Michael Brown. Freddie Gray. Jeremy McDole. Samuel DuBose. Tamir Rice. Eric Garner.
These are just a few names of many black men killed by police officers in recent memory. These killings, with the rise to prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement, sparked a national conversation about racism in the criminal justice system.
Americans are no strangers to the controversial relationship between race and police violence. It seems each day, we hear one more story about a police officer killing an unarmed black man because he lacked training and awareness to properly deal with the circumstances.
The Black Lives Matter movement attempts to evoke change in our nation, and many presidential candidates pretend the problems don’t exist.
Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio gave a surprisingly strong response to the Black Lives Matter movement on Fox News’ “The Kelly File” on Aug. 13 that went largely unnoticed. The interview has suddenly gained relevance nearly two and a half months later, with the Washington Post and Vox labeling Rubio as thoughtful and bold.
“This is a legitimate issue,” Rubio said. “It is a fact that in the African-American community around this country there has been, for a number of years now, a growing resentment toward the way law enforcement and the criminal justice system interacts with the community.”
Part of the problem is our own subconscious. Research shows everyone holds this subconscious prejudice, known as implicit bias. Much of it is subtle, but can be seen in day-to-day activities.
An example of subtle discrimination includes biased hiring practices. Some employers will only hire people with stereotypical, white-sounding names, throwing out résumés of people with a black-sounding name. These subconscious feelings are prompted by harsh realities faced by African-American communities.
Part of it is a cultural difference. It is a tragic reality many young African-American males face a greater chance of interacting with the criminal justice system than an institution of higher education. Rubio emphasizes this point in his speech, stating it is “particularly endemic.”
Although Rubio acknowledged the problem, he doesn’t have a plan to solve it. He hasn’t addressed a few simple changes, such as reforming mandatory minimums and ending the war on drugs, both of which disproportionately affect black men.
One solution proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders includes a measure to “ban the box” to prevent hiring discrimination against those with criminal records. Ban the Box is an international campaign advocating for employers to remove the check box on job applications stating the applicant has a criminal record.
Last year saw non-stop hostility toward police, with officers called racists and murderers thanks to media’s relentless amplification of police brutality. Cops are becoming reluctant to police inner-city neighborhoods for fear of being the next viral sensation.
The relationship between inner-city communities and police officers must change, but it must change through both citizens and officers. Officers should be better equipped and more willing to handle situations without force, but citizens should also respect the job police do and comply with simple instructions to make interactions easier for all parties involved.
Discrimination is real. It was real in the ’60s, and it is real today. It involves action from all members of society.
The media emphasizes a distinct contradiction between black lives and blue lives mattering. There is no reason each cannot coexist. The law should apply firmly to maintain order, but should also apply fairly to those of all races.
Bad people exist, and mistakes will be made. However, this cannot stop police from exercising their authority to carry out the law.
Discrimination won’t end overnight. With thoughtful government intervention and community interaction, I believe law enforcement and communities of color can coexist peacefully and effectively.
Mariah Manuel is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @mariah_manuel.