The Ferguson Verdict - “It Could Have Been Me, Or My Child”
There is a story that is being written in the African American neighborhoods across the country. This story is entitled, “It Could Have Been Me, or My Child”. I am a young, black male. I am a Pastor. Yet I dare not think that the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Brown, Jr. could not have been my own story. And although my child is a female, it could be her story as well. While I am appalled at the verdict, unfortunately, I am not shocked by it. Truthfully, I don’t believe any Black person in America is shocked by the verdict. That’s troubling. In holding to the letter of the law apparently designed to absolve the actions of those who are sworn to “protect and defend”, here again, we re-live the circumstances of a young, unarmed Black teen in Florida. Here again, we re-live the circumstances of an unarmed Ethiopian male in New York. It is the story of the death of a Black male at the hands of white law enforcement officers, or neighborhood vigilantes, who become the perpetrators, are not indicted, and who ultimately go free (and possibly make millions writing books). The story was told by President Barack Obama when he said, “I could have been Trayvon Martin”, and now should cause every Black male to think, “I, too, could have been Michael Brown, Jr.”As believers, we are commanded by the Prince of Peace, and thus it is incumbent upon us to “love our enemies, bless them that curse [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]. Even as demonstrations are being planned for major cities around the country, we still must use wisdom and not violence in making our position clear. We know from the great Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that violence begets violence. Dr. King went on to say that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Yet even in the face of such egregious injustice, we must retain and show the love that Jesus Christ showed. We believe that every earthly offense will have its day in the court of heaven – God will be the final Judge. To the residents of Ferguson, Missouri, our prayers are with you. Please use every opportunity available to you to make positive changes in your city. Honor the memory of your fallen neighbor, by respecting the wishes of his parents and protest peacefully. We don't want to lose any more of our sons and daughters to the over-reactions of law enforcement officials. Empower yourselves through education and cause the institutional structures and systemic strongholds to be brought down. Above all, pray without ceasing. Larry Owens, Jr., Senior Pastor
There is a story that is being written in the African American neighborhoods across the country. This story is entitled, “It Could Have Been Me, or My Child”. I am a young, black male. I am a Pastor. Yet I dare not think that the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Brown, Jr. could not have been my own story. And although my child is a female, it could be her story as well. While I am appalled at the verdict, unfortunately, I am not shocked by it. Truthfully, I don’t believe any Black person in America is shocked by the verdict. That’s troubling. In holding to the letter of the law apparently designed to absolve the actions of those who are sworn to “protect and defend”, here again, we re-live the circumstances of a young, unarmed Black teen in Florida. Here again, we re-live the circumstances of an unarmed Ethiopian male in New York. It is the story of the death of a Black male at the hands of white law enforcement officers, or neighborhood vigilantes, who become the perpetrators, are not indicted, and who ultimately go free (and possibly make millions writing books). The story was told by President Barack Obama when he said, “I could have been Trayvon Martin”, and now should cause every Black male to think, “I, too, could have been Michael Brown, Jr.”As believers, we are commanded by the Prince of Peace, and thus it is incumbent upon us to “love our enemies, bless them that curse [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]. Even as demonstrations are being planned for major cities around the country, we still must use wisdom and not violence in making our position clear. We know from the great Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that violence begets violence. Dr. King went on to say that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Yet even in the face of such egregious injustice, we must retain and show the love that Jesus Christ showed. We believe that every earthly offense will have its day in the court of heaven – God will be the final Judge. To the residents of Ferguson, Missouri, our prayers are with you. Please use every opportunity available to you to make positive changes in your city. Honor the memory of your fallen neighbor, by respecting the wishes of his parents and protest peacefully. We don't want to lose any more of our sons and daughters to the over-reactions of law enforcement officials. Empower yourselves through education and cause the institutional structures and systemic strongholds to be brought down. Above all, pray without ceasing. Larry Owens, Jr., Senior Pastor
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