History Of Racism In America
Hands Up, Don’t Shoot: An Examination of The Targeting of Black and Ethnic Youth by Police in America
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 2
II. A History of Racism in America 2
III. The Michael Brown Case 3
IV. Other Cases 5
V. Problems & Causes 5
VI. The Viewpoints 6
VII. Next Steps & Solutions 7
VIII. Conclusion 8
IX. Appendix 9 X. Bibliography 12
I. Introduction
It can be seen that throughout history and “across cultures, darker people suffer most” (Andre 3000). The United States of America is a country built on the backs of slaves and the success of exploitation and colonization of third world countries. (Selfa) Racism has, quite literally, been …show more content…
built into every aspect of American society over hundreds of years. Though many strides have been made to support equality and liberty among races, a more subtle and sharp form of discrimination has emerged. Surfacing in many avenues, such as media portrayals, white superiority and targeting by police. The recent shooting of an 18 year old, unarmed black boy has resulted in an uprising of black and ethnic people calling attention to the racism engrained into America’s police force. (Gillis) They are asking for justice for the hundreds of innocent, ethnic youth who have been killed by white police officers. Though the issue holds many complex causes and viewpoints, it has become impossible to ignore. The targeting of black and ethnic youth by police in America is a problem due to institutionalized racism and will result in further death and alienation if change does not occur.
II. A History of Racism in America
It is a well-known, yet undiscussed subject that America was established by the killing of millions of Native Americans and then the slavery of Africans. Though somewhat unintentional, the arrival of Europeans in North America resulted in the death of 95-114 million aboriginals, through disease and war introduced by the Europeans. (Vaughn) This is where the mistreatment and discrimination of ethnic groups by white people begins.
It is said by Eric Williams that, “Slavery was not born of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery”. However, for many of the first developing years of America, many of the “unfree” laborers – or slaves – were white. Racism began in America, when unfree labor became synonymous with black labor and the ideology of white supremacy was established. With this came the idea that black people are inferior, lesser in every way and should not have any power. This can be seen in the law that was created, banning marriage between whites and blacks, establishing the idea that black people are dirty, and that the white people of America are inherently better and more deserving then them. As slavery continued and evolved, so did white supremacy, becoming an excuse for the outright mistreatment of black slaves. If black people are biologically an inferior race, they do not need basic human rights. Eventually however, slaves were no longer profitable, and the slave trade was eliminated during the civil war. Unfortunately, freedom of slaves changed racism for the worse, creating competition between the races in which white people had the power and support to win every time. (Selfa)
After slavery, racism in America was forced to adapt. Though black people were now free from the horrors of slavery, they continued to be denied the same rights as whites. Racial segregation laws acted to reduce African Americans to a lower status and extreme racist propaganda put in place stereotypes that are still an influence today. (Fredrickson) These factors also contributed to justify the practice of lynching, which took 3,437 black lives. (Gibson) The climax of racism came in the form of overtly racism regimes, hitting their extreme in Germany during the Holocaust. The actions of Hitler and the Nazis gave racism a bad name and spurred on moral movement and activism against racism, discrediting the “scientific” racism that had been widely followed in the United States until then. (Fredrickson) By the end of the 20th century yet another form of racism appeared.
