The African-American village needs to do a better job in preparing our children for life in America, especially our males. The village isn’t teaching them that their skin color alone has consequences. As in the case of young Trayvon Martin, those consequences can be deadly.
Our history has given us ugly examples of this reality, such as the 1944 unconscionable execution of 14-year-old George Stinney Jr. in South Carolina and the heinous lynching of Emmitt Till Jr. a decade later in Mississippi. The psychological, spiritual and physical carnage continues.
The Trayvon Martin case galvanized the righteous indignation of millions across this nation. I marveled at the creativity and ingenuity of slogans, posters and tactics. But unless we make some strategic moves, we can chalk up all that’s been done by us as a stimulus package for the country’s economy (sales of hoodies, Skittles, tea, etc.) and a mere media opportunity for the ever-ready political hustlers.
The current momentum must go beyond the symbolism and anger. Justice is the destination; outrage is only the fuel to get us there. We must get justice for the Martin family and some key reforms if we intend to slow down the cycle of black victimization.
Justice-seeking citizens must not stop at the arrest and charging of George Zimmerman, volunteer block watcher turned vigilante. Our communities have been here before only to see the alleged killer of an un-armed black man/child acquitted and his deed justified. The fight for justice must continue until Zimmerman is duly punished.
This nation must look at the bigger picture. Stand Your Ground and other similar laws are on the books in about half of the states including Missouri. These laws, along with the death penalty, are vestiges of legalized lynching from a bygone era. These laws must go and be exposed as another tool for white men who feel threatened by black or brown males because so far, that’s who’s been at the other end of the barrel.
It is important to separate upholding the 2nd Amendment and the right to self defense from the justification of killing people of color and poor people by white citizens.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) camped in our town recently, reminding us of their strength and political connections. The NRA is behind the passage of most of the Stand Your Ground-type laws as well as unyielding resistance to gun control laws. They are not invincible. We also have numbers and political connections but we must get organized – super organized – if we plan to be serious contenders in this arena.
We must also put heat on the Justice Department for a full and thorough investigation. If there is going to be justice beyond the Martin case, the Justice Department should be part of our multi-faceted strategy.
We talk a good talk in the abstract. The analytical conversations in cyberspace must be brought to the streets and homes of those families and communities most affected by poverty, marginalization and violence. The conversations with black and brown youth must take place on a deeper, more relevant and more regular basis.
Music and culture critic Toure gave us some guidance in his article entitled “How to Talk to Young Black Boys about Trayvon Martin.” Toure’s piece has value beyond the Martin tragedy. Tony Thompson recently brought Toure into St. Louis to speak to the Gentlemen’s Club at Carnahan High School for the Future. Thompson is the founder of the Gentlemen’s Club and CEO of Kwame Building Group.
Toure also talked privately with a group of black professionals. I’m hopeful that Toure’s inspirational words moved the group to pursue some positive and demonstrable acts on behalf of our children. If we believe the violence against black boys is a national disgrace and an epidemic, all of us have a role to play so that we can speak with confidence when we say in a unified voice, “No more Trayvons!”
Our communities should be crystal clear on the historic and lethal patterns of racial profiling and violence by the criminal justice system and in society generally. We must be equally clear that it will take unwavering commitment and a strategic resolution to this systemic problem.
