YEAR - TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN
Great Things
Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl!
Our roof held up under unrelenting heavy snow, freezing cold and ice.
Daughter, Farah Diba and I accessed, online, the TV
interview of her youngest, third-year college-man, William Hale Dungey, III. It
was an early morning man-on-the-street interview in Morgantown, WV. This proud
grandmother is immensely thrilled with today's technology.
Granddaughter Jai Haley Dungey, 2013
Howard University graduate, applied and was selected for the New York City
Teaching Fellows program. Here's Farah seeing her first child off to NYC that first morning. It is one of my favorite scenes of the year.
(Until this writing, neither of them knew the pic existed.)
Jai began work at Pace University on
her master’s degree program and as a middle school science teacher in Brooklyn,
NY
I had a safe drive to and from
northeastern Ohio for long anticipated time 'home' with family.
And, Wil met his scholastic goals at
West Virginia University.
My 2013 KIA Soul is more wonderful than when it was brand new.
Big Problem
Michael Brown, Jr. (May 20, 1996-
August 9, 2014) was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a uniformed
policeman. The young man was
unarmed. He was black. He was shot many times.
Michael Brown’s lifeless body lay
uncovered in the middle of the tree-lined neighborhood street. Several hours passed before a station
wagon-like vehicle came and took the body away.
The grand jury failed to indict the
officer.
People protested. Many folk energetically marched demanding justice for Michael Brown.
The police had a strong military presence. #CrimingWhileWhite trended on
Twitter.
Then, in New York, a grand jury didn’t indict the
police for the July chokehold death of Eric Garner on Staten Island. Injustice seemed to be entrenched. Protests grew.
Elected officials supported the call
for police reform. The Mayor of New York
City reported he and his wife caution their black son; be respectful, careful,
do exactly as told, should the police stop him for any reason. (Parents of black children have consistently included such in their parenting practices. I did/do as a grandmother.)
The leader of a New York City Police
Union Organization found the Mayor's information insulting. He encouraged disrespect of the Mayor by his
members.
Days later, two New York City police
officers (both minorities), on duty in their patrol car, were shot and killed by a disturbed
man (also a minority). That day the shooter had taken a
bus to NYC from a distant city.
The union leader blamed the
protesters. Divisive interactions
continued to happen and rule serious headline space.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The above was written several weeks ago as I agonized about the continuing deaths of unarmed black men by aggressive police action. My anguish is unhealthy. But those were the events prominent in my mind regarding 2014 experiences. I forced myself to pull positive memories into my heart and soul. I would document. Thus, I have.
I'm thinking, surely in 2015 our leaders, elected and appointed, will work together to bring about change. Surely in 2015, leaders of all races will guide our communities to experience JUSTICE built upon respect of persons no matter their color.
God bless America.
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