Ceasefire held a circle prayer for Terrence Palmer tonight, the young man who was killed on Birchwood last Saturday morning.
In attendance:
Myself (Julie Seagraves), Craig Gernhardt, Joe Moore, Sarah Jane Knoy (ONE), Jeffrey Orr, Vernandez Jones and his Ceasefire crew, plus the pastor from the Baptist Church in Evanston where services will be held for Terrence Palmer, and Sarah Jane's clergy assistant.
On our way to the event, down the block from the prayer circle, we encountered Chris Adams collecting signatures. He did not attend the vigil, but Craig Gernhardt and I got photos. Joe's comment, "He does exist. I thought he was just a website!"
As we gathered to pray, one block away were Palmer's friends. Craig asked Vern why we weren't inviting his friends. He pointed out that it would seem that would be part of the mission and they should be included. Vern agreed but said that was difficult sometimes, especially when there are authority figures around. Sarah Jane's clergy assistant went to talk to the kids. She came back followed by 7 kids who joined hands with us to pray for the deceased.
They were clearly moved, we were clearly moved. Thanks to Craig, the circle was complete and we prayed as an all-inclusive community.
The clergy assistant made sure the kids knew when the funeral was and advised them not to wear their hats - it's not appreciated at the churches.
Services tomorrow at the Baptist Church in Evanston on Simpson and Emerson. 7 pm.
After the event I asked Craig Gernhardt if he was running for alderman or not with all the gossip going on. He said he'll make his decision and announce his aspirations after the general election is over in November."
You heard it here first - on the 'Broken Heart'....
Report by: Julie Seagraves
6 comments:
Now this is a really nice story. It's about something really tragic, but I really respect this kind of work personally. Maybe sometime I'll get my butt out to one of these and see firsthand.
If you don't mind my saying Craig- this is what Steve and I see as one of your greatest strengths- you have a lot of heart and you're not afraid to take a risk if it will do some good.
Be safe and thank you always for your contribution to the neighborhood.
This is a true broken heart story.
His friends, parents and our community are heart broken over this event.
2 years ago when a fire fight broke out in front of my house (yellow vs red team) several houses and cars were hit and 911 was called.
They were really bad shots being that they were parked next to one another and managed to only hit cars and buildings.
One bullet just a couple of inches from a window where my then infant daughter sleeps.
Kudos to those trying to make a difference and do not worry rpneighbor just wait and there will be another cease fire event as these kids are trying and succeeding at killing.
This is sad and all to common.
Showing up for a remembrance, funeral, memorial service, or whatever solemn event marking the death of someone is certainly a nice gesture. BUT, at the risk of demeaning those of you who did schlepp out (and I don't mean to demean any of you good folks), um, well, it's a little late and much after the fact. The guy is dead and no remembrances attended by neighbors or politicos or police is going to bring him back, save him from gangs or drugs or whatever. Not to sound harsh, but it's a dollar late and a day short. The problem is not who shows up to mark these deaths but who does what BEFORE it even happens to prevent it. Further, I'll suggest that showing up after the fact adds a bit more glory to the death and the reality is that there is no glory in these gang, drug, or innocent shootings. Publically marking them may, in fact, make matters worse.
Who has given what to Family Matters to help prevent kids from going down a bad path? Who has done what in working with police to help African Americans, particularly males, feel that the police are their friends? And who has done what to substantially improve the education that Chicago kids are getting so that they don't see hanging on street corners at 1 a.m. as a profitable or even desirable endeavor? None of this after they are dead stuff helps, really, does it?
Julie wrote: "One kid told me it was so upsetting to him that white people moving into the neighborhood walk by him on the street and he can see the fear in their eyes."
Perhaps someone was pulling your leg or taking advantage of your sensitivity in making this comment? Seems difficult to believe that the majority of white people moving to RP would be fearful of blacks. RP is 1/3rd black, neighborhood is known for it's diversity. So, the white folk moving here didn't notice all the non-whites prior to pulling up the moving truck, moved here because it's diverse but they are afraid of it and/or didn't realize it's diversity? Are we really to believe that white residents moved here in spite of the fact that they are fearful of blacks? This assumption or claim rather defies logic. Would YOU move to a neighborhood that made you fearful?
