All too often, the news is saturated with stories of our boys,
our men,
our KINGS
with a hashtag attached.
But this week it hit home. In little old NLR a young king was robbed of his future. Charles "CJ" Smith, Jr. 17 years old. Senior. Son. Brother. King.....needlessly shot and killed by one of our men in blue.
Here.
In my city.
Down the street from the house I grew up in.
So, I wanted to address a few people in my post today.
To CJ:
I didn't know you, but through the stories of others, I felt like I did. I looked at your pictures and the first thing I noticed was your smile. I instantly saw how that smile brought joy to so many people. And my heart broke in that very same moment. Young King, I just want you to know that although you were robbed of your future, you're legacy remains. Your story has touched so many people and will continue to do so. Rest In Power CJ.
To Ms. Irvin:
My heart hurts the most for you. I cannot imagine the pain you are in now. I know there are no words to console you, and I won't try to. But from one mother to another, I am praying for your strength. Know that you have the support of the entire black community. CJ will not become just another hashtag.
Finally. To those who "don't see color" but kill because of it:
We are TIRED of burying our sons. We are TIRED of burying our brothers. We are TIRED of burying our fathers. We are TIRED of burying our KINGS. I want to ask you something. What is it about us that terrifies you?
Did we travel from Africa to Europe and kidnap your ancestors? Did we rape your women? Did we devise a plan to take and keep your men out of your household? Did we treat you like animals? Were your ancestors ever slaves? Did we end slavery (as a business/financial move), and turn around and build the prison systems? Did we lynch you for fun? Were you ever beaten to the point were your mama couldn't identify you because you whistled at a black girl? And oh yeah, she lied about it. Have any of your 12 year old boys been shot on site for playing with a BB gun?
NO?
What about for selling cd's? Complying with an officer and reaching for identification? Did your child witness it? Ok...Ok....going to the store for skittle's and tea? Wearing a hoodie? Running around your block? Going to a pool party? Have any of yall died as a result of a fucking traffic stop?
ALL WE HAVE EVER DONE WAS BE BLACK IN AMERICA.
It amazes me how much yall love our culture, but hate us.
We are the descendants of the Malcolm's, the Martin's, the Rosa's, the Nat's, and the Marcus'. We will continue to raise Kings and Queens who know they are not African Americans, but Africans IN America. We will become everything you fear. We will become everything you would literally KILL for us not to be.
We WILL be unapologetically BLACK. We WILL be unapologetically FREE.
**************************************************
Video of brother being interviewed after the shooting
Link to the family's GOFUNDME. Help this mother give her son the proper burial and pay for an attorney to seek justice.
our men,
our KINGS
with a hashtag attached.
But this week it hit home. In little old NLR a young king was robbed of his future. Charles "CJ" Smith, Jr. 17 years old. Senior. Son. Brother. King.....needlessly shot and killed by one of our men in blue.
Here.
In my city.
Down the street from the house I grew up in.
So, I wanted to address a few people in my post today.
To CJ:
I didn't know you, but through the stories of others, I felt like I did. I looked at your pictures and the first thing I noticed was your smile. I instantly saw how that smile brought joy to so many people. And my heart broke in that very same moment. Young King, I just want you to know that although you were robbed of your future, you're legacy remains. Your story has touched so many people and will continue to do so. Rest In Power CJ.
To Ms. Irvin:
My heart hurts the most for you. I cannot imagine the pain you are in now. I know there are no words to console you, and I won't try to. But from one mother to another, I am praying for your strength. Know that you have the support of the entire black community. CJ will not become just another hashtag.
Finally. To those who "don't see color" but kill because of it:
We are TIRED of burying our sons. We are TIRED of burying our brothers. We are TIRED of burying our fathers. We are TIRED of burying our KINGS. I want to ask you something. What is it about us that terrifies you?
Did we travel from Africa to Europe and kidnap your ancestors? Did we rape your women? Did we devise a plan to take and keep your men out of your household? Did we treat you like animals? Were your ancestors ever slaves? Did we end slavery (as a business/financial move), and turn around and build the prison systems? Did we lynch you for fun? Were you ever beaten to the point were your mama couldn't identify you because you whistled at a black girl? And oh yeah, she lied about it. Have any of your 12 year old boys been shot on site for playing with a BB gun?
NO?
What about for selling cd's? Complying with an officer and reaching for identification? Did your child witness it? Ok...Ok....going to the store for skittle's and tea? Wearing a hoodie? Running around your block? Going to a pool party? Have any of yall died as a result of a fucking traffic stop?
ALL WE HAVE EVER DONE WAS BE BLACK IN AMERICA.
It amazes me how much yall love our culture, but hate us.
We are the descendants of the Malcolm's, the Martin's, the Rosa's, the Nat's, and the Marcus'. We will continue to raise Kings and Queens who know they are not African Americans, but Africans IN America. We will become everything you fear. We will become everything you would literally KILL for us not to be.
We WILL be unapologetically BLACK. We WILL be unapologetically FREE.
**************************************************
Video of brother being interviewed after the shooting
Link to the family's GOFUNDME. Help this mother give her son the proper burial and pay for an attorney to seek justice.