by: Kenyon M. Callahan This morning after I had done my daily devotional and prayer time I watched President Obama’s impromptu speech he gave yesterday. At first I did not want to get involved in the debate of the Trayvon Martin murder on social media but after reading some of the posts I felt I needed to share my story as an African American man (yes I use African American formally instead of Black which I use informally) President Obama discussed his experiences in America as a man of color especially a Black man. I will be bold to say that it is easier for a Black woman to walk down the street than it is for a Black man. Whenever I get on an elevator I make sure I speak to everyone on the elevator. I do this to put the other person at ease so they do not feel threaten by me due to my size and the complexion of my skin. This is one of the many things that I do as an African American male in American society. When the police pull me over I make sure that my hands are on the steering wheel where they can be seen. I make sure that whenever I go to a place in public that I am the friendliest person to the person who is waiting on me and the people in line. I always make sure that I hold the door open for people when I exit or enter a building. Most people would assume that I do these things because I am a gentleman but in all honesty I do it to make others feel less threaten by me as Black man in America. I was just recently in a beauty shop where I was buying shampoo and conditioner (it is a specialized brand) and the lady was in the shop behind the counter and there was no one else there. I spent ten minutes talking to this woman before I did anything else in the store to give her a sense of safety. In every situation I am in I try to make sure that the other individual is comfortable with me being in the same space. This is my life as a Black man in America. I don’t live in an America where I am given a certain amount of privilege because I am a part of the majority culture but I live in an America where I am seen as a Black man first and then everything else last. What President Obama spoke on yesterday is a fact of life for men of color. I read post yesterday that spoke on Black on Black crime in Chicago as a way to discount what happened to a teenage boy who went to 7-11 to buy some Skittles and a Lipton Ice Tea & never came home. I heard talk about how this kid smoked Marijuana and thus it was a reason for him to be murdered. Some on the Right have went as far to say that Sabrina Fulton was a bad mother because Trayvon was at the house of Tracy Martin’s girlfriend. As to imply that he should have been at her house he would not be dead today. Now if Tracy was not spending anytime with his son he would be a deadbeat and the stereotypical comments would be made about him. As a Black man in America he could not win for losing and boy did he lose big time along with Sabrina Fulton. I must say Trayvon Martin’s parents have conducted themselves as the true Christians they are, which leads me to question those on the Right who profess to be followers of Jesus but say the most hateful things imaginable. And we wonder why our society is turning away from the belief system that the forefathers implemented it is because people like these and others who stand with them just blindly do nothing. President Obama did the right thing yesterday by speaking up because we are living in a society where young Black men are being told that their lives are worthless. I do know some are going to say that why is this kid being given all this attention and I say why not? Rosa Parks was not the only person or even the first to refuse to give up her seat but why do we as a society idolize her? Was Trayvon Martin perfect? Not by a long shot but he was a kid and as 17 year old teenager he was not rational, anyone reading this please tell me of a rational teenager and I will sell you a bridge made of pure gold in San Francisco. I am sure there will be those out there saying Obama is being divisive and I will argue how can anyone be divisive on a situation/issue if it already does not exist? I have postings from people who use the term reverse racist and race card. First of all let me set some people straight on the issue of the race card (whom ever thought of such a term is just ridiculous), I don’t play the race card I am the race card. Every day I get up and I look in the mirror and I see that I am an African American. I am proud of who I am as both African American and as an American. I don’t shy away from the fact that I am a descendent of slaves. I don’t shy away from the fact that one side of my family (the White side) raped the other side (the Black side.) It is just what it is and I accept that. Secondly a reverse racist means you are not a racist. So please call me a reverse racist because all you are saying is that I am not a racist. In the case of George Zimmerman the jury has decided that he is not guilty and we as a society have to respect the verdict but those pro-Zimmerman people have to realize that as a society people in America has the right to protest (peacefully) and to speak on the subject. The Right is quick to jump on protection for the 2nd Amendment but seem to have amnesia of the 1st Amendment. Did I as an individual agree with the verdict? Not at all but I must accept and respect the verdict. I will continue to be mindful of who I am as a Black man of color, I know I can’t do the same things as my White counterparts do and we must continue to teach our sons that as men of color you have to be mindful of your environment but also how we conduct ourselves.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 20:13:19 +0000
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