Because I Love You

YES! Thank you! Amen! A conviction for all 3 men responsible for the death of Ahmaud Arbery is a victory and a tragedy. A victory for seeing black people as people whose lives matter, and a tragedy for the lives lost to murder and imprisonment. Healing can begin for Ahmaud's family and the families of the McMichaels and the Bryans. Amen! Ashé! We apologize Mr. Arbery for not seeing you in your fullness and potential when you were among the living. Most of us only saw you in your death. Let's open our eyes, so they are as beautiful as yours, and SEE EVERYONE. Amen! Ashé! https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/ahmaud-arbery-killing-trial-verdict-watch-11-24-21/index.html

State Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski, CBS news photo As we prepare for the outcome of the case against the men responsible for killing 25-year old Ahmaud Arbery, I wonder what type of jury is present. Is it a jury of their peers that only reflects their deranged or misguided beliefs, or a jury of their peers that represents the best of humanity, the better parts of these three men, who communicate to the defendants what they did was wrong, and they could do better? The fact that Ahmaud fought back against his assailants has no bearing on their innocence for causing his death. A person being attacked is going to take action to defend themselves. Flight or fight is a natural instinctive response.  Were Ahmaud’s attackers trying to relive the days of white men harassing and killing a black person? (I worked with two women in Rochester who suffered from PTSD whenever they’re in the presence of white men in pickup trucks. They told me it was common practice for white men in pickup trucks to...

Submitted to D&C Opinion section as an Essay for online submission 11/18/21. A young woman was jogging early in the morning through a sleepy neighborhood, and a strange man began to chase her. Fearing for her life, she tried to run away but he caught her. She fought him, and she fought gallantly, scratching and punching him. The man underestimated the young woman’s strength, thinking she was an easy target, but he was wrong. The man became afraid and pulled out a gun. Fighting for her life, she tried to take his gun. He shot and killed her.  The man walked away from his planned attack with minor bruises and scratches. He showed his wounds to the authorities and explained how he feared for his life and had to shoot her. When asked, wasn’t that his plan all along, the man replied, “No, I only wanted to scare her.”  Didn't the woman have the right to defend herself, to fight for her life? What if the man wasn’t alone, what if there were three men chasing her? The young woman ...