So many tell me that I should be satisfied or at least partially happy, because at least the jury found Michael Dunn guilty of attempted murder of Jordan Davis' three friends (even though they did not convict on the first degree charge that the prosecution originally asked for).
With Florida's mandatory minimum, Jordan Davis' killer (I refuse to utter or type his name anymore) will go to prison for a minimum of 75 years, and at 47 years old, that equals the rest of his life. For the rest of his life, he gets the benefit of three meals a day, gets to lift weights, pursue education, access to free healthcare, while Jordan Davis lies in a cold grave, snuffed out at just 17 years of age.
Let me setup the scenario for you, for those unfamiliar with the case. On November 23, 2012, Jordan Davis and three of his friends were parked at a gas station playing their music. His murderer pulls in with his whore. His murderer had just arrived from his son's wedding reception, where I am sure they served alcohol, and sent his whore into the store to purchase more wine and snacks. His murderer parked so close to Jordan and his friends, that they couldn't open their doors. Jordan's murderer asks the young boys to turn down their music. They did initially, but Jordan chose to turn it up again (which is his right, and his murderer had no right to ask them to turn it down, because he could have just moved his car).
Jordan's murderer claims that he was threatened. Although he admits that he is hard of hearing, and claims the music was up loud (One lie of many). He also claims that he saw a weapon (None found, and the whole area canvased by cops). Jordan's murderer retrieves his gun from his glove compartment, and fires off 7 initial rounds, one missed (two struck Jordan, one in the torso, the other in the groin).
As Jordan and his friends were backing out of the parking space and away from the haze of gunfire, Jordan's murderer got out of his car and fired off three more shots for a total of 10 rounds.
When his whore returned to the car, he did not mention seeing a weapon. Jordan's murderer is so scared of the "thugs" (See my blog about thug being the new term for nigger), that he leaves his gun in his car, travels to a local motel, orders a pizza, drinks the wine and goes to sleep for the night. He fires 10 bullets into a car full of teenagers, and did not call the police, did not inquire did he injure or kill anyone. Did I mentioned he also walked his dog? He was more concerned with the well-being of his whore and his mutt, than the life that he had just taken. The next morning, he leaves the hotel and returns home. Luckily, one of the witness copied down his license plate to give police, so not only does he murder Jordan Davis, he flees the scene of the crime.
Fast forward to the jury trial. While telling multiple lies, Jordan's murderer does not shed tears for Jordan Davis. No, his tears were for his dog and his whore.
There were five counts on the table: Murder in the first degree for Jordan Davis, 3 counts of first degree attempted murder for his three friends, and one count of firing a missile (bullets) into a vehicle. The jury after 33 hours of deliberation over 4 days, found Jordan Davis guilty on four charges, although on a lesser charge, and could not agree on the 1st charge.
Let that marinate around your consciousness for a moment. This says several things to me. At least one person, if not several, believed that Jordan's murderer was somewhat justified for murdering Jordan. It also says to me that with the ridiculous Stand Your Ground Law, don't attempt to murder someone: just shoot to kill, and you will be fine, especially if it is an unarmed black boy. It also says to me that if Jordan Davis had been alone in that SUV, his murderer would be as free as you and me right now.
So this is not a victory, not even close. Lucia McBath and Ron Davis buried their only child. A child they thought that they would never have, and a jury of 12 and a Florida prosecution told them, their son's life was not worth anything.
Repealing Stand Your Ground is a step in the right direction, but until people's hearts and mind are changed, and until we call racism what it actually is instead of tiptoeing around it, there will be more Jordans, Trayvons, Jonathan Ferrell's, Oscar Grant's, Renisha McBride's.
Until next time.....
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Whitney Elizabeth Houston, "I'll Always Love You,"
It's hard to believe that it has been two years since we have lost the greatest singer of my lifetime. Yes, I said of my lifetime. The woman could do with a song, what Michael Jordan could do with a basketball. If you don't believe me, watch her 1991 rendition of "Star Spangled Banner". That song has been done thousands of times, but nobody did it like Ms. Houston.
I remember the first time that I heard her angelic voice. The year was 1985, and I had just received a two cassette player boom box (Anybody under 30 doesn't know about those....ha!). I was listening to 99.1 the Fox, the local radio station, and The Greatest Love of All came on. I didn't know who this woman was, but I knew if she sang the alphabet, I had to hear it, and I had to be present. This started an almost 30 year love affair both with her voice, and her public persona.
