THE recent shooting deaths of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana, two black men by white police officers, have heightened concerns about the treatment of and regard for lives of Blacks/African-Americans by the police. Then, as persons were staging demonstrations in cities across America, protesting the police killings, a black man using a sniper rife, killed five police officers and injured nine persons, including seven officers. This attack took place on  July 7 as the police were providing protection to demonstrators in Dallas, Texas, in response to the police the two black men.

These matters have engaged the attention of all and sundry, from the highest political leadership as in President Barrack Obama to the man and woman in the street. Instructively, demonstrations calling for respect for black lives also see white involvement, carrying placards such as “Black Lives Matter,” and in white communities messages such as  “White silence equates to violence, so speak out.”

To say in the black community that there is increasing concern about their lives at the hands of the police is a justifiable statement. At a press conference dealing with the Dallas shooting, black surgeon Dr Brian Williams, who attended the white officers shot by the black military veteran of the Afghanistan war said, even though he does his best to show his respect for the police, he still worries for his personal safety when around officers in uniform.

When fear for the police — who by their functions have been established to maintain law and order which are underpinned by societal values and human rights — exists and a person, regardless of his socio-economic status, carries the burden of being targeted because of race, deservedly should be of concern to all.

Race relations in the United Sates (U.S.) dates back to the nation’s founding in what some has described as its “original sin”, i.e. the enslavement and decimation of the coloured community- Africans and native Americans- which remains in its DNA, and is still confronted on a daily basis inasmuch as laws and other institutions are established to eliminate and deal with it.

In a society that prides itself on making decisions based on scientific evidence and responding to the needs, inclusive of cries of its people, the issues of race and police brutality have not escaped the attention of the President, the country’s first as an African-American.

As President Obama often says in dealing with race, it is a complex issue that requires continuous work, and though the society has made progress, there remains ways to go to atone for this sin. He has also pushed back against claims by some that his ascension to office is tantamount to America being a post-racial society.

And as blacks  grapple with the issue of race and justifiably cry out for parity and respect in the society, some whites are also bound to ask the question, given the Dallas shooting, “Doesn’t white life matter, too?” The answer in both instances is a resounding yes. All lives matter and on both side of the divide the killings were senseless.

But saying all lives matter has to go beyond the affirmative to that of action through institutional strengthening via laws, reforms and the races taking time to talk with each other as against talking past each other, being prepared to listen and empathise with the lens through which the other views the world, and where scepticism of the other exists work together to fix same.  It is fair to say some efforts are being made to have such conversations.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and major rival Bernie Sanders, both white, in addition to condemning the killings, calling for it to stop, have also called on white America to pay attention to what black America is saying. The interjection of these high- profile persons will aid in elevating and amplifying the issue and moving race relations to another level. The society has also called for the police to be held accountable and commitments from officials have been given.

Former Republican President George W. Bush weighing in on the racial tension and polarisation at the memorial that followed the shooting, said, “Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose.”

America’s experiences on race relations are in many instances similar to ours. Even as Guyanese residing in the U.S. are encouraged to take all precautions when encountering  and engaging the police, and as the U.S. is evidently working through this bump in human relations, we too, both in the diaspora and at home, can make these teachable moments.

Guyana is still marred by racial prejudice and discrimination and it requires relentless and persistent efforts and institutional strengthening to eliminate them. Police profiling and brutality are also characteristics of the Guyana Police Force. Though in fairness, it seems as though deliberate efforts are presently being made to curb police excesses. Together we can learn from and build on both experiences for the benefit of countries and the world at large. It was the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr who said injustice anywhere poses a threat to justice everywhere. Thus together we can aspire, must work, and shall achieve.