Tuesday, January 13, 2015





I want to thank everyone who came out to the screening of Selma and those who decided to see it over the weekend. It is a must see! There are those that say, after seeing this you will never "Not Vote" again. Plus, it is important for today's generation who thinks that their vote does not count, to see the film and become inspired. If the tragic death's of three unarmed black men can motivate people to protest, well go see this film and let your voice be heard by voting.
After seeing Selma, I wondered have things really changed? The relationship these days between minorities and police forces across the country are not much different than what we just witnessed in the movie Selma. Even though today the protesters I'm not dying but the reason for the protest is because of the death to black to unarmed black men. The community feels as if everything is against them. Especially when it comes to police and law enforcement. And by what I saw in Selma, things haven't changed that much.
We can go back as far as 1992 with the brutal beating of unarmed Rodney King by four LAPD officers while 17 of their colleagues stood by and watched. The four white officers were acquitted and the riots in Los Angeles spoke volumes.
Many of us may have thought in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama, that would help race relations in this country. Thus, since then thoughts of regaining trust between black Americans and a legal system as seem to fade tremendously. In 2012, the Trayon Martin case left African American feeling that the justice system wasn't up to making things any better. And this year more problems. Michael Brown in Ferguson, Jamir Rice in Cleveland and Eric Gardner in New York City. All were unarmed black men killed by police officers. As a result, we saw the New York City Police Officers assassinated by a black man who claimed revenge. Which was truly unfortunate.
Thus, I was actually happy to see what was happening nationally, had an affect right here at home. Where protesters basically marched on interstate I 95 to make sure their voices could be heard. It's not just blacks, its most minority communities that are having issues. The irony is, right now, the crime rate is the lowest it has been in years. My question, how can we find common ground and what is it?
It seems as if the election of President Barack Obama has basically caused those that are racists, well, their true colors are now showing for the world to see. The movie Selma illustrates the obvious, bloodshed and the fact that people died for the right to vote. What is unfortunate, this past midterm election we had the lowest turn out in 40 years.
People!!! The Voting rights act of 1965 was implemented so we could vote and over past few years you seen 13 states pass voter ID laws to make it harder for people to register to vote. Have things really changed?
Those that are pushing to implement these voter ID laws say the country has changed and that we don't need the voters act of 1965. The movie Selma illuminates the extreme parallels between the two and in an organic fashion shows where we are today as a nation today
It's very unfortunate that the very act that was fought for with blood and people died for us to have a chance to have a say in what happens in this country, has been systematically dismantled over the last few years. While relations between police and the community are different from city to city, I believe it all starts with diversity in the police department and possessing love in our heart. Diversity is one of the main problems, and that historically had been an issue in Ferguson. Or should I say the lack thereof.
Solution has to also begin with the individual as well. With us and how we respond and how we treat others. Martin Luther King once said the American dream reminds us that every man is heir to the legacy of worthiness.”