Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American man, was shot and killed by police on Sept. 20 in Charlotte, N.C. The officer who shot him was Brentley Vinson, also an African American. The police claim that Scott was shot because he refused to drop his handgun, while Scott’s family claim that he wasn’t carrying a gun, but a book. The various videos that have been released by both Charlotte police and members of Scott’s family do little to clear up any details. In the days following the shooting, Charlotte was home to both peaceful and violent protests
What Scott was holding when he was killed, be it a gun or a book, has become the center of concern when it comes to justifying or condemning the actions of the police in this incident. The arguments are that it was a book and Scott was a victim of systemic racism, or it was a gun and he should have just listened to the police in the first place. These details are of course vital when it comes to justice in this particular incident, but it is important to remember that the protests aren’t only about the death of one man. They are a product of lifetimes of frustration.
Racism is still alive in this country. It’s just that in many cases, it doesn’t look the same as it used to. You might consider yourself to be free of prejudices but if you deny that notable prejudice exists in America, then you are exacerbating the issue. It can be easy for a white American to turn a blind eye towards the racial injustices of the day, but for the divide to close we need to stay aware.
It is absolutely vital for every American to keep an open mind and listen to each other. Don’t try to shrug off the injustices that face millions of people in this country. Instead ask yourself, “Have I really given this enough thought? Or have I made up my mind too soon?” When we close our minds and refuse to listen – when we refuse to even attempt to understand – there is a problem.
This is in no way a criticism of any police force in America. We at the Delta Collegiate put our trust in and have respect for the law enforcement agencies of our country, but we recognize that racism, institutional and otherwise, still plagues the United States. Too ignore it is to perpetrate it, and in order to stomp it out, we have to acknowledge it every day, in our neighbors and within ourselves. The only way forward is together, and we hope that the students and faculty of Delta College will be examples of a united, allied community.
