On the Subject of “Black Lives Matter”

I ask the question –

But do black lives matter to black lives?

As for the Black Lives Matter Movement

I suggest first things first -

Black lives should matter to black people.

We must be held accountable, and take responsibility for the fact that

too many of our black people are gunned down, cut down,

beat up and beat down, stomped on

and left for dead…by other black people.

Black children should matter to their parents.

Black parents should matter to their children.

Black brothers should matter to black brothers and black sisters.

And black sisters should matter to each other.

One of the conditions to become a member of a gang like the Bloods 

and Crips was (and maybe still “is”) the pre-condition of membership…

the candidate was to draw blood -

To go out and do harm, maim, or kill a brother – murder in cold blood.

So he’s saying, as I see it,

his brother’s life does not matter in the least,

of no importance, of no worth, insignificant, irrelevant.

He can just drive up and down the streets where black people live 

and breathe, and make their home, their sanctuary,

and just shoot aimlessly and take a black life, any life,

a child innocently standing by.

Black lives don’t matter so often to his own person -

His own life does not matter.

So many young black men don’t think in terms of their future lives,

or their individual lives.

Too many don’t care if they live or die today or tomorrow.

It doesn’t matter.

If it doesn’t matter that over the 4^th of July weekend

there were over 60 murders in the city of Chicago,

where’s the hope of living?

Life mattering, as I see it, means your values matter, 

your responsibilities matter, your duties and obligations matter;  

individual honor and decency should matter.

If they don’t matter, you are condemning your own self to not mattering;

if you just don’t matter to yourself;

If your people don’t matter; if your history doesn’t matter to you,

how can you really stand correct and honorably,

and require/request that your life should matter to someone else.

(Though in all truth under God, we are to love one another, all.

And there’s the matter of regard for humanity.)

Nevertheless, as it stands, it is evident that our lives too often 

have not mattered to one another,

Also a truth.

There is blatant disrespect in all categories - men to women, 

to our elderlies, parents; and men and women disrespect themselves.

To express someone matters, means a show respect and honor 

and dignity for yourself and towards others.

Your character should matter.  Your integrity should matter.

Your reputation should matter.

At the same time, I’m not disagreeing that the lawlessness continuously

demonstrated against black people by the establishment order

should be brought to judgment and stand accused of crimes 

against humanity, and against all that is holy.

Why not let us, black people, take hold of the teachings of Dr. King 

and put on “The Drum Major Instinct.”   To quote a line or two –

“The instinct that I must be first, I must be supreme…

it’s a good instinct if your use it right.  It’s a good instinct

if you don’t distort and pervert it… But I want you to be first in love…

in moral excellence…in generosity.”

“Wisdom from above is first of all pure, then it is peace-loving,

courteous (considerate), yields to reason,

full of compassion and good fruits; it is whole-hearted 

and straight-forward, impartial and unfeigned (free of insincerity).”   

James 3:17

“First take the beam out of your own eye”.  Matthew 7:5

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel 

is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

“Give instructions to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach 

a righteous man and he will increase in learning.” Proverbs 9:9

Special Note: According to a Huffington Post report, 810 people 

have died in jail since Sandra Bland supposedly committed suicide 

on July 13, 2015.

“Black people are more likely to die in jail (than other groups) because

they are more likely to be arrested than any other racial group,

for reasons that have much to do with double standards 

in the justice system and historic oppressions as they do with crime.”

Story by Dana Liebelson and Ryan J. Reilly – 7-13-2016)

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet 

(fall, plunge); and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, 

and waters will overwhelm the hiding places.” Isaiah 28:16

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, 

and I have appointed you…

to bear my fruit, to be the fruit of My Spirit.” John 15:16

Amen (so be it… that’

This Flesh

A mass tucked in

Plump soft tissues                           

Formed from the soil and sea filtered down

from the stars

to in-bed the dust of the ground

Body framed and encased

by the pottered skin we’re cast in

To sail voyages written on the wind

Spunned upon

Moon beams                                                     

A fluted bone

A Flowered milky-way

Honed and sown with fibers

Proceeding through the heart pump

Extending down around through

Waterways channeling

Millions of surging waves                                               

Springing deep inside the fissures

like the strings of violins

strung about the stems and shafts,

the lobes and portals

and gateways                                                   

To surface like a melody

one hears

when the orchestra plays a mastered symphony

This blessed creation

of God’s making

Not merely for reproduction

But gratification and placation

Not merely

for birthing and nursing

The lips

to kiss

comes naturally

warm and soft

sweet and savory

Transporting messages down the spine

Inciting the mind -

Touch me tenderly

This body formed so sumptuously

Amply woven

Wholly knitted

to release

Eruptions                              

Shaking the earth floor

Emitting fervors

to ease the hungers and thirst of

The molded flesh

to do or to die

 

So much of us being human beings is about touch - as in stroke the face, 

simple contact, pat the baby’s back, rub the arching feet, massage 

a sore bone, caress the thigh, wipe a running nose, dry the eye, 

squeeze a hand, feel the sense of blue, embrace and hug, 

and pet the animal at the zoo.

We all need to be touched.

Even in our spirit – we seek a touch from God

A song says, “He touched me…” and it helps us on our way.

He touches the body and one is healed; touches the mind and one sees; 

touches the heart and one loves.

Touch is so much of being alive.  The human body was made to be touched, 

within and without.

It is pertinent to the form laid in its foundation – as we stand today – 

shaped from the clay.

Religious folk emphases much to the flesh on the sexual aspects of sin.   

Yet, most are afraid to touch the subject head-on – 

to explore the extended boundaries; look into the “matter;” to tread

across the waters of the deep; to understand this formation of man 

and his sex.

He’s choking on the apple; he’s hung up on the head of the snake – 

(it’s been cut off).

So he hides, he chides, he derides, he lies in self-righteous prides. – 

like a child afraid of the dark.

Only he’s afraid of the light.

Being birthed in this earthly body is a transitory feature.   

It’s a place and time of man – to rise up and conquer the realm – 

and move on from lowly earth to the higher universe.

A school of thought.