Special Edition
n a i l l i v e z n o r B e th
nt Suppleme A newsletter from the
An electronic newsletter from the Department of African African American American and and African African Studies Studies Community Community Extension Extension Center Center
Mr. President, Mr. Holder: All Eyes on You By: Judson L. Jeffries, Ph.D.
Features Pages 1, 4: Mr. President, Mr. Holder: All Eyes on You– by Judson L. Jeffries, Ph.D. Page 3: The Double Tragedy of the Trayvon Martin Case – by Renford R. Reese, Ph.D. Page 5: I Am– by C. Earl Campbell DA III, M.A. Pages 6-8: Reactions to the Verdict– by Community members and others
I
n February, 2009, the head of the Department of Justice, Attorney General Eric Holder commemorated Black History Month by exclaiming that “America is a nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race.” Later that same year President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Little did either man realize at the time that four years later he would find himself confronted with perhaps the most racially charged event of the new millennium and arguably the most important decision of his political life; whether, or not to bring federal charges against George Zimmerman for the murder of seventeen year old Trayvon Martin. In the early 1990’s President George H. W. Bush urged Attorney General William P. Barr to bring federal civil rights charges against the four police officers who were acquitted of brutally beating Rodney King to a pulp, resulting in broken bones, lacerations, fractured eye sockets and nerve damage. Upon seeing the video of the four LAPD officers strike King repeatedly and ferociously with their billy-clubs and shoot him with a Taser gun, Bush reportedly said the video “sickened” him. Within hours of the acquittal of the four LAPD officers, the Justice Department sprung into action. At a news conference Barr offered, “It’s important for people to remember that the verdicts on state charges are not the end of the process . . . the Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing the civil rights laws of the United States and it will do so vigorously.” What followed was an intense federal investigation that led to indictments of the four police officers on federal charges, resulting in a trial in federal district court and convictions of two of the officers involved. If Holder brings federal charges against George Zimmerman it will not be continued on page 4
Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center 905 Mount Vernon Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43203-1413
Phone: (614) 292-3922 Fax: (614) 292-3892 http://aaascec.osu.edu aaascec@osu.edu
2 the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
About Bronzeville
of the CEC 12Core Programs 6 T he Ohio State University’s AAAS Community Extension Center is the outreach component of the Department of African American and African Studies. The CEC is one of the few off-campus facilities of its kind in the nation. Originally housed at two different locations on Ohio Avenue, the CEC moved to its current location in 1986. The CEC plays an integral role in enhancing the life chances of those who live in and around the Mount Vernon Avenue Area. Toward that end, the CEC offers an array of programs at no or nominal cost to the public. Programs include, but are not limited to, the following: conferences, symposia, computer classes, credit and noncredit courses, summer programs, lecture series, and film series. People from all walks of life have participated in these programs. Based on evaluations of our programs and personal testimonies, the CEC is having an impact on residents living in and around the Bronzeville Neighborhood.
1 Black Veterans Day Salute During the salute, Black men and women from Ohio who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are publicly recognized. Since the salute’s inception in 2006, the CEC has honored the Tuskegee Airmen (2006), Vietnam War veterans (2007), Korean War veterans (2008), African-American servicewomen (2009), World War II veterans (2010), Gulf War Era veterans (2011) and Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans (2012).
2 Ray Miller Institute for Change & Leadership This 10-week long leadership course trains young Black professionals from the Columbus community in various areas of leadership. The Institute was founded in 2006 by former State Senator and Minority Whip Ray Miller. Miller has built a reputation as a strong advocate for those who have historically not had access to power. Admission to the Institute is highly competitive. The Institute is offered during OSU’s autumn and spring semesters with the support of OSU’s Office of Continuing Education. Participants who complete the course receive three CEU credits.
3 Senior Citizens Movie Matinee The movie matinee is a chance for senior citizens to watch a film that otherwise might be cost prohibitive in an accommodating environment. A discussion, usually led by an OSU professor or administrator, is held at the end of the film.
4 Computer Literacy Program Throughout the academic year, the CEC offers free and reduced-cost computer technology courses. The program is geared toward seniors but open to everyone. Courses include the following: Senior Computer Orientation, Internet, Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.
5 Lecture Series Presentations given by OSU faculty, students and/or community members about topics pertinent to the Black community.
Math and Science Program
The Math and Science Program was established in partnership with the OSU Medical Center in 2003. The Math and Science Program exposes students in grades 4 through 12 to the wonders of math and science using hands-on activities. The purpose of the program is three-fold: 1) To increase competency in math and science among students of color; 2) To expose students of color to math and science related careers; and 3) To encourage students of color to major in math or science. The program meets on the fourth Monday of each month from October to May.