Racism today is very different from the days of black slavery, or racism regimes, yet it carries that weight behind it. After Nazi Germany, racism became cultural rather than biological. (Fredrickson) Though not as explicitly, black people still suffer from a system that favors white people, this is called institutionalized racism. It can be seen in the magazines filled with beautiful white superstars, in the lack of ethnic people in positions of power and in the justice system, and in the society, which refuses to admit the presence of racism. (Selfa) In America today, racism is flourishing under the appearance of non-racism and this is where the root of many problems lie. (Fredrickson)
III. The Michael Brown Case
There has been no shortage of black and ethnic teens dying at the hands of white people in the history of America. However, some stand out more than others. On August 9th 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. This death unleashed a nation wide cry for attention to be drawn to the murder of ethnic people by white police officers in America. Firstly, although there was no lack of witnesses during the shooting of Mike Brown, no concrete conclusion has been reached on what really happened that day. Mike Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson were walking in the middle of the street when Darren Wilson, the police officer, pulled up next to them and told them to get off the road. Footage was release after the shooting of Mike Brown stealing Cigarillos from a nearby convenience store. However, Darren Wilson had not been informed of the robbery at the time he stopped the two boys. (Buchanan) From this point on, the story has been told several ways. According to Brown’s friend, Dorian Johnson, who was with him at the time, Wilson pulled up beside the boys and told them too “Get the F*** on the sidewalk”. Johnson says that the officer then attempted to thrust open the door, but because of his proximity to the boys, the door ricocheted off of them and slammed shut. An altercation between Brown and Wilson then followed, which Johnson described as a “tug of war” in which Wilson was attempting to pull Mike Brown into the car. During this, the police officer’s gun went off from within the car, one shot striking brown and giving the boys a chance to run away. Johnson recalls that Wilson pursued Brown on foot, shooting him once in the back and then delivering several more shots when Brown turned to face him and had began putting his hands into the air, signaling he had no weapon. (Johnson) Officer Darren Wilson’s testimony was similar at key points, but painted Mike Brown as the threatening “thug” that Wilson thought him to be. Wilson said that Brown punched him in the face through the car window and then reached into the car for his weapon, this being why it fired from inside the car. Later, Wilson testified that after following Brown on foot, the boy turned around and began to charge at him, making him fear for his life and fire the fatal shots. (Fitzpatrick) These testimonies and those of more than 60 witnesses were heard during the Grand Jury Trial to decide whether or not to indict Darren Wilson, and for what charge. The testimonies were inconclusive and largely did not match up, though some trends are obvious. More than 50% said that Mike Brown had his hands up when he was shot whereas more than 50% also testified that Brown reached into Wilson’s car during the altercation (see appendix 1). (Santhanam)
The result of the trial was as the general public suspected: Darren Wilson was not indicted. However, many people have questioned the techniques used by prosecutor Robert McCulloch and the decision of the jury. (Casselman) McCulloch did not cross-examine witnesses, largely including Darren Wilson whom, in a typical grand jury case, would not have testified. Not only this, but McCulloch also did not recommend any charge against Wilson, which is also customary of such a trial. The decision to not indict Darren Wilson sent a wave of anger and resentment through the black community of America who have been protesting and fighting for their cause since the death of Mike Brown. (Buchanan)
Finally, the death of Mike Brown was somewhat of a breaking point for the community in Ferguson, and black and ethnic people across America. Protests, most peaceful but some violent, broke out across the country. However, the grieving and angry protestors were met with military, tear gas, rubber bullets, tanks, and loaded guns. Compare this to the protests at the Bundy Ranch, where rows of armed white men approached police and the police did not fire one shot, choosing instead to retreat and let the people protest. (Cesca) The violent and mistrusting reaction from the police, along with general feelings of anger and unfairness only encouraged protests to turn into riots, though the majority of protestors called for peace. (Alcindor) In the end, the protests asking for justice for Mike Brown and the countless other black and ethnic youth that have been murdered by white police have also brought the world’s eyes to the issue.
IV. Other Cases
Michael Brown was not the first unarmed black boy to be killed by a white police officer, and he certainly wasn’t the last. Trayvon Martin was 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighbor watch captain, in Sanford Florida. It was February 26th, 2012 when Trayvon was killed, and like the case of Marked Brown, it sparked national outrage. George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder, just like Wilson, and was never taken into custody after claiming self-defense. (Winch) Martin was walking home wearing a grey hoodie and carrying a package of skittles and a pop when he was killed. These things became a symbol for the public, rallying together to destroy the idea that a black boy in a hoodie is naturally a “thug”. The death of Trayvon, and the freedom of Zimmerman was the first straw, Mike Brown was not the last. (Smith) November 22nd 2014, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was in a park in Cleveland, Ohio when he was shot by white police officer Timothy Loehmann. Rice was carrying a toy airsoft gun, and when a person nearby called 911 to report a boy with a gun that was, “probably fake,” not all the information was relayed to the officers. The police officers pulled up next to the boy and within seconds had shot him fatally. They then tackled and restrained Rice’s sister who had rushed to his aid and the officers failed to administer first aid until another man arrived on scene, nearly 5 minutes later. Paramedics arrived shortly after and Tamir Rice died the next day from his wounds. Unlike the shooting of Mike Brown, Rice’s death was caught on camera and the obvious injustice of his death is undisputable. Yet, the officers responsible still told their own versions of the story that did not match up to the video, but were accepted anyways. The continual shooting of black youth by white police officers is an obvious trend and it has been shown that police were 22 more likely to shoot and kill black teens than white teens between 2010 and 2012 (see Appendix 2). The death of Tamir Rice has continued to fuel the outrage and conviction of those fighting against a racist system. (Lopez)
V. The Problems & Causes
