The Fight for Equal Rights Is Not Over

I’m sure by now most people have heard about the recent shooting in South Carolina regarding a police officer and an African American man.  There is a lot of controversy over why the cop lied about how the incident happened, why police are targeting black males in this way, and why there is just now something being done. 

Frankly, I feel as if the race card is being played in each and every one of these situations that has occurred in the past few years regarding black males and cops.  The fact of the matter is that African Americans feel as though they are treated unfairly, especially in the court system, and something needs to be done about it. 

If you ask me, this is the first definite major “racial situation” that has occurred in the past few years, simply because there is concrete evidence that the officer lied and that he shot the man after he ran.

The Travon Martin incident is arguable as far as who was wrong or right.  No one had definite proof about what really happened during the incident, because the 911 call was muffled and unclear.  However, with this new case someone caught the scene on video, and therefore the officer got caught in a lie. 

Now, I know many people are asking what we should do after something like this happens.  Well, if everyone truly feels that there is an issue with the law enforcement in this country, then why don’t we as African Americans support each other as a whole?  If we see now that racism is still alive, then obviously that means that the fight for true freedom is not over. 

The only way to stop discrimination is by doing what we did to end slavery and segregation, and that is to work together as one unit and support each other.  Many African Americans criticize, manipulate, and talk down about each other on a daily basis, but as soon as someone of another race does something harmful towards us, we are quick to point fingers, whine, and play the blame game. 

We have to get out of this slave mentality.  Thinking and acting this way is why we still struggle with many social and economic issues.  The unity has depreciated.  There is no sense of leadership or stability. 

If you truly feel there is an issue, then don’t just let the officer who killed the man go to jail.  Let him serve as an example, proving that there is still a lot of work to be done in this country and that the fight is not over for equal rights and opportunity.