12 things white people can do now because Ferguson – Quartz

December 15, 2014 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

A few weeks have passed since the non-indictment of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the tragic shooting death of the unarmed teenager Michael Brown. Like always, the crowds disperse and the memories pass on. However, this event will live in the minds of the Ferguson community for years; in the Brown family for the rest of their lives. This can’t be changed. Taking back shooting, the burnings, looting and riots wouldn’t change the conditions that allowed this to happen in the first place.

The tired eye-rolls usually start about there. Whites are tired of being accused of being racist. Minorities are sick to death of their claims being ignored. Can we admit that the latter have more to be sick and tired over than the former? History will prove that out, unless you buy into some Texas textbook cavalcade of Moses on the Grassy Knoll reading the Emancipation Proclamation (that is an entirely different and ugly tragedy I can’t get into here). It’s understandable, though, that both sides want this social issue to be resolved. So what can you do?

First, you can learn to listen, instead of reacting and dismissing someone’s complaints before you’ve even heard them out. In any dispute, this is common sense and helps to arbitrate a peaceful settlement. Second, stop taking it so personal!! Of course you weren’t’ there. No one says you were. However, you cannot deny that you’ve benefited from the status quo. If you want, you can, but no one with a bit of sense and hindsight will support such claims. Third, learn how you can advocate and stop the perpetuation of inequality, because it also negatively affects those it purports to give unfair advantage to.

About Captain Maiel

Born in Saratoga Springs, New York, K has enjoyed more than twenty years professionally writing. K attended Morrisville State College, majoring in Biology, and then continued with English and History at the University at Albany, where she gained her Bachelor’s Degree. While attending UA, K interned with the 13th Moon Feminist Literary Magazine, bridging her interests in social movements and art. Topics of K's writing often include gender and racial disparities, and trauma. In 2014, K graduated from Empire State College (SUNY) with a Masters in Liberal Studies: screenwriting (Film Studies), the politics of film, and adaptations. During her gradute work, K was the recipient of the Foner Fellowship in Arts and Social Justice, a full scholarship.
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Published novels by K include the Civil War drama Blue Honor, the Second World War spy thriller OP-DEC:Operation Deceit, and the controversial dark fantasy, paranormal series The Trailokya Trilogy. In addition to writing novels, K does screenwriting: 8 Days in Ireland and the adaptations of her current novels. A sequel to her second novel, OP-DEC, is in the research phase, while the screen adaptation is being considered for production by film companies.
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In 2015, K. Williams became an official member of International Thriller Writers, but her greatest accomplishment thus far was becoming a mother in 2017. K continues to produce commentary and art pieces on The Blue Honor Blog, publishing twice weekly. A devoted dog mom, K created Shagbottom Theater in which her dogs star as well known literary and stage personas. K is also a visual artist, producing the ZoDuck Cartoon, painting and sketching--digitally or traditionally, as well as an accomplished Photographer. Click here to see more! Whether it's cooking, IVF and Parenting, learning a foreign language, history or dogs, you'll find something to enjoy and for which to come back.
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Excerpts of K's unedited, rough drafts and other scraps of writing can be found at: KWilliamsAuthor on deviantArt.com. You can also sample her books on Wattpad.