7 Summer Residential Program The Summer Residential Program (SRP) was established in 1999 and is designed to provide students with both an appreciation for and an understanding of African-American and African culture and history. The SRP also helps students strengthen their computer literacy skills. Past themes include: “The Underground Railroad” (2012), “All Eyez On Me: Deconstructing Images of African-American Women in Hip Hop” (2011), “letz b down: Social Justice Advocacy for Blacks During the American Revolutionary War Era” (2010), “The Low Country: Black Culture, Literacy and History in Charleston, South Carolina” (2009), and “Hip Hop Literacies” (2008). The program is held every June and is for rising 11th and 12th graders. Students live on OSU’s campus.
8 African Affairs Symposium This one-day symposium brings members of the African American and African communities together to discuss issues of particular interest to Africa. The inaugural symposium in 2007 examined the life of South African civil rights activist Steve Biko. “Africa in the Age of Globalization” was the theme of the 2008 symposium. The 2009 symposium examined the life of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, West Africa. In 2010, the focus was on Pan-Africanism and the Diaspora. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was the theme of the 2011 symposium.
9 Summer Enrichment Program This week-long, non-residential day program is designed to help rising 9th and 10th graders improve their reading and writing skills. The program, which was founded in 2009, is hosted annually in June and accepts approximately 15 students.
10 History of Black Columbus Conference This one-day conference celebrates the rich history of African Americans in Columbus and increases awareness of the significant contributions African Americans have made in all areas of city life. This annual conference is held in the spring.
11 Black History Month Forum The forum is in its fourth year and is focused on celebrating African descended peoples from all over the world. This year, documentaries about the following influential Black historical figures were shown: John Henrik Clarke, Kwame Nkrumah, Fannie Lou Hamer, James Baldwin, Minister Elijah Muhummad.
12 Enemies of the State The annual event features activists from America’s most notorious radical organizations, people who pressured America to live up to its highest ideals. In past years, activists from The Us Organization (2012), The Black Panther Party (2011) and the Young Lords Organization (2010) were invited to speak.
During the 1930s, African-American leaders in Columbus named the predominately African-American neighborhood between the boundaries of Woodland Avenue (East), Cleveland Avenue (West), Broad Street (South) and the railroad tracks (North) “Bronzeville.” The population was approximately 40,000 residents. In 1937, the same African-American leaders elected a mayor of Bronzeville and created an eight member Cabinet to address social, political and economic issues in the neighborhood. Now, as a result of the establishment of several Neighborhood Civic Associations such as the Woodland Civic Association (East) and the Discovery District (West), Bronzeville was reduced to its current boundaries: Taylor Avenue (East), Jefferson Avenue (West), Broad Street (South), and I-670 (North). The Bronzevillian is inspired by this rich history.
CEC Advisory Board Paul Cook Wanda Dillard Francisca Figueroa-Jackson Mark S. Froehlich Ray Miller, former State Senator Lupenga Mphande, Ph.D. William E. Nelson, Jr., Ph.D. *Ike Newsum, Ph.D. and Chair Rick Pfeiffer, City Attorney Thomas Simpson, Ph.D. Reita Smith Charleta Tavares, State Senator Nana Watson
CEC Director *Judson L. Jeffries, Ph.D.
CEC Staff Sarah Twitty Senior Program Coordinator & Fiscal Officer Kevin L. Brooks, Ph.D. Program Coordinator Alecia Shipe Technology Program Coordinator
Address Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center 905 Mount Vernon Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43203-1413 *Ex officio members.
the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
3
The Double Tragedy of the Trayvon Martin Case By: Renford R. Reese, Ph.D.
D
ouble Tragedy of the Trayvon Martin Case The “Not Guilty” verdict made the Trayvon Martin case a double tragedy. Beyond the courtroom theatrics and the legalistic maneuvers within the past couple of weeks, the fact remains, an unarmed black teenager was proactively pursued and murdered and no one will be held accountable for this tragedy. Of course this case was about race. The people marching before the verdict and crying after the verdict were overwhelmingly African American. The folks that seem to focus only on the factual nuances of the case seem to be overwhelmingly non-African American. For those focused solely on the law, the right verdict was rendered because the defense won the courtroom tug of war. According to the jury’s verdict, the prosecution could not prove Zimmerman’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The ubiquitous “Facts vs. Emotions” argument seems to be the dichotomy that highlights the racial divide. The legal experts stated that the facts should trump emotions. This mindset was evident from choosing the jury at the outset to explaining the “not guilty” verdict at the end. For African Americans, however, the verdict was another assault on common sense. The first text that I received about the verdict was from one of my young black male mentees: “The verdict hurt…crazy, no manslaughter, nothing, disgusting.” I think this text reflects the sentiment of many African Americans and others. The chants of “No justice, no peace,” have resonated in multiethnic demonstrations throughout the nation. The case was not only about race, it was also about the threat of black masculinity in American society. Historically, from Emmett Till to Rodney King and beyond, the life of the young black male in American society seems to be valueless. We cannot deconstruct the Zimmerman case without looking at it in the broader context. Zimmerman profiled Trayvon as a threat because America has stereotyped the young black male as a threat. This summer, I have been running the BLOOM Reintegration Academy for 15 previously incarcerated black males ages 14-18 from South Los Angeles. This five-week summer program brings these young men to a college campus and immerses them in academic, career-development and life-skills modules. Some of these youth have been incarcerated for things ranging from fist fighting to petty theft. Imagine their thoughts about the paradoxical Zimmerman verdict. A text I received from one of my 16 -year-olds in the program stated, “That man should have gotten life or the death penalty. If Trayvon had killed him, he would have gotten life.”
