Lessons from Ferguson

Another unarmed black man has been gunned down.

A memorial on the spot where Michael Brown died

A large gathering of peaceful demonstrators

 This time by a white police officer. By now we've all heard the story of how 18 year old Michael Brown was shot to death in Ferguson, Missouri by Police Officer Darren Wilson. And we've all been shocked by how this small town outside of St.Louis has become a stage for peaceful protests that have been interrupted by violent protestors and an aggressive militarized police force.

One of many peaceful protesters treated like a criminal

 According to CNN, the FBI has spoken to dozens of witnesses to the shooting, but so far, only four witnesses have told their story on television. All four are black and all four have been consistent in their stories of Brown having his hands up while being shot down.

And of course, most black people believe the witnesses while most white people believe that  Officer Wilson was protecting himself from a violent suspect. This racial disparity is hardly surprising. A white cop shot and killed a black kid in a predominately black neighborhood.

A heavily armed Ferguson police officer observing  peaceful 

protestors 

It's only natural that many white people support Officer Darren. Generally speaking, it is hard for them to believe that the police would engage in racial profiling against black people. And that's the problem: You cannot relate to something that you have never experienced.

Racism does not happen to white people, so how can they relate to it? They understand what racism is, but they have never experienced its infuriating and humiliating effects. Again, they cannot relate. So how are white people suppose to relate to black and brown people who are victims of racism?

The good news is that there can be understanding between whites and minorities. It can happen if we as a country start having open and HONEST conversations about race and class. We do this by opening public forums where extremely diverse groups of people can talk about their American experience and offer solutions to our shared racial problem.  This solution-oriented discussion should be held on a regular basis so we can continue to foster more racial tolerance. So when racial tensions rise up like they have in Ferguson we will be a little more understanding and sympathetic to the plight of others.