I totally agree that I don’t understand the rage that is
being displayed over the last few days in Baltimore! I didn’t get the WHY
behind the police brutality and murder of young Freddie Gray. I just listened
to a post by one of my African American Teens on Facebook of a very articulate
young African American gal that defended the rioting and violence in Baltimore.
Her point, which was very well stated, was that no one understands the hurt and
outrage that is part of this community. She truly believes that peaceful
dialogue and protesting haven’t accomplished anything. Her point is that only
violence gets the attention of the ‘White’ Community.
Last night in a mentor group we talked about the crisis on
our doorstep. We talked about a young teen gal who ran a stop sign and
ultimately lost her life, another local teen collapses at school and dies. Next we talked about the death of Freddie
Gray and the rioting in Baltimore and then lastly the devastation of an
earthquake on the other side of the world where over 4000 have been killed. We
finished our mentor group discussion talking about what it takes to become a
peacemaker where reconciliation can happen.
Is it really the case that those in power aren’t capable of
hearing any type of peaceful dialogue or protest? Does it always come back to
creating a mob scene with more suffering, loss of life and loss of property? Is
this totally about racism being exhibited in the worse way through the
domination of one race over another? I continue to struggle with why
retaliation and getting even seems to be the unwritten code in my under
resourced neighborhood. My hope is to see life transformation happen in the
lives of young Hispanic and African American teens. Is it possible for today’s
youth to choose to step back and seek non-violent means to restore their broken
relationships and see peace potentially be brought to their community?
The challenge, which many have sighted, is the complex
nature of the history behind the suppression of any people group by another. It
is almost impossible to comprehend what it would be like to be racially
profiled if you haven’t ever lived in this context. What steps have to happen to see
reconciliation begin between the police in Baltimore and the local citizens of
this fractured African American community? Another friend of mine honestly said
that it’s too easy for those of us in the upper crust ‘White’ community to put
our focus on the rioting and the burning down of a CVS instead of the death of
Freddie Gray. Sadly most in my peer group will remember the torching of the CVS
and won’t know the name of the young man that lost his life.
Most don’t like to live in the middle of tension, unrest and
a sense of hopelessness. Yet, sometimes the path to peace and restoration in our
community is to have restless nights wondering the WHY question. What is just as key in the ongoing struggle
is considering my role in seeing peace restored? I totally agree that Black
Lives Matter but just as important is to also express that ALL LIVES MATTER!
Yes be outraged at the death of a 25 year old ‘Black man’!
You can build another CVS but you can’t bring Freddie Gray back in this life!
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