One of the main causes for the not only the targeting of black youth, but also the tension between black communities and police, is a lack of ethnic representation. Black people in America find no comfort in the police force that is supposed to protect them. This is due to the fact that the diversity of police forces across America does not accurately represent the communities they protect. Ferguson Missouri’s population is 64% black, yet black people make up only 5% of their police. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated phenomenon. Across America, the average percentage of white officers in local police is 75% (see appendix 3), and the number increases as the population of the city decreases. This does not reflect the diverse reality of present-day America. (Leber) The majority white police forces cause mistrust among the ethnic population of communities, who are not represented within the people who can protect them, but can also take their life. This lack of reflection can also be found in other areas in American society. Aside from popular media, a serious lack of diversity can be found in the justice system. In the case of Mike Brown, only 3 jurors were black while the other 9 were white. This ratio is meant to represent the average ratio of black to white in the entirety of the St. Louis County. However, a grand jury case need only 9 votes to make a decision. This sort of subtle undermining of black people is a large and important reason for the anger and doubt among the black and ethnic communities of America. (Wagner) Finally, the blatant ignorance of even the existence of racism in modern day America is extremely damaging. The fact that people can’t admit or see the trend of systematic oppression among visible minorities is the biggest aspect working against black people today. Benjamin L. Corey says on his blog that, “If we admit to the existence of systemic racism in America, it makes us guilty.” Americans are raised on the belief that their country is just, free and a utopia of wealth, religion and technology. However, this view and refusal to acknowledge today’s racism will only make the problem grow. (Corey)
VI. The Viewpoints
It can be expected that in such a complex and deeply historically rooted issue, there are going to be different views and opinions regarding it. There are many people in America who do not believe that Mike Brown was murdered, that racism still exists in the United States or that the police over reacted at the protests. For these people, though their general opinion may vary, this issue is not as big of a deal as the black community seems to think. (Bates) In a survey done, 76% of black people said that the Mike Brown shooting was part of a broader pattern, whereas only 40% of white people agreed. It is clear that white America does not perceive the issues surrounding this case in the same way as black America. In general however, white people are not as in tune to the struggles of black people, and they do not experience the same troubles. A 2012 survey found that black people report substantially more problems in their communities than white people (see appendix 4). This divide can account for the lack of sympathy and/or general ignorance of white America concerning the Mike Brown case. (Jones) On the other side of things is ethnic, but more specifically black, America. The recent events on top of a history steeped in racism have also affected the viewpoint of the people most affected by the shootings. They have begun to demand for change, yet 52% of blacks believe that police-minority relationships will get worse. (Jones) Furthermore, the black community has reached out on social media to be heard, creating “#Blacklivesmatter”, a chant and slogan for the movement to stop the targeting and shooting of black youth. Though often undermined by white people, who insist “#Alllivesmatter” is the more appropriate thing to say, black America has, for the most part, remained a intimate and supportive community, dedicated to their cause. (Craven) In addition, Canada – being the neighbor of the United States – has also had a reaction to the events in America. Protests and gatherings in solidarity with Ferguson have emerged across Canada, and the support is obvious. However, Canada’s view on the events in Ferguson and across America is skewed by the population’s tendency to hold itself in higher regards. Same as Americans, Canadians believe they are in “the land of the free”, but racism and targeting of ethnic youth (specifically First Nation women) occurs here as well. Though the encouragement and support Canadians offer is sincere, it does not mean that Canada is above racism as well. (Domise) Finally, it is sure that countries around the world are paying close attention to the unrest happening in the United States. Russian media played the events in Ferguson as a sort of karma for America’s interference in Ukraine. Russia’s human rights ombudsman also accused the United States of hypocrisy and serial failure. China foreign ministry used the current events as an opportunity to make a hit at Washington. However, she also used it as a call to arms for the collaboration and improvement of human rights around the world. Finally, activists in Egypt drew parallels between Ferguson and recent events in Cairo, where they have dealt with police brutality since the revolution in 2011. The similarities are astounding, and it is clear that all eyes are on America, whether it be to exploit their failures, or learn from them. (Harding)
VII. Next steps & Solutions
The problems brought up by the shooting of Mike Brown cannot be cured overnight. However, if the right actions are taken and people stand up for what is right, change can happen. First of all, justice should be met for the men who murdered innocent boys. Whether that means being found guilty for murder, or at least getting indicted, these men have killed innocent people for no good reason, and that should at least be investigated. Not only that, but the systems in which they are judged should not be made in their favor, like the grand jury case of Darren Wilson. Secondly, the police forces around the United States must change. Not only do they need to become more diverse, but their training also lacks serious lessons about targeting ethnic youth, and being too liberal with their guns. As for the root of the problem, racism must be demolished in America. Though it has been woven tightly into society over hundreds of years, it is not an inherent idea. Racism was introduced, taught and developed. This means that it can be undone. All of these issues interconnect, and it is through all of them working together that the American society as a whole may change. (Jackson)
VIII. Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that there is a subtle and intricate racism within the police system of America, and the targeting of ethnic youth has and will continue to result in death if change does not occur. There are endless cases that can be reviewed, which will demonstrate the racist stereotypes acted upon by American police. Different points of view highlight the aspects of these events that make them so influential and the counteracting of some only reinforce the message. In the end, it is up to the people to realize the corrupt and racist society they live in, and to mold it into a system of true equality.
