In almost every highly publicized case of police using deadly force and killing unarmed individuals, the person killed was an African American male. These incidents have caused dramatic erosion in public confidence in the justice system and America's promise of equal treatment under the law. Minority communities lack confidence in our judicial system. First, we must recognize our own biases. We all have them. No one is exempt. The biggest challenge, however, is to figure out what we do once we recognize them. For those working in the justice system, from police to prosecutors and judges, and yes, even public defenders, the consequences have broad, far-reaching, and sometimes even fatal consequences.

Ferguson's Fault Lines will also examine other important topics of debate such as:

• The framing of the issues by the media in black versus white
• The policing of black and poor communities by law enforcement officers
• Poverty
• Looting
• Rioting
• The color and face of crime as portrayed in the media
• The identity of the black male narrative
• The relevance of black life and whether and how it matters