Camisha Jones: How to save the life of the next Michael Brown

[LuckyTheDog]

Michael Brown. Jordan Davis. Sean Bell. Trayvon Martin. The list of African-American boys and men gunned down at the hands of police officers and vigilantes just gets longer and longer. It makes me numb.

I don’t want to feel the full weight of grief and turmoil from knowing the lives of people I love, who look like me, are often not safe in this country. My hope for moving past this immobility comes from my experience facilitating anti-bias retreats and workshops for over seven years and my creative work as a poet. I’ve witnessed the numerous ways our lives are compromised when racism isn’t confronted. I’ve seen what can happen when we commit to the difficult work of undoing oppression.

MORE HERE: http://wonkynewsnerd.com/camisha-jones-save-life-next-michael-brown/

[Louisiana1976]

1. It's sad that racism in this country is so bad that black youths and men are being gunned down.

I wonder if, when police are hired, it would help if they were tested for racism.

[BrotherIvan]

2. Someone was discussing how the segregation of neighborhoods/towns is part of the problem

By living in a certain area, one doesn't have to meet anyone but their own ethnicity. Especially small towns or rural areas. Or there is an economic divide that keeps people apart. And then it is hard to see people as people if you only see them from afar or on Fox. I've heard certain people state that they've never seen a black person or PoC growing up. It seems that that color line is where a lot of the problems stem from.

I know I wouldn't be the first to live amongst racists. But I do know a couple of generations seems to help smooth things out as grandchildren can no longer say they don't know any PoC. As many who grew up in a racist household have stated, a positive encounter with a PoC made them open their eyes. And all the racist lies and stereotypes fell away. It was an interesting discussion.

It is a relief that people are trying to find a way forward.