Ginger Rutland: Want to honor Trayvon? Help a kid succeed - The Sacramento Bee
I am not particularly interested in another national conversation about race, despite the not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case and all the outrage it has spawned. We've been there too many times. We know the drill.
To read more visit:http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/23/5587242/want-to-honor-trayvon-help-a-kid.html#storylink=cpy
Why We March: Another View
In response to the Ginger Rutland’s
article regarding the national call for “Justice For Trayvon Martin” vigil a
few concerned community members did submit the following Op-Ed to the Bee.
While the Sacramento Bee chose not to publish our Op-Ed letter we submitted
July 29, 2013. Here’s our Op-Ed letter:
Why We March: Another View
On Saturday, July 20, 2013, hundreds of
people met at the Robert Matsui Federal Court
House in downtown Sacramento to protest the Zimmerman verdict. The
participants reflected the diversity of the region; they were ethnically and
culturally varied, young and old, and passionate about the issue bringing them
together. They were also determined to keep the protest peaceful, and they
succeeded.
Yet Ginger Rutland’s article of Tuesday,
July 23, 2013, called for the public to stop protesting the Zimmerman verdict
and channel that energy into mentoring a child. Yes, we should indeed continue mentoring and supporting our
young people, and yes, we should acknowledge the myriad number of grassroots
organizations and individuals in our region dedicated to working with youth.
But end protests? Not yet.
Her thesis asserts that agitation and
protest have no place in addressing Trayvon’s killing and Zimmerman’s
acquittal. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Constitution gives the
public the right to assemble and speak freely.
The stand your ground law invites such a response. People alarmed about that law and the way it
is implemented, especially in Florida, are correct in using
their constitutional right to protest, and correct for including young people
in the protests and in conversations about race.
Rutland accurately recognizes the value
of mentoring to keep black youth on a straight path. But she gives the
impression that the mentoring of young people doesn’t happen in the black
community. That also, couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the black community in Sacramento
has a long history of organizing to support young people dating back to the
1850’s.
The public deserves to know about the many
community-based, grassroots organizations in our region in the present day that
have worked with youth for years and some, for decades, and most often, with
limited funds. A few examples are the Roberts Family Development Center; The National Council of Negro Women, Sacramento
Section; the Women’s Civic Improvement
Center; 100 Black Men; 100 Black Women; the Alpha
Academy, and many, many more.
The public also deserves to know of the grassroots,
neighborhood efforts to combat so-called black on black crime committed by
youth. In Sacramento, there is the Mike B. Foundation, which partners with the
national Urban Peace Movement and sponsors the annual Silence the Violence
Rally. There is Our World Cultural
Center, the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Center, and the coalition of
faith organizations throughout Sacramento County that engages with youth to
curb gang violence. These organizations
work with at-risk, disadvantaged young people. Moreover, all of the
organizations mentioned and many that were not, provide mentoring, tutoring,
after school activities, educational field trips, scholarships, and counseling
for the youth and their parents/caretakers.
Undoubtedly, these groups took special care when
Trayvon was killed and when the Zimmerman verdict was rendered to check in with
their youth, allowing them positive avenues to express their anxiety, fear, and
rage, generated by this tragedy. Instead of feeling powerless because of the
protests, these youth are more likely to feel abandoned if there were no public
outcry. They naturally identify with
Trayvon.
Fortunately, the conversation about race has started
again, and in the highest places. It is a good sign that President Obama and
the Congressional Black Caucus have weighed in. This time, the conversation
should continue, no matter how uncomfortable and tired of the issue some people
may feel.
Finally, here in Sacramento we organized and
implemented the demonstration on Saturday, July 20, 2013, because we feel the
pain of the Martin family. We feel the pain of young people who see themselves
as vulnerable because of what happened to Trayvon. We are inextricably
connected to Trayvon Martin; he is our son, brother, cousin, our nephew,
friend, and our future.
Faye
Wilson Kennedy, Editor, The Talking Drums Newsletter and Co-Organizer of
Sacramento’s “Justice For Trayvon Martin”
Kakwasi
Somadhi, Founder, Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley
James Prigoff, Community
Member
Derrell Roberts,
Co-Founder Roberts Family Development Center and 30 year resident of Sacramento
Dr. David Covin,
Founder, The Black Group
Lisa Wuriu, Community
Member
Fredi A. Slaughter-
Walker, Community Member
Donna Lynem, Community
Member
Safiya Pinkston,
Community Member
Catherine Pinkston,
Community Member
Betty Williams,
Sacramento ACLU
Dr.
Otis Scott, Sacramento Area Black Caucus
Dr. Joy Johnson, Pastor, Higher Hope Christian Church
Dr. Boatamo Mosupyoe, Chair, Ethnic Studies, CSUS
Shirley Rhodes, the Mike B. Foundation, Inc.
Kiara Sherri Harris, the Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley, Inc.
Thank you!!!
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/23/5587242/want-to-honor-trayvon-help-a-kid.html#storylink=cpy
