There are a number of folks who have been critical of the Baltimore mom (Toya Graham) who stepped to her kid after she lost it and swapped him in front of nationwide cameras..The mom said she lost it when she realized it was her son and went after him.. She said she didn’t want him to be the next Freddie Gray..
Since this happened, I’ve heard all sorts of folks say the mom was wrong and she was ‘killing the revolutionary spirit’ of her son who had ‘righteous anger’ and was standing up to the police..
Lets just say for the moment that was true.. From the interviews shown on TV, it was obvious this single mom of six was not privy to her son’s ‘political wisdom’.. Nor was she seemingly privy to all this ‘political training’ her son ‘received’ which led to him throwing rocks at the police and prepared him for whatever consequences he might have to take as a result of his actions..
Lets say that this young kid was arrested, who was prepared to get him a lawyer, provide bail money and make sure he was prepared to go through the injustice system? We know he wasn’t prepared. His mom wasn’t prepared.. But everyone is saying the mom should’ve let her kid go HAM..
If the kid was shot and killed that night was his mom prepared for her son to make that sacrifice? Heck was he prepared for the police response, even though he was as angry?
We know all about this young kid, because he was caught on video and has sparked a lot of debate. We also know over 200 people were arrested. I’m sure some of those folks arrested were the sons and daughters of parents who weren’t prepared for them standing up to the police the other day.. For those upset that the mom stopped her son from throwing rocks at police, how many of y’all have bailed out any of the other folks arrested? After all their moms didn’t stop them and in theory they made the sacrifice? Many are claiming them as soldiers in this war against the police, how are we supporting these ‘troops’
How many of y’all have chipped in for lawyers? Did you help prepare these kids or any kids for jail if that’s where they wind up going? Are any of you who cheering on the kids, there for the families of any of those arrested? How many of y’all actually looked up the stats to see who got bailed out and who didn’t? How come no one is posting up the number for the DA and asking us to call and demand that they not be charged?? Where’s the initiative around that??
More than 100 people were let out of jail without being charged.. But because folks are so concerned about this mom and not the other ‘young lions’ arrested nobody knew that and posted up the numerous articles stating that so folks would know and can better plan. No one upon reading this did a simple Google search to see about those other kids. Instead folks went for the mom and her son who are low hanging fruit..
There are several organizations on the ground including B-MoreUnited.org. How come no one posted up their info so all of us who are so concerned about the young can help them or at least inquire as to what is needed and if they as an org are helping the kids?? I made the suggestion the other day that perhaps this incident could be an inspiration for us to adapt some of these schools and be mentors and strong adult presence.. From what I understand after calling around, folks are already doing that and have been doing that.. Have people joined any of those efforts??
Back in 1963 in Birmingham, a calculated decision was made by Dr King and others in the Civil Rights Movement to have kids march and stand up to injustice. The rationale was that adults who were key breadwinners could not afford to be arrested, so parents and movement leaders made the call and sacrificed their kids to do the marches. The kids were trained and prepared to demonstrate However, it was to everyone’s horror who saw on TV that Bull Connor ordered the kids to ruthlessly sprayed with high pressured, powerful water hoses and be attacked by vicious police dogs..Over 1200 kids were jailed.. The parents and adults in the movement were shocked but they were there to support them while in jail.. It was called the Children’s Crusade..
Are we as folks who stand for social justice in conversation and actively supporting those kids who responded to the Baltimore police provoking them or kids in our neighborhoods who may find themselves in similar situations? ? Are we willing to prepare and train these kids going forward?