What will come as a surprise to no one, I’m quite sure, is the fact that opinions on the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, would seem to be strongly divided along racial lines. But as the latest New York Times/CBS poll also shows, most people feel race relations in their own communities are good. However, says The New York Times, there is a rising feeling among whites that race relations are troubled. And I would agree with that assessment, even though it comes from the Times. Because the majority of what racism there is that remains in this country is directed at whites from what seems to be a growing number of blacks.
This particular poll also shows that while most whites are reserving judgment over whether police officer Darren Wilson was justified in shooting the unarmed teenager, most black respondents said the incident was unjustified. Ok, so riddle me this. How would these very same blacks have answered the question if it had been some big, burly, and white, skinhead teen who had confronted a black cop, and the black cop was then forced to shoot the white guy/kid? Would they also think that that incident was unjustified as well? Somehow, I don’t think so! I’m sure in that case, any shooting would have been seen as being completely justified.
So after what was a nationwide telephone poll of 1,025 adults, conducted on Aug. 19 and 20, we also find that there are differences in how blacks and whites see the protests and violence in Ferguson since the shooting. Just 15 percent of the white respondents said the mostly black protesters' actions were right, compared to 38 percent of black respondents. I’m sorry, but there is nothing that would justify the uncivilized behavior that I’ve seen taking place nearly every night by groups of rampaging blacks. And I doubt very much that had it been a white kid shot by a black cop that you would now be seeing whites behaving in the same manner.
The public also seems to be divided over the police response to the protests, which have continued both peacefully and violently since the shooting on August 9. Because blacks were almost twice as likely as whites to blame the police. The poll also reveals that blacks think police are more likely to use deadly force against a black suspect than a white one, but most whites believe race does not make a difference in the officer's decision. Let’s face it, whenever in the situation of having to deal with blacks it’s far more often than not that more force, not less, is generally required. And that is more the fault of the blacks involved than the police.
Forty-five percent of the black respondents said a police officer had racially discriminated against them, but almost none of the white people in the poll said they had faced that issue. The poll further showed that while 60 percent of blacks say police departments should reflect a community's racial population, white respondents were evenly divided. In Ferguson, about two-thirds of the St. Louis suburb's 21,000 residents are black. Its police department has just three black officers out of a force of 53. So what are we to take away from that? That even those not qualified should still be hired just so the numbers look good? That’s stupid!
Blacks and whites were also divided over whether a local investigation into the shooting will be handled fairly. About six out of 10 blacks said they do not think the investigation will be fair, but an equal number of whites had faith that it will. Let’s face it, you’ll not find a group anywhere that is more paranoid than the black community, with most of their problems being self-inflicted. That is, it’s their own fault they are scrutinized a little more closely by law enforcement. Respondents from both races, though, by a two-thirds response, said military-style equipment should be reserved for the National Guard and the military itself and not used by police departments.
Finally, I can’t help but wonder how this poll might have turned out if we didn’t have the likes of Al "Bull Horn" Sharpton, Jesse "The Extortionist" Jackson, and even Barry "Almighty" out there continuing to throw racial firebombs every chance they get. And for no other reason than to further enflame the situation so that they can then reap some sort of benefit from it. Let’s face it, Sharpton couldn’t care less about the fact that this black kid got shot. For all I know, deep down he may even believe the cop was justified. But that’s irrelevant because all this is to Sharpton is a vehicle by which he can elevate his stature within the black community.
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