
The cultural event that outraged the African American community and sent a shock wave through American civilization has also become the backbone for a political movement that has become larger than a simple cry for equality. Although this happened only two years ago, the killing of unarmed 18-year-old Michael "Mike Mike" Brown has become a critical piece of Black history and has become a figure head of the political Black Lives Matter movement. The supposed innocent Michael Brown was shot twice in the head by Caucasian police officer Darren Wilson which sparked dramatic protests and riots that have torn through the streets of Ferguson. This shooting turned Ferguson, Missouri into a “powder keg” and has sent a divide through the community and has caused a national out cry against this extreme violence that reflects a time in our history similar to segregation. In response to the political unrest, Tim Dickinson published Ferguson, Uncensored to expose the reality of what was happening within the suburbs of St. Louis and what was occurring on the streets that the police are trying to hide from the public. This text was written in response to the political turmoil happening in America and aimed to inform the readers on the racial injustice occurring. Utilizing the power of photojournalism, Dickinson captures the high intensity stand off between the African American community and the police force and the image found on page 173 illustrates the Hands Up, Don’t Shoot movement. The Black Lives Matter movement has shaped the face of history and the killing of Mike Brown has become a cultural event that has changed the future of the fight for civil rights in todays national political scene. 

Historically, the African American population has been faced with obstacles and set backs that have hindered their success. Black children attend under-resourced schools where they are often pushed off of an academic track, students are denied an opportunity to learn and punished for routine child and adolescent behaviors and outside of schools, young Black people are criminalized in ways that limit their life chances at every point. “2010 data shows that while Black youth comprised 17 percent of all youth, they represented 31 percent of all arrests.” (Herring). This inequality has turned into unifying matters that allows the African American community to prove to the world that although we are past the days of segregation and slavery, African Americans are NOT equal. The Black Lives Matter movement focuses on more than just protests and speaking out but instead aims for reform politically by proposing 30 plus policies that describe the steps that must be taken for African Americans to reach equality. These policies are just one step towards appeasing the African American community and are seen as a beacon of hope that the violence and protests are inciting a governmental change. 

A similar text, Ferguson riots: Ruling sparks night of violence utilizes photojournalism and first hand accounts of the tragedy occurring on the streets of Missouri to expand on the ideas introduced by Dickinson. As protesters rallied in the streets, police charged barricades, hurling glass bottles, and responded with smoke and tear gas. This type of response  was seen previously in history regarding  the death of Trayvon Martin two years earlier, where the African American community staged its first in-person national protest in the form of a "Black Lives Matter Freedom Ride" to Ferguson, Missouri three weeks after the shooting of Michael Brown. Delivered in response to the protests, our current president Obama issued a statement and joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for a calmer response to dealing with this tragedy. Many Americans do not believe protesting and rioting is the proper manner to respond to this unjust murder and Obama and the family must work together to unify everyone in a non-violent manner. Authorities said “more than 80 people were arrested amid chaos in several areas of St Louis overnight. Sixty-one of those arrests were in Ferguson, with charges including burglary and trespassing.” (BBC) The police in Ferguson are not simply focusing on those who are protesting but are also punishing journalists and those who are trying to capture and document this historical time in the Black Lives Matter Movement. The “violent overreaction” of police is what sparked this political turmoil and will not be the solution that ends this disorder. 

The Black Lives Matter movement surrounding the Ferguson riots has become critical to understanding the volatile politics happening in this time period.  The “hands up don’t shoot movement” is a slogan and gesture that originated after the August 9, 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. The slogan was adopted at protests against police violence. While several witnesses claimed Brown's hands were in the air when he was shot. The protests have been characterized by “tear gas, rubber bullets and sonic cannons, fired from war vehicles that have no justification being on civilian streets.” (Dickinson 174) The line has been crossed by police in response to these protests and riots. Many people in the African American community are emotionally distraught and are trying to react to this historical event in a manner they find appropriate. The police force already overstepped in reference to the killing of Mike Brown but the interference of riot squads and brutal police force has turned the protests from peaceful to a political war zone. 

In response to one of the most volatile political movements happening in America today, a collective of more than 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people from across the country have come together with renewed energy and purpose to articulate a common vision and agenda. The Black Lives Matter movement has been fueled by the photojournalism and reporting that uncovers the reality of what is occurring underneath the smoke of the tear gas. Tim Dickinson’s text is used to show the drastic effects the murder of Mike Brown has had and how it has refueled the Black Lives Matter movement. In a time of political and historical unrest, citizens must join together to appease the racial tensions that are tearing our country apart. As a country we should have a zero- tolerance policy for the racial inequality occurring and should rally together behind political advocates to work towards a unified front against racial injustice and the unjustified killing and torture of young African American men. 
