How does vandalism and looting accomplish anything???

[TAX GUY]

Teach them what? To loot? No. Teach them how to interact with the cops? Definitely. Heck churches in the African American community hold classes on what to do when the cops stop you in order to not get killed. I teach them what to not say or to say to the police. I don't know any one who is black that does not teach them this. My son's know first hand that the cops don't treat them the same as their Caucasian friends.

Sorry, you have the option of pretending that this country doesn't have serious racial problems (I'm assuming you are Caucasian) I don't, I'd rather be irrational and have my kids know the reality. Now every thing is age appropriate, Do no at 6 this wasn't a conversation but yes at 20 unfortunately there are neighborhoods where they are not welcomed and will get hassled.

Here's a thought...... teach them NOT to be in a situation that would need police presence. At least where I live and grew up, there was no difference in the way police treated you. Black, white, red, blue or green. If you were in a compromising situation, you were detained and asked who, what, why where and how. I learned this the hard way, ONCE! After that, I knew better to be in certain areas or when things would happen..... knowing. "this can't end good" was enough for me to know I shouldn't be there.

Is there racial problems in this country? You better believe it. And who are the ones to play that race card at the drop of a hat? Why is it we typically only hear about the white cop shooting the black kid or the white gunman shooting the black kid/person? Why do we never hear it the other way around? Or even about the Asian shooter...... because its organizations like the NAACP that over play the race card.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

It's not to be understood. It's not the actions of people thinking rationally.

No we can't wait for an investigation because the investigation will lead to what it always leads to when police kill African Americans. No where.

That's where the anger comes from. you have over 200 years of an unjust system maiming and killing your youth. you no longer believe in the system.

I certainly don't. I know that at any time the police can kill my sons for absolutely no reason and not a dang thing will be done.

No I don't condone looting but I do not in any shape, form or fashion trust the legal system in this country.

So what you are seeing is a group of people who no longer have any thing to lose. the police will kill us when they want, any time they want and get away with it.

Not a thing has change since 1619 when the first African slaves were brought here. We are still a disposable people.

Garbage! This is what really pisses me off about my community. We make ourselves out to be victims; and we will never get out of that cycle if we don't change our thought process.

 

[nugov2]

Garbage! This is what really pisses me off about my community. We make ourselves out to be victims; and we will never get out of that cycle if we don't change our thought process.

 

[skylizard]

Garbage! This is what really pisses me off about my community. We make ourselves out to be victims; and we will never get out of that cycle if we don't change our thought process.

 

[EMom]

Teach them what? To loot? No. Teach them how to interact with the cops? Definitely

. Heck churches in the African American community hold classes on what to do when the cops stop you in order to not get killed. I teach them what to not say or to say to the police. I don't know any one who is black that does not teach them this. My son's know first hand that the cops don't treat them the same as their Caucasian friends.

Sorry, you have the option of pretending that this country doesn't have serious racial problems (I'm assuming you are Caucasian) I don't, I'd rather be irrational and have my kids know the reality. Now every thing is age appropriate, Do no at 6 this wasn't a conversation but yes at 20 unfortunately there are neighborhoods where they are not welcomed and will get hassled.

And all the White parents I know teach their kids how to interact with police. Don't do anything to get stopped. If you do get stopped, do not backtalk, even if you believe you did nothing wrong. Be polite. It's "Yes, sir" and "No, sir." Hands on the wheel, unless they tell you otherwise. Sit/stand still. The police have the upper hand, not you. If things should escalate, do not resist. Yada, yada, yada.

The cops don't pull over White kids, look in the window and say, "Oh, I didn't realize you were blonde. You can go." All parents need to make sure their kids know how to interact with the police. Mine taught me early.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

And all the White parents I know teach their kids how to interact with police. Don't do anything to get stopped. If you do get stopped, do not backtalk, even if you believe you did nothing wrong. Be polite. It's "Yes, sir" and "No, sir." Hands on the wheel, unless they tell you otherwise. Sit/stand still. The police have the upper hand, not you. If things should escalate, do not resist. Yada, yada, yada.

The cops don't pull over White kids, look in the window and say, "Oh, I didn't realize you were blonde. You can go." All parents need to make sure their kids know how to interact with the police. Mine taught me early.

We had one here - deputy pulls over pickup truck, driver puts the truck in neutral instead of park & the truck rolls back into the patrol car. Deputy, now outside his car, shoots all 3 occupants of the pickup fearing they're trying to run over him. Everyone involved was white. It happens to others races, too

 

[JanaDee]

We'll at least we know where their irrational thoughts come from. Do you teach that to your children too?

It seems Michael Brown's mother thinks the same thing. It seems to be a mentality that is perpetuated in some communities.

Anger over the shooting gripped many in Ferguson. Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, was emotional as she shouted into a television reporter's microphone.


