The latest events of police brutality and racist murders in a number of U.S. cities are not a recent phenomenon.  They are long-standing episodes, stretching since the times of slavery, and, as now, develop alongside the violence of paramilitary and white supremacist groups.

The racial issue and discrimination against Black people has been a major aspect in shaping the American culture from colonial times until the creation of the current republic, therefore it covers much of the domestic policy.  The historical and present situation of African-Americans is -- in many ways -- central to the country's problems.

Demographic evolution trends suggest that the nation will not be sustainable in the long term unless the inequalities between population sectors of different ethnic backgrounds are corrected

Analyst Tim Wise declared (on Truthout website, March 2, 2012) that, in 25 or 30 years when Black citizens account for half the American population and the majority in several states, it will not be sustainable for the country to maintain itself as it is now, since they might be three times more likely to be in poverty than whites, twice as likely to be unemployed, with less income and profits than the other half, and a life expectancy nine years less than white people.

Behind that reality, repressive conceptions prevail, not only fed by militaristic mentalities or fears of ungovernability, but they are backed up by calculations of profit generation derived from the so-called wars on drugs, mass incarceration in private prisons, outsourcing to private "security" agencies, and institutionalized repression against immigrants.

The coercive force of the state focus on Black and progressive organizations, and this attitude has led to the violation of civil liberties, the criminalization of social movements, increased surveillance against Black, Latino and poor communities, including the deployment of undercover police, as well as intimidation techniques exerted in homes and public spaces.

Muslim communities in the country face an environment of growing intolerance and hostility since 9/11 events nearly 20 years ago.  State and local police forces collect information and closely watch law-abiding Muslim citizens.  They become targets of violence as the latest extension of racism and xenophobia.  

So far, only anger and despair have replaced the strength and momentum of the Civil Rights era.