TOLEDO, Ohio — The recent death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer is once again removing the scab on a hurtful past for many Americans, specifically black men who feel that justice is now anything but that for them, because of their race. post-segregation America.
It’s a feeling not only felt in big cities across the nation, but right here in our own community.
A number of recent incidents across the country have highlighted how racial tension or bias can escalate. How otherwise routine events between citizens or even police, turning into confrontations and even death.
White people being exposed for calling police on African Americans, engaged in everyday activities, with most of the events happening in public, are being captured on video and instantly going viral.
"You can see his demeanor from the security video, they did not have to use this excessive lethal force", explained Benjamin Crump, Civil Rights Attorney.
These actions leaving many in the black community, calling for change.
"I honestly believe that history sometimes has a way of repeating itself and if we do not fix the initial problem, it will continue to repeat itself,"said Perry Harris III, Pastor of United Vision Baptist Church in Toledo.
Since the mid-20th century, the United States has seen an enormous shift in public attitudes toward black-white relations, segregation and blatant prejudice. At the same time, racial tensions, obstacles and stereotypes continue.
"It's a cycle unfortunately, that we as persons of color or men of color have constantly been in", explained Harris.
Toledo is not immune to the problem. Over the years there have been claims of racial discrimination or bias against local governmental departments. The cities own police and fire departments have been under scrutiny for lack of diversity, uncovered in prior WTOL 11 reports.
Leaders of both departments say they are aware of the issue and have been working on improvements.
"I dont want young people that are at my church or that are in the city to feel that they have to walk or live in fear," said Harris.
Faith-based leaders have long been on the forefront of various community issues including race, while working to repair the racial divide with spiritual wisdom and action. But even they have grown concerned about these images, and how black men are treated.
"Even though I am a man of faith, I am also a human being, and not only am I a human being, I am a black male and so to see this continue to happen, the emotion of anger takes over. Literally it feels as if we are being forced to digest this big pill of racism and injustice," said Randall Parker III, the pastor at Canaan Manifested Word Church.
Pastor Randall Parker said change is needed to address the embedded problem, which begins with policies and accountability.
"Unless we are able to see results, or some type of progress of results - it just feels like it is a broken record and we are the ones that keep getting scratched," said Parker.
Former police officer Shawn Mahone agrees saying we all play a role in the solution.
"We need to get more parents in the room, we need to get more children in the room and we need to bring in law enforcement so there can be a healthy conversation. Although it may be uncomfortable to talk about at the end of the day, there has to be a healthy conversation going on so everyone is on the same page," explained Shawn Mahone Sr. the founder of Young Men and Women for Change.