Government, Politics & Issues

Ferguson, one year later: How has your life been affected?

St. Louis Public Radio

Published August 6, 2015 at 8:35 PM CDT

Clockwise from the upper left: Janice Thomas, Katie Banister, Greg Gibson and George Lenard.

Part 5 of 5

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson brought the eyes of the world to St. Louis last August. But it’s the people who live here who were impacted most directly.

Now that a year has almost passed, St. Louis Public Radio is inviting you to share how Brown’s death affected your life, as well as your thoughts about how the events that followed impacted the region as a whole. We’ve asked you a different question every day this week.

Today’s question: Did the death of Michael Brown and the related protests change your beliefs or affect your life?

If so, how so? If not, why not? Do you have a personal story that illustrates how your life is different now?

Here’s what a few people have had to say so far.

One of the things that has changed for me is being aware of the diversity and being aware of where my own prejudices may be emerging. — Janice Thomas, St. Louis

I have a greater desire to provide some free legal services. We’re always kind of being bugged about, you know as a lawyer, how much pro-bono are you doing and frankly I was doing little or none. — George Lenard, University City

George Lenard is a lawyer. — George Lenard is a lawyer who joined protests on the streets of Ferguson.

george_q5.mp3

George Lenard talks about his new motivation to do pro-bono work.

I’m not sure that as much as we would like to have come from it has come from it. I think in Ferguson you can say yeah there was a dynamic there that certainly changed. That community has changed and they’re taking steps to change. Outside of Ferguson, for me, not so much (has changed). — Greg Gibson, Breckenridge Hills

Greg Gibson is director of sales for Tape 4 LLC.

greg_q5.mp3

Greg Gibson explains why not much has changed for him since protests broke out in Ferguson last August.

I was intimidated by the thought: could I write a song on racism? So I call my friend Daryl and I was talking to him about the problems in Ferguson and he told me ‘girl it’s always been’ and I’m like no, it doesn’t have to be … And that’s what I put in my song. — Katie Banister, Affton

Katie Banister is a disability advocate.

katie_q5.mp3

Katie Banister talks about being inspired to write a song about racism.

Do you have thoughts of your own to share? Continue the conversation in the comments section below, or become a source for St. Louis Public Radio through the Public Insight Network, which is how we received the responses above. Tell us: What has changed for you, one year later? You may also see the complete responses from these sources and others.