IX. Appendix
1. Table showing witness interviews from the Michael Brown shooting investigation (Santhanam)
2. 2012 FBI report showing people killed by police during arrest, by age and race (Lopez)
3. Bureau of Justice statistics 2007 table showing percentage of race and ethnicity in local police departments by size of population (Leber)
4. Graph showing the percent of people saying various issues are a major problem in their community by race (Jones)
X. Bibliography
Alcindor, Yamiche. "Ferguson Struggles to Grasp Why Protests Turned Violent." USA Today. Gannett, 2 Dec. 2014. Web. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/01/ferguson-struggles-to-understand-move-to-violence/70120308/>.
Buchanan, Larry. "What Happened in Ferguson?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/13/us/ferguson-missouri-town-under-siege-after-police-shooting.html?_r=1>.
Casselman, Ben. "It 's Incredibly Rare For A Grand Jury To Do What Ferguson 's Just Did." DataLab. 24 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/ferguson-michael-brown-indictment-darren-wilson/>.
Cesca, Bob. "Two Americas: Ferguson, Missouri Versus the Bundy Ranch, Nevada - The Daily Banter." The Daily Banter. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://thedailybanter.com/2014/08/two-americas-ferguson-missouri-versus-bundy-ranch-nevada/>.
Corey, Benjamin L. "Why We’re Still Unwilling To Admit To Systemic Racism in America." Formerly Fundie. 15 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/why-were-still-unwilling-to-admit-to-systemic-racism-in-america/>.
Craven, Julia. "Please Stop Telling Me That All Lives Matter." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julia-craven/please-stop-telling-me-th_b_6223072.html>.
Domise, Andray. "Ferguson, and Why “at Least Things Aren’t as Bad Here” Isn’t Good Enough." Toronto Life. 28 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.torontolife.com/informer/columns/2014/11/28/ferguson-michael-brown-canadian-response/>.
Fredrickson, George. "The Historical Origins and Development of Racism." PBS. California Newsreel. Web. 1 Jan. 2003. <http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02-01.htm>.
Friedersdorf, C. (2014, August 29). Man Arrested While Picking Up His Kids: 'The Problem Is I 'm Black ' Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/the-problem-is-im-black/379357/
Fitzpatrick, Meagan. "Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson 's Grand Jury Testimony: 7 Revelations." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ferguson-officer-darren-wilson-s-grand-jury-testimony-7-revelations-1.2849765>.
Gibson, Robert. "The Negro Holocaust: Lynching and Race Riots in the UnitedStates,1880-1950." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Web. <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/2/79.02.04.x.html>.
Gillis, C. (2014, September 8). Race To The Bottom. Maclean 's, 22-24.
Goyette, B. (2014, August 22). 21 Numbers That Will Help You Understand Why Ferguson Is About More Than Michael Brown. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/22/ferguson-black-america_n_5694364.html
Harding, Luke. "From Cairo to Moscow: How the World Reacted to Ferguson." The Guardian. Guardian News, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/25/world-reacts-ferguson-michael-brown-shooting>.
