Alva James-Johnson: Frustration boils over in Ferguson

Frustration boils over in Ferguson

Frustration is a combustible emotion that builds up over time. Ignore it for too long and eruption is almost inevitable. We've witnessed such violent repercussions in American communities before -- and now there's Ferguson.

Langston Hughes, the great Harlem Renaissance poet, described it best when he posed these questions:

"What happens to a dream deferred?/Does it dry up/like a raisin in the sun?/Or fester like a sore --/and then run?/Does it stink like rotten meat?/Or crust and sugar over --/like a syrupy sweet?/Maybe it just sags/like a heavy load?/Or does it explode?"

Hughes wrote that poem, titled "Harlem," in 1951, at a time when America was still racially segregated and black people were denied basic civil rights. Now 63 years later, we're faced with the same dilemma.

This week, a grand jury opted not to indict the police officer who killed Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in Ferguson. It was a disappointing decision for many who had hoped the justice system would finally value a young black life.

Whether you agree with the decision or not, one thing is certain. There are just too many young black men being killed by law enforcement and vigilantes nationwide. And it's time we reassess how we police economically disadvantaged communities.

According to statistics from the Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice, police killings of blacks 25 and older have declined since 1961, but the rates for younger blacks remain 4.5 times higher than that for other races. And many of those killed are overwhelmingly black males.

In the wake of the Ferguson grand jury decision, many frustrated residents stayed calm and contained their disappointment. But others vented through violence, torching buildings, looting businesses and throwing objects at police officers.

Watching from a distance, it seemed unreasonable to burn down one's own neighborhood. But when you're left without hope, what is there to lose? I imagine that's the mentality of many in that community.

That's not to make excuses. Violence is never the answer and can only lead to more doom. By assaulting neighborhood businesses, Ferguson will only lose more jobs and economic ground, leading to more frustration.

But to focus on how to stop the violence without addressing the root cause of the problem is just as unproductive.

So, how do you fix a problem like Ferguson? By creating an environment where residents can imagine a brighter future, dismantling the "school-to-prison pipeline" and investing in children before they become criminals.

With all the scholars in this country, you would think we would have figured that out by now. But it remains an elusive dream.

Alva James-Johnson, ajjohnson@ledger-enquirer.com

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Alva James-Johnson: Frustration boils over in Ferguson."