First off, since we usually all get upset when places are misidentified within the city, I feel like this article—or at least the headline—needs some clarity.
This took place in St. Charles County, but not St. Charles. It appears to me that the boundaries put it in Lake Saint Louis, though the text of the article notes it as unincorporated St. Charles County. So perhaps it's not technically LSL, but it's there about. I grew up in Lake Saint Louis, so I'm not thrilled to point that out, but I like accurate information, especially as it concerns place.
To the story itself, I'll agree that Hunter-Butler doesn't sound entirely innocent here, but as I think is frequently the issue with this stuff, race is making people react differently. Those of us who grew up and live/d comfortably in a mostly-white environment react differently in black environments or when black people engage in that white environment.
I think it's the same basic thing that happens with the officer involved shootings honestly. It's not about overt racism. It's not hating black people. It's about being uncomfortable around them and being on edge as a result. So when a cop thinks or does see a black man with a gun, he automatically believes his life is in danger and is more likely to fire preemptively. More slack is given to a white man with a gun. It's not overt racism or favoritism. It's warped sensibilities based on environmental factors.
And I think that's what is in play here too. Hunter-Butler doesn't sound like a very good neighbor. But her neighbors are pre-judging everything. Cutting her and her sons very little slack. Calling the police when they shouldn't be. Reporting black people in the neighborhood as "not belonging" and suspicious.
These situations that are being exposed rarely have a clear good guy and a clear bad guy. We have to look deeper than assigning blame and understand the underlying dynamic. Hopefully exposure helps us fix it.
The only problem is that some are so defensive that they never get to the point of evaluating and understanding that dynamic. Hunter-Butler has a rap sheet, therefore she probably is a nuisance, therefore case closed. And it never gets to the honest discussion we need to have. Same thing with the police shootings. Kid had a gun. Drugs were in the house. Shooting warranted. Protest unnecessary. End of story. And no room to evaluate what else led to that.
I try frequently to get people to evaluate ALL sides of these situations, but people are so defensive that I get a lot of push back even from really good people.
(Amazing what one little jumping off point can lead too, huh

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