Baltimore, Freddie Gray, and the Killing of Unarmed African-Americans
The recent homicide of Freddie Gray in Baltimore is tragic to say the least. I remember a time when most African-Americans /Blacks felt safe around the police. Now, when I see a police officer, all feel disgust, anguish, and uneasiness. I know that not all police officers are bad neither are all African-Americans, but it’s hard to digest the recent killings of unarmed black men. When you combine poverty with depravity and throw police brutality in the mix; the result is a bunch of angry people with nothing to lose.
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News broadcasters made it a priority to frame the Baltimore riots as if all African-Americans had lost their damn minds as they proceeded to destroy the city. They neglected to highlight the African-Americans who peacefully protested while helping to restore peace and clean up some of the destruction.
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While we continually hear about gang violence in urban areas, I’m pretty sure some of my brothers/sisters know that the Police Department is the biggest gang there is. They’ve been given a license to kill freely with little consequences. It appears that their main target is black men, specifically unarmed black men.
I don’t condone violence and rioting, it solves nothing. At the end of the day, destroying a CVS pharmacy will not bring Freddie Gray back. I think peaceful protest makes the protester feel better, but do they work to bring justice? Do they really affect change? What has changed over the past 10-15 years when racial profiling slowly started making headlines again? What happened to human rights?
It has become a dire situation. What is happening to our sons, brothers, cousins, uncles, husbands, and fathers? It is a hard pill to swallow knowing that my brother or someone I know son, brother, or husband can not only fall victim to unnecessary violence, but suffer brutality or even worst death at the hands of someone put in place to protect us.
On CNN, I recently read that the death of Freddie Gray has been ruled a homicide. Six police officers will face charges as a result of his death. Is this the beginning of the much-needed change in our legal system? Or will it only get worse? Only time will tell.
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