She was kind and gracious. She was called a "diva", but if that means because she was at the top of the craft, then a diva she was. What I loved most about Ms. Houston is how gracious she was to her fans, and how she mentored other young ladies in the music industry (Brandy, Monica, just to name a few).
My only regret is that I never got to see her in concert, or to meet her in person, but I have every cd; I have watched every live performance. Not a day goes by that I am not playing a cd, or visiting Youtube to watch a live performance.
She will always be, "The Voice". Her songs got me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and her voice inspired me to be a better singer.
Rest easy Ms. Houston, and I Will Always Love You!
I remember the first time that I heard her angelic voice. The year was 1985, and I had just received a two cassette player boom box (Anybody under 30 doesn't know about those....ha!). I was listening to 99.1 the Fox, the local radio station, and The Greatest Love of All came on. I didn't know who this woman was, but I knew if she sang the alphabet, I had to hear it, and I had to be present. This started an almost 30 year love affair both with her voice, and her public persona.
She was kind and gracious. She was called a "diva", but if that means because she was at the top of the craft, then a diva she was. What I loved most about Ms. Houston is how gracious she was to her fans, and how she mentored other young ladies in the music industry (Brandy, Monica, just to name a few).
My only regret is that I never got to see her in concert, or to meet her in person, but I have every cd; I have watched every live performance. Not a day goes by that I am not playing a cd, or visiting Youtube to watch a live performance.
She will always be, "The Voice". Her songs got me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and her voice inspired me to be a better singer.
Rest easy Ms. Houston, and I Will Always Love You!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Can a Black Man Get Some R-E-S-P-E-C-T or is that too much to ask?
Once again, humanity has let me down in terms of race relations. I am talking about the incident between college basketball player, Marcus Smart, and the racist fan Jeff Orr. Mr. Orr claims he just called Mr. Smart "a piece of crap" (He is a damn lie, but I will get to that in a little bit).
But like the American court system and the court of public opinion, the black man will get no justice, and even though the victim, will somehow become the perpetrator.
Marcus is the one who the recipient of the racist insult, while his perpetrator stuck his finger in his face, but because he "shoved" him, Marcus got suspended for three games for unsportsmanlike behavior (which is code for "little darkie" you got out of your place, and we have to show you who is boss). But Mr. Orr got to tell his side of the story aka lie, and offered his own punishment of not attending anymore games for the remainder of the season. Isn't Amerikkka (purposely spelled that way) grand?
What message does this send? As a black male, it sends two messages: a black man's worth rest solely on the fact that he is making someone laugh, or he has a ball in his hands; our lives are meaningful only if we stay in our places, once we venture out, we will be punished, and if we stray too far, murdered (Read up on Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Oscar Grant, Jonathan Ferrell, Kendrick Johnson, and the list goes on and on).
If you have uttered the following, "Jeff Orr was wrong, but....you are part of the problem. There is nobody who has an ounce of self-respect or dignity, who would hold a 19 year old more responsible than a grown ass 51 year old man. At that point in life, you should know how to attend a sporting event, enjoy the game, and sit your ass down somewhere and then go home. You should not be heckling the players, get so involved like someone is giving you money for the game, that you allow it to make you lose your cool, and you shouldn't be lying to save face.
Yes, I said he is lying. Do you really think Marcus Smart shoved a man for calling him a "piece of crap'? If you believe that, I have a New Jersey bridge to sell you (Sorry, Chris Christie, you are such an easy target). Jeff Orr did the proverbial no, no in the black community: call us a racial slur, while putting your hands in our faces. He is very fortunate that all he received was a shove.
Those young players risk life and limb to bring championships home and to entertain millions, so can they get some respect and protection?
This will happen again. Some other overzealous fan will not only heckle, but do worse, because this episode taught them that keeping the "darkies in line" is more important than telling the truth or acting like you have some sense.
To Marcus Smart, young brother keep your head up. If playing basketball is your passion, don't let anyone take that from you. But FYI, you might want to change teams, because it is evident that yours is not invested in your protection or your worth.
To Jeff Orr, you know your punk ass said nigger or some other innocuous racial slur. Bring your fat ass to me. Call me a racial slur, and put your finger in my face. I am an almost 38 year old, twice degreed male, with over 16 years in my profession, and I will beat your ass, for Marcus Smart and millions of others who get disrespected each day.
Until next time.....
But like the American court system and the court of public opinion, the black man will get no justice, and even though the victim, will somehow become the perpetrator.
