• About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Download App
  • Virtual Summit
  • Benefit Hub for Subscribers Only
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
Home Diversity

#IfTheyGunnedMeDown: The Fear of Black Youth in America

Dr. Charles Lewis, Jr.byDr. Charles Lewis, Jr.
April 7, 2019
in Diversity, Human Rights, News, Politics
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare via EmailShare on Reddit
Mike Jr. Brown via Facebook
Mike Jr. Brown via Facebook

Recently, two unarmed young black men were killed by police officers in a St. Louis suburb and in the city of Los Angeles while the circumstances surrounding the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson County remain disputed with only the eyewitness account of his friend on record thus far. Ferguson County police have yet to release the identity of the officer who shot Brown. Then, on Monday in Los Angeles, 25-year-old Ezell Ford was shot and killed by police officers, and the tragedy is that none of these men should have died.

These events are chilling reminders of the finiteness and fragility of life. Young black men are dying every day—usually at their own hands. Some say that is a form of suicide—that life loses its value when hope for a meaningful existence all but fades away. Young black men learn to hate and devalue themselves to point where shooting another black youth can be done without any compunction.

The two shootings by police are a reminder that race still matters in America. The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States supposedly ushered in a new era of color-blindness as the ultimate glass ceiling had been broken. President Obama had been elected not once, but twice. It should be enough evidence that racism was no longer a factor in America—that it was time to close the door on that ugly and disgraceful chapter in our history. But no, it seems that racism and the hopelessness caused by racial disparities in opportunity and accomplishment has reared its ugly head again.

How The #IfTheyGunnedMeDown Movement Changed The Conversation About Michael Brown's Death http://t.co/hoYJeYnjKE pic.twitter.com/ckz73wwsT0

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) August 13, 2014

According to the New York Times,

Like hundreds of young African-Americans, he placed his pictures under the hashtag#IfTheyGunnedMeDown, protesting Mr. Brown’s killing by a police officer and the way young black men are depicted in the news media. He said that Mr. Brown’s identity was distorted and filtered through negative stereotypes, and that the same would have been done to him with the bandanna image if he found himself the victim of a similar event. Read Full Article

Reading some of the hateful comments in response to news articles about young Mr. Brown’s death is a reminder of how frightful it still is to be black in some parts of this country. Seeing the riots and looting that followed an unwarranted show of force by police at what started out as a peaceful rally, reminded me of the aftermath of Rodney King’s beating at the hands of the Los Angeles police.

Having been in the city shortly before the King incident, I knew that the fire and rage in the streets had little to do with Rodney King but that the incident had lit aflame the smoldering anger that existed in LA after a Korean storekeeper was acquitted of fatally shooting a young black girl in the head for allegedly stealing a container of juice.

Top pic is a suspect, bottom of a Victim!! #IfTheyGunnedMeDown Is just a hashtag but it holds incredible meaning. pic.twitter.com/l8g7jOnlul

— Polly Irungu (@pollyirungu) August 12, 2014

The shooting of unarmed Michael Brown ignited the anger that had been smoldering in Ferguson County for decades. Stoked by the distrust and hatred that has been building up between the black community and white police, Michael Brown’s shooting death lit the fuse. Readers’ comments following the news accounts about the riots and looting were vile and hateful. While no argument can be made to justify unlawful acts, some of the most vicious comments described people who did not deserve to live.

Michael Brown was one of them. Reading those comments made me sick to my stomach and took my thoughts back to how as a kid I could never understand what made white people lynch black people. I read the comments because I wanted to know what people were thinking. It seemed both rioters and commenters alike were losing their minds.

Clouded thinking seems to be the order of the day. Morally compassed thinking people would be able to compromise and develop solutions that would help better the country and its citizens. These deaths can be redeeming if they make us take a hard look at what our society has become and to understand the need to place greater attention on mental wellness.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Winning the Boss Lottery

Next Post

Translating Neuroscience into Policy and Practice for At-Risk Children, with Dr. Jack Shonkoff

Dr. Charles Lewis, Jr.

Dr. Charles Lewis, Jr.

Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr. is President the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy. He has served as deputy chief of staff and communications director for former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns and was the staff coordinator for the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

Related Posts

5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing
Health

5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing

January 7, 2023
What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It
Business

What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It

January 7, 2023
Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW
News

Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW

January 5, 2023
Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns
Human Rights

Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns

January 4, 2023
Europe Can Do More to Protect Refugees
Human Rights

Social Work with Refugees

January 7, 2023
When Reporters of Sexual Harassment Are Silenced By Advocacy Institutions the Harm is Far Worst
Education

When Reporters of Sexual Harassment Are Silenced By Advocacy Institutions the Harm is Far Worst

January 3, 2023
Next Post
Translating Neuroscience into Policy and Practice for At-Risk Children, with Dr. Jack Shonkoff

Translating Neuroscience into Policy and Practice for At-Risk Children, with Dr. Jack Shonkoff

Attorney General Eric Holder Signs Proposal to Improve Movie Theater Experience for Disabled Americans

Attorney General Eric Holder Signs Proposal to Improve Movie Theater Experience for Disabled Americans

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

June 24, 2022
What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

June 19, 2022
Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

April 7, 2019

Connect With Us

Twitter
FlipboardInstagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram TikTok
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Download App
  • Terms of Service

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Technology
    • Disability
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Webinars
  • Virtual Summit
  • Career Center
  • Download App
  • Subscriber Benefit Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version