Something Good Coming Out Of Ferguson

While violence rages on in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, social media is ablaze. Being from St. Louis myself, I've been glued to the news and social media since that fateful day in August. Last night on Facebook, I saw an amazing exchange between friends of mine from back home.

It all started when my friend Sarah shared a link to an article in which Pharrell Williams shared his thoughts on the events unfolding in Ferguson.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP / Getty Images / Via theroot.com

If you'd like to read the article, here it is

Then Keith and Terrence started commenting and exchanging thoughts on Pharrell's point of view, as well as their own thoughts on the matter.

me / Via my facebook feed

The conversation continues...

me / Via my facebook feed

I'd like to point out at this point that Terrence is black and Keith and Sarah are white. We all attended Kirkwood High School together and graduated in 2001. That's right, we were the first class to graduate in the 21st century (no matter what the class of '00 thinks...)

This kind of exchange seems... refreshing?

me / Via my facebook feed

So many exchanges that I see going viral nowadays have to do with insulting each other, showing how stupid people are, or being straight up hateful to each other. Even though Terrence and Keith don't 100% agree with each other on ALL the facts, they do agree that there is a broken system that needs fixing and they do so while being respectful of one another.

So much agreement...

me / Via my facebook feed

The LOVE!!!

me / Via my facebook feed

Anyone else out there with Sarah and her wish for people like this to rule the world? People who are capable of reasoning with one another. People who have conversations instead of arguments. People who listen, instead of shouting.

Then a lovely lady named Leslie, who was impressed as I was by this exchange, reached out to Terrence in an effort to create more WORK OPPORTUNITIES in St. Louis.

me / Via my facebook feed

I then commented on my LOVE of my fellow Kirkwood High School graduates and mentioned our former principal Franklin McCallie. Mr. McCallie was an amazing educator who has been active in the civil rights movement and fought for desegregation in Tennessee in the 60's. He was an amazing man who should have movies made about him. Here is a link to an article about our amazing principal.