Two others were wounded.
During an evening that promised to be filled with family time and football; my night was interrupted by an unsettling phone call from my mother. The timbre in the voice on the other end of the phone immediately sent my mind back 9 years. The only time I’d ever heard my mother sound like that was when she called me to tell me that my younger cousin had been shot and killed. Adrenaline rushed through my body and my heart began to race. Something was up. She told me that there had just been a shooting in front of her house. Hearing 8 shots she dove to the floor taking cover with her friend.
When the smoke cleared two bodies were laying in the front yard. One victim was crying out in pain. The other was not so fortunate. Medics arrived and attempted to stabilize him, but to no avail. He was covered with a blanket and his mother received a call last night that will change her life forever.
I live a few blocks over from my mother so after picking my younger brother up from work, I made my way to her house. The area was roped off and nearly 20 police cars and countless officers both in uniform and casual dress were milling around. Reporters and news trucks from all of the local media outfits were there along with residents and passersby.
I was drawn to the scene to do more than check on my mother or deliver her youngest son to her nervous arms. I updated the status of my Facebook and Twitter pages letting folks know what had happened, but that was not enough. I wanted to get closer. I stood there at the police tape with others – some young children, some senior women, and a handful of young, Black males.
“Do ya’ll know if a boy named Keenan was shot here?” asked one lady as she walked up.
“I don’t know,” came the reply. “I just know it betta not be my man – he’s like a brotha to me. I’d go crazy for real.”
Sad thing is – I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to be at these types of scenes much to often over the years and I’m still pretty maladjusted to the experience. In a search for answers or some semblance of resolution, I’ve done or participated in it all. I’ve done the rallies with the NAACP. I’ve written articles. I’ve preached sermons. I’ve attempted to agitate within the walls of the church. I’ve tried to organize other young ministers to this social plague. I joined with others on York Road for a Peace Witness at the site of a deadly stabbing. I even joined some other younger ministers who were a part of group called Young Clergy for Social Change some years back and we pretty much spent the night on the corner of North and Pennsylvania Avenue (for those outside of Baltimore this is a pretty “active” corner) in an attempt to establish relationships and provide support. Somewhere around that time a couple of us also spent the night at the scene of a firebombing which initially was reminiscent of the tragic story of the Dawson Family.
These activities have produced mixed results. I can’t say that I’ve always done what each moment called for, but I will say that from my vantage point it does not appear that there is one way to effectively engage violence in our streets. I’m more inclined to believe that a matrix of sustained support and engagement is needed in order to see progress on this issue.
While standing in the aftermath of murder last night; I gave the police spokesman my card and told him that I wanted to make myself available to the affected families. I also took a moment to speak with the small crowd that had gathered. I gave them each a card as well and let them know that I live and pastor in the neighborhood and wanted to extend myself to them. Who knows if they’ll ever call and who knows what I’ll say if they do. I just felt like I needed to do something more than just read about it in the news and shake my head in despair.
In talking to folks, I learned that the shooting was a retaliation to an earlier incident that happened on my block. Over the next 24 to 48 hours I plan to comb the immediate neighborhood to speak with those who live in the vicinity of the shooting. If there is no intervention than it increases the likelihood that the cycle of revenge and violence will continue. The perpetrator and the victim will probably look just like me and somebody else’s mother will get a call that will shatter her world.
If you’re interested in helping with this effort, please let me know. I’m no superman and I don’t have all the answers. We need God and each other if this thing is going to get turned around.
Dear Pastor Heber,
I agree with you that the situation in our communities is indeed tragic. I too am overwhemed by these constant incidents which point to the fact that there is no regards or repsect for human life. We as a people have not learned that the brokeness and devastation that is happening is also a systemic casusation. As a peace activist, I will join you in exposing the truths and seeking solutions to educate others about the grace that we should bestow to the orther.
Peace,
Rev. Pierre
I always say it and ill continue to say it…
Heb, YOU ARE MINISTRY!!!
Thank you Reverend Brown for putting a face on a serious and 'too close to home problem', one that is plauging the majority of neighborhoods, thoroughfares, institutions… I suspect that we will have to eventually follow the example of Jewish Prophet Jeremiah, and tear down, root up, destroy and build all over again.
No men in community = no morals, no regard for life, no example and no way out for too many of our people
[...] response to a shooting and murder that transpired a month earlier; people of Faith and conscience decided to assemble at the site where violence sprang forth to show [...]
Thanks for an additional helpful weblog. Where else could I get that variety of information published in these kinds of a great way? We have a challenge that i’m just now focusing on, and that i have been around the search out for these kinds of info.
Oh my goodness! an incredible report dude. Many thanks Even so I am enduring difficulty with ur rss. I don’t know why it’s unnable to subscribe to it. Is there any one getting identical rss downside? Any person who is aware of remember to kindly react. Many thanks!
I’m still learning from you, while I’m improving myself Tim Tebow Jets Jersey. I absolutely enjoy reading everything that is written on your website.Keep the posts coming. I enjoyed it!
I’m commenting to make you know what a amazing encounter my cousin’s girl undergone visiting your blog. She figured out a good number of issues, most notably what it is like to have an incredible helping mood to let other people quite simply fully grasp a variety of multifaceted issues. You actually surpassed readers’ expected results. Thank you for presenting such great, safe, educational not to mention cool guidance on your topic to Evelyn.
you might be in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading velocity is amazing. It kind of feels that you just are undertaking any one of a kind trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you’ve carried out a amazing task on this subject!
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.