Hodgdon, H. (Ed.). (n.d.). Minority Involvement in the Juvenile Justice System. Retrieved from http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/highlights/18_02_Highlights_03.pdf
Jackson, Jesse.
"We Can Still Get Justice for Mike Brown: End the Government 's Reckless 'ghetto ' Policy." The Guardian. Guardian News, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/26/justice-mike-brown-jesse-jackson-ferguson-protests>.
Johnson, Dorian. "Witness: Michael Brown Was 'Shot Like An Animal '" YouTube. NBC News, 14 Aug. 2014. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7tTsEYE3Ms>.
Jones, Robert. "Self-Segregation: Why It 's So Hard for Whites to Understand Ferguson." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 21 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/self-segregation-why-its-hard-for-whites-to-understand-ferguson/378928/>.
Leber, Rebecca. "Ferguson’s Police Force Is 94 Percent White—And That’s Basically Normal in the U.S." New Republic. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119070/michael-browns-death-leads-scrutiny-ferguson-white-police>.
Lopez, George. "Cleveland Police Shot and Killed Black 12-year-old Tamir Rice as He Carried a Toy Gun." Vox. 9 Jan. 2015. Web.
<http://www.vox.com/2014/11/24/7275297/tamir-rice-police-shooting>.
Mckay, T. (2014, August 8). One Troubling Statistic Shows Just How Racist America 's Police Brutality Problem Is. Retrieved from …show more content…
http://mic.com/articles/96452/one-troubling-statistic-shows-just-how-racist-america-s-police-brutality-problem-is
Santhanam, Laura.
"What Do the Newly Released Witness Statements Tell Us about the Michael Brown Shooting?" PBS. PBS, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/newly-released-witness-testimony-tell-us-michael-brown-shooting/>.
Selfa, Lance. "Slavery and the Origins of Racism." International Socialist Review. 26 Nov. 2002. Web. <http://www.isreview.org/issues/26/roots_of_racism.shtml>.
Smith, Mychal Denzel. "How Trayvon Martin 's Death Launched a New Generation of Black Activism." The Nation. 15 Sept. 2014. Web. <http://www.thenation.com/article/181404/how-trayvon-martins-death-launched-new-generation-black-activism?page=0,2>.
Vaughn, Victor. "Native American Genocide." The Espresso Stalinist. 16 Jan. 2011. Web.
<http://espressostalinist.com/genocide/native-american-genocide/>.
Wagner, Meg. "3 Blacks, 9 Whites Are on Michael Brown Grand Jury." NY Daily News. 22 Aug. 2014. Web. <http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ferguson-protests-peaceful-night-article-1.1913057>.
Winch, Graham. "Documents: Trayvon Martin Police Report." HLNtv.com. 22 Mar. 2012. Web. <http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/03/21/police-report-martin-death-details-scene-shooting>.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 2
II. A History of Racism in America 2
III. The Michael Brown Case 3
IV. Other Cases 5
V. Problems & Causes 5
VI. The Viewpoints 6
VII. Next Steps & Solutions 7
VIII. Conclusion 8
IX. Appendix 9 X. Bibliography 12
I. Introduction
It can be seen that throughout history and “across cultures, darker people suffer most” (Andre 3000). The United States of America is a country built on the backs of slaves and the success of exploitation and colonization of third world countries. (Selfa) Racism has, quite literally, been …show more content…
built into every aspect of American society over hundreds of years. Though many strides have been made to support equality and liberty among races, a more subtle and sharp form of discrimination has emerged. Surfacing in many avenues, such as media portrayals, white superiority and targeting by police. The recent shooting of an 18 year old, unarmed black boy has resulted in an uprising of black and ethnic people calling attention to the racism engrained into America’s police force. (Gillis) They are asking for justice for the hundreds of innocent, ethnic youth who have been killed by white police officers. Though the issue holds many complex causes and viewpoints, it has become impossible to ignore. The targeting of black and ethnic youth by police in America is a problem due to institutionalized racism and will result in further death and alienation if change does not occur.
II. A History of Racism in America
It is a well-known, yet undiscussed subject that America was established by the killing of millions of Native Americans and then the slavery of Africans. Though somewhat unintentional, the arrival of Europeans in North America resulted in the death of 95-114 million aboriginals, through disease and war introduced by the Europeans. (Vaughn) This is where the mistreatment and discrimination of ethnic groups by white people begins.
