Cultural Awareness

            It is incomparably important to be culturally literate; especially in this twenty first century of rapid progress and swift technological advancement. Being knowledgeable of and having an opinion on current events leads one to be more self-aware and develop different perspectives. It is imperative that individuals alive today are conscious of the awful shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on Aug. 9, 2014 by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. The occurrence provoked protests that roiled the area for weeks; people objected to the officers’ quick and violent reaction, conceivably due to black male stereotypes: violence, aggression, and immaturity. On Nov. 24, the St. Louis County prosecutor announced that a grand jury decided not to indict Mr. Wilson which set off another wave of protests.

            This event brought it to the public attention that racism is still very present in today’s society. Many assume that views today are equal, but racism still lies in the morals of some individuals and provides bias in their decisions. One would not be aware of this actuality if one was not up to date on the current debated events. It is crucial to one’s literacy, awareness, and maturity to be aware of the predicaments and issues that affect society. If one is not aware of this event, one does not truly understand the stature and position of American society in this point in history.