Some things should never be so Black and white

Next week will mark one year since George Floyd was murdered by former police officer, Derek Chauvin. While his death sparked worldwide outrage, protests, and much needed discussions about our nation's systemic inequities, a recent NPR poll suggests that white and Black Americans still have very different views on race and policing.

According to the poll, 61 percent of Black Americans believe that local police treat people of color more harshly than white people. Only a quarter of white Americans agree with that statement.

And although more than 60 percent of Black Americans say they have been discriminated against or treated unfairly because of their race, just 15 percent of white Americans can say the same.

It goes to show just how different life can be in this country depending on the color of your skin. However, one thing that most Americans agreed upon, according to the poll, is that race relations for future generations will be better than they are now.

If we do collectively hope for a better future, then we have work to do Derek.

A first step is for congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill would ban chokeholds which are used too often on Black people. It would also bring an end to qualified immunity, which protects law enforcement from lawsuits.

A better tomorrow begins with the decisions we make today. We can't leave the fate of Black America up to chance any more -- it's time to end qualified immunity and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.