Black White

Greetings all and welcome to the first blog of 2017 for the You Have the Right to Remain Informed. The United States is getting ready to embark on a major transformation with the change of the Presidential Administration. Today’s post features guest blogger Tammy Holt who shares a very personal story from her childhood in the Deep South. Pay attention as we cannot allow history to repeat itself.

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This has been a story hidden deeply in my memory bank since I was a little girl. I remember living in Mobile, Alabama, and being told I could not go outside because a man’s body was hanging from a tree. Of course, I blocked it out, but I always wondered was it really true or was it something that I remembered ‘incorrectly’, or did I dream it?

We stayed off Dearborn Street, a few streets over from Herndon. The long story short is this young man was killed and hung by the KKK. The KKK was mad that another black man was not convicted of killing a white police officer (the case was a mistrial). So, in retaliation of the verdict, the KKK saw Michael Donald (I never knew his name) on the street, kidnapped, hung and cut his throat. A gruesome murder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Michael_Donald

This ties into current day news with Senator Sessions and his hearings for Attorney General. He was on the team for the prosecuting attorney’s office back then. I was reading up on all the issues surrounding him and his racial comments and found his connection to this case. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/12/02/jeff-sessionss-comments-on-race-for-the-record/?utm_term=.c6bcb8471c8d

In that Washington Post article (to give you the down and dirty), Sessions went all the way around and back again, saying he said some things, didn’t say others, said some things were taken out of context…yadda, yadda, yadda….my final opinion: it’s between him and God.

But, I just wanted to share this information…you just never know how things in our lives will come full circle or how the news applies directly (or indirectly) to us. I’m glad I can put some closure on this memory, but angered by the evil in this world.

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I thank Tammy for having the courage to share her story and I leave you with this brief thought. If the aim is to make America great again, does that mean that we have to go back to times such as these to achieve that goal? I truly hope not. As my friend Tammy has said before, “to be great, you have to be a servant.” Thus, it is our hope and prayer that Sessions and the rest of new Administration will serve all people remembering equity and fairness. As when you do right, we all benefit, grow, and evolve in the greatness God intended for us.

Be safe,

L.J.
Follow me on Twitter: @CrimeDoc1213
Check out what’s new in 2017 at www.ljsamuel.com

#race #racism #raceinamerica #1981 #lynching #MichaelDonald #Alabama #deepsouth #hate #love #black #white #civilrights #trial #Senator #JeffSessions #fear #light #healing #change #makeamericagreat #administration #crime #violence #criminals #justice #criminaljusticesystem #courtsystem #2017 #ljsamuel #cupidssting

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What a week. So much violence, sadness, and turmoil. Escaped murderers and cop killers. Rape and murder of a 16 year-old innocent. And the unthinkable tragedy of the brutal, senseless killing of nine souls praying in a house of worship. The world has a gaping wound and oozing out is hurt and pain.

Whenever there is a tragedy, the media highlights the name and handiwork of the evil doer a million times. The victims are often the secondary story. There are even times that stories are slanted to suggest victims of violent, unspeakable crimes are not innocent and blameless. Let’s not demonize victims. It disrespects their memory, diminishes the agony families are facing, and presents an excuse or defense for the perpetrator of the crime.

I cannot fathom what goes through a person’s mind when they are planning murder. Where is the sense of conscience? Where is the respect for life? Where is the deference to that which is holy and sacred? And how is it that once again we are at a point in history where the issues of race are sparking such venom and hatred to lead one to murder nine people in cold blood? Where does that come from? How does an innocent child brought into this world grow up to hate a group of people so much because of the color of their skin that he wants to annihilate them? There is an indoctrination which most certainly began in the home. These thoughts, feelings, and actions were encouraged. And sadly since symbols of hate fly on flag posts outside state government buildings, then there is an unspoken acceptance of these ideals.

We have to do better. We’re destroying each other- in the name of race, gender, or political affiliation. This cannot go on. Now, more than ever, we need to come together. In honor of the nine brave people that lost their lives on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 as they sat in their church for bible study, we have to root out this hate. And let’s not forget their names and the good they did while here on Earth doing God’s work.

The Emanuel 9

The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41 years old
Ms. Cynthia Hurd, 54 years old
Ms. Susie Jackson, 87 years old
Ms. Ethel Lance, 70 years old
Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49 years old
Mr. Tywanza Sanders, 26 years old
Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr., 74 years old
Rev. Sharonda Singleton, 45 years old
Ms. Myra Thompson, 59 years old

We cannot go on like this. Be kind to one another. Love. Love one another. Love. Love one another whether black or white, male or female. Just love.

God bless the souls of the Emanuel 9, Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC.

Be safe,

L.J.
Follow me on Twitter: @CrimeDoc1213

#Emanuel9 #IAmAME #Charleston #humanity #peace #love #blessings #prayer #black #white #justice #fairness #crime #violence #BlackLivesMatter #respect

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You Have the Right to Remain…Informed

A Crime and Justice blog by Criminologist Laurie Samuel

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