"You took my son away from me! You know how hard it was for me to get him to stay in school and graduate? You know how many black men graduate? Not many!" she said. "Because you bring them down to this type of level where they feel they don't got nothing to live for anyway! (They feel) they gonna try to take me out anyway!"

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/11/us/missouri-teen-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

[luvsJack]

And all the White parents I know teach their kids how to interact with police. Don't do anything to get stopped. If you do get stopped, do not backtalk, even if you believe you did nothing wrong. Be polite. It's "Yes, sir" and "No, sir." Hands on the wheel, unless they tell you otherwise. Sit/stand still. The police have the upper hand, not you. If things should escalate, do not resist. Yada, yada, yada.

The cops don't pull over White kids, look in the window and say, "Oh, I didn't realize you were blonde. You can go." All parents need to make sure their kids know how to interact with the police. Mine taught me early.

Its not that simple.

DS is white, his friend is black. There were pulled over every time ds drove his friend home. It had nothing to do with "doing something to get stopped". They saw a young white guy and a young black guy riding together and pulled them over.

There was a most definite difference in the way they treated the friend and the way they treated ds and both boy were acting the same.

Of course they don't pull over white kid and say "Oh, your white" and let them go. But they DO spend more time when the pull over a black kid, look for reasons to search the car, etc. And they expect violence from a black kid that they don't expect from a white kid.

 

[robinb]

Here's a thought...... teach them NOT to be in a situation that would need police presence. At least where I live and grew up, there was no difference in the way police treated you. Black, white, red, blue or green. If you were in a compromising situation, you were detained and asked who, what, why where and how. I learned this the hard way, ONCE! After that, I knew better to be in certain areas or when things would happen..... knowing. "this can't end good" was enough for me to know I shouldn't be there.

I bet that parents of African American kids (especially boys and young men) wished it were that easy to just avoid certain situations or they lived in a place that you were treated the same if you were "Black, white, red, blue or green". That is simply not the case. You are very naive if you think that young men are no longer stopped by police simply for walking/driving/standing/running/etc "while black". Eliza is not the first parent I have heard talk to their sons and daughters about exactly how to talk to the police if they are stopped for any reason. How to be extra respectful, compliant and non-threatening. That includes my white friend who lives in a very safe suburb of Madison with her biracial son.

As for the looting, I agree with the other posters who say it is mostly people who are taking advantage of the situation. I don't think that people who finally have enough and explode and riot are rational but the looters certainly are.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Its not that simple.

DS is white, his friend is black. There were pulled over every time ds drove his friend home. It had nothing to do with "doing something to get stopped". They saw a young white guy and a young black guy riding together and pulled them over.

There was a most definite difference in the way they treated the friend and the way they treated ds and both boy were acting the same.

Of course they don't pull over white kid and say "Oh, your white" and let them go. But they DO spend more time when the pull over a black kid, look for reasons to search the car, etc. And they expect violence from a black kid that they don't expect from a white kid.

It cuts both ways though. They expect more trouble from the black kid because statistically speaking, that's where it's more likely to originate. Does that make it right or fair? Hell no! But, the cycle will continue as long as both sides have their heels dug in.

In my youth, I found the kind of car I drove brought about a lot of unwanted and unwarranted attention from the police. It is what it is

 

[olwyngdh]

People who react in this way are animals, they certainly aren't acting like humans.

No, they aren't. Animals don't react like this, only humans.

 

[Skywalker]

If you don't know what these communities have to face DAILY, I don't think you are in a place to judge....you don't know what they are facing.

If you don't know what the police face DAILY, I don't think you are in a place to judge...you don't know what they are facing.

I know that at any time the police can kill my sons for absolutely no reason and not a dang thing will be done.

Not a thing has change since 1619 when the first African slaves were brought here. We are still a disposable people.

If you believe any of that you should seek counseling. That is flat out laughable.

unfortunately there are neighborhoods where they are not welcomed and will get hassled.

Guess what? That works both ways.

But they DO spend more time when the pull over a black kid, look for reasons to search the car, etc. And they expect violence from a black kid that they don't expect from a white kid.

It is not every black kid every time though. My brother, for example, is black and has never been treated badly. However, it is the job of the police to find the bad guys, and when six reports come in one night for robberies, and in every case the suspects are described as young black men, then the police would be stupid to waste their time questioning a white red-haired man wouldn't they?

 

[Anjelica]

Garbage! This is what really pisses me off about my community. We make ourselves out to be victims; and we will never get out of that cycle if we don't change our thought process.

This!!!

I live in the St. Louis area and have so since 1993. There are good people in Ferguson, Florissant, East St. Louis, etc. But there is a lot of crime in those areas as well that not only affects those communities but many, many other communities in the area as well.

