Average American
Mentor
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2012
- Messages
- 703
I live in a metro area, that probably runs 35-40% Black (roughly triple the national average). Every night you turn on the local news, there's another candlelight vigil for a slain local thug/aspiring rapper.
Two things always strike me from the recurring script.. first, all the community activists & Black clergy come front & center, for a conspicuous teeth-gnashing & condemnation of tha' killings, (& society at-large). Nevermind that most of these folks are usually MIA when the thug really needed help.. when he was getting jumped into a gang, lost without a father to guide him, when he could've benefitted from the loving guidance/discipline of a concerned neighbor or 'activist' etc. But now they're suddenly moved by his fate after he's no longer breathing..
& second, is the attention-grabbing idea of the never-ending public vigils. When my loved ones die, we usually mourn privately w/friends & family.. we've never felt compelled to post up in the middle of a street where everyone can see how powerful our lamenting is. it seems self-congratulatory. y'know, look how down we are (appear) for our brothas.. dumb
on a lighter note, I have a business idea, to open a bodega in the hood, that would be a one-stop shop for all your candlelight vigil needs.. teddy bears (w/NBA logos), balloons, candles, and an in-store airbrush artist for the shirts with the dead thug, depicted with angel wings, to wear @ the gathering.
Two things always strike me from the recurring script.. first, all the community activists & Black clergy come front & center, for a conspicuous teeth-gnashing & condemnation of tha' killings, (& society at-large). Nevermind that most of these folks are usually MIA when the thug really needed help.. when he was getting jumped into a gang, lost without a father to guide him, when he could've benefitted from the loving guidance/discipline of a concerned neighbor or 'activist' etc. But now they're suddenly moved by his fate after he's no longer breathing..
& second, is the attention-grabbing idea of the never-ending public vigils. When my loved ones die, we usually mourn privately w/friends & family.. we've never felt compelled to post up in the middle of a street where everyone can see how powerful our lamenting is. it seems self-congratulatory. y'know, look how down we are (appear) for our brothas.. dumb
on a lighter note, I have a business idea, to open a bodega in the hood, that would be a one-stop shop for all your candlelight vigil needs.. teddy bears (w/NBA logos), balloons, candles, and an in-store airbrush artist for the shirts with the dead thug, depicted with angel wings, to wear @ the gathering.
