Through my undergraduate studies, I have learned that much of political discourse is spurred by attention from the media. Most important are the stories that are highlighted and the various way they are displayed. In contemporary times, the American public still struggles to overcome racism and perpetuated crime whether in self defense or stemming from hate. Media coverage displays these intense racial conflicts which can give off a wide array of aspirations among the general public. Racist tensions are increasing especially with the presences of a black culture (counterculture) versus the mainstream white society. The recent shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina has escalated a string of social movement protest as well as riots. My peers and I question whether this could be the tip of the ice berg because of the continual uprisings giving off violence. Are we headed for anarchy? Is this a race war?
Facts of the shooting are revealed here:
In Charlotte, North Carolina, a White Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers shot and killed a black male named Keith Lamont Scott.
Keith Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, released a recording of a dialogue between she and the officer during her husband shooting.
An excerpt of a transcript from the shooting is revealed here:
OFFICER: "Hands up!"
SCOTT: "Don't shoot him. Don't shoot him. He has no weapon. He has no weapon. Don't shoot him."
OFFICER: "Drop the gun. Drop the f****** gun!"
........
SCOTT: "He doesn't have a gun. He has a TBI [a traumatic brain injury]. He's not going to do anything to you guys. He just took his medicine."
OFFICER: "Drop the gun! Let me get a f****** baton over here!"
SCOTT: "Keith, get out the car."
SCOTT: "Keith, Keith! Don't you do it! Don't you do it! Keith, Keith, Keith! Don't you do it!
A burst of gunfire is then heard, with at least three shots fired.
SCOTT: "F***. Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? He better not be f****** dead! He better not be f****** dead! I know that f****** much. I know that much. He better not be dead."
There are many discrepancies circulating in this dialogue which pertain to the Officers conduct toward the Scotts. However, even with the record and video released it is hard to determine the true motive behind Keith Scott's shooting. From the various perspective (racial that is), he was another victim of police brutality (White police brutality). Then to some he was another black man causing problems.
It seems like only community and individual efforts to change racial attitudes and redress its inequalities.
If not many more, there is always two sides to a story. On occasion the media highlights "a single story." As was the case of the tensions that escalated from the Charlotte shooting because there were only displays of the riots. The media chose to highlight the crime and violence occurring apart from the peaceful protests. So, the public did not witness the interracial movements rampant in downtown Charlotte, which honored the lives lost to the recent events and ongoing violence. Together members of the black community stood hand in hand on a common ground which was equality of life, livelihood for all Americans.
Ultimately, media attention establishes discourse among the general public because of the ability for journalists to choose which events to report. So, will it take a display of peaceful protests to spark aspirations of interracial harmony in communities across the United States. When will this "race war" come find a path of resolution? What is your vision for racial equality in the justice system?
