Armon Wilson, 19, Columbia resident, security guard, hopeful future police officer

After everything that happened in 2020, what needs to happen now is reform.

We were raising awareness and asking that it happen. Now it’s time that it happens. You can say you want racial equity and racial justice, but you actually have to act on it.

I want to see more dialogue between the police and the community. Everyone wants to be heard, but not everyone wants to listen.

As an African American, being part of a community that’s not served as well as it should be, especially by the police, I could make sure that people of color and African Americans are served better, if I were a police officer.

The essays have been edited for clarity and length.

Essays compiled by Christine Condon, Ana Faguy, Mike Klingaman, Jonathan Pitts and John-John Williams IV

Photos by Lloyd Fox, Kenneth K. Lam, Shaun Anthony Williams and Allan Charles