America the fearful: What follows summer of unrest?
Today fear confronts fear in America’s cities.
On one side are Black people afraid of police, protesters afraid of tear gas, citizens afraid the nation’s long struggle with racism isn’t improving.
On the other are police afraid of the job’s dangers, business owners afraid for their stores, city and suburban residents worried about the spread of unrest.
Fear can sharpen attention. It motivates action. It’s an emotion that can drive change.
But that action isn’t always good. Fear drives irrational response and creates division, widening perceived gaps between “us” and “them.” It can create a whirlwind of bad decisions and worse consequences, particularly if one side has the power advantage of firearms – as tragic recent events in Kenosha, Wisconsin, too plainly show.
“We are in a real bad state,” says Cephus Johnson, uncle of Oscar Grant, who was shot dead by BART police at the Fruitvale station in Oakland, California, in 2009.
On one hand, says Mr. Johnson, the social
Kenosha as flashpointAn equal opportunity emotionCivility is a companion of justice
