Required Reading

Monday, March 26, 2012

His name is my name, too.


John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
His name is my name, too.
(You better believe it!)
Whenever we go out
the people always shout,
'There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt!'

Trayvon Martin, family vacation photo
This is Trayvon Martin.


His name is their name, too.

Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton.

Because her son was our son, too.

Mamie Till, picture with her slain son Emmitt.

And so was her son. (You better believe it.)



Just like Sybrina and Mamie, I love my children. And no matter who you are or what color you are, my guess is that you love yours, too. These mothers both lost their sons to senseless acts of violence triggered by racism followed by the authorities turning a blind eye. It's hard to decide which is more hurtful. The sad truth is that there are many, many Trayvons--and Trayvinas--all over the world.

And no, Mr. Rivera, it wasn't the hoodie that killed Trayvon. Just like it wasn't whistling that killed an innocent middle schooler named Emmitt Till over fifty years ago.  Uhhh, no.

You got that, Geraldo?

***

This evening in Atlanta, Georgia. . . .



. . .just a few blocks away from Grady Hospital at the State Capitol . . .


. . .people of all ages came together to rally for justice.


Black, white, old, and young. . . . 


. . .together and peaceful. . . .




. . .and all asking the same questions, "Where is the justice?" and "When will this end?"


. . .or worse--asking this question:  "Am I next?"





These kids were in middle and high school.


The energy was somber yet uplifting. . . . 


. . .solidarity under magnolia trees. . . .



. . .mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, families and just people there demanding justice. . .


. . . and hoping for ways to keep their sons safe.


We proved that wearing hoodies shouldn't be punishable by death.


But killing innocent people should be punishable by something.


We were there. Together.

Me and wise Jada, my fellow mom, med school classmate, and gross anatomy lab partner extraordinaire 
Students from Georgia Tech 
Jada and I even ran into some of our "little" Delta sorority sisters from Georgia Tech, too.

This man told me, "I am so sad about this." And I said, "It's okay for us to share the sad." 
We told Noah that he'd appreciate being here more when he was much older.  
He said, "I appreciate it now."




Damn. If only your name had been John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
Maybe then we could have protected you. Or at least got you some justice.


Then again, maybe not.

***

7 comments:

  1. Lovely and moving post with the great photos.

    This tragedy really got to me in such a profound way. To think that this could happen in 2012 and yet I am not naive. I know that young black males live their lives in fear EVERY SINGLE DAY because of racism. This could be any kid in any town in America.

    Think about it. If a black "neighborhood watch" guy felt "threatened" by a white teen in a hoodie holding skittles and a soda, and was found standing over his dead body with a gun...he would be facing the death penalty for murder one right now.

    There is no other way to look at this. Horrible.

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  2. "I understand it already."
    Broke my heart.

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  3. It's heart-breaking to read about the callous manner in which the authorities dealt with Trayvon Martin's death - but so inspiring to see how his death has been converted into a movement by those who want to change the world for the better.

    As the Dalai Lama says "I find hope in the darkest of days and focus on the brightest". My thoughts and prayers are with the Martin family and their loved ones.

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  4. I'm glad you made it out there yesterday :) Xoxo

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  5. You know, what disturbed me the MOST and make me break my vow to not curse this morning was when I turned on the news and there was a tickler running on GMA. It said something about Martin had some women's jewelry in a backpack, and referenced him being suspended from school before.

    So NOW you're going to allow his killer to remain free, AND try to paint this child as the person that Zimmerman thought he was so they can justify this young man being murdered.

    Jesus, be a fence around our children. Please, Lord.

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  6. Beautiful and heartbreaking post. FWIW, we're rallying and petitioning and dialoguing here too.

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  7. I have such great sadness over this killing...as a mother, a an American, as a human. Tragedy!

    Barbara from TX

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