Today marks one month and the killer of 17-year-old unarmed Trayvon Martin still has not been arrested. His killer, George Zimmerman, admitted to shooting Martin, but his cry of self-defense seems to have more weight than the death of an innocent boy who seemed like he “was up to no good.” Today folks are gathering across the nation in solidarity to demand justice for the death of a boy whose crime appears to be walking while black in a hoodie. One writer wants to know why hasn’t the public been as outraged over the deaths of other young black people before Martin. To him I say my outrage over Trayvon’s death is more demonstrative because of the utter disbelief that this case has a host of witnesses and an admitted killer who is still roaming free; my demand is that law enforcement agents do what is basic. There’s no need to search for the killer or the weapon. The police know where he lives and what gun he owns. With a case so cut and dry, I cannot understand the wavering except to say the delay seems to be a statement of the devaluation of Martin’s life, of black life, and that needs to change for all. Martin’s case has made people stand to say enough is enough and we won’t take it anymore. All of us, including Christians, have to demand justice and do so in whatever way the Lord leads us. I thank God that His word is chock full of scriptures that require us to fight for those who’ve been done wrong. We have our blueprint. Let us implement the plans. Read my latest EEW article that begins below that gives us ways to fight and to teach our children to fight injustice.
The sweet-faced boy popped up on my computer screen, well at least his picture, the only vision I have of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old shot in cold blood by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman in Florida last month. My son was there, sitting by my side, wanting to know who this boy was and why he was on the computer. How do you explain to a 9-year-old that a boy that looks like him, plays like him, is carefree like him, was just walking down the street with some candy and iced tea, got killed just for being him? How do you explain to your boy that a likely fate for him could be the same as that for Trayvon while we live in this crazy mixed up world? How do you tell your black son that to some being a black boy is a threat that many want to get rid of?
I told him straight, no chaser because nothing can chase the lack of respect for other humans, for black boys in particular, out of this situation and he needed to know that. Joshua needed to know that some people think being a black boy is a crime and law enforcement agents seem to do what they can to put away those who commit that crime. While sharing these harsh realities of living while black, I reminded him that he was beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made black boy, and that God committed no crimes with His creation. The great crime in George Zimmerman killing Trayvon Martin is the lack of respect for authority that has been revealed. While we teach our children about injustices and how to seek justice, I believe they need to understand God’s purpose for authority and how the Bible teaches us to engage those in authority, including when they are wrong. When we violate God’s law of authority, as George Zimmerman did, situations go horribly wrong, even criminal, like with Trayvon Martin. Read the rest here.
My One Thousand Gifts List
#501-510
A leisure day of rest
Charyse bringing me birthday gifts of a card, nail polishes, earrings and hair grooming
Being able to visit a friend to show our love and support as he grieves the death of his mom
Flynn snuggling with me and saying how he’s still smitten after 14 years
Watching episode three of Wives and Daughters
Making it to see another birthday
A gift of an iPad cover and keyboard from Flynn
Thoughtful birthday cards
A revelation about feeding my spirit when I literally want to feed my flesh (eat)
An overwhelming amount of birthday wishes and gifts (including nail polishes I like but would never have ventured to buy for myself)
