Black Community’s Shame In Trayvon Martin Killing: The Late Phylicia Simone Barnes Remembered As Anniversary Approaches
Posted by David Adams on March 31st, 2012
The late Trayvon Benjiman Martin (17) and the late Phylicia Simon Barnes (16) are just two of hundreds of black youth killed on the streets of America
When the Civil Rights protest of the 60’s occurred I was just a toddler without a clue about the social change that was happening. I don’t recall much of it, as I was 2 years old when Dr. King was killed. They say the marches and protest currently going on in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing is very reminiscent of that era. I will admit that I have never witnessed the black community by the masses on such an accord for social justice in America. The inequality that has plagued our community has been an ever ending debacle as it pertains to our relationship with police and the justice system as a whole. We have witnessed the incarceration of countless black men only to discover years later that they were in fact innocent. In some of those case they were put to death like many believe happened to Troy Davis. For the most part, the black community were mum on the entire injustice that many cried out. There is still the case of famed journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who has been incarcerated for nearly thirty years now for killing a white Philadelphia Police Officer, in a case that reeks setup, railroad, and injustice if ever there were such a case. We have remained silent for Mumia’s plight also. Not only that, but hundreds of young black men are killed at the hands of people their own color daily in America, yet we cry out not for these people or their loved ones either. Then there is the case of the late Phylicia Barnes who died while in the care of older siblings. Her story has gone relatively silent except for a few dedicated Bloggers who refuse to allow her death to run quietly in the night. Where is the outrage for her, for her parents, and other siblings. Phylicia’s death like many homicides committed in the black community, more than likely was carried out at the hands of someone of her own ethnicity. The killing of this honors teen highlights a blatant disregard for the life of even the black communities most promising young people. The very disturbing thing about her death is that there is significant evidence that people may know exactly what happened to the intelligent child, but refuse to aid in solving her apparent cold murder case. Anytime there is a killing of a black child there should be discuss, outrage, and protest demanding that authorities establish justice for these heinous acts. The reality is that the life of a black child is literally worthless in America and we should be ashamed that we are complacent and not proactive in demanding justice for our kids. When a white child goes missing or is killed in this country, the media runs news coverage into the ground. The search parties and volunteers who participate in finding their kids typically come at great volume, while searching late into the night looking for their loved ones. It’s a depiction of their resolve for preservation within their community and one I can hold them at fault. Sadly, the black community accepts the killing of black children as a way of life, and often times the silence that follows is because of fear. Fear that they may fall victim to violence as well and simply adjust to violence and other crimes within their community. How is it that the killing of Trayvon Martin by a non-black person can spark such outrage, and we are ever so careless when the exact same kinds of crimes are committed by our own people. I will admit that the Martin Teen’s killing was marred by a poor police investigation, and clearly was treated as a routine black youth murder by a racist police agency. I am convinced that the bold and arrogant attempt to get away from such a killing while trying to cover it up by the police, is directly related to the black communities own violence and lack of involvement related to violent crimes in our own communities. I am not trying to poor salt on an open womb, nor diminish the injustice in Trayvon Martin’s killing, but rather offering a grass-root consciousness about the most significant dilemma plaguing our community. Trayvon’s killing is tragic and we must fight for justice in his case, but we must also be equally outraged that our beautiful daughters can end up, some how while in the care of family, floating nude in a river. We must fight for justice in this child’s murder also. Phylicia’s body was found in the Susquehanna River in Northern Maryland on April 21, 2011 and her case remains unsolved. Justice for Trayvon Martin and Justice for Phylicia Simone Barnes. We should all be ashamed.
The People’s Champion
I’m David Adams
The late Trayvon Benjiman Martin (17) and the late Phylicia Simon Barnes (16) are just two of hundreds of black youth killed on the streets of America
When the Civil Rights protest of the 60’s occurred I was just a toddler without a clue about the social change that was happening. I don’t recall much of it, as I was 2 years old when Dr. King was killed. They say the marches and protest currently going on in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing is very reminiscent of that era. I will admit that I have never witnessed the black community by the masses on such an accord for social justice in America. The inequality that has plagued our community has been an ever ending debacle as it pertains to our relationship with police and the justice system as a whole. We have witnessed the incarceration of countless black men only to discover years later that they were in fact innocent. In some of those case they were put to death like many believe happened to Troy Davis. For the most part, the black community were mum on the entire injustice that many cried out. There is still the case of famed journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who has been incarcerated for nearly thirty years now for killing a white Philadelphia Police Officer, in a case that reeks setup, railroad, and injustice if ever there were such a case. We have remained silent for Mumia’s plight also. Not only that, but hundreds of young black men are killed at the hands of people their own color daily in America, yet we cry out not for these people or their loved ones either. Then there is the case of the late Phylicia Barnes who died while in the care of older siblings. Her story has gone relatively silent except for a few dedicated Bloggers who refuse to allow her death to run quietly in the night. Where is the outrage for her, for her parents, and other siblings. Phylicia’s death like many homicides committed in the black community, more than likely was carried out at the hands of someone of her own ethnicity. The killing of this honors teen highlights a blatant disregard for the life of even the black communities most promising young people. The very disturbing thing about her death is that there is significant evidence that people may know exactly what happened to the intelligent child, but refuse to aid in solving her apparent cold murder case. Anytime there is a killing of a black child there should be discuss, outrage, and protest demanding that authorities establish justice for these heinous acts. The reality is that the life of a black child is literally worthless in America and we should be ashamed that we are complacent and not proactive in demanding justice for our kids. When a white child goes missing or is killed in this country, the media runs news coverage into the ground. The search parties and volunteers who participate in finding their kids typically come at great volume, while searching late into the night looking for their loved ones. It’s a depiction of their resolve for preservation within their community and one I can hold them at fault. Sadly, the black community accepts the killing of black children as a way of life, and often times the silence that follows is because of fear. Fear that they may fall victim to violence as well and simply adjust to violence and other crimes within their community. How is it that the killing of Trayvon Martin by a non-black person can spark such outrage, and we are ever so careless when the exact same kinds of crimes are committed by our own people. I will admit that the Martin Teen’s killing was marred by a poor police investigation, and clearly was treated as a routine black youth murder by a racist police agency. I am convinced that the bold and arrogant attempt to get away from such a killing while trying to cover it up by the police, is directly related to the black communities own violence and lack of involvement related to violent crimes in our own communities. I am not trying to poor salt on an open womb, nor diminish the injustice in Trayvon Martin’s killing, but rather offering a grass-root consciousness about the most significant dilemma plaguing our community. Trayvon’s killing is tragic and we must fight for justice in his case, but we must also be equally outraged that our beautiful daughters can end up, some how while in the care of family, floating nude in a river. We must fight for justice in this child’s murder also. Phylicia’s body was found in the Susquehanna River in Northern Maryland on April 21, 2011 and her case remains unsolved. Justice for Trayvon Martin and Justice for Phylicia Simone Barnes. We should all be ashamed.
The People’s Champion
I’m David Adams
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