Tonight, a sixteen year old student -- with a 3.8 GPA, two jobs, a clothing line, and a book of advice for people his age -- is launching his book. And because I helped him publish that book, I'm part -- a very small part -- of that story. And I've got to worry that this young man might not be safe getting to his own book launch and getting home afterwards.
I worry about all my students. But not quite like this.
Because my guy -- because, yeah, that's how I think of anyone I've helped publish -- is getting a lot of support for his success. And it isn't the book that has made him successful. He's been a National Agri-Science Finalist. Twice. Which means he won all the semis and local competitions leading up to Nationals. That GPA -- did I mention that? A clothing line? A guy with a clothing line? And two jobs -- two jobs where he isn't the boss and he has to miss a lot of life and a lot of fun and a lot of teen age experiences.
He's 16. He wants to be successful and he wants to help teens.
He's 16. And he towers over my five feet eight inches. Which might be a problem.
Because when this young author gets off work, when this honor roll student clocks out, when this National Agri-Science Finalist walks to his mother's car, when the young guy with the clothing line is driven home by his mom -- in fact, all the time -- he's black.
I have watched people flock around this guy. In fact, I've encouraged it. He's 16. The GPA. The clothing line. The two jobs. Now the book. A BOOK. My son won't willingly write a single page essay, and this guy wrote a book.
We should support sixteen year old young men with big goals and bigger dreams.
We shouldn't have to worry about 16 year olds getting shot because they are tall.
Sixteen year old authors shouldn't have their book launches shadowed by racism.
Even if they tower over tall women like me.
Even if they are black.
I was thinking about tonight's book launch when the following exchange occurred yesterday on FB:
A -- Original Poster -- she married a HS classmate of mine. For many topics of frugality, we're on the same wavelength. But I saw a different and ugly side of her tonight. And I think it comes from where we grew up, in the same lily white community where there were so few people of color that we could think all manner of ignorant things and if they left our mouths, there wouldn't be any repercussions. We honestly didn't think. As the exchange will show, the other people involved just don't know.
B -- OP's friend
C -- OP's friend
D -- OP's friend
E -- OP's friend
And then there's me. I didn't block my name.
A
Ignorance. Pure and simple
-0:47
114,448 Views
Townhall VideoLike Page (This is the video: https://www.facebook.com/166408686759982/videos/1187457451321762/ It came from a conservative Facebook group, and the video title (shown below) is misleading.)
Charlotte Activists: Get Ready
For More Violence, We're Not Going To Stop.
Comments
B
Could not
agree more. Instead of helping the situation, he is going to help make the
situation much more worse! Be part of the solution and not the problem!
Phyl
Campbell SO what is the solution? That football guy took a
knee and people are going nuts, so people clearly don't think peaceful protest
is the solution. I'm equally appalled when people suggest killing Hilary Clinton is an option if she wins the election. I don't think electing DT is the solution. I think equal rights is a solution. I think better pay, equipment, and training for officers is a solution. I think HEAVILY fining CEOs who steal from their employees is a solution. But some people think that would be too expensive. So clearly the people that are being killed -- being SHOT and killed by police -- aren't worth as much to people who think it's too expensive. So what is the solution?
A
Solution--
bring God back into our country. Plain and simple. Some may not agree. Some
will agree.
Phyl
Campbell But the same group of people who think the
football player should be fired or tortured or whatever also think Muslims
should be deported because they support Sharia law.
And there are more wars between religious groups
than between religious groups and Atheists.
So I don't think bringing God back (God is ALL OVER
the South, judging by the number of churches and preachers) is the solution.
But I'm open to hearing other suggestions. Honestly.
A
I don't have the solution and won't pretend that I do. What I do know
is that, people as the one in this video are only fueling the racial fire. When was the last time a person of any race was pulled over, fully complied
with what he or she was asked to do and was killed? You couldn't pay me
enough to be a police officer right now. There are too many Monday morning
quarterbacks, that want to tear apart decisions that these officers make. Don't
be a thug, and do what you are told. If I were to get pulled over tonight, and
did not comply, went back to my car, or showed any action that made an officer
feel threatened I would probably get shot. Think it would make the national
news?
C
Agree!
Follow the rules! There's no racial motive to this.
Phyl
Campbell Do you know how many times people have been pulled
over for driving while black? And it didn't make the news?
I know I'm more likely to get pulled over more than women in mini-vans.
