The disrespect for Mike Brown's life, body, & community changed my life. I committed myself to understanding the pain & anger of Mike Brown’s community & collectively for Black people across the U.S. Also, I work to center the voices of the people we historically & presently marginalize in the U.S. I seek to serve, support, & learn under Black leadership—esp in churches.
I resonate with Dr. Tisby’s sharing personally & honoring Mike Brown’s life stolen by a white police officer, who stopped Mike Brown to ask about stolen cigars:
“My thoughts, words, and deeds have forever been shaped by the life and death of a Black teenager named Mike Brown.”
“I understood that the brutality of the killing, especially leaving Brown’s body lying on the asphalt for hours in the humid heat of August and in full view of his friends and neighbors, could cause widespread outrage.”
“When trying to understand the broader implications of Mike Brown’s killing, I came to learn that historians often had the most helpful information.”
“I began to center Black people by focusing more energy on addressing our issues, preventing harm, and seeking healing instead of spending so much time attending to the feelings (fragility) of white people.”
“Racial justice focuses on changing systems, policies, procedures and institutions. It goes beyond individual actions and mindsets to affect the way we construct our social, political, economic, and ecclesiastical structures.”
I am an almost 65-year-old White woman who unfortunately remained apathetic after the death of Mike Brown. However, once I learned about the circumstances of the death of Ahmad Aubrey in early May 2020 and then the horrific murder of George Floyd in late May 2020, my apathy was replaced by an insatiable need to understand the history of the injustices we have perpetrated on Black people. At the time, I was a member of a PCA church and thinking they would see that above just about everything else we (the church) should be at the forefront of educating people and showing love to those we have systemically marginalized. Alas, after trying to make headway for almost 3 years, I finally came to realize their white power was way more important than following Jesus and I left the church where I had faithfully worshipped for almost 15 years. I’m now in a more “liberal” Presbyterian church and some of the same struggles exist (it’s so hard for White people to give up even some of their power) but there is space and a handful of people who want to educate others as we learn about these injustices together. What I most regret is that the death of Mike Brown did not move me and it took almost 6 more years. On the other hand, I am thankful that the scales eventually fell from my eyes and I go forward with Jesus with a singular focus on justice for Black people.
Thank you for sharing your story. We are all on a journey and moving at our own pace. I'm very sorry to hear about leaving your church, but sounds like it was necessary. And I can relate. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey. I never had much of a love of history early on. Seemed in school it was facts, years, dates, key players, etc. As an adult I needed context and that made me start using history for research. Back to your article.
I appreciate your wondering how (Black) people connected so strongly to a "stranger's death". Obiously it was not the person but the setting that connected the historical pattern. As a white person, I am always struck by the intense emotions and connectedness that Black people have to people in the past they also may never have known, but that person or incidence skips generations and time with no gap, and is touching their lives today as if that is their brother/sister/cousin, who lives next door to them today. It's more than empathy: it is identification. I say this because I lack that emotional response to other white people. I still have to find my Mike Brown counterpart.
Your realization of our need to understand the history of systemic racism in this country in order to fully recognize why blacks are viewed and treated as they are is same realization i came to after Trevone Martin's death. You always present such a clear picture of your topic. and reveal a unique perspective of an issue. I appreciate you and your writing so very much. Thanks for all you do to make our country a better place.
I too was changed by Mike Brown's death on a visit to the site in 2016 with a Sankofa group led by Debbie Blue, and meeting local community organizers. It metamorphosed my entire way of thinking about race relations.
The writer Tanner Colby gave an address maybe 9 years ago at the Martin Luther King Breakfast here in Birmingham. He made an interesting point. Ferguson should not exist at all. One of the things that created tension in Ferguson is that it has an inadequate tax base. The people with money moved out and left the city to low-income people. Consequently, Ferguson came to depend on aggressive policing and fines to raise revenue. That poisons the relationship between citizens and police. Ferguson should be consolidated with more affluent areas.
This process of impoverishment is continuing in America. The recent establishment of St George, Louisiana, carved out of East Baton Rouge Parish, will have the effect of impoverishing the city of Baton Rouge. It's an unfortunate part of American culture that people with money generally assume they have no obligation to share with the less affluent.
