Activists Antoine White (T-Dubb-O) and Rika Tyler
Two of the young activists who have organized and held protests in the Ferguson and St. Louis areas protesting the death of Michael Brown and other injustices and atrocities against young African-Americans appeared on Afternoons with Amos to talk about the situation in Ferguson, the mood of young people and young activists and much more. Antoine White a young activist and rapper who goes by the name T-Dubb-O and Rikah Tyler were in Indianapolis to speak at a couple of rallies organized by IndyCan the faith based activist group that’s been leading grassroots efforts to organize around quality of life issues in Indianapolis and Marion County. Both Tyler and White talked frankly about the protests and passionately about incidents of police officers using deadly force against unarmed and non-threatening African-Americans. They described the area and the problems of racism in and bigotry in the St. Louis area. Both said that not only were there instances of aggressive violent behavior by white police; but also by Black police. They described how social media sites Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine are used by White, Tyler and other activists to organize and mobilize protests. White (T-Dubb-O) was one of a number of Ferguson activists who visited the White House in December to speak directly with President Barack Obama about the protests. T-Dubb-O told Afternoons with Amos listeners that the President’s responses were “political” and that the President could have said more and done more to deal with the root of the problems. Both White and Tyler said that poverty, lack of employment and lack of hope was part of the problem. They added that its not just police but a lack of opportunity for people their age and younger. Both activists got into spirited, passionate and at times contentious (not from them) discussions with listeners and the community. But if anyone doubts that today’s African-American young people have lost the spirit of activism and protest shown some five and six decades ago during the civil rights era of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, then they need to listen to these two 21st Century Civil Rights Activists. Click the Media Player to Hear the Afternoons with Amos Interview with Ferguson Protest Leaders & Activists Antoine White (T-Dubb-O) and Rika Tyler. Runs 53 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One.