I know when we get pulled over, we are less likely to die if we are white.
But don't listen to me -- watch this:
(https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2016/07/driving-while-black-gop-sen-tim-scott-tells-his-experiences)
MINNPOST.COM
Phyl
Campbell I watched the video you shared again. The headline
says there will be violence, but the speaker only mentioned economic boycott of
the city of Charlotte. And that is totally understandable protest.
A
not accurate. He speaks of regress and not getting justice. He speaks
of telling his"brothers" to keep doing what they are doing and it
will not stop.
A
I'm
always up for good debate, but there is no end to this. Someone will always be
wrong. My opinion. Stands firm. Obey the law, live to see another day. Continue
to act like thugs, and pay the consequences. Pretty simple. Are there going to
be rouge cops. Sure. Just like there are corrupt teachers, coaches, managers, and
diplomatic leaders.
Phyl Campbell Not accurate? You're
kidding me. Or we somehow watched different videos. Is it possible we saw different
videos? I really want to understand where you're coming from, but these people
are DEAD. I'm having a hard time getting past that. DEAD. Our classmates are
freaking out trying to figure out how to tell their kids to be safe. Another
person was shot for reading a book in his car.
If people weren't being SHOT DEAD, I could call this a debate. But this is a
tragedy.
A
A book?
Read a little deeper. Police recovered a loaded firearm in the car. I guess he
was using the pistol as a book rest. Nothing to see here. Sure he's dead.
Because he didn't obey commands. Obey the law. Carry around guns and don't
comply. You get shot. I have no remorse for that. It's not because he's black.
I don't care what color he was. Obey the law, it's simple. Millions of people
do it everyday and don't get shot.
Phyl Campbell Terrorists can be taken
into custody after killing people. Alive. Police put bullet proof vests on
suspected shooters and they get to stand trial.
This guy MIGHT have had a loaded gun in his car. Who was he shooting? Why is he
dead? That person's van broke down. He was walking away with his hands in the
air. Why is he dead? She was in a jail cell. Why is she dead?
WHY ARE THEY DEAD?
A
The man
from Tulsa was fried out of his mind on PCP. Officers recovered mass quantities
in the car. The van was not broke down, the man was hallucinating and said the
car was on fire
A
Liberal
media strikes again.
Phyl Campbell Can you prove that?
Even if that was 100% true -- WHY ARE THEY DEAD? Why are they not worthy of a
trial? Why do actual murderers get protection that they don't?
A
Can you
prove it was just a book? Can you prove that the guy in Tulsa was telling the
cops he was simply going back to his car? Everyone wants to assume the worst.
Phyl Campbell "Everyone"
wants to assume the worst? The guy is DEAD. I don't have to assume the worst.
He's DEAD. I mean, you might be assuming the worst, because if he wasn't killed
and then killed a bunch of people -- if the cop killed one person to save a
bunch -- OK. I could understand that. But I don't see any evidence that
supports that. I see a guy that's DEAD.
That's not my liberal agenda, although I am a liberal and I am proud to fight
for equal rights. It isn't equal that James Holmes is alive and going through
trial, Dylann Roof is alive and getting justice, Robert Lewis Dear is getting
justice -- and they are all white and they all actually killed people
(allegedly) -- and that in the same country, Keith Scott is DEAD, Terence
Crutcher is DEAD, Tamir Rice is DEAD, Sandra Bland is DEAD. And I could list
many many more.
D
Ignorance,
will get you know where. Its unfortunate that anyone has to be subjected to any
kind of violence ,no matter what the job,color religion or race. We need to
stand together as one nation,only then will we all win.
E
Does
boycott = looting?
Those of us who are white need to keep talking. The actual person we're arguing with may not listen. Chances are they wonder why Obama wasn't in the White House on 9/11 or they think DT will make America great again. And we're not really talking to those people who won't listen.
But we're talking to them to get help. To bear witness. For the rest of everybody at the table to see the crazy and know that they won't be alone because we've already called out the BS. They will have a ride home if they stand with us. So give them a place to stand.
I will when I get home tonight. I gotta go help a guy celebrate his success. And if you want to join me, get details here: book launch event
Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer. She writes and conducts workshops on a variety of topics: Education, Women/Feminism/Equality, Book Reviews, and Writing. Her books are available on Amazon. If you'd like to see her speak at an upcoming function, contact her via her website or Facebook page.
