Documentary is a waste of film

“Video Raises New Questions In Ferguson Case.”

With headlines from coast to coast, it has begun. Again. Violence is flaring, and racial tensions are threatening to blow up the powder keg of Ferguson, Mo. Why? Because a new documentary, “Stranger Fruit” – which chronicles the events leading up to the shooting death of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson, from the perspective of Brown’s parents – was released. But the only “new” aspect is previously unseen video from the convenience store that Brown frequented. The documentary, along with Brown’s parents, allege that, rather than stealing cigarillos, as police stated, Brown was merely making a drug transaction with store clerks. Seriously? Is this an early April Fools’ joke?

Because if not, we are left to assume that this film’s “groundbreaking” discovery somehow exonerates Brown and elevates his character. Why not? Hell, while we’re at it, let’s posthumously bestow sainthood on Brown for being a druggie instead of a thief.

It’s obvious that filmmaker Jason Pollack is a wannabe, because not even Hollywood would stoop so low.

If you want to know what “fake news” really is, look no further, because “Stranger Fruit” is as strange, and fake, as it comes.

Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing by a county grand jury, and his shooting was ruled to be justified. That, of course, wasn’t good enough for the conspiracyminded, who thought exonerating Wilson was just another act of collusion between white prosecutors and white policemen in their ongoing racial war against black men.

Clearly, dialogue between police and the African-American community should continue, because ideas need to be discussed, and reforms implemented, that can improve relations. But regarding Ferguson, the Justice Department’s decision should have ended the vitriolic accusations that racism caused Brown’s death. Case closed. Or at least it should have been.

The documentary’s “new” video was old news to police and prosecutors, who correctly deemed it irrelevant. And that’s the whole point: Pollock’s documentary is needlessly inciting violence by resurrecting misguided notions. Here are facts:

• Michael Brown was breaking the law by walking in the middle of the street.

• Wilson told Brown to move to the sidewalk. Brown refused.

• The 6-foot-4 inch, 300-pound Brown mouthed off to Wilson.

• Brown slammed the police car door on Wilson as the officer tried to exit, reached in the window, and grabbed Wilson’s gun. Two shots were fired.

• Wilson extricated himself from the vehicle, eventually shooting a noncompliant and combative Brown.

That’s it. No race involved. No inappropriate police conduct. No smoking gun – except that which Brown literally brought upon himself.

Tragic? Absolutely. It’s always a tragedy when a person dies, especially someone as young as Brown. Heartbreaking for parents? Of course. No parents want their child, right or wrong, to die. But sad as the events were, Michael Brown was old enough to make his own decisions, and was accountable for his actions. So to Pollock and the protesters: The questions stands as to how race was involved at all.

Some can try to rewrite history to fit their misguided narrative, but the unchallengeable truth is that Michael Brown assassinated his character all by himself. He chose to either steal, or involve himself with drugs. He chose to assault a clerk. He chose to jaywalk. He chose to ignore a police officer’s directive. He chose to smoke marijuana (the autopsy discovered pot in his system). He chose to physically engage a policeman; he made the decision to grab his gun; and he continued the altercation. Therefore, Michael Brown chose his own fate. What part of this do people still not understand? What are they still protesting? And what do they hope to accomplish?

A wise man once said: “There’s what people want to hear, there’s what people want to believe, there’s everything else – and then there’s the truth.”

The black and white truth is that, unless we strive for a colorblind society, America will burn. And since Ferguson is smoldering again, we have a very long way to go.