James Craig Anderson
Race is real, a real cause of death, a real reason for hate. It’s something we seem to be able to ignore and yet, it manages to divide us. If we deny that race played a part in this man’s death, we deny the truth, we disregard our guilt and the guilt of others…and we deny justice for this man and his family.
Is our innocence worth this injustice? How long can we continue to believe that we are not a part of the problem? White authorities failed, white parents failed, white teachers failed, white peers failed, white youth have failed. We have failed this man. We have failed him through our lack of involvement in the anti-racism effort.
It is not enough to simply tell our kids that color doesn’t matter, we must show them why it does. We must show them why everyone matters. This man matters.
© 2011 – 2012, Chantilly Patiño. All rights reserved.
Beautiful Chantilly! You are completely right! My heart breaks for this man and his family…. I’m at a loss of words as well. =(
Beyond horrific. I cannot wrap my mind around this evil.
I watched this on CNN the other night and was so sad that these teens obviously were taught to be bias. Kids aren’t born that way.
Thanks for the comments. <3 It's frightening that people are claiming this isn't racially motivated…such extreme blindness…