Michael Brown's Death and the Ferguson Riots Aren't About Racism Anymore

I’m just going to get this out of the way. Michael Brown should not have died. For the sake of transparency, I’m a white male. To get straight to the point, we should all be ashamed of ourselves. We all love a big, fucked up story. And that’s exactly what the Ferguson/Michael Brown story has become. If you’re still reading, congratulations…you just may be one of the few able to change the state of racism, and celebrity-status, in America today.

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This isn’t just about the fact that a white cop shot a black man. This is also about the reverse racism an overwhelming majority of black folks have for whites…to the point that they will not listen to or warrant anything “Whitey” says. Ferguson isn’t happening because one side is guilty and the other is sparkly clean, though all sides seem to want to prove that’s exactly how it is.

Recap of Ferguson

So let’s be brutally honest on all fronts, okay? What happened in Ferguson, MO, is a straight up hot mess. It’s been glorified by the media and complications arisen because nobody can seem to tell the straight truth. Here’s what I know:

1. While it’s possible Michael Brown robbed a store, that isn’t why Officer Darren Wilson stopped Brown. He stopped Brown for “walking in the middle of the street.”

2. Brown was shot at least six times, twice in the head according to a secondary autopsy Brown’s parents requested. All six shots hit Brown from the front side.

3. Peaceful protests were started “to get justice for Michael Brown.” These protests have gone on for several days.

4. Perpendicular to the peaceful protests, rioters and opportunists have attacked business and police, setting fires and looting, setting off a nation-wide look at Ferguson, MO.

5. Police have responded to rioters with tear-gas, rubber bullets, beatings, and arrests.

6. Even if the police in Ferguson haven’t attacked the peaceful protesters, which live feeds have shown otherwise, they have denied rights to citizens, attacking and detaining journalists and newsman for trying to report on the situation. Now, as of August 19, 2014, “stations” have been set up from where journalists may now report. They are not allowed to report from within or near clashes between citizens and police.

7. “New Black Panthers” and supposed member of the Nation of Islam Malik Zulu Shabazz tells police it’s “my people” causing the rioting in Ferguson and blockading police.

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None of These is the Real Issue

The shooting and death of Michael Brown happened. That part is done. All we can really hope for now is that justice, true justice, is found. Meaning, the truth of what happened is discovered and the system takes care of itself. That’s the best-case scenario of any death, whether black, white, yellow, purple, or pink-polka-dotted. That’s not why people are rioting. That’s not why nobody wants to tell the truth right now.

The real issue here is accountability. And, in this instance, one of the people who needs to be held accountable…is dead. The best way to find the truth between two parties is to listen to each tell their version of the story…and somewhere in the middle is the truth. Officer Darren Wilson isn’t going to tell the full truth, he’s going to try and shove accountability onto the dead guy. Wilson is going to say whatever will keep him off death row…or at least out of prison.

Cause that’s how America works now, right?

The real issue here is why a single shooting, even one that led to one man’s death, leads to further deaths in the form of a militarized police force and riots willing to burn down buildings. The real issue is why some people feel a black man’s death made it okay to act on all the stereotypes of black folks across the Midwest. The real issue is not based on race. It’s based on class.

Wait…WHAT?

Twenty years ago, there would be no National Guard in Ferguson right now. Governor Jay Nixon wouldn’t need to be attempting to keep the peace in person. The President wouldn’t be needing to send his own staff to a small suburb in Missouri. I’m not saying justice was perfect twenty years ago. I’m not saying everything would have been fair. But I don’t think it would have gotten this big. Why?

Because twenty years ago, everyone had a shot at being at least Middle Class. Now, the modern middle class is a joke. You’re either rich, poor, military, or police. Each is a very distinct class, though lately police and military are looking awfully similar. Maybe that’s because police and military make up our middle class…citizens do not. The rioters are opportunists, using a bad situation to take advantage of others. I think if wealth wasn’t so disproportionate in America, they wouldn’t feel the need to burn things down.

James, this sounds close to personal politics.

You’re damned right it does. Michael Brown’s death isn’t a race thing. Not anymore. It’s political- from the St. Louis County Police to the President himself. Nobody wants to be found on the guilty side when the smoke (finally) blows out. As such, nobody is doing what needs to be done- take Officer Wilson into custody, prepare a trial, and give him a defender if he cannot afford one. Anytime a credentialed journalist is jailed, even temporarily, for reporting on the biggest event in recent memory, someone’s attempting to hide something. Hiding things from the public is, I’m sorry, political. That or the Mob wanted Michael Brown dead. Hey, who knows?

Could Events Have Rolled Out Differently?

Absolutely. Had both Officer Wilson and Michael Brown been white, Wilson would not be on paid leave. Chances are, Brown wouldn’t have been shot six times with two to the head, executioner style. But, would it have rolled out any differently?

Let’s keep the facts the same. Black man, white cop. Six shots. But, instead of killing Brown, Wilson only injured him, and taken Brown into custody. How would that have changed things?

I wish I could believe that one change would make a difference. Yes, the story would be different. Brown would’ve been capable of giving his side of the story, yes. Would we be closer to the truth? Certainly.

But, with tensions as they are, Brown would’ve blamed the whole thing on the “Whitey Police Officer.” Wilson would have still claimed Brown pushed the situation until he had to shoot him. People would still have risen up, but instead of demanding justice for Brown’s death, they would be demanding penance, in the form of suing Officer Wilson and the St. Louis County Police Department. We still wouldn’t know if either did anything wrong for sure.

Because a black man was attacked, those who rioted would have done so anyway, still using the confusion and supposed anger, along with the excuse of being poor, to burn down buildings. Police would still be trying to quiet the rioters and running into the peaceful vigils and trying to quiet the reporters after they took their job too far and far too seriously. Everyone would still be calling this a hate crime, or chanting racism, on every television station. It would still be a political maelstrom.

Because that’s how America works now, right? Don’t we all love a big, fucked up story after all?

 

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Thanks for reading, I’d love to hear your comments. Do you feel all the racism is on one side? Do you feel the militarization of police and use of the National Guard is going too far? No worries, I’ll reply and moderate to make sure comments remain within reason.