By: Paige Griffee

“Close your eyes and imagine you’ve lost a loved one whom you can’t say anything to,” Michael Brown said.

Brown visited Western on Sept. 27 to speak about not only his son’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, but also the injustice so many individuals are feeling in America at this time.

Precious Hemphill, a senior and cinema major at Western, thinks this is such a prominent and essential message.

“Being black, I know this can affect me, and I could be the next one or somebody whom I know could be the next one,” Hemphill said, “This message is extremely important, especially because it keeps on happening.”

Brown started off his speech by describing himself as a hurting father rather than a public speaker. After touring and giving multiple speeches about the loss of his son, he prefers the audience asks him questions instead of him having to relive the events over again.

Brown proceeded to answer questions regarding living in Ferguson, the news and media approach, and how he handles daily discrimination.

Hemphill said she wants everyone to know that black people hurt just like anyone else, even when they put a brave face on and act like everything is alright.

“Really try and understand why we do what we do, instead of having your own opinions. Be open minded to what we go through, and see how you personally can make a change,” Hemphill said.

Hemphill said she wants to have her own family someday, to marry a black man and to have babies with her complexion. She says she shouldn’t feel scared to even have kids or even question having kids because of their safety in America.

Diazhane Ellis is a Junior and is majoring in Spanish education. Ellis expressed what some of her struggles are as a black woman in America.

“I have a 16-year-old brother and I worry about him a lot.” Ellis said. “It’s scary because it could be my father, brother, or my friend.”

After the loss of Brown’s son, he had to intentionally channel the anger and hatred he had in his heart, into change and action through helping his community.

Ellis explained that it is important to understand the reality of all of this and not to sweep it under the rug, but instead spread awareness. Ellis said that shifting hate into action is important right now, just as Brown spoke about in his speech.