A Day in the Life of Dorian Johnson - Walking While Black in Ferguson

I just finished reading Dorian Johnson's testimony to the Grand Jury concerning the Ferguson Police Shooting, and found myself moved by his account of the day. Dorian comes across as a decent young man, trying to do the right thing, raising his daughter with his girlfriend, and being something of a mentor to a younger Michael Brown:

Q ...you were basically being kind of a mentor to Mike; is that correct?

A ...That's correct. It wasn't just like that with Big Mike, it was other kids his age that would see me and they see how I look and they see me walking up and down the street.

I have a dog, so me and my dog, I walk my dog a lot. I just live a peaceful lifestyle and they see me with my tattoos and my dreadlocks asking questions every day. They see me how did you, what happened, how did you get your job or anything like that.

So...it wasn't random that a person his age would come to me asking me how and the ways to get to work, to be the life to where you be comfortable a little.

Dorian sounds like the kind of person I'd appreciate as a neighbor, someone who takes the time to watch out for the people around him, someone who's trying to live right. After reading his testimony, I believe that Dorian Johnson is the kind of person who is willing to speak truth to power, even if that puts him and his family at risk. I have a lot of respect for that.