It is said by Eric Williams that, “Slavery was not born of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery”. However, for many of the first developing years of America, many of the “unfree” laborers – or slaves – were white. Racism began in America, when unfree labor became synonymous with black labor and the ideology of white supremacy was established. With this came the idea that black people are inferior, lesser in every way and should not have any power. This can be seen in the law that was created, banning marriage between whites and blacks, establishing the idea that black people are dirty, and that the white people of America are inherently better and more deserving then them. As slavery continued and evolved, so did white supremacy, becoming an excuse for the outright mistreatment of black slaves. If black people are biologically an inferior race, they do not need basic human rights. Eventually however, slaves were no longer profitable, and the slave trade was eliminated during the civil war. Unfortunately, freedom of slaves changed racism for the worse, creating competition between the races in which white people had the power and support to win every time. (Selfa)
After slavery, racism in America was forced to adapt. Though black people were now free from the horrors of slavery, they continued to be denied the same rights as whites. Racial segregation laws acted to reduce African Americans to a lower status and extreme racist propaganda put in place stereotypes that are still an influence today. (Fredrickson) These factors also contributed to justify the practice of lynching, which took 3,437 black lives. (Gibson) The climax of racism came in the form of overtly racism regimes, hitting their extreme in Germany during the Holocaust. The actions of Hitler and the Nazis gave racism a bad name and spurred on moral movement and activism against racism, discrediting the “scientific” racism that had been widely followed in the United States until then. (Fredrickson) By the end of the 20th century yet another form of racism appeared.
Racism today is very different from the days of black slavery, or racism regimes, yet it carries that weight behind it. After Nazi Germany, racism became cultural rather than biological. (Fredrickson) Though not as explicitly, black people still suffer from a system that favors white people, this is called institutionalized racism. It can be seen in the magazines filled with beautiful white superstars, in the lack of ethnic people in positions of power and in the justice system, and in the society, which refuses to admit the presence of racism. (Selfa) In America today, racism is flourishing under the appearance of non-racism and this is where the root of many problems lie. (Fredrickson)
III. The Michael Brown Case
There has been no shortage of black and ethnic teens dying at the hands of white people in the history of America. However, some stand out more than others. On August 9th 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. This death unleashed a nation wide cry for attention to be drawn to the murder of ethnic people by white police officers in America. Firstly, although there was no lack of witnesses during the shooting of Mike Brown, no concrete conclusion has been reached on what really happened that day. Mike Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson were walking in the middle of the street when Darren Wilson, the police officer, pulled up next to them and told them to get off the road. Footage was release after the shooting of Mike Brown stealing Cigarillos from a nearby convenience store. However, Darren Wilson had not been informed of the robbery at the time he stopped the two boys. (Buchanan) From this point on, the story has been told several ways. According to Brown’s friend, Dorian Johnson, who was with him at the time, Wilson pulled up beside the boys and told them too “Get the F*** on the sidewalk”. Johnson says that the officer then attempted to thrust open the door, but because of his proximity to the boys, the door ricocheted off of them and slammed shut. An altercation between Brown and Wilson then followed, which Johnson described as a “tug of war” in which Wilson was attempting to pull Mike Brown into the car. During this, the police officer’s gun went off from within the car, one shot striking brown and giving the boys a chance to run away. Johnson recalls that Wilson pursued Brown on foot, shooting him once in the back and then delivering several more shots when Brown turned to face him and had began putting his hands into the air, signaling he had no weapon. (Johnson) Officer Darren Wilson’s testimony was similar at key points, but painted Mike Brown as the threatening “thug” that Wilson thought him to be. Wilson said that Brown punched him in the face through the car window and then reached into the car for his weapon, this being why it fired from inside the car. Later, Wilson testified that after following Brown on foot, the boy turned around and began to charge at him, making him fear for his life and fire the fatal shots. (Fitzpatrick) These testimonies and those of more than 60 witnesses were heard during the Grand Jury Trial to decide whether or not to indict Darren Wilson, and for what charge. The testimonies were inconclusive and largely did not match up, though some trends are obvious. More than 50% said that Mike Brown had his hands up when he was shot whereas more than 50% also testified that Brown reached into Wilson’s car during the altercation (see appendix 1). (Santhanam)
The result of the trial was as the general public suspected: Darren Wilson was not indicted. However, many people have questioned the techniques used by prosecutor Robert McCulloch and the decision of the jury. (Casselman) McCulloch did not cross-examine witnesses, largely including Darren Wilson whom, in a typical grand jury case, would not have testified. Not only this, but McCulloch also did not recommend any charge against Wilson, which is also customary of such a trial. The decision to not indict Darren Wilson sent a wave of anger and resentment through the black community of America who have been protesting and fighting for their cause since the death of Mike Brown. (Buchanan)
Finally, the death of Mike Brown was somewhat of a breaking point for the community in Ferguson, and black and ethnic people across America. Protests, most peaceful but some violent, broke out across the country. However, the grieving and angry protestors were met with military, tear gas, rubber bullets, tanks, and loaded guns. Compare this to the protests at the Bundy Ranch, where rows of armed white men approached police and the police did not fire one shot, choosing instead to retreat and let the people protest. (Cesca) The violent and mistrusting reaction from the police, along with general feelings of anger and unfairness only encouraged protests to turn into riots, though the majority of protestors called for peace. (Alcindor) In the end, the protests asking for justice for Mike Brown and the countless other black and ethnic youth that have been murdered by white police have also brought the world’s eyes to the issue.
