Patterns are all around us. The biological and mathematical ones are seldom overlooked as a result of their propensity in pretty much every area of life. However, I've noticed a serious problem, and I suspect many others have as well.

The problem is that the negative historical and sociological patterns, which happen to be just as prevalent in our society, occur over and over again because they fail to be taken as seriously as the others. I guess I can understand why: math and science provide a clear understanding of things. Others would say there is blatant proof when math and science are involved. But too many people are blind to the blatant proof that exists within the history of nations, including their own.

Almost two years ago, Michael Brown was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. I distinctly remember this shooting because America got a wake-up call. At least, white America did. I'm sure citizens of color were fully aware considering how the media covers most of their cases (or doesn't).

Everyone was rightfully torn to shreds over the events that occurred that August, and everyone had something to say about it. The protests around that case lasted for months, and protests for the same cause continue today. I'm sure everyone remembers how violent some of those got.There were robberies, destruction of properties, and even murders.

You might also remember how people handled this retaliation. It was somewhat counterproductive because people of all races were utterly exhausted by, and completely scared of, all of the violence around them. The violence separated us even more, and we can see the result today. It's police against African-Americans, and whites against blacks. There's a competition where no competition is necessary. And that too is becoming a pattern.

A student at my college gave a very powerful presentation on nonviolent protests in October 2014. Finally, someone was delving into the history of social issues and successful solutions. But if we're becoming more aware, where exactly are we going wrong? I mean here we are two years later battling the same problem.

I can tell you where I think we're going wrong. Patterns are essential for prevention, but if we keep falling subject to them, nothing will ever change. Unfortunately, Alton Sterling is just one name recently added to the list of thousands of African-Americans who have fallen victim to police brutality, but the reactions some individuals had to this tragedy were equally devastating to the reactions two years ago.

A quote has been circulating and everyone needs to read it, absorb it and spread it. The wise and powerful Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Shooting police officers will not end police brutality or racial inequality. Hating police officers because of police brutality will only encourage hatred in our society. We are all people. People with lives and families. While anyone, even officers of the law should be severely punished for actions like those of the Baton Rouge officers, other dutiful and respectable officers (or people in general) should not.

We need to accept the problem and fix it. Look at the patterns, observe the wrong way to handle a situation, and cross that off our list real quick.

When minorities cry for help, accept that something is wrong. Just because you don't experience the same hardships as that minority, doesn't mean they don't exist. They know best.

Rather than arguing that nothing is wrong or using other statistics to distract from the issue at hand, try taking a look at the patterns. Because those historical and sociological patterns are just as relevant as the mathematical ones. Don't be fooled. There is just as much proof of their existence as there is the golden ratio, and they are not going to stop unless we make them.

So we need to continue to fight. That part is very obvious, because in 2016 the color of someone's skin apparently still determines their worth. But remember that not all fights need to include violence. As the patterns insist, acting out of anger and hatred is almost never progressive. We are intelligent, creative and highly evolved beings, let's act that way.