Be Salty

#NOTsoRandom Historical FACT: in ancient times, farmlands were covered with salt to prevent crops from growing.

We must NEVER forget the names of the four (4) Black girls pictured below who were killed on September 15, 1963 when a dynamite bomb placed by members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama:

Similarly, we must NEVER forget the names of the nine (9) Black adults pictured below who were shot to death nearly 52 years later on June 17, 2015 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC in a racially motivated hate crime:

*sends up a prayer for the families of 

Ethel Lee Lance; Tywanza Sanders; Cynthia Hurd; Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor; 

Rev. Clementa Pinckney, a South Carolina State Senator and ardent proponent of civil rights who attended a budget hearing at the state capitol in Columbia then drove to Charleston for bible study that Wednesday night;
 Susie Jackson; My Delta Soror, Myra Thompson; Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr.; 

and Rev. Sharonda Singleton as well as our nation*

Anger. Sadness. Frustration...Although Charleston, SC is my parents' hometown, and many of my family members who still reside there were personally affected by the mass murder that occurred last Wednesday, the overwhelming waves of negative emotions that I've felt since hearing of the tragedy at Mother Emanuel ALMOST kept me from writing about it. BUT, standing in faith on Psalm 4, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley inspired me to use my anger (sadness and frustration) for my advocacy (and related community education efforts). In turn, I encourage those reading this blog to use the emotions they are feeling to support the "policy wonks" advocating for gun reform, "intellectuals" advocating for improved race relations, and/or to advocate for another (helpful) related cause of their choosing. 

The prayer of Roslyn Brock, Chairwoman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, reinforced the sermon. Advocacy born of tragedy can create unity where there division would otherwise exist:

(This image was taken on Sunday (06.21.15) as over 20,000 people joined hands (and hearts) to create a Bridge to Peace unity chain on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River in Charleston, SC)

#CallToAction (1): sign the petition to be delivered to The South Carolina State House, The South Carolina State Senate, and Governor Nikki Haley calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from all government places: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/remove-the-confederate-3?source=s.em.cp&r_by=13455362

Q: In case you are wondering WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG FROM GOVERNMENT PLACES?

A1: It is truly a symbol of racism, hatred and divisiveness: 
The Confederate Flag wasn't always raised at the South Carolina Capitol. This was an intentional move during the 1960s in defiance of the Civil Rights movement. In fact, the Confederate flag has particular significance for Charleston:

It was in Charleston, South Carolina that the fiery secessionist Edmund Ruffin fired the first shot of the war. And on June 17, 1865—exactly 150 years before the [horrific shooting at Emanuel AME Church]—[when] Ruffin learned of the South’s surrender, [he] reportedly wrapped himself in a Confederate flag, and then took his own life rather than accept defeat. Those, like Roof, who now want a secessionist banner of their own can order one from the Ruffin Flag Company. (Read more of the article this passage is quoted from here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/why-is-the-flag-still-there/396431/)

A2: In a pleasantly surprising turn of events, there is ACTUALLY bipartisan support:
Yesterday (06.22.15), the current Governor of South Carolina came on the same side as Mitt Romney and called for the Confederate flag to be taken down from in front of the state Capitol. O_o (Click here to read more on this).

A3: It will send a message to other states where use of the Confederate flag on government-issued licenses is permitted: 
While researching for this blog post, I learned that

[n]ine (9) states currently permit the use of the Confederate flag on their license. Eight of those states, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia and Tennessee, seceded from the Union and were part of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. The one state allowing the flag that was not part of the Confederacy is Maryland. (Read more of the article this passage is quoted from here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-confederate-plates-20150622-story.html)

#CallToAction (2): if you live in any of these states, as I do, advocacy campaigns should be (re)organized to remove the Confederate flag from these government-issued license plates as well. 
 

Removing this divisive symbol of racism will not avenge the deaths of the nine (9) innocent individuals who lost their lives at Emmanuel AME Church last Wednesday. But, it will be a step in the right direction toward the collective healing of a community, city, state and nation faced with fresh wounds and sensitive scars caused by systemic racial oppression and inequality. 

For those of us still processing last week's tragic events, instead of returning the poisonous crop fertilized by Dylan Roof's racist hate with a counterproductive retaliatory hatred of your own, choose to salt the earth with love. I'm inspired by the grieving family members who, while enduring unimaginable pain caused by the loss of their loved ones, chose to neutralize Roof's hatred with their own forgiveness (a byproduct of love). If they can forgive, who are we not to?

[07.10.15 UPDATE: In response to the united efforts of many, the South Carolina legislature voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol's grounds. Govenor Haley honored her earlier promise and signed the bill into law. Here is a link to a story and video of the Confederate battle flag's removal from the SC State Capitol: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/10/confederate-flag-removal_n_7769300.html]

Maya Angelou spoke the truth I want to send up on this Tuesday, June 23, 2015:

[RELATED SIDEBAR: For those of you who have chosen not to acknowledge the horrific murders that occurred in Charleston, SC, I implore you to move beyond the solace you may find in your own silence and/or perceptual blindness. While you still have the physical ability to open your eyes as well as your mouth, it behooves you to speak out against the visible atrocities committed against humanity! Nearly 100 years ago, Pastor Martin Niemöller summarized what happens when you delay speaking out (as an ally):

#LessonLearned Don't wait until there is no one to speak for you. Speak against injustice affecting others N-O-W!!!]

*sprinkles my love, truth and advocacy salt on the earth where evil tread to neutralize/prevent/kill the hatred evil has sown*