REFLECTION:
I received tragic news in my email, this past Saturday. By the time I received the news, the funeral of a familiar spirit had already passed. It was such a shock to my system. It was like I lost a family member. I saw so many signs (as an elder sees)...but, I felt restricted on how I could intervene. I'm still in shock. Symbolically, this occurred as I prepare for a major project---addressing the same issues amongst our youth.
He shared the same birthday of my eldest brother...and I swear, many of the same personality traits. I used to tell him this, all the time. He would just laugh...or, flash his big grin.
As someone who's been mentoring & teaching kids and teenagers---since 1998---I've seen many of them take different routes...meeting different fates. When there is a road as tragic as this one, I can't restrain my feelings of deep sadness and anger. To the members of my generation and my Mom's generation: there is a disconnect. Yeah, we can place blame and labels on those born 1985+....but, many people turned a blind eye....while our sons/ daughters/ sisters and brothers sought guidance. They needed a father/ mother/ sister/ brother....but the bonds within our village were steadily breaking. I did all I could as an activist: mentoring, petitioning, organizing, recruiting, conferences....but, I was dismissed in the 1990's and early 2000's as being "too deep". The ghetto-clowns held a bigger microphone & drowned-out our cries of "Yield---danger ahead!" And so our village continued to burn.
Many from my generation (and older) were worried about shaking their asses in a club...popularizing "nigga", and "paper-chasing" dollars. But those youngsters were observing us. Once the smoke cleared, those youngsters were left without a compass...clamoring onto anything or anyone they felt would edify their spirit...validate their existence...or, simply guide them. Regardless if the energy/group/doctrine was negative or positive---they needed to fill the void which they were born into. They needed navigation.
I wish I could've been more of an elder for you, Adam. I wish you would've been more receptive. I'm so sorry.