People in our country should continue to speak out on inequality. I am proud to see fellow Americans regardless of color or background coming together against police brutality in the Black/African-American community. I do not agree with the rioting that happened earlier this week in Baltimore, but I cannot simply disregard the youths who rioted as “thugs” like people have in the news media or on social media. I understand the causes of these youths’ anger:

The residents in Baltimore and similar cities around the country are frustrated

America is the land of freedom and opportunity, but it still failing to fully apply these principles to all of its citizens even in 2015. This is true within inner city communities. Where are the jobs? Where are the opportunities in the inner city?

Parents in these communities like all parents around the country are trying their best to raise their children

Unfortunately, parents in the “inner city” are not provided with adequate resources. Why isn’t there better schooling as well as learning and recreational facilities in these neighborhoods? Why doesn’t our society instill into all children, regardless of background, that they are valuable to our society and can achieve anything? These words should then be backed by changes to our communities.

The Black/African-American community is often portrayed negatively by our media and society

Why is African-American, African, and Caribbean history taught in brevity? Black/African-American children need to know themselves by learning their own history. Also when we as a society understand the history of other cultures, it becomes easier to comprehend people, seeing our commonality and respecting our differences.  We can then realize the fallacy of stereotypes, the contributions of different groups, and the explanation for our society and world’s current state.  With that knowledge, we can truly move our society forward.

The stereotyping of Black/African American people causes the racial profiling in our society and “inner cities”

The Freddie Gray case, the Walter Scott case, and the police brutality cases in the past are examples where the individual did not commit a crime yet the police saw fit to arrest or cause the death of the person. Many in the Black community can attest to being profiled by the police or when walking into some places of business. This is what leads to distrust of law enforcement and society within inner city communities. Why is skin color viewed as a sign of criminality?

What civil rights leaders fought for in the past is still ongoing because of all these factors

Dr. King especially has been mentioned throughout social media and what many seem to forget is that although he preached non-violence, he understood that people riot because their voices are not being heard. The people in Baltimore and other cities did protest peacefully just as the people in 60’s. Why is the media concentrating on only the riots or other outbursts? Where was the media’s concern for the community in Baltimore before the riots?

The decision to charge the officers involved in the Freddie Gray case is a step forward in dealing with these police brutality cases. This is why people are protesting; bad elements in law enforcement should legally answer for unjust actions towards citizens.  Even if someone happens to commit a crime, the police do not have the right to treat them inhumanely. Law enforcement does not have the right to kill someone unless the individual IS an ACTUAL threat.

Human life and quality of living is more important than damaged property or maintaining systems that are not working.   Fix the policies and hold everyone including the system accountable so that nobody will have a reason to protest or even riot.