The initial reactions to the brutal killing of Alton Sterling have died down. The protests are less frequent and CNN doesn't care anymore. Reporters aren't roaming the streets for interviews and tears aren't rolling down the faces of hundreds right now. Some horrible things took place here but I must say I'm prouder now of Louisiana, LSU, and Baton Rouge.
This isn't to say the fight is over because I know actions are in effect and organizing is better than ever, and voting has not even got to its boiling point yet. This is to say however, the Baton Rouge community should be proud of what it accomplished just by standing up for what was right.
The boycott of the Mall, the dialogue on MTV, the tweets, the articles, the videos, the protests, the refusal to let it go; it's something to be proud of. Things like this happen in other places and no one cares or fusses besides family members. The community of Baton Rouge basically got together and said-NOT IN MY HOUSE.
Even with the killing of those police officers people from all over the community reached out and helped. They didn't act like it didn't matter because of what happened in the past and still they made sure their original message was clear.
It wasn't about sides in Baton Rouge it was about what was right.
Going to LSU and getting told I was only going to LSU instead of SU because I think I'm too good for SU, and I'm not in touch with my blackness drove me to the ends of the earth. That's not the case for me or any black person I know that attends LSU. (The HBCU vs PWI debate is honestly a debate that needs to never happen again but that's another story) What did go into me choosing LSU though was wanting my little sisters to see that they could go to and succeed at a big, predominately White college. I want them to know they can do whatever they want to I'm more proud of my choice now than ever.
I saw one tweet. I can't remember the author, but if you do then tag them, please! Tthe tweet went a little like: I went to LSU and became more pro black than I ever expected. LSU students and students in BR period got together with the community and risked their lives ...together. I can totally relate to that tweet and just to add I've never been more pro-Human race than ever.
I've looked into issues like race, sexual expression, double standards, feminism, rape culture, politics and so many other things. I think that's something I wouldn't have appreciated as much going to any other school or living in any place other than Baton Rogue.