There is a movie out titled Get On Up and it depicts the life of iconic music legend James Brown.
One of his greatest hits, “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud,” was a socially conscious tune that made Black people like me feel good about ourselves. It came at a time in the ’60s when race relations were at a low point in America. I was in my developing years then so I did connect with the song when I heard it.
It is quite ironic and almost eerie that the 18-year-old African-American male shot to death recently by police officer Darren Wilson in the controversial incident in Ferguson, Missouri, has the last name of Brown. I have often said that when a young African-American male leaves home it is uncertain whether he will return home. Young Michael Brown did not.
Accounts of what happened are still being debated as they are investigated.
Many questions remain. Were Brown’s hands in the air as a sign of surrender when he was shot? Did he assault the police officer? It has been suggested that the police officer feared for his life, yet Brown was unarmed according to reports.
The Ferguson police force has 53 officers and three of the officers are African-American. Yes, three, in a city with a population that is 67 percent African-American.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson says he has been trying to increase diversity since he has been there. Nearby St. Louis also has a pretty significant African-American population for possible police recruits. Is the community of Ferguson really advertising for Black officers and does it have a plan?
