Police and racism

Thanks to modern technology and the video feature on smartphones, a passerby was able to capture the cold blooded murder of a black motorist by a white police officer in N. Charleston, South Carolina on Monday.  After pumping 8 bullets into the back of the fleeing man, the officer casually dropped his tazer next to the body which he handcuffed, probably after the man's death.  There was supposedly a struggle for the tazer  which caused the officer to fear for his life, justifying the use of lethal force.  Without the video, Walter Scott's death would have been a "righteous" shooting and the official account would have exonerated the cop of any crime.   Now he has been fired and is facing murder charges.  Most blacks in America would say that video would probably result in assault or murder charges in 9 out of 10 incidents where police shoot during the course of confrontations.  The chant of "hands up, don't shoot" heard in Ferguson, Mo. sounds more and more like the best and only defense for black men in this country when faced with police action.  Anyone who thinks we have reached the post racial stage of societal development needs only check the numerous incidents where blacks have been beaten, shot and harassed in the last few months.  The rage many in white America feel that a black man is President has spilled into daily life.  The genie is out of the bottle and it will take a mighty effort to get it back in.