The change in the racial demographics of Ferguson, Missouri has been remarkable in recent years. It appears that the town is approximately 67% black,
33% white. The police department has a white, incompetent police chief, and at least one overtly racist white policeman who live in another town over 25 miles away.
Darren Wilson, the policeman who killed Michael Brown, did not live in
Ferguson, had no ties to the
community, but was there to so-called "serve and protect" them. The police chief admittedlydid not know that there was a profound disconnect between the police department and the
community that they were supposed to serve. The police chief is a complete joke. Now, I
understand that this department has hired a public relations firm that ironically is also
white. The police department apparently was there to harass, or arrest, and kill the
residential serve and protect.
That the Black communities across the US have been subjected to police harassment, abuse, and murders had been well documented. The ACLU study was quite revealing. The study
reported in USA Today on the killing by policeman of Black boys and men was also equally
revealing. Hopefully, these studies are educational to interested white people, but Black
men like me know from personal experience that this has always been occurring every day.
It is rare to find a Black man who trust and respect the police was supposed to be protecting and serving them. Rather, they see the police department as an agency to fear and avoid. White people who typically grew up with a different experience with the police don’t
understand this. And, although some may present themselves as being open-minded, this isdishonest and false.
What you have in Ferguson, Missouri, is an 18-year-old Black man who was killed in cold blood by a white racist cop who could have either ignored Michael Brown, who was apparently jaywalking, or could have just sounded his horn if he was impeding the flow of traffic. This young man was shot over six times. Twice in the head. This was intent to kill an unarmed man who he had already shot four times and falling forward. To talk about the presence of Al Sharpton who was invited by the family, or Jesse Jackson was invited by others is irrelevant.To talk about the ongoing murders and mayhem in Chicago is also irrelevant.
To start the process of making sure that the possibility of future young Black men being murdered is lessened, Black voters need to become politically astute.Rather, than outsiders coming into a town to just to give a voice to the aggrieving family,they need to begin to organize
the Black residents politically. And, if they are not willing to do it, then they need someone from within their own ranks to begin the organizing.
It is totally unacceptable for a town with a Black population of over 67% to have a white
mayor and a white police department with 53 white policemen and 3 Black policemen. The
Black population in Ferguson, Missouri has been negligent in their duty.
What would seriously began to frighten the white politicians and the police in Ferguson, Missouri is for Black people to forget the marching and holding up signs; develop a
political agenda; and, begin identifying and supporting candidates from within their own
ranks to support their positions. They would then begin to know that the tide is turning
and change is coming. If more white people then want to leave the town, then encourage
them, and help them load up their trucks.
