I wasn’t surprised when by the Ferguson jury found Officer Wilson innocent of killing Michael Brown. The verdict wasn’t based on concerns about justice; the jury had one mission to fulfill…to preserve Ferguson’s way of life.

And as quiet as it’s kept, Ferguson’s way of life, is what many people in this country crave. Yes, in 2014 racism is alive and nurtured.

I am sure the verdict was reached in record time and that the continuous delays in the announcement were staged for our benefit. The delays built dramatic tension and created this facade of a thoughtful review of the “evidence.”

A WBUR reporter asked a black man in Ferguson to share his thoughts about the delayed verdict. The man’s response was to the point. He believed that the “forces that be” were hoping that the weather would get so cold the protesters would delay their protests. I would add nothing distracts and delays a delay more than the holidays season.

I believe that announcement of the verdict was dragged out to buy time, waiting for the Republicans to settle into the Senate and Congress, and undo or ignore the investigative and enforcement procedures established by Democrats. Then again, given the Democrats’ (elected officials and voters) lack of support of President Obama, that might not be an important point. But why gamble?

I have been encouraged by the protests challenging the verdict and Ferguson’s arrogance. I just hope this support has more strength and commitment than the previous Occupy Boston movements. Right now I am one weary African American woman and my spirit waivers between “just hope” and “hope”.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers… a lot. Her column appears weekly in Oddball Magazine.