IV. Other Cases
Michael Brown was not the first unarmed black boy to be killed by a white police officer, and he certainly wasn’t the last. Trayvon Martin was 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighbor watch captain, in Sanford Florida. It was February 26th, 2012 when Trayvon was killed, and like the case of Marked Brown, it sparked national outrage. George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder, just like Wilson, and was never taken into custody after claiming self-defense. (Winch) Martin was walking home wearing a grey hoodie and carrying a package of skittles and a pop when he was killed. These things became a symbol for the public, rallying together to destroy the idea that a black boy in a hoodie is naturally a “thug”. The death of Trayvon, and the freedom of Zimmerman was the first straw, Mike Brown was not the last. (Smith) November 22nd 2014, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was in a park in Cleveland, Ohio when he was shot by white police officer Timothy Loehmann. Rice was carrying a toy airsoft gun, and when a person nearby called 911 to report a boy with a gun that was, “probably fake,” not all the information was relayed to the officers. The police officers pulled up next to the boy and within seconds had shot him fatally. They then tackled and restrained Rice’s sister who had rushed to his aid and the officers failed to administer first aid until another man arrived on scene, nearly 5 minutes later. Paramedics arrived shortly after and Tamir Rice died the next day from his wounds. Unlike the shooting of Mike Brown, Rice’s death was caught on camera and the obvious injustice of his death is undisputable. Yet, the officers responsible still told their own versions of the story that did not match up to the video, but were accepted anyways. The continual shooting of black youth by white police officers is an obvious trend and it has been shown that police were 22 more likely to shoot and kill black teens than white teens between 2010 and 2012 (see Appendix 2). The death of Tamir Rice has continued to fuel the outrage and conviction of those fighting against a racist system. (Lopez)
V. The Problems & Causes
One of the main causes for the not only the targeting of black youth, but also the tension between black communities and police, is a lack of ethnic representation. Black people in America find no comfort in the police force that is supposed to protect them. This is due to the fact that the diversity of police forces across America does not accurately represent the communities they protect. Ferguson Missouri’s population is 64% black, yet black people make up only 5% of their police. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated phenomenon. Across America, the average percentage of white officers in local police is 75% (see appendix 3), and the number increases as the population of the city decreases. This does not reflect the diverse reality of present-day America. (Leber) The majority white police forces cause mistrust among the ethnic population of communities, who are not represented within the people who can protect them, but can also take their life. This lack of reflection can also be found in other areas in American society. Aside from popular media, a serious lack of diversity can be found in the justice system. In the case of Mike Brown, only 3 jurors were black while the other 9 were white. This ratio is meant to represent the average ratio of black to white in the entirety of the St. Louis County. However, a grand jury case need only 9 votes to make a decision. This sort of subtle undermining of black people is a large and important reason for the anger and doubt among the black and ethnic communities of America. (Wagner) Finally, the blatant ignorance of even the existence of racism in modern day America is extremely damaging. The fact that people can’t admit or see the trend of systematic oppression among visible minorities is the biggest aspect working against black people today. Benjamin L. Corey says on his blog that, “If we admit to the existence of systemic racism in America, it makes us guilty.” Americans are raised on the belief that their country is just, free and a utopia of wealth, religion and technology. However, this view and refusal to acknowledge today’s racism will only make the problem grow. (Corey)
VI. The Viewpoints
