“Anything that has
value is something worth having. Anything that is perceived of lesser value, is
often-times overlooked.”
First, I would
like to introduce you to the understanding of self- value vs. racism. When one
is born into this world, he or she comes here with an extraordinary amount of
worth. Their worth can be found in their mere existence, no matter who you are or what family they belong to.
Whether people accept it or not, we all carry a substantial amount of worth and
its’ our primary duty to extend this in the most positive way possible towards everyone.
As we grow up in this
ever changing world, there is one thing we know for sure and that is, just as
we are born, we must die. The statement then becomes, must we die from the
hands of those that misunderstand the value of someone else? Once we recognize
the value of the other person, this recognition should have nothing to do with
what color the person is, but it has everything to do with that individual’s self-worth
and value.
This leads to the next question concerning racism. What
exactly is racism and why is it still an issue in a country that is struggling
to heal from such past atrocities? First, racism doesn’t have any one
particular color it extracts itself from the heart of those that are truly incomplete and lack the knowledge of total love.
Racism can be expressed from any ethic group and it is “the belief that
race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a
particular race is superior to others.” Secondly, racism is, “Discrimination or
prejudice based on race.”
When it comes down to demonstrating or recognizing
self-value, one must understand that it starts with the individual, not their
race. The color of one’s skin must be internalized as an invisible sheath, if America is to grow from such negativity as
racism. Also, as a black American myself, I realize that whites come under
scrutiny for racism, whereas blacks (black man killing a white) are rarely coined
racist. (Hmm).
In the case
surrounding Michael Brown out of Ferguson, Missouri, I can see where both sides
can learn from this tragic event. I make mention of both sides, because this
tragic event has been perceived to be a racial issue instead of, in my opinion,
“forced police brutality.” The killing of Michael Brown has gained national
attention primarily because of what the masses are focused upon, rather than
what the police department out of Ferguson has failed to recognize and that is,
the value of the individual.
Onward, if the majority of blacks perceives any white person
who may be associated with police dept., corporation, etc., to be racist when
black citizens are killed by white citizens, then whites should be able to decry
the same thing when black citizens kill white citizens. In other words, the law of reciprocity
concerning racism should be seen from both sides, instead of one side. (By the way, crying racism back and forth
when murders occur from one group to the other will never solve anything.)
Secondly, the police department in Ferguson and throughout
the United States can learn from this tragic event only if they close their
minds to perceiving any one race of people to be vastly different from the
other race. In other words, we are all human beings and we all deserve a chance
at life. I would like to think that any
mother or father who may have lost their son to being shot at over 10 times and
hit 6 while unarmed could only consider
this as forced police brutality.
In conclusion, we must realize that the law (police, etc.)
is set in place for the protections of all. Not only that, but it exist for the
purpose of maintaining peaceful living amongst law abiding citizens. I make
such notion because when an officer gives an order, then, citizens should abide
by such order. There should be no argument, pushing, disrespect, etc., going on
between the law and citizens. Anything against a police order should be
challenged in court and not having to risk one’s life on the streets. Remember,
they (the police) are in a sense, “the law.” Last, when trained officers are
placed onto the streets to serve and protect, one must remember that no one
person’s life has more value than the next, especially when the end results are
to “serve and protect” all citizens under this great Nation.
By Christopher Ty:
http://www.Christopher-Ty.com
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