Sorry this is so long but its been a long time coming. As some mourn Columbine, some celebrate marijuana, we celebrate The Resurrection today, I selfishly have been thinking about another resurrection I wish could happen as I still mourn my friend Jason today. 24 years ago today we were robbed of one of the greatest individuals I had the pleasure to know. As much as I miss him I know it pales in comparison to his mother, Tina Raphael loss. ALICIA MICHELLE RAPHAEL lost her big brother. I too feel like I lost my brother. Im sure Mark, DAMON, Smerf, Ronald, MAY MAY, and many others feel the same way. I met Jason in September of 1987. We had almost all of our honor AP/classes together. We didnt pay much attention to each other until people kept asking if we were brothers. That led to a great friendship until April 20th, 1990. In that 2 1/2 years my life was greatly changed. I gained a brother. We hung out almost everyday. He was at my house often. He became a fixture in my house. He never had a key but that didnt stop him from coming over and letting himself in anyway regardless if anyone was home. He would drink out of the containers right from the refrigerator. It was my house and I didnt do that but he did. He was a kid. Id come home sometimes and he would be there by himself eating in my mothers room watching her TV since it was the biggest in the house. She would try to help keep him in line as well. She loved him as well like another son. I struggle with his death often. Parents arent supposed to bury their children. Teenagers arent supposed to bury their friends. I have been to more funerals than I care to remember. I have lost other friends, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and even my own father but none have affected me like the death of Jason. I remember on the first day back to school after he was killed the first person to console me was one of his friends from elementary school Brandy. I always have and always will appreciate that. The fact that even though she knew him longer but could still be there for me was confusing at the time but I understand it now. When other friends came by in the days after I still could not mourn with them. Damon came by on crutches as he was shot as well that day but I could only deal with my loss. I wish I could of been there for Tina or Alicia but I did not accept his death for years. I felt as if it was a cruel trick. I felt he would come back any day. My mother told me years later that she took me to therapy to discuss Jason but I have no memories of it. I was kicked out of Westchester High School for almost getting into a fight with someone I thought was affiliated and responsible (he wasnt). It was a very dark time for me. Many look back to high school with fond memories. I dont. I miss my friend, my brother. Hes not coming back so therefore I have to move forward. We will see each other again. It pains me to have to let him go. 24 years later I still struggle. He is loved and never forgotten. I chose to honor him by naming my last born after him. He was a part of my family before and he will always be. On a final note. At Orville Wright, our English teacher (who was black) had the class in three sections. The seats on the right faced the left and vice versa. In the middle were two rows of seats facing the front. Other than the teacher and KEISHA HILL, we were the only two black kids in the class. Only black boys. She intentionally sat us in the front two seats facing the front. No one behind us. We acted out in class everyday. One day she kept us after class and pointed out the seating arrangement and class demographics. We never paid attention before. She told us as black men we were always going to be front and center in society. We would always be on display. We could be clowns and entertain or we could be relevant. She said dont waste your talents. Too many black boys waste their talent. Beat the statistics. Jasons talent was taken from him, from us. He was a rapper, a barber, an artist gone too soon. I will do my best not to waste my talents. Here are the only pics I have. If anyone else has anymore please feel free to post. I have tagged or mentioned others who I believe he has impacted and cared about him. If I mentioned you and you dont want to be tagged I apologize. For those I forgot, it wasnt intentional. Lets this post be a positive one to remember a great person who was taken too soon. Reggie Edwards Donald D Rich Raines Maurice Davis Austin Wicks Shelby LyteBulb Franklin Deloor Colby James Dwight Charles Wick Robert Toby Sykes Lamont Anderson Jimmy L Thompson Oliver Baines Todd McIntyre Michele Mathieu Sheda Tee Aishia Shelice Nile Evans Omar Williams April Thompson-Williams April Carter Veianca Millet Amber Johnson Thayes Ewells Shannon HairArtistry Peters Keiishia Lytle Juree Rambo Yvette McFrazier Deborah Brandon Damon Sandman Roberson Donte Yungooch Monroe Also Thomas Greenwood, Dishi, Herman, Andre, Boniface, Craig, Randy, Mark P, Quincy Rust, Samir, David D., Joy, Tikitha, and his 1st best friend Jelanie Honorable mention to another one of his brothers Terrance Farris who also died way too soon.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 17:02:57 +0000