is a Facebook post by James Forman, Jr.
His "pops" was James Forman, Sr., a major figure in the Black struggles for equality and justice, having been in both SNCC and the Black Panthers.
He himself now teaches at Yale Law School.
I got to know him slightly when he and David Domenici co-founded the Maya Angelou school for kids in the criminal justice system in Washington DC, and when I did some SAT prep for the brother of his then girlfriend, which is how we are Facebook "Friends" today, and thus I saw this piece, which I do not think he would mind my sharing:
Six Reasons Why Charleston Hurts So Much
1. The killer, racism in his heart, knocks on the door of our most sacred sanctuary, and we don't ask questions. We welcome the man into our embrace. This is what we do. This is who we are. And this is what it gets us.
2. These are not the days of my pops. This killer was born in the 1990s. And yet, he has these beliefs.
3. Charleston opens a window into all the ways in which America celebrates its history of white supremacy (starting with the Confederate flag). And yet America tries so hard to disclaim any link between that history and modern day racism.
4. Nothing about guns will change. I live in CT and when I saw dozens of white schoolchildren slaughtered in a privileged community in one of America's wealthiest states, I really did think some gun control measures would pass. Now that 9 black people are dead I know nothing will change. And the fact that I know that is devastating.
5. Charleston reminds us that it doesn't matter how good you are. Everybody from Bill O'Reilly to our President hectors black people to be better. I've done it myself. If only we could be perfect, be the twice-as-good black, maybe then we wouldn't catch such hell. Even those of us who know this isn't true hold onto the belief just a tiny bit. Survival requires it. Otherwise we would have to face the reality that the true sin in the eyes of some is our blackness itself--the very thing that cannot be overcome. But these 9 who died were the best of us. Their death lays bare the lie that we can ever be good enough not to be reviled for who we are.
6. When the time comes, many black Americans will eventually extend mercy, and the hurt comes from knowing a black defendant would never receive the same. One expression of this mercy will be opposition to the death penalty. Many of us will oppose it knowing full well that if the racial roles were reversed the jury might as well be convened today with the execution set for tomorrow.
Signing off media and FB for awhile. Gotta nurse my wounds and try to get some of my own writing done. Love to all, and the struggle continues . . . .