This will be not be a column about the Rams’ first meaningless game, nor the continuing destruction of the NCAA as they continue to face a future that will be unlike anything we could imagine. Nor is this about a high-school athlete, but rather a former high-school student who made the news this week for unfortunate reasons.
I did not know Michael Brown, nor did many who have taken up causes in his name, and that is where the questions lie. It did not take a CSI analyst to verify that Michael Brown was killed by a police officer on Saturday, but it may take one to find and document the actual description and account of what happened. I am willing to wait for the truth. With that said, let’s talk about the causes at hand.
The most troubling element of this situation is how some have elected to use this tragedy as the starting point for a race for their 15 minutes of fame. This is a large race that includes both blacks and whites, rich and poor, even smart and stupid.
Let’s start with the stupid. How is the death of a teenager grounds for destroying and looting businesses in their own community? While the official numbers are not in yet, anyone want to wager how many of those arrested were actually from the community of Ferguson? Clearly, an opportunity for someone to take advantage of the situation for all the wrong reasons.
While Black America is trying to be heard, to destroy your own community has never worked. The large corporations will just move to another neighborhood, and the local mom-and-pop store owners are flat out of luck, as the insurance never covers the whole mess and the desire to reinvest decreases immensely. There are several ways to get the attention desired – looting and destroying someone else’s property falls under the category of felonious stupidity.
The other question that comes into play is leadership. As for the clergy and representatives of civil rights organizations, it’s time to make room onstage for others. Prayer is needed, for sure, but it is time for business leaders, especially those of color, to take the stage, as they have something at stake here, too.
This is no time to hunker down at the private clubs, nor to try and get in another round of golf. St. Louis has more owners, CEOs senior vice presidents and difference-makers in more businesses than at any other time. It has more doctors and lawyers of color, not to mention other professions on the sidelines. These individuals have impact – and yet not a word.
I guess there are no elections on the agenda, as few elected officials have come forward to be heard other than with a tweet or Facebook post. I am not questioning when these people will take the microphone and give a toothless speech, as we have had enough of them, but what about a plan of action on how these situations can be avoided or addressed in a civil, professional manner?
In some cases, media exposure leads to overkill of the wrong subjects. It creates a fear that Ferguson residents will be invading surrounding communities as if they were the Ebola virus. Civil unrest and what comes with it is a difficult story for anyone to cover, and for many who have been assigned this story, it is new territory. My only hope is that they take into account what the real story is and not become part of the story.
For the “community activist,” it’s time to have a real plan. Some methods of getting attention will soon fall on deaf ears, and then what? If you want the microphone, have a clue, get the message out, and let’s move forward, as we can see what is in our rear-view mirror.
The biggest question here is: what can we do with our unemployed and at times under-educated youth who have nothing to do? Idle time has always been the devil’s workshop. Opportunities for the youth in our community to grow into something they and we can be proud of is what the real mission should be, aside from dealing with the death of Michael Brown. How we as a community deal with that death will hinge on what happens for our future youth. Leaders and role models need to step forward and be seen and heard.
How can we get the ones who are most in need to the table? The looters – the criminals who have taken it upon themselves to take full advantage of a volatile situation – are certainly the ones who need direction most. Churches and rallies are full of those who want to do right. They are not the problem here. How do we get the other difference-makers in the room? That is a question that has to be addressed before we have any civil coexistence.
There has to be a meaningful dialogue here that involves the real players in the game. Feelings may get hurt if you don’t get an invite, but this is serious business that should be conducted by serious people. Front-runners, rabble-rousers, etc., need not apply. Perhaps our clergy, activists, politicians and all others with alleged good intentions can work on that a bit while we mourn the loss of a young man who had a bright future.
