Our national conversations and activist actions around race and racial injustice tend to flourish when centered around one locality. The best recent example is Ferguson, the St. Louis suburb that quite literally ignited last summer after unarmed teen Michael Brown was gunned down by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. That was followed by one of the grossest displays of militarized police violence the country has witnessed since 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
That’s a big reason why President Obama couldn’t go to Selma last month and not say the word “Ferguson.”
There was also the matter of inconvenient, yet symbolic timing: Days before the March 7 commemoration of the violently interrupted voting-rights march known as “Bloody Sunday,” the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a mortifying 102-page report about Ferguson, detailing excessive force by police officers, financial bleeding of citizens through petty arrests and ticketing, and unchecked racial bias that metastasized throughout the police and courts.
Noting that he’d been asked in the wake of the DOJ report whether anything had changed with regards to race in this country, Obama chose to respond instead to a straw man. “I rejected the notion that nothing’s changed,” he said in his Selma speech. “What happened in Ferguson may not be unique, but it’s no longer endemic. It’s no longer sanctioned by law or by custom. And before the Civil Rights Movement, it most surely was.”
In the midst of otherwise brilliant oratory befitting the moment, this was a very strange thing to say. The ’60s were not some demarcation line for institutionalized and legalized racism, as Obama knows. And the killing of Michael Brown was indeed sanctioned by both law and custom, as the government’s report makes plain.
Something that can demonstrably change the city, however, will take place this coming Tuesday, April 7: Ferguson will vote in its first local election since Brown was killed.
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Every Ferguson resident, of age, needs to be registered and ready to push a button during this election time. If the voters don't come out and support who is running the city, more "Michael Browns" will be laid bare in the streets. There needs to be education about the election, those who are running, and the critical nature of this historical, game-changing event. No more 30 second media spots to present a platform; go to some townhalls, ask the relevant questions; get the whole plan -- not just the one top layer lie veiled as a promise. Just keep saying "that's not enough" and see what happens! Heck, use the DOJ 102 page document as an outline for questions and don't leave until you get shut down...then bring your buddy to pick up where you left off! :)
ReplyDeleteThe media attention may be positive for election turn out. People notice that the whole country is paying attention to their choices. The election in Ferguson may result in big changes for the city but there may also be obstacles that run deep in Missouri that will shackle even the most progressive mayor. I don't know how much an election will do but city officials who actually see racial issues would indubitably raise morals.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the media may create positive attention for voters in Ferguson and could eventually lead to change. While that change may not be immediate I do think encouraging people to vote is a positive step forward
ReplyDeleteI hope the people of Ferguson will look past color for qualiification. Electing those who are the best candidate instead of trying to controll power through vote.
ReplyDeleteThe people of Ferguson have been changed by the death of Michael Brown - that being said, it's unquestionable that race and justice inequalities will be weighing down heavily on the minds of constituents when they go to cast their votes.
ReplyDeleteI think the election is a good place to facilitate change in Ferguson. I was surprised the county clerk was given so much power in Ferguson. It is also surprising that all the racist emails were found in her email.
ReplyDeleteI know all eyes will be on Ferguson tomorrow as people (hopefully)pour into the polling places and results pour out. I've obviously got a bit of a bias when it comes to the events in Ferguson - which is to say, I firmly believe systemic racism was at the heart of the Michael Brown shooting, and I believe that it has driven and impacted countless other actions. As such, I think candidates like McGath, who said “I may be a silly old man in all of this, but I don’t think we have a big race issue here,” must be voted down or voted out if there's ever to be room for positive change. Those who think that the city's humiliation was enough to fuel change are, in my opinion, gravely mistaken. Humiliation fuels shame, which often makes us retreat further into our viewpoints and positions us to defend our beliefs even more vehemently. The humiliated individuals, such as Clerk Twitty, were highlighted both for their poor personal judgment and for their misuse of government resources and "on-the-clock" time. Anyone who wants to serve the community in a government office needs to be prepared to accept the consequences if she or he chooses to serve only some citizens, not all. Fingers are crossed for a powerful voter turnout tomorrow and some new voices and faces in the city government.
ReplyDeleteI agree that elections are so important for Ferguson right now especially. People need to go out and vote, media is helping, but everyone needs to go vote and do it without letting race create bias. The upcoming elections can create significant and positive change moving forward for the city if the right people are elected
ReplyDeleteI was shocked that Obama said that what happened in Ferguson was not epidemic considering that a black man seem to be dying at the hands of a police officer on a daily basis. That denial by our president is a major issue
ReplyDeleteI believe that the people of Ferguson, who were able to vote on April 7, went down to those polls and voted. We have to utilize our civic duties as Americans and take advantage of our voting capabilities because it was just not too long ago when we were not able to vote and have a say so in America. This could be the change that Ferguson needs to help move things in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteVoting has never fully benefitted that African American community. As long as the choices are pre picked, they will have the same leader, new face. We picked President Obama, and nothing has changed!
ReplyDeleteThe people in Ferguson need to come together as one and not look at color when going to the voting polls. They need to really go out in vote, think of the people who went through a lot for you to be able to go and vote.
ReplyDeleteI understand how one has to be careful of any words spoken in media, but Obama’s statement on how it is different from before civil war and how Ferguson was not epidemic is rather shocking. Of course the laws and views changed but there are still more changes that are needed to be made. Though, as many people mentioned, I wish people will make right and smart decisions when they vote.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that more changes need to be made in Ferguson and many other places throughout America. Hopefully media attention will encourage the people of Ferguson to go out and vote so that change can happen within the city and their voices can be heard
ReplyDeleteThe election is the first step to the future for Ferguson. There is currently only one black council person and only 2 in the 120 years with a 70% African American population. People have turned out for this election that have never voted before. I was pleased that the CBC has led a political seminar to teach the people of Ferguson the political process.
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