Here it is again, in our faces; yet another time in which we see how the lack of consequences
for those who work with/for the law enables them to believe they are above it.
Dear Friends, Family, Nation Builders, Legacy Mavericks, et al –
Though we have been on hiatus, justice never sleeps. The Spring Valley, SC school beating is yet another deplorable malpractice by law enforcement against an unarmed young person of color.
Before you get offended, please take a moment to look deeply at your beliefs. We as Americans have been sold a bill of goods. It’s like the idea of diamonds for engagement rings or BMWs that never depreciate in value. There is a social conditioning surrounding what we believe about people of color – whether we fall into this category or not.
You may not know this, but Project Legacy exists for the sole purpose of strengthening our nation. Our chosen vessel of healing just happens to be the family. We are founded on the principle that a nation is only as strong as the state of its families, just as families are only as strong at their weakest individuals.
It would seem we have our work cut out for us. It would seem, in light of all these media storms surrounding police brutality – in this case aimed at people of color – that our nation is weak, our families are weak, our individuals are weak.
Strength is the ability to love despite the circumstances. Strength is the capacity for compassion. Strength is the ability to treat people as individuals despite some categorization. Strength is not letting your personal biases affect your public service. Strength is taking the time to learn and grow rather than settling. Strength is taking the time to consider how things could be better for everyone, and work towards that, rather than suggest things are fine because they work for you.
America… we are not strong.
Here we are yet again; another indication that we as a country have yet to truly see the value in ALL human life; regardless of race, sex, or class. We turn on the television, surf the Internet, or scroll social media on our small, handheld screens and there it is in our faces: inconsequence for those who work with/for the law enabling them, yet again, to believe they are above it or ARE it. (All of it, judge, jury and EXECUTIONER).
America, we are weak.
We are seeding strange fruit. We are spreading spurs that are rife with old ideologies that have, in times past, shown us the worst of ourselves.
Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Rekia Boyd, Aiyana Jones, Niya Kinney, and the other young woman in the Spring Valley video who was brutally assaulted. These injustices are evidence that we are failing, because “Injustice for one of us is an injustice for all of us. Injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.” What that really means is: Don’t think you are safe. Tomorrow someone you thought was on your side, someone who smiled at you just yesterday, may decide it’s your turn.
The Declaration of Independence states “all men are created equal”. The Constitution outlines the rights of men as it pertains to their independence. True, at the time of its penning none of the aforementioned would likely be deemed “men”, but hasn’t that been addressed legally? Isn’t it time for us to catch up socially? We don’t have another 100 years to wait for folks. So, I ask you again, how long?
How long must we wait for things to change? How long must we wait before we change?
Please do not let the surge of coverage in the media surrounding these events to desensitize you to their horrific nature. These are husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. These are someone’s loved ones, someone’s friends. Some of them are children hardly old enough to have experienced life.
They say when we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it. I fear if this continues, we will indeed see the seeds of these strange fruits actually bud again.
With grace, love, peace and a whole lot of heartache,
Me