For years, I considered not becoming a mother. I thought being a good mother to my kids meant not becoming a mother at all. Let me explain.
The world is so cruel and it gets crazier by the day. I thought, why would I subject my children, the loves of my life, my little hearts, to this place? Obviously, I changed my mind. I get scared sometimes though. I’d been able to push those feelings of fear aside but, they all came rushing back over a week ago. The name Trayvon Martin was mentioned to me by my husband. He’d read a story about a young man, who happened to be black, walking through a neighborhood on his way back to his father’s fiancee’s home in a gated community. He was there to watch the All-Star game and stepped out to get a snack. Seems innocent enough. From all accounts so far, it really was just that innocent.
Innocence apparently means nothing. All it takes is one over-zealous, seemingly trigger-happy person to decide that you’re a threat. And just like that, you’re gone. He’s gone.
As a mother, this story hit me hard. I have been trying to process my thoughts. I have been trying to bypass the anger I feel. I have been trying wrap my mind around why this keeps happening – over and over again. At what point is skin color not a crime?
As a mother to a black little boy my heart is heavy. I’ve seen way too many cases of lives of black young men snuffed out because someone decided that they weren’t worthy. This quote from a CNN article said so much of what I was feeling but didn’t want to say out loud.
“I know America is the land of liberty, but my child has to understand he’s just free-ish.” –Christy Oglesby, quality assurance manager for CNN
My outrage was only fueled by the fact that the shooter, George Zimmerman, was still walking free. His claim being self-defense. A claim that went unchallenged. No shred of evidence supports his claim. Certainly not the bottle of iced tea and package of Skittles found on Trayvon Martin.
What the evidence does show is that he followed Trayvon relentlessly. He was determined to make him pay for the sins of others as he spewed racial slurs and other angry comments. Even the police told him to stop and let them do their jobs. He didn’t listen. As a result a 17 year old’s pleas for help was met with a gunshot that ended his life. No matter what happens with Zimmerman – Martin is dead. His parents have lost their child. Their baby. A baby they likely gushed over the same way I gush over my child on this very blog. He’s gone and they are left to grieve while no one is giving them the answers they deserve. Even if race is taken out of the equation, nothing about this is right or OK.
Tweets from @mochamomma encouraged this post. She talked about how the silence of bloggers in this matter was deafening. There were conversations with friends and colleagues that also let me know I couldn’t sit silently any longer. Twitter is overflowing with posts from mothers of every color who can no longer contain their outrage that this has happened. That up until this week, it was just written off as an act of self-defense. That Zimmerman is not sitting in a jail cell. I’m adding my voice to the cry for justice. The mother in me wouldn’t have it any other way.
29 Comments on Hot Topic Thursday: This Couldn’t Be More Wrong
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I am so angry that I can’t write a decent post right now so I have opted to just say something small and to the point on Trayvon. What I do hope though is that we can start coming together as a people and stand together to change some things about the African American community
kita recently posted…What’s the Biz Wed: Wacky Business ideas
I hadn’t heard about this story. I am absolutely appalled by it, just appalled!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell recently posted…The Annual Easter Egg Hunt
When I saw that quote on CNN, I knew I had to write something. I was so angry so appalled, so scared. You are right, we have to raise our voices and be heard on this matter. Our son’s lives depend on it.
Rose’s Daughter recently posted…As Seen In My Life: In Grandma’s Hands
I have read about this tragedy at Marisol Dennis blog. And I was so shocked on how a 17-year old boy was shot to death. That man should be given a sentence of reclusion perpetua. A person like that has no place here on earth.
PrudenceLee recently posted…surgical
Mother has a worst feeling when they are losing their child.what a sad story i can’t imagine the man can do it to a 17 year old boy…
Caroline72 recently posted…Meet Jane B, Our Biggest HCG Loser, Read one woman’s story of how she went for overweight and little self esteem, to feeling fabulous and looking great! Read her story now….
I agree. No parent should have to bury their child.
i am so sad to read this story. i had a blog were i expressed my anger caused by these incidents, but decided that i was getting too acidic so stop. Mochamama is right, we MUST raise awareness for this kind of injustice!!! i will write something about it in one my future thoughtful wednesday posts.
