Why Ferguson Had To Burn

The jury's decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for firing six shots into eighteen-year-old Michael Brown could go down as the the worst judicial response to racism in U.S. history. Peaceful protest is expected from the people of Ferguson, Missouri; and one can certainly expect that non-peaceful protest will exist as well. Unfortunately, there truly may be a need for both.

The biggest misconception that the general public has about the protesters in Ferguson is that there is a desire for an "eye for an eye" type of resolve. Although there are people who want Darren Wilson to suffer, the reality is that all the people of Ferguson really want is for the world to see that racism is happening in their town.

"We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen." 

Those were the recent words of Michael Brown's family, in addition to a request for a peaceful resolution. President Obama and U.S. Attorney Eric Holder have voiced their concerns regarding non-peaceful demonstration; however, peaceful protest have been active for months yet the jury's outcome was one that many had expected. There is a need for an outlet in the town of Ferguson, and sadly the only one which appears to get the most attention is one of violence. Are visuals of war zone activity necessary for people to see that there are position needs for special investigators to look into particular matters such is this one? Surely, one would assume that such logical ideas would be an immediate response to a police killing of a teenager. Unfortunately, such resolves do not happen in places like Ferguson, Missouri.

Peaceful demonstrations will help bring a conclusion to this dilemma; but they will not be effective until the powers-that-be view the smoldering embers that was once a town's factory, warehouse, or restaurant.  It appears that many have forgotten that a unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a man who was hired to serve and protect the citizens of that town. It also seems as if the jury there had forgotten that the people of Ferguson are no longer going to witness the senseless killings of its young black men.