#IfIWereGunnedDown

Jordan Davis was disrespectful of authoritative figures.

(killed at a gas station over an altercation involving loud music, unarmed)

Trayvon Martin was suspended from school, fought, and smoked weed.

(killed coming home from a 7-11, unarmed)

Remisha McBride was a drunk.

(killed asking for assistance from a vehicular accident, unarmed)

Mike Brown fought the police.

(killed while “resisting arrest,” unarmed)

Andy Lopez smoked weed.

(killed while walking up the street with a toy gun, unarmed)

Noel Palanco drove erratically.

(killed while “reaching for something under the seat,” unarmed)

Ramarley Graham flushed weed down the toilet.

(killed after police kicked in the door of his residence after avoiding a NYC stop and frisk, shot in back, unarmed)

Kimani Gray was a gangbanger.

(killed after being observed adjusting his waistband and avoiding a NYC stop and frisk, unarmed)

Earlier today was ablaze with its usual social commentary through the hashtag #IfIWereGunnedDown allowing people to express their thoughts about the Mike Brown killing. Police in Ferguson, MO killed Mike Brown, a recent high school graduate, on August 9, 2014. Preliminary reports said that Mike Brown was accosted after being accused of stealing $1 cigar like the kind commonly used to roll up marijuana with, but I haven’t seen one of those in hours. The most recent story is that Brown was killed after pushing an officer back into the patrol car and reaching for his weapon. As absurd as this sounds, its what Ferguson police are saying happened. The standard of when it is appropriate to use deadly force is a high one for the general public and while it may be even higher for law enforcement officers in certain jurisdictions, one fact remains the same; these officers in question know how to justify when that force is used. And the media does a good job of helping the accused out by justifying the circumstances with facts not readily available or assassinating the character of the victim.

The Trayvon Martin case hurt me, it hurt me deep to my soul, to the point where not only was I faced with the reminder that the young black man is a perceived threat, but how to explain that to my son.  And in the event that you are unluckily perceived as this threat, you may be vilified to make it appear that this world might be better off without you. While I am speaking from the perspective of the black male, this is an issue for all minorities. Previously listed is what they've said about others who were gunned down while unarmed, what would they say about you?

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT...and sometimes not even then

A few weeks ago, I was in the middle of a debate where a northerner expressed disdain for the South because of the inherent racism that exists here and most blacks who live in the south are basically forcing themselves to be second-class citizens because of the racially charged climate here. Southern blacks should also force themselves to stop blaming their faults on white privilege and racism because neither are seen in the North. My only remark to her; that just because you fail to see racism and/or the existence of white privilege, do they fail to exist. Gone are the days of cross burnings, public hangings and lynchings, and people telling you that you didn't get the job because of the color of your skin. Now we're "overqualified" and have to deal with people like Donald Sterling who only express their disdain for minorities behind closed doors. Personally, I like upfront racists because they are easier to account for and anticipate, however what are we to do when the racists don't know they're racist, have badges and/or guns, and in their own fear believe that our mistrust of them is unjustified? Add to that argument the killings of Amadou Diallo, Johnathan Ferrell, and Darius Simmons, three of many who were unable to have their characters vilified to justify them being gunned down all while unarmed. Most young minority males have had life experiences where they have seen first-hand actions of overzealous officers result in the harassment, injury, incarceration, or death of someone who looks like them and as a result, don't trust police. So when they avoid police because of no-wrong doing, they deserve to be hunted down and shot? They deserve for their bodies to lay out in the street for all to see while police focus more on crowd control than completing their investigatory duties? And those who demand answers deserve to be coralled, tear gassed, and held back by police dogs?

What's worse is that you brainwashed fools are still spouting off that baloney they let MLK speak about when he said we would be judged on the content of our character and that we are progressing towards a society that sees no color. Well guess what, they killed him and when he was gunned down they called him a womanizer. #IfIWereGunnedDown I would only hope I took some of those sons of bitches with me as to earn the title of villan society would attempt to paint me as, mostly because of the color of my skin.