I'm not suggesting that prejudice doesn't exist. It does. Nonetheless, it would seem more logical to assume that most of the people in RP are not prejudiced, are not racist, and don't have 'tude about black males, and that claims of such should be met with acknowledgement but then discussion. Is the black assuming that the white is fearful of their color? Are there prejudicial assumptions on BOTH sides of the fence?
The reality is that people self-segrate, even in mixed communities (see gay bars for a non racial example -- if we're really all so open to each other how come we have bars for straights and bars for gays?). Hell, go to the park on a summer eve and see how all of RP's diversity self-segrates into like groups. That's life. We do it whether we mean to or not, and it's usually not about prejudice but nature -- birds of a feather and all.
I'm sorry, I still think that these public marches and rallies and memorials AFTER something bad has happened (mostly by a bunch of middle class white folks) do nothing. It's applying an old '60s reaction that has failed to have any effect in the 21st century. It's like we keep doing the same thing in the hope that the outcome will eventually be different. I've been here since '91 and have seen no change as a result of any march. Some young black (and more recently, Hispanic) men are still joining gangs, some are still dealing drugs, and every year several die because they are a part of a bad culture or they got caught in the crossfire. And the education offered to these residents still really sucks (if I may be blunt). March, rally, memorialize all you want but until there is change in some underlying basics like education and the relationship between police and ALL residents, no march, rally, or memorial will have much of an impact except to make some folks who attend them feel better. I'm not dissing your efforts. There is something to be said for doing something, anything, if only to make one feel less powerless in the face of such travesty. But I have to admit to being weary of reading about this or that march, rally, or memorial on the blogs and the resulting pats on the back to those in attendance. Truly, I don't mean to be criticizing you or your efforts but it's starting to feel just a little sanctimonious to me.
If any of us really care and want to effect change we will work with CAPS to address these issues and force the issue with the police. We will harass our politicians into improving education in RP. We will help groups like Family Matters be more than maintenance organizations. If we can't give our time, we'll give our money to people who have the time. I'd like to start seeing these kinds of actions (donate to CDEA and here's their contact info., write to the Superintentant of Schools on x issue and here's the contact info., etc.) and discussions on the blogs rather than calls to march or pictures apres memorial. Face it, showing up for a march or memorial is pretty easy and doesn't put much strain on any of us. The other stuff is harder, more frustrating, and takes more time. But it is the only thing that will lead to meaningful and impactful change.
Julie, I'm sorry but I think you are making big assumptions and sweeping generalizations. I'm not saying that some don't fit your profile but let's not paint everyone with the same broad brush because then we are just as bigoted as the racist.
For instance, you just pretty much described me but I've been living in predominantly minority communities in DC and Chicago for longer than I care to state. But if you saw me walking down the street with my three big black Newfoundland dogs, me white, petite, hopefully looking younger than I really am, well, based on what you are saying, I'd fit your category of fearful white chick. I just happen to like my big cuddly bear-dogs. One of my white, middle aged neighbors fell in love and now she has a Newfoundland. Are we to assume that she's a fearful racist too? Are you telling me that all the people at the beach who have big dogs are racist and fearful? Hmm. . . do we include the black guys with big dogs in that picture? If I said "you know, I think that all these black boys with pit bulls, they're all drug dealers and dog fighers," would you find that an acceptable statement? I wouldn't. Saying that all whites or new, young whites are idiots, racists, whatever, is the same as saying that all black men are gangbanging drug dealers. Both statements are absurd and not true. My point: we need to move away from ALL stereotyping, on both sides, and work to make meaningful improvements instead of saying and doing the same things that have not gotten anyone anywhere.
I'm not a black guy and I can't imagine how it is to know that even some assume you to be a "bad" guy by virtue of the color of your skin. No doubt it would make one paranoid as hell. But just because some people think that doesn't mean that we should encourage the belief to be expanded to the many. It takes two sides to knock down these ridiculous walls. Further, I'd suggest that almost all teenagers of any color feel bad/beleagured/highly emotional. Partly we are dealing with teenage stuff. It takes different forms in different peoples but teenagers are teenagers and they all seem to feel deeply and profoundly and in a very amplified way. I don't mean to minimize this young man's feelings. They are his and they are real. But some context beyond the prejudicial comment seems appropriate. There is a context here beyond some white chick giving him a funny look -- or not looking. The context could be teenage stuff, it could be feeling that someone not much older has the world by the balls when you don't -- and in your neighborhood where you grew up no less!
