Racial discrimination is a long-standing problem in America. Race-related prejudice has been the constant problem in America’s history, from slavery in the 18th to police brutality during the 21st centuries. America has seen great progress over the years. However, America’s inner workings are filled with systematic racism. It is because African Americans have been fleeing from danger and running that America’s inequality has to endure. The need to flee originated years ago when slave owners or plantation owners forced them to flee.
The increasing systemic racism and police brutality is the reason they want to run and hide. Ferguson PD, Missouri riots were not caused by anger or resentment. It was a need to retaliate for centuries of injustice and to vent their feelings. Ferguson PD has been guilty of injustice and racial discrimination against African Americans. This led to the #blacklivesmatter protest movement which allows African Americans to voice their concerns. First, we must understand how police agencies work. Every police department in America earns revenue by ticketing and arrests. Minorities are often the victims of many stoppages. This is a case of impoverished African Americans living within Ferguson. Police officers often target minorities to raise revenue. (Coates). Ferguson’s relationship with African Americans and the police force is built on suspicion, not trust and acceptance. Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote an article comparing Ferguson’s police officers to gangsters. Their gang, which is in search of revenue targets African Americans. Coates says that almost all the focus was on black people. Black Ferguson residents had twice the chance of being stopped by police, twice as many chances of receiving a citation for stopping them, and twice the likelihood that they would be arrested. Racial discrimination in the police department will cease if for-profit police are stopped. Campaign Zero, which focuses exclusively on the notion that police brutality can stop, further explains Coates’ argument while offering suggestions for both parties to stop the violence. Campaign Zero, for example, says that police should not be profiting from arresting, stopping, ticketing, incarcerating, or stopping people. Change must come from within the corrupt system that police departments use to obtain their revenue.
Because of their blatant racism, African Americans are not only being targeted for profit but they are also being subject to excessive and unnecessary force. The United States Department of Justice did an investigation of Ferguson Police Department. It found that police used unnecessary force against African Americans. This is shocking because almost 90% of the force used was unneeded. Police officers also use electronic weapons to control traffic (United States). Dept. Dept. ECWs are used by police officers as harmless tools. However, they can cause severe physical harm. The willingness of police officers to use force to inflict physical pain on their suspects creates fear and distrust within the community. Ferguson’s systemic racism is not restricted to Ferguson; riots broke out all over the country, raising awareness and creating confusion.
BlackLivesMatter has been described as “not a time, but movement” (Black Lives Matter). It was created in 2012 after George Zimmerman (a Ferguson police officer) was accused of killing Trayvon Martin (17). Zimmerman was eventually put on trial. The movement attempts to address prejudices and widen public discussion about state violence. Although racism and stereotyping of certain groups of people is not a problem in 21st-century America, it continues every day. BlackLivesMatter works to end discrimination in America and promote equality. Protestors oppose BlackLivesMatter arguing that it is too exclusive and encourages racial segregation rather than equality.
Rand Paul and Ben Carson are two examples of Republicans who claim that the statement “all life matters” is more inclusive. Others go so far to call BlackLivesMatter hate groups (Marino). Their arguments are understandable. However, BlackLivesMatter’s focus is on the hardships African Americans have to face. But, saying that “all life matters” doesn’t address the actual problem. Black Lives Matter is not a statement that all lives are irrelevant, but it does state that black lives also matter (GeekAesthete). Imagine you are at a fundraiser to help cancer patients, their families, and seeing a bunch of people shout out that it isn’t just cancer that matters. The protesting group’s point is completely out of line with the purpose of the fundraiser. Declaring that ‘all live matter’ removes from the issue that blacks are subject to discrimination, racism, and other forms.
Since the beginning, white people have been the subject of glory. It is now that African Americans have a chance to have a voice and have their concerns addressed. We must end the police brutality directed at African Americans in areas like Ferguson. To move beyond America’s horrible history of systematic racism that continues today, police departments need to reevaluate how they arrest people and end for-profit policing. The #BlackLivesMatter movement has finally helped many people across the country to voice their opinions. For areas like Ferguson to be able demonstrate equality for all races, empathy is necessary to defeat police brutality.
