Rashawn, then and now.
I am not sure how to begin this post. Maybe I should start it this way:
We are being murdered and no one really cares not even most of us who feel like we should have been somewhere else instead of being where we were because really it's a black homo/lesbo body in opened up with a knife or parts chopped up and served to us in Jersey or in subway or a dumpster as a reminder about how we don't love each other enough, of our place, of our value in this racist homophobic society and we black faggots and dykes love to party and complain and shake our heads but who the fuck is doing anything about it on a large scale because no one person, or three, or seventeen can do the work of what thousands of people do which is to ignore, abuse and render LGBT/SGL people of color invisible every single day.
Okay, so maybe that's not as concise as I could be, or even as clear. I don't know how to be clear right now, just enraged. Maybe I should back up a bit and try to relate how I am feeling with these few short sentences:
Why am I not screaming? Why didn't I stop when I first heard about this mess? I am not comfortable with my own silence around this young brother's murder, and yet I don't want beat on this 19-year old's body to make a point about homophobia and racism. But I have to let you know how I feel.
I am not excited about the ensuing "nothing" that will result from this tragedy from the black LGBT/SGL community. The dust will die down, and uninformed black LGBT/SGL idiots will undoubtedly blame Rashawn's death on his being, well, Rashawn. "He should have been..." You fill in the blank.
I know that my name could be mispronounced if I ever fell victim to some murderer. I could be body parts in a headline.
I know that the more we are silent, more of will be murdered, as a consequence of that silence or non-presence in the media, in the public eye, in our communities, or simply in our daily lives--in other words, we will be exterminated by fiat.
I feel helpless in trying to convey to my community how valuable our lives are, and why it is important to own and express our outrage, politically and financially, that makes a loud enough bang that says, well, enough. Enough of being fodder for homophobic/heterosexist ideas about what our lives are supposedly about (e.g., the down-low). Enough of being unfairly targeted as carriers of HIV/AIDS. Enough of being told that what we do in bed has single-handledly caused the decline of modern civilization. Enough of being treated like second-hand citizens when we pay taxes in this country. Enough of this shit.
My friends are fucked up over this. One asked "where is GMAD? Where is POCC? Where is the NYSBGN? Where are the organizations that advocate for us?" Another friend, much more resigned to a life of invisibility, was just frustrated.
My body is your body is Sakia's body is Rashawn's body is...the body of circumstance, of convenience, of culpability, of casual encounter... Of concern.
So consider for a moment your body. Dispossessed of it's spirit by force, this is what the world will say about you, if anything.
She/he was so nice, ambitious.
She/he never said a bad word about anybody.
She/he was a God-fearing man.
The world will undoubtedly get you and your story wrong. And your story is my story, is Sakia's story, is Rashawn's story, is...your story.
We are not safe until we act. Tell me how to act, how we should act. Let's talk about this.
I don’t hang out in the blogosphere much, but I’ve been catching up on some of the online conversation of the past three weeks about Rashawn Brazell’s murder. I’m humbled by folks’ depth of feeling and passion for action, and proud of the leadership folks like Troy and Bernie have been taking in creating vehicles for folks to respond. I was chatting with Larry Lyons today, as I have with Bernie, Steven and Troy at different points since the murder, and he suggested I make the rounds of the Black Gay blogs to answer Steven's question, that’s been re-posted on a few sites, about what the New York State Black Gay Network and other groups are doing. The short answer is: some of the same things folks in the blogosphere have. One group said they reached out to the family and did early advocacy with the precinct, others are thinking of making Rashawn's murder and dating safety the focus of upcoming programs, another wants to make a contribution to the family, another has been monitoring patterns of anti-LGT violence along the Fulton St. corridor for some time. One particular idea staff at NYSBGN have been floating to organizations like ALP, AVP, BMX, GMAD and POCC and to some of you is to convene a large community meeting in Brooklyn (LIU and Restoration are two ideas, the latter is in Al Vann’s district) one Friday evening in early April. The meeting would provide a space for us to connect with each other around our grief and anger, and for those in the know to provide accurate updates on Rashawn’s death and the police investigation. It would also be a place for community members to share and organizations and leaders to listen to ideas and concerns about what the murder means and whether it’s connected to other stuff, and to discuss what the best kinds of community responses might be and get started on some of them. Coming together in large numbers will also increase the political pressure on elected officials and the Police Department folks have been talking about. It could also be an opportunity to demonstrate our concern to and build a relationship with the family. Finally, it might be a place to do education about dating and street safety. Colin Robinson, New York State Black Gay Network
Posted by Colin Robinson / on Mar 10 @ 4:36 PMHey Steven, thanks for ur post. My take was on the racial composition of television newsrooms; that's someting I know well. Any-hoo, I included the phone numbers of the assignment desks at some local and network news shops, which they don't give out.
Take care.
Rod
brotha2Brotha
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by so many things that should and can be done concerning "our community" that I feel I don't know where to start. I think of the African proverb "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time" and I know it to be true it's just part of me feels there's alot of people sitting on the sidelines that are watching me get fat off this elephant because they are too concerned about their figure and what people will say about them...Brothas & Sistas this elephant is too big for just a few of us....pull up a chair and TAKE A BITE!!
Posted by Jair / on Mar 9 @ 7:36 PMThank you Steven for what you have written. Now's the time for us to do us and come up with a plan:
We need to come together. To show them that there are many of us, many who care and are not only concerned but willing to do something.
We need to demand that the New York City police place a high priority
on this case and the one last year in the same area where a black gay
man was found with his throat slashed and tie to his bed.
We need to call the media out on their lack of coverage.
We need to make people accountable.
Just as if this was some white female coed in Minnesota, or a young
pregnant white woman in California, or a teenage white girl in Utah.
SHOW THEM THAT OUR LIVES MATTER TOO.
All interested parties should meet Thursday nigh, March 10th at Day
O's Resturant in the West Village and 6:00pm.