Truth, or Justice, Or Something Like It: Brief Impressions

BY M. A. STEVENS

I believed in a dream of the people, where Justice would be more than a two way street. Because we shouldn’t be opposing each other. We shouldn’t be traveling in opposite directions. I believed in a vision of Justice as the best local train. Moving forward. Moving fast. Moving towards the same destination. Making all stops, for all passengers.

I don’t always listen to NWA, but when I do, it’s because America treats its niggers like dogs that get run over in the street. In the way. Disposable. Almost kind of funny. I hope my use of that word [nigger] made a lot of you uncomfortable. It should. Call me a sore loser, but I think Florida called the whole lot of us young black men ‘niggers’ when they said it was okay to kill a young man like he was Old Yeller. I say ‘us’ because some of you just get to be ‘people’ or at least pass.

Yes, I feel defeated. I am angry. I am the ugliest kind of angry. Thanks to this harsh reminder about what it STILL means to be a young black man in America. It’s a scarlet letter and the mark of Caine if you are not quiet and compliant. If you are not quiet and compliant, you are potential:

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• killer
  
  
• thief
  
  
• rapist
  
  

I’ve been a good, compliant little dog for too long. If this can happen, something is wrong and I am going to be upset about it. If you have the luxury to think I’m another overly sensitive black, I ask you to carefully examine your privilege. Why is it so easy the demonize this dead teenager? I’ve been compliant and socially neutral because I like the perks that come with being seen as a nice guy with balanced opinions.

But I’m really not allowed to have balanced opinions. when the choices I make affect the young black males that will be young and black after me. Some of you have the luxury of making choices and not becoming an avatar for your culture. If you fuck up, it’s just you. “You were partying too hard, but you can rally.”

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