Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Trayvon beginning

Nat Turner's revolt was not the first.

Rosa Parks' refusal was not the first.

Trayvon Martin's death was not the first.

Or last.

Yet each of these represent pivotal, iconic moments in the history of Blacks in this America. They caused a swelling of outrage, emotion and awareness in communities and throughout this country. And the repeated actions of others replaying these situations throughout the years has led to incremental change.

For those who ask "Why all the outrage over Trayvon when this kind of thing happens every day?," this, for me, is why: Because Trayvon Martin's death has become iconic -- symbolic of what is wrong on so many levels in this America.

It doesn't mean that those who black out their profiles, tweet or post their hurt over the verdict don't care about every other Black child killed or child of any color abused or the many, many other horrific events taking place in our communities.

Many of the people chastised for speaking out in support of justice for Trayvon are in the trenches of their communities every day fighting for causes that affect every level of our society. And they do this without recognition, applause, media attention and even thanks. They don't post their good works
in their statuses. They don't tweet about how many kids they educated today, how many homeless people they clothed, how many resumes they helped jobless people write. They just do it.

I am waiting to see what divine order has in store for Trayvon's death and the international outpouring it has created. I will continue to support the call for justice knowing that for every Facebook post that hashtags #Trayvon, there are a thousand other people working diligently, unseen and unposted on similar cases and causes, all for the greater good.

This can be another beginning in our community. Of what, is up to us.

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