Barry writes: "The latest fault line of America’s racial divide is Ferguson, Mo., where the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer set off sometimes violent summer protests that reignited last month when a grand jury did not indict the officer. But many cities have had their Ferguson moment, have had a Michael Brown killed by the police under contested circumstances, leading to grief, rage, protests, calls for a national conversation — and then what?"
Protest in Louisville in 2000. (photo: NYT/David Lutman)
Police Killed Her Son; Afterward, Louisville Evolved
21 December 14
ell before dawn on these December days, a black woman in a food-service uniform leaves the small house she shares with her sister in the west end of this city. The Christmas wreath on the door she closes behind her hangs on the inside, to keep it from being stolen.
This is Shari Rudolph, 53, Louisville born and raised. She catches the 5:13 bus to South 18th Street and West Broadway, near a pawnshop and within sight of the gigantic Old Forester bourbon bottle looming over a distillery. Then another bus takes her to another long day of selling food at gun shows, cheerleading competitions and R.V. conventions.
But whenever a police officer working security gets in line, Ms. Rudolph busies herself so that another colleague provides service. Fifteen years ago, two police officers shot and killed her troubled son, who was 18 and unarmed, and she cannot take the order.
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