Acknowledging feelings is important; dialoguing is critical; but we need to do more than reinforce and authenticate prejudices on both sides. And that means doing the really hard work of fixing those things that make your young black man's world seem less than my world or yours. Prejudice sucks but it's not what has him feeling really bad at the end of the day. It's the commute to the lousy job by virtue of a less great education; it's a lack of faith in the police; it may even be a less than nurturing upbringing (though I certainly don't want to make broad statements that all black males grow up in lousy households because that's just not true either). Bottomline: we need to tend to the structural elements of that boy's world because then, when he has the same opportunity as the white chick in the six-figure condo, he really won't care what she may or may not think.
Julie -- I never said you were being bamboozled or minimized the plight of any minority. I said that there is simply more context that surrounds the issue. You are determined to see all blacks as victims, whites (and now Hispanics) as the oppressors, and continue to perpetuate such rather than work to break down walls on both sides. You have a 1960s attitude and you take a 1960s approach to a 21st century problem (which is ultimately economic disparity and less about race).
I have been here since 1991. The Lost Boys of Sudan have been hosted by the church near my home, and I've seen what they face. Don't lecture me about the gangs. I've watched them from my window for almost 16 years; first the black gangs fought amongst themselves, now the LKs fight them -- different characters, same story. I have said, frequently on this blog, that I feel horrible for any black male in this 'hood for they are at huge risk just walking the streets (mostly by other gangs, latin or otherwise). And I have frequently criticized our alderman and police for not addressing this issue.
I used to think that your heart was in the right place; now I'm not so sure. Instead of working to level the economic playing field I think you'd rather keep less advantaged minorities down so you can minister to them as victims which, I might point out, puts you in a place of power.
There have been gangs fighting each other for 100s of years (Irish, German, Italian, Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc.). Only a fool would think they or even the police can somehow stop it. The only way to battle it to win is economic: legalize the illicit activity gangs indulge in to make their $ and/or provide education that lifts people out of oppressive environments where gangs flourish. The traditional civil rights answer to the question hasn't worked, and all I'm doing is pointing that out. If you really cared, you'd want to dialogue about new potential solutions rather than cling to YOUR preconceived notions and accuse me of being ignorant.
Further, you sound like an apologist for the GDs and their ilk. I'm not rooting for either of these teams. They both suck.
I refuse to engage in bigoted conversation that paints ANY group with a broad brush (we can all find some jerk, idiot behavior in all groups but that should not define the group) , besides which such dialogue does NOTHING to change anything. You care? Then work to improve education. The rest is just noise. The bottom line is giving people hope and you give them hope by thinking there is a better tomorrow -- and that comes from being able to grab the opportunties that education might bring. What we can do is give people an opportunity to get the hell out of gangland with education that opens a far more pleasant and renumerative world to them.
Face it; anyone who has any money or any wherewithal in this ward, black or white or any other flavor, sends their kids to private schools or makes sure they get in a magnet school. That says more about the problems in this ward than anything else. Get rid of LKs, improve race relations between the police and any minority group. But none of that will lift any one up. It's important and may make it safe for them to get to and from school but if the school they go to is awful, we've not accomplished much. The core problem is a crappy education that doesn't help inspire children to the world of opportunity that awaits those of us who had a decent education.
Our discussion has become heated and I'm sorry that I'm contributing to it. You obviously do care and you have focused on certain matters of survival that are important. Good for you for doing something, and I apologize if you think I'm being patronizing. I'm just tired of watching same problems, same responses, no change, and feel it's time to speak up and raise key issues that I don't see being addressed by anyone. You want to call me ignorant for that? Fine, then I'm ignorant. I'd rather turn my attention to improving education and the resulting opportunities than cling to old notions and ways that haven't led to meaningful change (see gangs killing each other for hundreds of years). I accept that I don't know everyting and that there are other matters to be addressed. But I do know that without hope, a person doesn't have anything, and having hope is about more than walking down the street free of gangs or silly white chicks.
Post a Comment