I travel quite a bit and have quite a few friends who have moved to this area from places down south. I used to live in New Orleans, Southern California, etc. where there are large populations of minorities (both black and hispanic). I have never seen such hatred and anger from the minority communities in this area.

Many black people in the St. Louis area are very angry (not talking about this incident). I don't see this anger when I travel to say Tennessee, North Carolina, etc. from the black folks there - they are the NICEST people I have EVER come across. Quite a bit of that anger is directed towards those that are not of the same color - I myself, white, have experienced it from strangers when I have stopped in East St. Louis to fill up, or from being shouted at for no apparent reason while running into the Walmart near Ferguson.

Now before my words get twisted know that there are good people of all races in the St. Louis area. There are also very bad, mean people of all races in the St. Louis area.

I think the biggest problem in this area when it comes to the black community is the lack of educated leaders willing to do good and not in it for themselves. The amount of corruption at the City level, School Board level, etc. is astounding. These kids in these areas need a good education and when you are constantly fighting the few bad apples in the school system (both administration and fellow classmates) its very hard.

As far as the incident - the looters were absolutely shameful. A peaceful vigil turned into a nightmare by a few people is absolutely horrid. It is absolutely sad that a black kid who graduated high school and was going to on to college was cut down so young. I'm not judging him or the police at this point because we don't have all the facts.

There is not a lot of trust between the black community or the police officers in the St. Louis area - and good reasons for both sides to not trust. I hope peace comes to this area.

 

[TinkerBelled]

My last word on the subject, before I get a little too sarcastic for the rules and regs: if any of you actually thinks that race isn't an issue in American policing, you seriously need to check your privilege.

[I generally hate the phrase, but honestly, it's the most positive reason that anyone could actually believe otherwise.]

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My last word on the subject, before I get a little too sarcastic for the rules and regs: if any of you actually thinks that race isn't an issue in American policing, you seriously need to check your privilege.

[I generally hate the phrase, but honestly, it's the most positive reason that anyone could actually believe otherwise.]

Everyone recognizes race is an issue in policing. Does everyone recognize that there's a valid (albeit unfair) reason for it?

 

[TAX GUY]

I bet that parents of African American kids (especially boys and young men) wished it were that easy to just avoid certain situations or they lived in a place that you were treated the same if you were "Black, white, red, blue or green". That is simply not the case. You are very naive if you think that young men are no longer stopped by police simply for walking/driving/standing/running/etc "while black". Eliza is not the first parent I have heard talk to their sons and daughters about exactly how to talk to the police if they are stopped for any reason. How to be extra respectful, compliant and non-threatening. That includes my white friend who lives in a very safe suburb of Madison with her biracial son.

But its not just a "while black" issue/problem. Again, I've seen, first hand, all races and skin tones. Mostly depended on the area, time of day/night and what else was happening. I'll agree on the "young men" part but that's about it. If a group of "young men" are doing nothing but hang out at street corners or congregating in groups, and there is history or current problem involving "groups of young men" then how should they be questioned? With ice cream cones and lemonade?

As someone previously mentioned, think about what the police encounter everyday..... is it up standing model citizens looking to help feed the hungry? No. They typically deal with the criminals, drug addicts, etc. They need to be sure who they encounter aren't 1. going to lie to them, 2. try to avoid them as if they had Ebola, 3. try to hurt/kill them.... or themselves.

Again, there is, without a doubt, a racial problem in this country BUT it's not as black and white as some make it out to be.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

My last word on the subject, before I get a little too sarcastic for the rules and regs: if any of you actually thinks that race isn't an issue in American policing, you seriously need to check your privilege.

[I generally hate the phrase, but honestly, it's the most positive reason that anyone could actually believe otherwise.]

Should the white girl down the street that was sold for drugs at the age of 5 check her "white privilege"?

 

[CPT Tripss]

My last word on the subject, before I get a little too sarcastic for the rules and regs: if any of you actually thinks that race isn't an issue in American policing, you seriously need to check your privilege.

[I generally hate the phrase, but honestly, it's the most positive reason that anyone could actually believe otherwise.]

Alright, alright, alright.

Everyone recognizes race is an issue in policing. Does everyone recognize that there's a valid (albeit unfair) reason for it?

Study after study has shown that racial profiling is not a valid way to conduct police/law enforcement work.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Its not that simple.

DS is white, his friend is black. There were pulled over every time ds drove his friend home. It had nothing to do with "doing something to get stopped". They saw a young white guy and a young black guy riding together and pulled them over.

That is very hard to believe.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Study after study has shown that racial profiling is not a valid way to conduct police/law enforcement work.

Never said it was. But, I understand WHY it exists - and it's not just about racism.

It's the same reason men are harassed more than women, teens more than 50-somethings, etc.