By Staff Blogger

Twitter has become a powerful tool for entertainers, celebrities and just about anyone who has an account to share their political and personal views about current events and topics.

Recently, a grand jury decided not to bring charges against New York City police officers who were accused of shooting an unarmed, teenage, boy. Eighteen-year-old Ramarley Graham was shot and killed by police officers in the bathroom of an apartment that he shared with his grandmother. The police suspected that the young man was involved in illegal drug activity so they decided to investigate While on the premises, an officer, 31-year-old Richard Haste, claimed that Graham had a gun and he killed the young man. Shortly thereafter, it was determined that the young man was unarmed.

With clear evidence that he was unarmed, many believed that charges would be filed. However, the grand jury decided not to charge Haste.

The ruling angered many and once again it, like the Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant cases before it, called into question how American society, and those in positions of authority, view and disvalue the lives of Black children, especially boys.

Actor and activist, Samuel L. Jackson wasted no time in using his Twitter account to express his opinion about what this newest ruling means for Black boys.

“Young brothers Beware!!” he tweeted. “It’s Open Season!”

Simple, yet powerful, Jackson is evoking the metaphor that it is hunting season for Black boys.

Many of his followers re-tweeted his message. Jackson, who has often used his celebrity to champion the causes of Black Americans, is not one to shy away from controversy. Many would probably agree that the Martin, Grant and Graham cases send a poor message to young Black boys.

Thankfully, social media allows people to express themselves in ways that make others more aware that the struggle is on-going and more pressing than ever before.