Where were you on August 9, 2014 when you learned of the death of Michael Brown? Mike, an unarmed teenager walking down the streets of his neighborhood like many other young people his age on a hazy summer afternoon, without a care in the world. Michael Brown Jr., a son whose opportunities to matriculate through the trade school he had been accepted to, bled out into the streets on that hot August day, like water spilling from a cup knocked... Read more
One thing I will remember most about the past few years is the gnawing feeling of dread every time I log on to my computer or hit the power button on my television set, perpetually weary of the seemingly unending images of Black bodily injury and Black death. After the senseless killings of Trayvon Martin in Florida and Michael Brown in Missouri, a grassroots movement provided a space to put rage into action: Black Lives Matter. I am grateful... Read more
This post is part of the Ferguson Reflection: One Year Later series. If you have a reflection on Ferguson, please share it with us at [email protected] I recently joined an “action” on the streets with several UMC pastors & friends of the UMC called for by a local pastor. I joined by invitation as I was on my way back to St. Louis for an event we’re doing this weekend (also by invitation). I, personally, don’t do travel activism as... Read more
This post is part of the Ferguson Reflection: One Year Later series. If you have a reflection on Ferguson, please share it with us at [email protected] While he has never been far from my mind, this weekend’s trip to Ferguson vividly brought Michael Brown Jr. to my consciousness in a different way. Oddly, princes and icons also came to my mind. Generally, in the feudal system the primary place for a prince is to remind the people, the aristocracy, and... Read more
This post is part of the Ferguson Reflection: One Year Later series. If you have a reflection on Ferguson, please share it with us at [email protected] Standing in front of the oft-restored memorial to Michael Brown Jr. (I think it is important to remember the Jr. because it reminds us he had a father who loved him very much), a distinction came to my mind. It was the distinction between Michael Brown Jr. being “just another n*gger” and Michael Brown being... Read more
On Saturday, August 9, 2014, police officer Darren Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri shot and killed 18 year old Michael Brown. The shooting of yet another unarmed black person frustrated many people and have some wondering what can be done to stop all forms of police brutality. In commemoration of the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, we here at R3 decided to start a Reader; a collection of some of the editorials and opinion pieces that offer a reflection... Read more
This post is part of the Ferguson Reflection: One Year Later series. If you have a reflection on Ferguson, please share it with us at [email protected] These words which began the chain of events that gave birth to the Movement now remind us of two things. The first is a simple one. The universe hinges on small seemingly insignificant words and doings. Because our nation will never be the same, the world will never be the same. Given our cultural,... Read more
In commemoration of the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown that helped sparked a movement….. Below is the R3 Reader we collected during the early days of the movement. We are also looking for one year reflections as well. If you have one to share, please email us at [email protected] On Saturday, August 9, 2014, police officer Darren Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri shot and killed 18 year old Michael Brown. The shooting of yet another unarmed black person... Read more
Here are the top posts for the week of July 27-August 2, 2015 on the Rhetoric Race and Religion Blog. We ask that you share this with others. 1. Where Are the Good Cops When We Need Them? by Andre E. Johnson In this case, there was an excellent opportunity for at least two officers to be good cops. A good cop would not have corroborated the lie that Tensing told. A good cop would have come forward with the truth before... Read more
R3 has been following the events surrounding the death of Darrius Stewart; a 19 year old African American shot and killed by Memphis police officer Conner Schilling on July 17, 2015. Two weeks later on August 1, 2015, alleged gunman Tremaine Wilburn, shot and killed police officer Sean Bolton. Both deaths happened while officers performed random traffic stops. Below is a statement from a coalition of grass root activists in response to the deaths of both Darrius Stewart and Officer... Read more
Rhetoric Race and Religion
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