It can be expected that in such a complex and deeply historically rooted issue, there are going to be different views and opinions regarding it. There are many people in America who do not believe that Mike Brown was murdered, that racism still exists in the United States or that the police over reacted at the protests. For these people, though their general opinion may vary, this issue is not as big of a deal as the black community seems to think. (Bates) In a survey done, 76% of black people said that the Mike Brown shooting was part of a broader pattern, whereas only 40% of white people agreed. It is clear that white America does not perceive the issues surrounding this case in the same way as black America. In general however, white people are not as in tune to the struggles of black people, and they do not experience the same troubles. A 2012 survey found that black people report substantially more problems in their communities than white people (see appendix 4). This divide can account for the lack of sympathy and/or general ignorance of white America concerning the Mike Brown case. (Jones) On the other side of things is ethnic, but more specifically black, America. The recent events on top of a history steeped in racism have also affected the viewpoint of the people most affected by the shootings. They have begun to demand for change, yet 52% of blacks believe that police-minority relationships will get worse. (Jones) Furthermore, the black community has reached out on social media to be heard, creating “#Blacklivesmatter”, a chant and slogan for the movement to stop the targeting and shooting of black youth. Though often undermined by white people, who insist “#Alllivesmatter” is the more appropriate thing to say, black America has, for the most part, remained a intimate and supportive community, dedicated to their cause. (Craven) In addition, Canada – being the neighbor of the United States – has also had a reaction to the events in America. Protests and gatherings in solidarity with Ferguson have emerged across Canada, and the support is obvious. However, Canada’s view on the events in Ferguson and across America is skewed by the population’s tendency to hold itself in higher regards. Same as Americans, Canadians believe they are in “the land of the free”, but racism and targeting of ethnic youth (specifically First Nation women) occurs here as well. Though the encouragement and support Canadians offer is sincere, it does not mean that Canada is above racism as well. (Domise) Finally, it is sure that countries around the world are paying close attention to the unrest happening in the United States. Russian media played the events in Ferguson as a sort of karma for America’s interference in Ukraine. Russia’s human rights ombudsman also accused the United States of hypocrisy and serial failure. China foreign ministry used the current events as an opportunity to make a hit at Washington. However, she also used it as a call to arms for the collaboration and improvement of human rights around the world. Finally, activists in Egypt drew parallels between Ferguson and recent events in Cairo, where they have dealt with police brutality since the revolution in 2011. The similarities are astounding, and it is clear that all eyes are on America, whether it be to exploit their failures, or learn from them. (Harding)
VII. Next steps & Solutions
The problems brought up by the shooting of Mike Brown cannot be cured overnight. However, if the right actions are taken and people stand up for what is right, change can happen. First of all, justice should be met for the men who murdered innocent boys. Whether that means being found guilty for murder, or at least getting indicted, these men have killed innocent people for no good reason, and that should at least be investigated. Not only that, but the systems in which they are judged should not be made in their favor, like the grand jury case of Darren Wilson. Secondly, the police forces around the United States must change. Not only do they need to become more diverse, but their training also lacks serious lessons about targeting ethnic youth, and being too liberal with their guns. As for the root of the problem, racism must be demolished in America. Though it has been woven tightly into society over hundreds of years, it is not an inherent idea. Racism was introduced, taught and developed. This means that it can be undone. All of these issues interconnect, and it is through all of them working together that the American society as a whole may change. (Jackson)
VIII. Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that there is a subtle and intricate racism within the police system of America, and the targeting of ethnic youth has and will continue to result in death if change does not occur. There are endless cases that can be reviewed, which will demonstrate the racist stereotypes acted upon by American police. Different points of view highlight the aspects of these events that make them so influential and the counteracting of some only reinforce the message. In the end, it is up to the people to realize the corrupt and racist society they live in, and to mold it into a system of true equality.
IX. Appendix
1. Table showing witness interviews from the Michael Brown shooting investigation (Santhanam)
2. 2012 FBI report showing people killed by police during arrest, by age and race (Lopez)
3. Bureau of Justice statistics 2007 table showing percentage of race and ethnicity in local police departments by size of population (Leber)
4. Graph showing the percent of people saying various issues are a major problem in their community by race (Jones)
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