The Case of Ahmaud Arbery: Has Justice Finally Been Obtained
On Feb. 23, 2020, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery decided to take a jog in one of the predominantly white subdivisions near his neighborhood of Satilla Shores, where he was then racially profiled and murdered (The New York Times). It took two months for Arbery’s killers, Gregory and Travis McMichael, as well as the man who filmed Arbery’s death, William Bryan Jr., to be arrested (British Broadcasting Corporation). Nearly two years later on Jan. 7, all three of Arbery’s murderers were sentenced to life in prison, with two of the perpetrators given no chance of parole (Cable News Network). However, the verdicts in this case are only one success in a system riddled with racial biases towards Black people. While Arbery’s case is an evident step forward in putting an end to the cycle of racial injustice, it took social media uproar and protests for this kind of change to occur.
“The victory of Arbery’s case makes me glad that these types of cases are finally being noticed,” senior Adi Laal said. “I hope that this will allow for America’s judicial system to take action and pay more attention to the unfair deaths of [Black people] as time goes on.”
Arbery’s death serves as a disturbing reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality. As the verdicts in Arbery’s case are considered to be a win, it demonstrates to those with racially-motivated intent that there are repercussions for their harmful actions. It also shows that after hundreds of years of being dismissed in courts of law, a Black life is finally being acknowledged. However, because of the time it took the justice system to obtain justice for Arbery, it is clear that it still does not prioritize condemning intolerable acts against Black people.
At Peninsula, the population of Black students is only 3% in a school of 2,348 students. Therefore, many prejudices held toward those of a different racial or cultural background can be connected to a lack of proper education and exposure to these groups. However, there are ways to remedy this issue. Pew Research Center reported that social media platforms have served as venues for political engagement and social activism, allowing people to talk about important social issues and hold others accountable for their actions. Additionally, California will be the first state to require Ethnic Studies in high school, allowing students to gain a better understanding of social issues (Los Angeles Times). With classes like Ethnic Studies being introduced in the state, there can be more acknowledgement for people of different backgrounds who are normally ignored or mistreated in society.
“As a Peninsula alumna myself, social justice was not something I knew a lot about,” Chemistry, Science Research and Advanced Placement Seminar teacher Melissa Klose said. “I felt like I lived in a bubble. I think we need to present different perspectives in our curriculum as well, and teachers and parents can help facilitate conversations on cases like these.”
Arbery was a victim in a country where racist beliefs are prioritized over the value and loss of Black lives. The fight for equality entails raising awareness, efforts to improve the legal system and pointing out inequities in the court’s treatment of people of color. By focusing on tackling inequality, this country that has been plagued with harmful prejudiced beliefs can root out racism and ensure America’s idea of ‘liberty and justice for all.’
“Education is very important in regard to cases like these, and there needs to be more discussions about these topics,” senior Amanda Rucker said. “The more educated people are, the less biased they will be. Understanding other people’s perspectives will hopefully help reduce racial profiling and put an end to the perpetuation of systemic racism.”