I really appreciated Dr. Jemar Tisby’s sharing & honoring Mike Brown—even amidst the emotions to write. I valued hearing the impact on Dr. Tisby’s career & approach to racial justice advocacy since.
I note conversations & interviews this weekend honoring Mike Brown & Sonya Massey’s name mentioned. I appreciated Dr. Tisby’s honoring Sonya Massey’s life, which was sadly stolen too, at the start of the very next “Convocation Unscripted.”
History has the receipts. Thank you for the ways you lay out facts so adeptly.
It’s been a slow burn for me, not quite knowing how to develop the language and direct the righteous anger in a way that is not self-centered or stuck. For the last decade since his death, it’s been a more progressive, proactive pursuit of learning and how best to channel that into transforming how our community operates.
Personal experience with racist attitudes growing up and as a young adult provided a foundation for my indignation. But I didn’t know what to do with it at the time.
Amen and amen. Thank you. For your work, your words, and your leadership ... I'm reminded of Tinayesha's song," Innocence" as I read your post ... https://music.apple.com/us/album/innocence/1755491662?i=1755491663 ... grateful for voices pursuing and calling out for the spirit of justice.
As a white woman in her late 60’s I have watched this repeatedly throughout my life! It’s sickening to see how the victim is continually victimized after death by a white police force that “justifies” their violence! The justification so many in white “polite” society and even churches commenting “Well, he was caught stealing”…. And yet, as you so eloquently pointed out, his LIFE was stolen!!!!! That cannot ever be justified! No matter how much whitewashing is attempted! Thank you for all you do to work toward social justice and equality.
The disrespect for Mike Brown's life, body, & community changed my life. I committed myself to understanding the pain & anger of Mike Brown’s community & collectively for Black people across the U.S. Also, I work to center the voices of the people we historically & presently marginalize in the U.S. I seek to serve, support, & learn under Black leadership—esp in churches.
I resonate with Dr. Tisby’s sharing personally & honoring Mike Brown’s life stolen by a white police officer, who stopped Mike Brown to ask about stolen cigars:
“My thoughts, words, and deeds have forever been shaped by the life and death of a Black teenager named Mike Brown.”
“I understood that the brutality of the killing, especially leaving Brown’s body lying on the asphalt for hours in the humid heat of August and in full view of his friends and neighbors, could cause widespread outrage.”
“When trying to understand the broader implications of Mike Brown’s killing, I came to learn that historians often had the most helpful information.”
“I began to center Black people by focusing more energy on addressing our issues, preventing harm, and seeking healing instead of spending so much time attending to the feelings (fragility) of white people.”
“Racial justice focuses on changing systems, policies, procedures and institutions. It goes beyond individual actions and mindsets to affect the way we construct our social, political, economic, and ecclesiastical structures.”
Thank you for sharing, Hope.
I am an almost 65-year-old White woman who unfortunately remained apathetic after the death of Mike Brown. However, once I learned about the circumstances of the death of Ahmad Aubrey in early May 2020 and then the horrific murder of George Floyd in late May 2020, my apathy was replaced by an insatiable need to understand the history of the injustices we have perpetrated on Black people. At the time, I was a member of a PCA church and thinking they would see that above just about everything else we (the church) should be at the forefront of educating people and showing love to those we have systemically marginalized. Alas, after trying to make headway for almost 3 years, I finally came to realize their white power was way more important than following Jesus and I left the church where I had faithfully worshipped for almost 15 years. I’m now in a more “liberal” Presbyterian church and some of the same struggles exist (it’s so hard for White people to give up even some of their power) but there is space and a handful of people who want to educate others as we learn about these injustices together. What I most regret is that the death of Mike Brown did not move me and it took almost 6 more years. On the other hand, I am thankful that the scales eventually fell from my eyes and I go forward with Jesus with a singular focus on justice for Black people.
Thank you for sharing your story. We are all on a journey and moving at our own pace. I'm very sorry to hear about leaving your church, but sounds like it was necessary. And I can relate. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey. I never had much of a love of history early on. Seemed in school it was facts, years, dates, key players, etc. As an adult I needed context and that made me start using history for research. Back to your article.
