A Message From Mari

Identity is what both simultaneously brings communities together and shuns others out. While watching the documentary, I was made well aware of how people could see the same news story and have different responses, but also how that reaction can have a different response as well from the people who protect and serve us.

I believe that the footage of the different protests to be a perfect example of how such things are juxtaposed. When Micheal Brown was killed by the police officer, black people only came with signs, the clothes on their backs and their voices to express their anger and grief, but they were met with nothing, but violence and police officers ready for war, but the white protestors who were doing a protest over open carry could wield their guns like it was nobody’s business and the police were perfectly fine and even friendly around their protests. 

Identity shapes perceptions in many ways, but the constant truth is identity shaped the response to the Ferguson rebellion by putting it on a microscope for some who blamed Brown for his death and acted like he deserved it because he was a kid running away from a scary situation, and there are those who call Brown’s death for what it was: an execution with no rhyme or reason because the cop was allowed to commit such an act and go unscathed. 

It’s a sad reality that this constant talk around how people of color should not be angry around deaths and tragedies within our communities are minimized or straight up ignored because the truth is no one cares until it is them, such as the unfortunate events in Minnesota with the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, but this should go to show people: If it happens to one, don’t think it won’t happen to all.

That’s all for now, Folks.