On the Subject of “Black Lives Matter”

 

I ask the question –

How much do black lives matter to black lives?

As for the Black Lives Matter Movement

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.

Black sisters and black brothers should matter to each other.

 

One of the conditions to become a member of a gang

like the Bloods and Crips were (and maybe still “are”)

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 (written in 2016)

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 elders, parents; 

and men and women disrespect themselves.

To express someone matters, means a show of 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 (2016): 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’s my voice)