This Is How You Should Remember Philando Castile

In the aftermath of police shootings, we often see certain individuals do anything they can to dig into the victim's past to find information with which to paint them in a negative light and somehow try to justify their death. This may yet again be the case with Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man who was fatally shot by police Wednesday night. Though Castile had no criminal record, was adored by his family, and was a much-loved cafeteria supervisor at an elementary school, chances are the bowels of the internet will attempt to discredit him with out-of-context photos. But don't be fooled — these photos of Philando Castile make it clear that he was as good and hardworking a man as his friends and family have insisted, and they are how we should remember him.

Castile's tragic death marks the 123rd black American killed by law enforcement in 2016, according to The Washington Post. The shooting, captured in jarring detail in a Facebook video recorded by his girlfriend, left Castile with multiple wounds in his arm. He was allegedly shot after informing police that he had a concealed carry permit for his gun and was reaching for his wallet. Castile's girlfriend says that they were pulled over for a broken taillight — the incident should have ended with a warning, if that, but instead left a man dead.

As the details of the event continue to unfold, mourners will likely see the internet flooded with attempts to defame the deceased. But Castile, a beloved cafeteria supervisor, should be remembered for his heart. In an interview with CNN, Castile's mother talks about how her son was a model citizen. "Everybody that knows my son knows that he is a laidback, quiet individual that works hard every day, pays taxes, and comes home and plays video games ... He’s not a gang banger. He’s not a thug. He’s very respectable. And I know he didn’t antagonize that officer in any way to make him feel like his life was threatened."

Castile's uncle echoed her sentiments, saying that his nephew had worked at the St. Paul's J.J. Hill school cafeteria for nearly 15 years and that he was a "good kid."

These photos clearly display that kindhearted nature.

Castile's mother says that his killing acts as a reminder of the very real and present dangers for people of color, regardless of how they interact with police. It is therefore even more important to lift up the true stories of those who die at the hands of police brutality — so that their names and faces are not forgotten, and that their lives may serve as a rallying cry against the continued injustice people of color face.