For a moment, imagine her paying tribute to the President of the United States on the day he would be inaugurated for his second term. Marching proudly as a majorette of her high school's band and drill team. Marching for peace, justice and righteousness. She had auditioned with one hundred other students for one of the twelve spots on the team. A cold morning honoring a King. King College Prep was the name that graced her uniform. Honors student graced her report card. She dreamed of going to Northwestern University. A pharmacist or a journalist, maybe a lawyer was her destiny. She saluted our flag. She honored our country. The President and his family would have been proud of their hometown band. Proud of Chicago. Proud of those young people. Proud of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton. They won an award that day, a first place honor for the band's auxiliary team that included the majorettes. She was a beautiful, bright, shining star.
Eight days later, she was dead.
We have written these words before. We have cried these tears before. We have felt these knots in our stomachs before. Pause. Breathe. Another breath. Deep breath. Six bullets left the gun that was fired on the 4500 block of South Oakenwald Avenue in the Windy City. One hot bullet hit the back of Hadiya and one hour later, she would take her last breath on earth. Gang member, she was not. Gang affiliation, she had none. Neither did any of her friends from the volleyball team who joined her in the park that cold afternoon. The shooter shot the wrong crew. And left her friends and family with pain and suffering that will last until they take their last breaths. A community brought to her knees by one bullet. Once again. Will it be the last time?
Let's table the discussion about the regulation of the gun for a moment. We know where they come from, we know what kind of guns they use, we know what kinds of bullets pierce human flesh. So, let's put that aside for now. Let's agree that some might believe in banning guns, clips and closing loopholes, while others do not. However, while the NRA and their armed comrades cling to their guns, the rest of this country is left to figure out how to stop the shooting. And if the gun enthusiasts want to selfishly focus on their own rights, then we will focus on everyone else's rights. If we truly want to stop violence, it will take a much deeper conversation than just about the gun. For a moment, imagine how a young man, who is NOT mentally ill, gets to a place in his life where he decides to put a bullet in the back of a 15-year-old girl. What are the contributing factors that pave the pathway for the potential shooter to finally pull the trigger and end someone's life? How have we failed ourselves in stopping him from ever believing that the death of someone else solves his problems?
Black young people are killing black young people. With handguns. And does anyone want to stop this? Do we want to finally have a conversation about why triggers are being pulled by hopeless young men and women who see no future for themselves in the land of the free and of the brave? Do we dare try to understand the correlation between the rise of violence and the failed "War on Drugs?" Do we want to admit our lack of investment in gang/violence intervention and prevention programs? Do we recognize that many of our young people have suffered trauma and anxiety from witnessing violence throughout their lives? Do we want to reveal the injustice of not giving affordable, high quality education to all of our young people, regardless of race, class or color?
If this time is different, then let's have a different conversation. With different people at the table. Young people at table. Young men and women who are so accustomed to the sound of gunshots, that it is a permanent part of the soundtrack of their lives. Those are the voices we need to hear from. Those are the ones who will change this country. Those are the ones who carry the legacies of Hadiya, Trayvon, Jordan, Kevin, Aiyana, Oscar and thousands of others who took their last breaths before their parents could say goodbye.
Hadiya, may you rest in peace, angel. With your strength and compassion in our hearts, we promise to fight everyday for a more peaceful America.
~Michael Skolnik
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/inauguration-morgue-remember-15-year-old-hadiya-pendleton-michael-skolnik-blog#ixzz2Jwc3kVEy
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