In the wake of a week of tragedy—the unwarranted and fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile—I can’t help but feel defeated.
Although, as a white woman, I am not a victim of the institutional racism which propagates internal biases, racial profiling, and unwarranted violence against African Americans, specifically from members of the police force, I feel the weight of this issue.
I come from a transracial family. Two of my three brothers are black. In the outrage ignited over the murder of Trayvon Martin which inspired the Black Lives Matter movement, the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, and now, in the aftermath of the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police officers—I have grown increasingly terrified for them.
I walked downstairs on Saturday morning to find my mom coaching my older brother on how to behave if he were to be approached or pulled over by law enforcement. This is something she never had to talk to me about. The word ‘comply’ was uttered more than a few times.
Put your hands on the steering wheel. Sit still. Don’t reach into your pockets. Do not grab your wallet. Don’t argue. Comply.
Still, I’m left wondering: is that enough? Didn’t Alton Sterling comply? Wasn’t Philando Castile only reaching for his license? Didn’t Michael Brown raise his hands up in surrender? What about Sandra Bland or Eric Garner?
Yes, it is unfair to say that the entire police force is biased against African Americans, because that is untrue. The subject of police brutality is often difficult to discuss without sounding as if you’re incriminating all police officers. Police officers are individuals who have sworn to protect and serve the American people, and most of the time, they do. I believe it is important to support police officers who are doing their jobs with integrity and dedication, while also acknowledging that America’s deep history of racial prejudice continues to affect how our law enforcement functions to this day.
According to a 2015 study by The Guardian, young African American men are nine times more likely to be killed by police officers than the rest of the population. This is not to say that white people aren’t subject to police brutality as well, because they are. The issue is that black people are disproportionately affected.
I look at my little brother and I remember Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice. I look at my older brother and I think of Oscar Grant III. I’m reminded why Black Lives Matter is so important—why we need it to remind us that, yes, we still live in “a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise” (Black Lives Matter).
While we pray for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile’s families and those affected by their deaths, may we also remember that these tragedies happen far too often for them to be considered isolated issues.
Mourn the death of a man who sold CD’s outside of a supermarket. Mourn the death of a father of five children whose fiancé stood by helplessly while he died from gunshot wounds. Pray for justice. Remember their names. Hope for a conviction that affirms the senselessness of the violence that ended the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Support legislation that will hold officers accountable in cases of police brutality. Advocate for changes that will make racial equality a reality for America.
