It's not supposed to be this way: In memory of Trayvon Martin

For every step, and accomplishment that we make as a people it seems that we still have a long way to go. Just a few years ago we elected a black man for the first time as President of the United States of America. But for some he wasn’t black enough: as if he was supposed to have a javelin in his hand and a bone in his nose. It's not supposed to be this way. They said to have a home is to have a piece of the American Dream, but before you can enjoy your dream, the housing market flipped the script and now your dream has become a nightmare. It's not supposed to be this way.

When is it a crime to walk in a neighborhood wearing a hoodie with a bag of Skittles in one hand and an Arizona Tea in the other? Trayvon Martin and his family are not the only victims, but every young black boy who live in a society that still judges them according to their appearance. For example, if it was a white male wearing a hoodie, he wound have been perceived as a jogger, not a thug, robber, thief, or rapist. Where is the justice? Yes we are black and proud to be, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t bleed, grieve, love, enjoy our family as other do. Therefore I ask the question, why isn't Trayvon’s murderer arrested? I wonder at times, is this the fault of the racist society or was it self-afflicted by the hip-hop culture in which we live? It's not supposed to be this way.

I’m tired of seeing mothers and fathers crying as they bury their sons; watching black men as they walk the streets in hopelessness; watching black athletes getting in front of the camera on television shouting “hi mom” as I ask the question, where’s the father? As I look at our people, especially my black brothers, I wonder, where is the passion to live, to dream, and to reach for a better life? I would like to speak to every Trayvon Martin, our black youth, and black father and to all my black brothers. I would like to say, it doesn’t have to be this way. Let us turn our hats around on our head, pull up our pants, tie our shoes, finish school, reach for a better life, love our family, embrace our wives, lead them to Church, pray with them and for them. It doesn’t have to be this way. I would like to speak to all my black sisters; love your black man, encourage him, support him, and pray for him. It doesn’t have to be this way. I would strongly state to the society in which we live; we are here, you can’t stop us, you will not overlook us, not forget us, nor will we be ignored. We are not a dream or the figment of someone’s imagination. We are reality and not reality T.V. It will not be this way! I would like to speak to the Churches; teach us, equip us, empower us and pray for us. Don’t be ashamed of us or abandon us. Christ gave His life for us that it will not, shall not, ever have to be this way….

Pastor Daniel R. Grandberry,

G.M you know!!!