I appreciate your wondering how (Black) people connected so strongly to a "stranger's death". Obiously it was not the person but the setting that connected the historical pattern. As a white person, I am always struck by the intense emotions and connectedness that Black people have to people in the past they also may never have known, but that person or incidence skips generations and time with no gap, and is touching their lives today as if that is their brother/sister/cousin, who lives next door to them today. It's more than empathy: it is identification. I say this because I lack that emotional response to other white people. I still have to find my Mike Brown counterpart.
Very self-aware of you, Marilyn. Thanks for summarizing so eloquently.
Your realization of our need to understand the history of systemic racism in this country in order to fully recognize why blacks are viewed and treated as they are is same realization i came to after Trevone Martin's death. You always present such a clear picture of your topic. and reveal a unique perspective of an issue. I appreciate you and your writing so very much. Thanks for all you do to make our country a better place.
Your words are so encouraging, Rita! Thanks for sharing.
I too was changed by Mike Brown's death on a visit to the site in 2016 with a Sankofa group led by Debbie Blue, and meeting local community organizers. It metamorphosed my entire way of thinking about race relations.
Nothing more powerful than visiting the place and hearing from the community. Glad you had that experience.
Thanks for sharing your heart Jemar...
Thanks for receiving so graciously!
The writer Tanner Colby gave an address maybe 9 years ago at the Martin Luther King Breakfast here in Birmingham. He made an interesting point. Ferguson should not exist at all. One of the things that created tension in Ferguson is that it has an inadequate tax base. The people with money moved out and left the city to low-income people. Consequently, Ferguson came to depend on aggressive policing and fines to raise revenue. That poisons the relationship between citizens and police. Ferguson should be consolidated with more affluent areas.
This process of impoverishment is continuing in America. The recent establishment of St George, Louisiana, carved out of East Baton Rouge Parish, will have the effect of impoverishing the city of Baton Rouge. It's an unfortunate part of American culture that people with money generally assume they have no obligation to share with the less affluent.
Yes. The Department of Justice issue a report about Ferguson PD that outlined precisely this issue. https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/04/ferguson_police_department_report.pdf
Jamar, is the Reformed Christian church you were part of in Mississippi the same denomination as Kristin DuMez’s Reformed Church in Michigan?
No. I was part of the PCA. She was/is CRCNA, I believe. Different branches of the Reformed tradition.
I really appreciated Dr. Jemar Tisby’s sharing & honoring Mike Brown—even amidst the emotions to write. I valued hearing the impact on Dr. Tisby’s career & approach to racial justice advocacy since.
I note conversations & interviews this weekend honoring Mike Brown & Sonya Massey’s name mentioned. I appreciated Dr. Tisby’s honoring Sonya Massey’s life, which was sadly stolen too, at the start of the very next “Convocation Unscripted.”
https://www.wuft.org/2024-08-10/photos-family-of-michael-brown-jr-marches-on-ferguson-10-years-later;
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5053165/ferguson-michael-brown-10-years-police
History has the receipts. Thank you for the ways you lay out facts so adeptly.
It’s been a slow burn for me, not quite knowing how to develop the language and direct the righteous anger in a way that is not self-centered or stuck. For the last decade since his death, it’s been a more progressive, proactive pursuit of learning and how best to channel that into transforming how our community operates.
Personal experience with racist attitudes growing up and as a young adult provided a foundation for my indignation. But I didn’t know what to do with it at the time.
Amen and amen. Thank you. For your work, your words, and your leadership ... I'm reminded of Tinayesha's song," Innocence" as I read your post ... https://music.apple.com/us/album/innocence/1755491662?i=1755491663 ... grateful for voices pursuing and calling out for the spirit of justice.
As a white woman in her late 60’s I have watched this repeatedly throughout my life! It’s sickening to see how the victim is continually victimized after death by a white police force that “justifies” their violence! The justification so many in white “polite” society and even churches commenting “Well, he was caught stealing”…. And yet, as you so eloquently pointed out, his LIFE was stolen!!!!! That cannot ever be justified! No matter how much whitewashing is attempted! Thank you for all you do to work toward social justice and equality.