoot Brown based on racial viewpoint, shame on him for doing that. You judge someone based on how they carry themselves and their character, not a stereotype.
Worldwide #IfTheyGunnedMeDown and #JusticeForMikeBrown has been trending. Both of these campaigns are spreading awareness of how the media portrays Black people. For #IfTheyGunnedMeDown young black men/women show two sides of themselves in one picture. This trend holds true because it seems the media is more likely to use a photo of you that questions if you are a good person. Rather than using a photo for example, of you graduating. While #JusticeForMikeBrown shows supporting signs for the Brown’s family, it also has some very powerful images from communities.
Trayvon Martin, Renisha McBride and Eric Garner are just a few other young African Americans who are victims to gun violence or police brutality. As our hearts go out to the most recent, Mike Brown, I think I can speak for most of America when I say I hope the authorities are able to find out the real truth, and bring peace to the Brown family.