Black and white in black and white

At this crucial stage of race relations in America, we have to look at the situation thoughtfully.

It's easy, with the media and social media feeding us the news, to see the relations between blacks and white in purely black and white. The black shooting victim is heroic, the white cop is racist. All blacks are innocent victims and all cops are racist.

Media coverage happens quickly driven not by solid and cautious coverage but by sensational and lurid responses. We're riled up, and informed and moderate coverage only comes later with much less time and attention.

Black cop, white male interactions, black on black crime, unfairness in judicial responses, get little response. Follow up responses from informed players are given little attention. All important perspective and analysis is lacking.

But black and white thinking is divisive and is a simplistic response to a complex problem. Black and white means choosing sides at a time when we must be breaching divides and seeking workable and healing solutions.