By Julissa Catalan Never was nationwide attention on racially charged incidents greater than in the early 1990s, when the Rodney King beating and subsequent riots as well as the O.J. Simpson trial captivated America. People’s opinions of each case largely fell along racial lines—with Blacks protesting following the acquittal of…
Tag: Michael Brown
Luke Visconti, CEO: Maintaining the Racial Divide for Fun and Profit
By Luke Visconti Whenever we enter a controversial news cycle, we are besieged with comments from people who obviously don’t read DiversityInc on a regular basis. I usually Google comments to see where they came from. What is striking is that comments are almost always organized. I’m convinced there is…
Can Prosecutor in Michael Brown Shooting Lead a Fair Investigation
By Chris Hoenig A history that raises questions about his ability to fairly lead the investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown has led to calls for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch to step aside. But he’s not going anywhere, and he has a significant ally on…
Report: Holder May Expand Justice Department Investigation in Ferguson
By Albert Lin As the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., continues, Attorney General Eric Holder is in the embattled city on Wednesday to meet with investigators and community leaders. What can he hope to accomplish during his visit, with violent protests still taking place 11 days after the death of Michael…
Ferguson Mayor: 'Not a Racial Divide' Here
By Chris Hoenig For more than a week, tensions have boiled over with a police force decked out in full-on military armor launching tear gas at protesters—many of whom have been peaceful—and journalists, all following the deadly shooting of an unarmed Black teen by a white cop. But there is…
Luke Visconti, CEO: Diversity Management in Ferguson: What Didn't Happen, What Needs to Happen Now
By Luke Visconti There are some basic facts about Ferguson, Mo., that mirror the basic facts we find in some corporations: an almost all-white, all-male leadership and a much more diverse “constituency.” As with corporations, you can follow the numbers to understand how things truly work. Ferguson is 67 percent…
Luke Visconti, CEO: They Are Gunning Some of Us Down
Hitting a man six times with rounds fired from a handgun (even a man with his hands up) is an impressive feat of marksmanship—and that was just part of a tsunami of oppression perpetrated upon our fellow citizens (who are Black) in Ferguson, Mo., oppression which started far before Michael…
Ferguson Protests Escalate After Autopsy Shows Brown Was Shot at Least Six Times
By Chris Hoenig Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is deploying the Missouri National Guard to Ferguson after some of the most tense protests yet in the St. Louis suburb. Police fired tear gas into the crowds of protesters Sunday night, which Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson said was necessary…
Tensions Rise as Michael Brown Investigation Is Kept Under Wraps
By Chris Hoenig Tensions are continuing to rise in Ferguson, Mo., as authorities remain tight-lipped about the investigation into the shooting death of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown. Brown, just 18 years old, was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer during an encounter on Saturday, Aug. 9. But…
Racial Tensions Rise as Vigil for Dead Black Teen Turns into Violent Protest
By Julissa Catalan Racial tensions erupted in a predominantly Black St. Louis suburb when a peaceful vigil quickly turned violent, with shots fired and widespread looting. On Saturday night, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer. The teenager was reportedly unarmed and standing only…