Ferguson, Missouri, gained national attention in 2014 following the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer. Brown's death resulted in widespread protests and became a flashpoint in the national conversation about police brutality and systemic racism.

The events in Ferguson brought to light the deep racial tensions in the city, where a majority-black population faced disparities in policing, housing, education, and economic opportunities. The Department of Justice later conducted an investigation that found a pattern of racial bias and unconstitutional practices within the Ferguson Police Department.

The aftermath of Michael Brown's death also sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, which brought attention to the experiences of Black Americans and the need for systemic change to address racial inequality and police violence.

Ferguson's history is now closely tied to the struggle for racial justice and the ongoing fight to dismantle systems of oppression that disproportionately affect Black communities.