Never Ending Protest: American Racial Issues

Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice. All unarmed black men killed by local law enforcement or paranoid citizens for minor crimes or unjust reasons. But, it was not until Ferguson Missouri officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed Mike Brown on November 24 that sparked the movement that mimics the history books. With social unrest from the entire country, nation wide protests and riots dominate the news and captivate North America. With no end in sight, this modern day movement contrast the protests that dominated the entire 1960`s. As it appears is in the following images America might be on the verge of another racial war between cultures and social classes. This Nation wide unrest shows how not only America never resolved its racial issues but it has continued to divide the country and create violence. These powerful images show how Ferguson is the heart of a prolific national movement and are captured through the perspectives of all sides, producing some shockingly powerful images revealing the true social state of the country.

To begin, There are many sticking details presented in this image, the unity represented by the mob mentality, signs and facial recognition, and finally the location involved. The mob mentality is clearly show through the massive masses of people, as in a large group no one is an individual idea or perspective but yet the voice of a powerful movement and common goal (in this case social injustice). This group with the same shared goals shown, embodies the movement and the power of a united community. This shown through the massive number of people on the same set of ideals protesting together as a unit. The second detail of this image is the signs used by the protesters involved with phrases such as ¨ I am Mike Brown¨ and the images of the dead black citizens. With this the protest is given a sense of humanity instead of being viewed as a case or protest. This is particularly show by the yellow sign on the far right with the passage of ¨ I am Mike Brown¨, on it, This shows how at the grass roots we are all humans and to kill Mike Brown you are killing us. This is a means of  a constant reminder to both sides involved of what is at stake within the protests and gives perspective to the movement by giving it the protest depth with a sense of humanity. The final aspect of this image is the location involved. The fact that this particular protests takes place at the National gallery of Art  in Washington (the power head of America) shows the importance of the movement or the overall fear of whats to come from the protesters, with Washington being the center of the country and the base of change, justice is seeked from the country`s most powerful. Contrasting the beginning of the freedom riders protest in 1961 witch began in Washington. With the protesters knowing violence is inevitable without immediate attention they protest to the government in order for a resolution. the negative connotation is shown in this photo but used in a positive with bright colours and well lit surroundings. This image captures the true desperation of the protest and the protester means to have their voices heard.

As mentioned in the previous passage violence was inevitable. With the American Judicial system failing to even indict Darren Wilson an eruption of protests and violent rioting exploded through the streets of Ferguson and abroad. The overall base idea of the protest is clearly shown here through the excessive force used by police. In this image we can depict a protester stripped from her only weapon the sign (the power of speech) and is on the ground surrounded by multiple Armored police. The fact that other protesters are around and the officers still surround the female protester guns drawn proves the excessive force used by police. The protester remains faceless and vulnerable showing the racial issues involved in this riot while the officers remain identifiable to the eye representing power over the opposing side. This image is not only a clear depiction of the riot itself but the overall state of social issues in the United States. The overall message of the image is the brutality of the police force during the riots and how it translates into the unjustified killings of the black community.

Directly Contrasting the previous photo police are using incredible force against an unarmed protester. Through this they are depicted as the enemy through the apposing argument. In this Image we can clearly notice the shear fear in the face of the protester not only showing the brutality inflicted by the police but again contrasting the overall idea of America not resolving it s racial issues and in turn creating violence. the black and white colouring of the photo adds tremendous depth on to the image by contrasting the two sides of the protest and giving the image a very dark image. All faces remain visible through the picture but yet all having differing expressions. while the white enforces seem to have the look of enjoyment on their fear while the protester looks on with tremendous fear and suffering, this in turn gives the image the human experience s

The final image is the culmination of the separation between sides and the drastic measure violence in law enforcement. In this image we can see three major striking details such as the Military, tear gas and light. First of all we can notice the dark silhouette of the military, there shadowy figures and the cautiously ready position by holding the weapon ready to fire shows not only the fear of whats to come but  also the violence aquired. This one unit with no protesters around demonstrates the full separation between the two sides. Secondly, the tear gas smoke represent the barrier between the two sides and the border they must cross to fight for the protest that  they believe in  the cloud makes the image more   terrifying with the unknown future ahead.
Overall, the social unjust of the killings of unarmed black man have caused a nation wide protest resulting in the truth of the state of American social system. these images all prove how not only how America did not solve racial issues but yet, has let it continue to grown divide culture and create viloence