Whites need to do more to solve our deep social problems
The violent protests are about more than the death of George Floyd. That act was the latest injustice in a long string of events that propelled many to action. While we all can do more, white people have caused most problems and need to take the lead.
At age 40, Rashawn Ray has been stopped by police more than the number of years since his birth. He’s been interrupted while walking, running, studying, eating, driving, sitting in a car, riding in a bus and train, and relaxing in a nightclub. He’s been arrested, thrown against walls, and cussed at by authorities.
Despite those confrontations, the criminal record of Ray, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland and a Rubenstein Fellow at the Brookings Institute, remains unscathed. His only “crime” was the color of his skin.
As violent protests against police killings continue to burn throughout the country, the father of two boys worries about his kids’ and their peer’s future. “I worry about how no credential, no degree, no level of income or wealth, no smile, no level of professionalism or grace can protect my babies from the gaze and guise of police violence and white supremacist stereotypes,” Ray says.
Many people don’t understand why the violent protests continue. They are not just about the death of George…