TOI recently posted…Amy: She Rocks
Yeah, I know what you mean. I started and stopped plenty of times before I got this post done.
O Cam, I share your anger! It infuriates me and my heart aches for Trayvon’s parents. I don’t understand the “stand your ground” law in Florida and how it applies here! According to Zimmerman he was defending himself but against who/what a 17 year old kid holding a bag of skittles and an iced tea! Really!
My son is a hispanic/african american young man and was pulled over for a broken tail light and two officers demanded he get out of the car so they can search for stolen jewelry! Are you serious! Here in VA there are similar cases of injustice.
That CNN quote is so true!
Aracely recently posted…Burberry Body
That’s just crazy. It really saddens me to hear stories like this one and your son’s. It’s 2012. We should be better than this.
So sad..to hear that kind od incident.
Bianca recently posted…cars for sale in stroud
Thanks! for your being open and honest about the story of your past..
Patrica S. Gaddy recently posted…Extenze women
Zimmerman should definitely rot in jail! And then, in hell! Oh, he doesn’t deserve to live! Yes, blogging about it does add to the cry for justice. I hope so does commenting…
The Pepperrific Life recently posted…Wishing For Baby #2…
I hope my little voice helps to add to the collective. I haven’t met a parent yet who isn’t outraged by this.
In my head I have written several blog posts regarding this topic, but I haven’t put the right one together to post. Being a mom of a son, my heart aches tremendously. I can’t imagine this mother’s pain. Her son merely bought candy and a drink and now he is gone. Now I find myself wondering of the lessons I’ll need to add to those we teach our son. You know, reading, writing, math, don’t wear hoodies and walk through gated communities…. {sigh} I better stop here…… :'(
Optimistic Mom recently posted…The storm is passing over
I hear ya. I’m right there with you.
Life is full of unexpected things to be happen, but all of this things we did in past can help to make us more productive at the present…
Lenon35 recently posted…how do I get a construction white card
This story absolutely breaks my heart and so does this post. I hate that anyone in this country is only free-ish…its just so awful. But the only way we can fight it is by instilling good values in each future generation and hope that these ridiculous notions are petered out.
Joanne recently posted…Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache
Yeah, it was a hard post to write. You’re right, it lies in every generation to do better and be better than the last.
I just cannot wrap my head around why that guy isn’t being charged.
Kristin recently posted…BonBon Deal of the Day: Jessica Simpson Shoe Scores
I know. In many ways it seems so cut and dry. It seems he should be charged at the very least.
The world is getting with every day more cruel, there aren’t any direct advices how to avoid the accidents. But it isn’t the right way to worry about it all the time, I think.
Julie recently posted…dental implants
That was terrible story I cant imagine these crime will happen to that boy.
nicole recently posted…flat rate movers
I really liked this post! I’ll be pinning it on my pinterest account!
Amy recently posted…Week 14
Thank you for pointing this out. It takes more than just a courage to run a blog like yours, which is really impressive by the way. Appreciate all your efforts and will be looking forward to more quality posts in the future.
Mary John recently posted…Cable Cincinnati
This kind of account is very interesting…It is nice having a pinterest account..
Leslie recently posted…Secret Survey by Michael Fiore Review – Is it Good?
I can’t even take my emotions out of it long enough to compose anything about the subject. It saddens me. It scares me. I have a 4-year-old son who could be Trayvon Martin in about ten years. And the thought of him loosing his life just for living while black or walking while black? There are no words.
Alicia @MommyDelicious recently posted…The Cost of Education
As a mother of a boy I am equally outraged. But internally it has really brought awareness that I need to do more to stop these things from happening. Evidence has shown that just being angry doesn’t do anything. We’ve seen these things too many times over. We need action coupled with the anger to make sure these things cease to exist when our sons become of age.
Mimi recently posted…Here’s the Thing…
You need to think about what adds people are most likely to click on,and this time of year its the turbo tax and other tax related adds.But you also needt to look at the type of people that will be in each catagory..I.E investors are going to be clicking on adds in the investment section.
Frances recently posted…Kara Oh’s Men Made Easy Review – Does it Work? Any Good?