(ThyBlackMan.com) At the very moment that hundreds-of-thousands of youth around the globe are busy protesting antiquated and unreasonable gun laws, rules, and regulations, the family of twenty-two-year-old Stephon Clark is grieving his death. Clark was inexplicably killed in his grandmother’s backyard by officers reporting to a call about a man breaking windows in the area. I pray that we have not become so desensitized to the suffering of black males that we fail to recognize this tragic and inexcusable occurrence.
The timing of Clark’s demise raises a most-unfortunate reality that it is possible for this nation to protest gun issues without mentioning the continuing gun violence occurring within this nation’s urban centers.
Historically, whites have created spaces to discuss issues that they have laid claim to without including other voices who are on the frontlines of the issue. In regards to the issue of gun violence in this nation, if they are not careful with allowing other voices to be heard, young whites will make the same mistakes of their activist predecessors in muting the lamentations of black children who deal with urban gun violence on a daily basis in favor of sporadic school shootings.
The alluded to concerns regarding representation of black voices and the presentation of daily gun violence in urban areas guided my viewing of the voluminous coverage the March for Our Lives received in the media yesterday. As always, I restrained myself from a natural tendency to conflate the sins of these students parents onto their present movement. I must relate that I was more than surprised at the inclusion of so many black voices and victims of gun violence that had nothing to do with school shootings. Eleven-year-old Naomi Wadler provided much-needed soul to what appeared to be a rhythm-less symphony of white indignation.
The entrance of urban gun violence into the discussion indirectly introduced an unwanted Race issue and served as a reminder that DuBois’ “color line” remains a strident variable in any discussions of political matters. Although troublesome, the introduction of Race to discussions of gun violence removes the shroud of anonymity from the bodies of dead black men, women, and children.
Consider for a moment that the aforementioned Stephon Clark seemed destined to be one of those lifeless black bodies shrouded in anonymity and enveloped in an unconscionable indifference were it not for a “radicalized element” of Sacramento that disrupted a Sacramento Kings basketball game. Clark’s relevance only increased with NBA Superstar DeMarcus Cousins, a former member of the Sacramento Kings, pledge to pay for Clark’s home-going service; I would be remiss if I did not highlight that this is not the first time that Cousins has defrayed the cost for a fallen brothers burial.
If today’s protest teaches black activists anything, it should be that they must be prepared to bully their way to the forefront of discussions such as the one over gun violence if they are serious about being heard. After all, they are the primary victims of gun violence. Although a significant space for black voices to be heard regarding the issue of gun violence in urban America were graciously provided, young black activists must always be prepared to push their political agenda to the forefront during the planning and execution of political events.
Make no mistake about it; the reality that black lives are hanging in the balance makes silence anything but golden. Going forward, there must be a consensual agreement within Black America that the failure of black activists to advance the interests of our community is akin to a treasonous Judas-like betrayal. Rest assured that the above is not a call for conformity among a non-monolithic black populace; however, we must strive for consensus regarding large goals such as safe spaces for our women and children, political solidarity, and the support of home-grown socially-responsible entrepreneurs. Anything less than this should be termed uncivilized behavior that is foreign to the long history of collectivism and uplift that our ancestors have bequeathed to us.
I pray that the young activists on display yesterday continue down their present course and “make good” on their promise to change this nation, Lord knows that we need it.
Staff Writer; Dr. James Thomas Jones III
Official website; http://www.ManhoodRaceCulture.com
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