Observer readers respond to shootings with letters and poetry

I’m African American and I’m afraid

For the first time in my life, I am afraid.

With the recent events surrounding the deaths of two black males in the St. Paul area and Baton Rouge and the deaths of five police officers in Dallas, I am compelled to speak out.

I’ll be the first to say that police officers are brave and I commend them for the work they do. As a teacher, I am always appreciative of the fact that I have a police officer in the building, which I can call upon to deescalate a situation with a student.

However, as an African-American male, I am afraid and have a great deal of anxiety anytime I am pulled over. I have to make sure that I am compliant in every way possible. I have to dig deep into my collective memory and recall the “talk” my mother gave me as a young black male, which entailed me doing everything in my power to not make any swift movements, keep my hands on the steering wheel at all times and be calm.

Sadly, in my reality this may not be enough to save my life or others who share my complexion.

Because I live in Concord, I call upon the Concord City Council to consider the recommendations of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. I am particularly interested in helping forming a civilian oversight board, which will build trust in our law enforcement system so all stakeholders in this community can have confidence that justice is on their side.

At the end of the day, all I want to do is help. We cannot live in terror and fear. We have to come together, bridge our divides and show each other we are better than this. We have to heal the rage.

Dallas shootings beg for investigation

The shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille beg for independent and vigorous investigation.

Attendant punishment and rectification of police standards of the use of deadly force should follow, if facts so warrant.

But those shootings should not be considered vis-a-vis the murderous Dallas rampage of Micah Johnson.

To do so unwittingly aggrandizes Johnson, whose actions should be more closely associated with those of the Orlando coward mass murderer, Omar Mateen.

Let Charlotte’s peaceful rally be a guide

I commend 16-year-old Sierra Arnold, a courageous young woman and leader, for her part in organizing Charlotte’s peaceful protest.

As details emerge regarding the Dallas shootings, I hope the message conveyed during the Charlotte rally will be on the mind of citizens, and I hope that we unite to become part of the solution to gun violence, harmful interactions between citizens and police, and racial discord in America.

Will we come together or fall apart?

Protest. Instant gratification. That’s what we do and expect.

No reporting has referenced that single First Amendment word: “peaceably.”

It’s just protest, protest, protest!

And then the word: “petition” – meaning write it down, present your case, make suggestions, find common ground and move forward, all of which takes time.

Less than 100 years ago President Theodore Roosevelt said there can be no 50/50 Americanism in our country.

So is it come together now or completely fall apart later? I wonder.

What it means to be privileged

To be privileged

Is to be able to stand outside a store

And not get attacked

To be privileged

Is to die

And have those involved found guilty

To be privileged

Is to ask why

And still be breathing

To be privileged

Is to not be deemed inferior

Because of the pigmentation of your skin

To be privileged

Is to be able to voice change

And not be told “there is no problem”

To be privileged

Is to watch your community thrive

Instead of dying off day by day

To be privileged

Is to strive for excellence

Instead of worrying about being another hashtag

Lastly to be privileged

Is to overlook all societal issues

Because it does not affect you in anyway

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Observer readers respond to shootings with letters and poetry."