On April 20th 1999, two boys shot up their high school. There was no motive, there was no true reasoning. They simply did it.

When Columbine happened, the media had a hayday. First, it was one angle, then it was another; there were so many incorrect reports about the shooting that the country and the people in front of the school had no idea what was going on inside that building. They didn't know the killers were dead after the first hour, they didn't know who the killers were, they didn't even know how many shooters there were.

They simply didn't have any answers, but the media gave them answers anyway. The media made the country think that wearing all black was a sign that you were dangerous or had homocide-like tendencies. The media crafted this story about bullying and how it leads to events such as Columbine. The media portrayed the Columbine shooters as these weirdos, outsiders, outcasts, goths, and so much more, yet they were two teenage boys who led pretty normal lives. Sure, they were interested in guns, but who isn't, they're cool. Sure, they got into trouble, but they were teenagers.

The media made America think that these stereotypes were what led to them becoming killers. The media painted a picture and the world believed it.

The media is still doing that today.

When the trend of cops killing black men began, it was simply another way to get ratings up. Now, cops killing black men has become a way to divide the masses. The #BlackLivesMatter started and then suddenly the media was covering #AllLivesMatter. Another division.

The purpose of the media, when it first began, was simply to give people the information going on in their neighborhood, state, and country. Now, the media is simply opinions and talk shows. It's people giving their two cents instead of people giving the facts. The facts are skewed based on what that person believes or that network. The facts are no longer just that, they are dripping in personal bias and opinion. That's not what the media is supposed to be. That's not what our country should be basing their opinions off of.

Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be a news anchor. I wanted to sit at the desk with my little stack of papers, and tell people good morning or good night. I wanted to be the voice that let my country know what was going on. I wanted to be that.

After seeing what the media has become, I have no desire to be part of that. I have no desire to sit at a desk and skew the truth.

This war that is brewing in our country between ethnicities (not races) is because of the media. Black lives DO matter, but many have taken that saying as they matter MORE than other ethnicities--that is not the case. The war brewing in our country towards those from other countries is because of the media generalizing instead of being specific.

We are taught in school about stereotypes, labeling, and generalization, yet our own media outlets do it every single day. They label the cop as white and the victim as black. They label every mass shooter as a terrorist if he's muslim, but troubled if he's white.

The media is the reason my white friends sound ignorant when they tell me all lives matter, because the media is saying that the black lives being lost is a tragedy but that white cops aren't the issue--that racism isn't the issue.
The media is the reason I have to defend my blackness.

If I wear a hoodie late at night does that mean I'm making a cop fear for their life?
If I'm reaching for my license and registration in my car am I instilling fear in the cop?
If I'm playing with a water gun at a park should I be shot down?
If I'm pulled over and you don't tell me what the problem is and I don't get out of my car is that a reason to pull your gun on me?
If I'm driving my new expensive car that I just got and there is nothing wrong with it but you pull me over because you assume I stole it, do I deserve to be taken to jail and have my mental health questioned?
If I'm selling cigs on the street do I deserve to be strangled to death?
If I'm at a pool party do I deserve to be forcefully held down with your knees on my back?

No. I don't deserve any of those things.

But, the media also doesn't need to make it a race thing. Is it obviously partially a "race" (ethnicity) issue, yes. But this constant dwelling on the fact that this white cop shot this black man doesn't need to be played over and over.

The country is well aware that there is an issue, but the media is turning the issue into a war. White people are constantly defending their whiteness now and becoming more angry towards blacks. Black people are sick of the white privilege that whites don't want to talk about.

I'm sick of hearing about black men and women losing their lives at the hands of cops.
I'm sick of hearing racist bullshit being said about muslims just because some terrorists have been muslim.
I'm sick of hearing excuses as to why cops aren't being held responsible for something they did.
I'm sick of hearing from the media that racism is long gone.
I'm sick of hearing from the media that America has no issues.

America has issues.
America's biggest issue is the media.

People need to stop listening to the commentators on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC and every other show and form their own opinions.

Just because someone is white doesn't mean they're racist.
Just because someone is muslim doesn't mean they're a terrorist.
Just because someone is black doesn't mean they're anti-cop.

STOP BELIEVING WHAT THE MEDIA TELLS YOU.

The media has this way of dividing people who shouldn't even be divided.
They have a way of misinforming people.
They have a way of answering questions they don't even have answers to.

The media is toxic.