Marcus is the one who the recipient of the racist insult, while his perpetrator stuck his finger in his face, but because he "shoved" him, Marcus got suspended for three games for unsportsmanlike behavior (which is code for "little darkie" you got out of your place, and we have to show you who is boss). But Mr. Orr got to tell his side of the story aka lie, and offered his own punishment of not attending anymore games for the remainder of the season. Isn't Amerikkka (purposely spelled that way) grand?
What message does this send? As a black male, it sends two messages: a black man's worth rest solely on the fact that he is making someone laugh, or he has a ball in his hands; our lives are meaningful only if we stay in our places, once we venture out, we will be punished, and if we stray too far, murdered (Read up on Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Oscar Grant, Jonathan Ferrell, Kendrick Johnson, and the list goes on and on).
If you have uttered the following, "Jeff Orr was wrong, but....you are part of the problem. There is nobody who has an ounce of self-respect or dignity, who would hold a 19 year old more responsible than a grown ass 51 year old man. At that point in life, you should know how to attend a sporting event, enjoy the game, and sit your ass down somewhere and then go home. You should not be heckling the players, get so involved like someone is giving you money for the game, that you allow it to make you lose your cool, and you shouldn't be lying to save face.
Yes, I said he is lying. Do you really think Marcus Smart shoved a man for calling him a "piece of crap'? If you believe that, I have a New Jersey bridge to sell you (Sorry, Chris Christie, you are such an easy target). Jeff Orr did the proverbial no, no in the black community: call us a racial slur, while putting your hands in our faces. He is very fortunate that all he received was a shove.
Those young players risk life and limb to bring championships home and to entertain millions, so can they get some respect and protection?
This will happen again. Some other overzealous fan will not only heckle, but do worse, because this episode taught them that keeping the "darkies in line" is more important than telling the truth or acting like you have some sense.
To Marcus Smart, young brother keep your head up. If playing basketball is your passion, don't let anyone take that from you. But FYI, you might want to change teams, because it is evident that yours is not invested in your protection or your worth.
To Jeff Orr, you know your punk ass said nigger or some other innocuous racial slur. Bring your fat ass to me. Call me a racial slur, and put your finger in my face. I am an almost 38 year old, twice degreed male, with over 16 years in my profession, and I will beat your ass, for Marcus Smart and millions of others who get disrespected each day.
Until next time.....
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Letter to Dylan Farrow
Dear Dylan,
I don't know you personally, but let me say that I think you are a classy, brave, and strong young woman. Your open letter was not only heart wrenching and poignant, but you gave a voice to some many voiceless victims.
I was the same age as you, when my abuser decided to take indecent liberties with me. Like you, the abuser was someone known to me, so of course, nothing was done, and I had to deal with the shame, and blame for my role in allowing him to do it to others.
This is an incredible cross to bear at seven years old, one that no child should have to bear. The years of pain and anguish at the hands of an abuser can be insufferable, but I am glad that you survived and are lending your voice to help others.
Please know that millions stand with you. Do not worry about the social media responses. They are just faceless bullies behind the anonymity of a computer screen. Do not worry about your adoptive father's fame and hero worship, because most of us think that he is a disgusting pig, and will never watch anything that he directs or produces again.
Stand in your truth, and don't allow anyone to silence your voice. I and millions of others like me stand beside you, support you, and pray for your healing and restoration.
All the best to you,
Corey Bu-Shea
I don't know you personally, but let me say that I think you are a classy, brave, and strong young woman. Your open letter was not only heart wrenching and poignant, but you gave a voice to some many voiceless victims.
I was the same age as you, when my abuser decided to take indecent liberties with me. Like you, the abuser was someone known to me, so of course, nothing was done, and I had to deal with the shame, and blame for my role in allowing him to do it to others.
This is an incredible cross to bear at seven years old, one that no child should have to bear. The years of pain and anguish at the hands of an abuser can be insufferable, but I am glad that you survived and are lending your voice to help others.
Please know that millions stand with you. Do not worry about the social media responses. They are just faceless bullies behind the anonymity of a computer screen. Do not worry about your adoptive father's fame and hero worship, because most of us think that he is a disgusting pig, and will never watch anything that he directs or produces again.
Stand in your truth, and don't allow anyone to silence your voice. I and millions of others like me stand beside you, support you, and pray for your healing and restoration.
All the best to you,
Corey Bu-Shea
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