Dr Martin Luther King, Jr once said; "Difficult
and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith
in the future. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair,
and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember
that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the
gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way
and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of
the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
What is justice? According to the
dictionary it is defined as the following;(1)the
quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness,
or moral rightness:
to uphold the justice of a cause. (2)rightfulness
or lawfulness,
as of a claim or title; justness of ground or
reason: to complain with justice. (3) the moral principle
determining just conduct. (4) conformity to this principle, as manifested in
conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment. (5) the administering of deserved punishment or reward.
I thought that we should
start with understanding what it is we are seeking, for Trayvon Martin and his
family.. I have heard television pundits and experts go on analyzing this
tragedy since the news broke. I have also heard many people turn the tables on
the victim, accusing him of being one who sought out trouble. Some painted him out
to be a drug user, and headed on the wrong path. Recently D.L. Hughley
addressed those accusations with a heartfelt letter
to Trayvon Martin.
When we seek justice we are
also seeking truth. Although it seems to have been elusive, truth is there,
beneath the layers. Earlier this afternoon we heard the Special Prosecutor
Angela Corey from Florida announced that charges had been filed. So here are a few
truths for you to ponder while George Zimmerman sits in protective custody.
George Zimmerman was charged forty-five days after Trayvon Martin was killed.
Forty-five days after his parents were given devastating news, news that no
parent should ever hear.
Another truth is that this
is not the first time the town of Sanford Florida has faced controversy
regarding race. In 1946 this small town created a stir with a Black athlete by
the name of Jackie Robinson. I am sure you are familiar with the name, he was
the first African American baseball player to play in the Majors. When he came
into town for Spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers the restrictions of segregation were placed on
him. Jackie Robinson was not permitted to eat with his team mates, nor was he
allowed to share the same locker room. He was advised to stay in another town,
rather then stay with the team. When the "good" citizens of Sanford
became aware of Mr. Robinson's presence they confronted the mayor of this small
town. They made it impossible for the Royals to participate in a pre-season
game and forced Jackie Robinson and his wife to flee to neighboring Daytona.
The result was that the Dodgers pulled up stakes and moved their spring
training facility out of Sanford to Daytona.
So here we are again, sixty-six years
after the Dodgers pull stakes. Forty-five days after Trayvon Martin was killed.
With the passage of time, they say all wounds are healed, but I propose
something else. With the passage of time, we look at where we were and if we
see we haven't moved forward, we break out into a mad dash to get ahead. This
way someone isn't looking back some sixty-six years later and realize we have
been stagnant for too long.
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