In December 2016 the prosecution of a white North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer accused of shooting an unarmed Black man in the back ends in a mistrial. The officer shot Walter Scott in the back as Scott was running away and planted his Taser next to Scott’s body, claiming Scott had stolen it from him. All this was caught on video. The evidence right there, naked to see if eyes are willing to see. But one juror could not see. One juror refused to see. Will not see that the officer’s abject fear of a Black man was unjustifiable. Will unsee that the officer shot down Walter Scott as if he were a wild dog.
Dear America,
What would you have me tell my son?
Don’t drive, son?
Don’t go to Walgreens, son?
Don’t be …
What.
Don’t be?