The Real Reason Alton Sterling Died....

"Now, what we've been doing is looking at the data, and we know that police somehow manage to de-escalate, disarm and not kill white people every day..."

-Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams's speech was not racist. It was realistic.

If you are my friend and you don't understand what's going with the #AltonSterling shooting or you truly want to have a real conversation (no judgement) about why African Americans in this country are so angry when these kind of tragedies happen...inbox me. Let's talk.

Let me also say...police officers are not the problem. Racist people who operate as police officers are the problem. Racist people who operate as jurors are the problem. Racist people who operate in any profession are the problem.

Let me also say this....For those of you who see racism ONLY as an active expression (i.e - the things people DO or SAY) please know that racism isn't just an expression, it is a state of being. It happens in your mind first. It is when you look at a 6'3 black man as an imposing threat, but don't feel the same about a 6'3 white guy. It's when a white face looks "friendly" to you, but a black one looks "menacing". It's when you completely ignore and negate the cultural experiences of people who are different than you. It's when you just don't care enough to think about the amount of diversity in your clubs and social organizations. It's when you look at your social circle and realize that everyone in it looks like you. It's passive. It's subtle.

It's still racism.

And it is the reason that so many of young, black men are being shot and killed.

It's not because officers are horrible people. It's because black people are like foreigners to them. Racism creates a very basic "us" and "them" mentality. It is very easy to quickly categorize someone as "them" when you already think of them as threats, lowlifes, and "not like us." And once a person is placed in that box, it is very simple to take their life when you are making split second decisions.

My prayers and condolences to the family of Alton Sterling. May God have mercy on the us all.