A Perspective of BLM from an Aspiring FBI Agent
It is said that we are defined by the choices we make and haunted by the decisions we don’t. Life is filled with choices, some good, some bad, but they all matter. But how much do the choices that our society make define the dreams we have?
Ariyon Jennings, an African American student at Mount St. Mary’s University, is currently approaching her final year in school and this question is on her mind more than most.
After Ariyon’s final year she will be walking across the stage with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Three years ago, she was dreaming of being a Homicide Detective for the police force then later joining the FBI to continue her career. However, amongst the chaotic times we currently live in and the intense systematic oppression that’s housed in the institutions that she has dreamt of joining, she has come to a crossroads. Does she choose to follow her dreams and put on the uniform that has chosen to kill and abuse many people that look like her or choose a new path and go against the plan she has had for so long?
During a recent interview with Ariyon, I posed the question, “What path do you choose? The path to wear the badge and accept the stigma and everything that comes with it? Or, do you choose a new career path, a path that helps protect the people that the badge seems to be targeting?”
She responded, “I don’t think there’s a choice to really be made. Black Lives Matter and the organization that I want to be a part of is abusing them.” After a brief silence she continued “But, I don’t think that means that you have to only be on the police side or the black lives side. The world isn’t black and white or in this case Black and Blue. Maybe me being a cop will allow me more opportunities to fix the problem.”
Ariyon made a great point. Sometimes you don’t have to choose just one path. Sometimes you have to walk in between those two paths and find a way for them to connect. The marches, protests, riots, murals, speeches, and meetings in the last couple of months have asked for one thing. Change. However, change only can happen from within and all we can do from the outside is ask for it.
The steps toward change is not easy and we as a country have a long road ahead but with every day we get a little closer to an outcome that will unite us. Change will come and Ariyon Jennings may be the person to initiate that long overdue change.
Achieving high accolades at her school and many recommendations from professors, coaches, and administrators it is easy to see that this young woman has a drive that few can match. A drive that is very much needed if we are to build a bridge that unites the people of this country and the forces meant to protect them. Ariyon provides hope, hope that within all turmoil there is still a generation that strives to find a path that we can all walk on, side by side.
