A Letter To The Editor: UMES Demonstration

Joe- 

I'm hearing that a demonstration is planned by the campus chapter of NAACP at UMES to protest the decision by the Ferguson grand jury to accept the overwhelming evidence showing Officer Wilson acted in self-defense. The organizers of this demonstration are trying to reinforce the disproven claim that Michael Brown was shot while trying to surrender with his hands in the air. 

But the overall theme of these demonstrations is the assumption that Officer Wilson reacted the way he did because of racism. 

So a group of black students and supporters will gather to echo claims of racism against police who, out of necessity, use lethal force against black people who are trying to kill them. 

Racism is an ugly thing, and I understand why people get very emotional over their perceptions of it. I do, too. 

I once worked on the UMES campus, and I seriously doubt that anyone involved in these upcoming demonstrations has experienced anything worse than I did as a white employee working on a 'historically black' campus (whatever that means.) 

Sometimes the racism was subtle, but much of it was quite blatant, and because of where I was, it was institutional and condoned. 

There were some very notable exceptions, but in many (even most) of my contacts with folk on the campus, it was CLEAR that I didn't belong there. And I know that there were many others of the caucasian persuasion whose experiences were quite similar. 

To those who would demonstrate, I would say this-- go ahead. Say what's on your mind. 

But before you do, take some time to examine your heart and your own attitudes. Clean your own house. 

Because no matter where it comes from, racism is racism. Period. 

Let's put an end to it, and join together to fix this mess of a country we're living in. We can do it-- together.