Beyond the verdict in this case, the big-picture question is how do we move forward in dealing with young black men in America? The deliberate criminalization of this population is problematic. Incarceration, police brutality, and murder are not feasible solutions. But, the sword of the problem is doubled-edged. Although the young black male has been intensely stereotyped, he has intensely embraced these stereotypes instead of contradicting them. The enthusiastic embrace of the gansta-thug persona has become detrimental to an entire generation of young black men. Internally, the African American community needs to address this phenomenon in order for progress to be made. Externally, every educator, police officer, counselor, and politician should be held accountable for their policies and behavior towards this population in order for progress to be made. In his statement about the Trayvon Martin case, President Obama stated, "We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities.” On his recent tour in Africa, the President introduced the Young African Leaders Initiative’s Washington Fellowship program, which will bring 1,000 African leaders from the ages of 2535 to the United States for immersion in democratic governance and entrepreneurship modules. Now is the time to have an equally noble and ambitious initiative for young black men in the United States. As we limp toward the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the Trayvon Martin case is a poignant reminder that we have fallen short of King’s dream. It will take the courage of all Americans to right the wrongs in our society. It will take the collective will of all Americans to make sure we consistently judge people by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. Each day forward from this tragedy we should strive to make King’s dream a reality. In doing so, we will be honoring Trayvon Martin.
Renford Reese, Ph.D. is a professor in the political science department at Cal Poly Pomona. He is the author of five books including the widely discussed “American Paradox: Young Black Men.” He is the founder/director of the Prison Education Project: www.PrisonEducationProject.org
4 the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
without precedent. What’s more, if he elects to do so he may very well restore faith among a sector of African Americans who believe that the presence of Black elected and appointed officials matters little when it comes to improving Black life chances. On the other hand, if Holder opts not to pursue federal charges (for whatever reason) he will undoubtedly be viewed by many in the African American community as one of the cowards about which he lamented years earlier. His reputation within the African American community would suffer greatly. To be sure, he will join the ranks of Clarence Thomas, Ward Connerly and others whom Blacks consider “sell-outs” or worse, mouthpieces for Mr. Charley. The same goes for the President. Although re-election is a nonissue for President Obama, as he is half-way into the first year of his second term in office, Obama, like all presidents before him, is not unconcerned with leaving a strong legacy. All presidents want to leave the kind of legacy for which they can be proud; and that history will record favorably. If Bush, a Republican, can authorize Barr, another Republican to launch a federal investigation in the case of King, so too can Obama in the case of this seventeen year old child. Fair, or not, both men’s legacies lie in the balance, as they ponder, surely, one of the most important decisions of their professional and personal lives.
Photo courtesy of www.bet.com
Photo courtesy of www.hlntv.com
Photo courtesy of www.bet.com
the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
I Am By: C. Earl Campbell DA III, M.A.
I am alive in an insane world, where the committed are rational. I am a Black Love Lover, down for my people for life. I am a Conscious Black African American Man feared, hated and needed, but always unwanted. I am carrying the hopes and dreams of millions, who don’t even know that I exist. I am fearless, unprogrammable, except to love that which gave birth to my conscious, body and soul. I am a Badddd Man! Oozing love and compassion for the suffering of my own race. I am determined, powerful and uncontrollable by the very system that I seek to change. I am my mother’s and father’s child, gifted with innovation capable of disrupting this world. I am connecting the dots of humanity, free of controls, fear and greed. I am respectful of life and understand how death makes way for human progress and struggle whether to cure it. I am a father to an unborn child that may not be mine, but I already love him/her unconditionally. I am ego driven to succeed with integrity using The Art of Black Love. I am a believer in the power of choice, the illusion of freedom and the madness of dreams. I am full of joy, but going insane, if not already there. I am because they were, so that you may be and produces that which becomes we!
C. Earl Campbell DA III attended college at Jackson State University and earned a masters degree in social work from The Ohio State University. He is a graduate of The Ray Miller Institute for Change and Leadership.
5
the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
6
Reactions to the Verdict “I am shocked and dismayed at the jury verdict in the Zimmerman trial. I cannot believe they didn't find him guilty of even a lesser charge. And yet, I am more sad and angry than surprised. It took too long to charge Zimmerman, the jury was virtually all white, and the prosecution did a poor job of speaking for Trayvon and his family. I found myself thinking of Emmett Till and how little has changed in the dangers of being a young Black male in America. The old racial paradigm remains a threat, and the justice system is a reflection of that paradigm rather than a beacon of hope for the disenfranchised. A jury of mothers. Collectively mothers of 12 sons. Yet they couldn't find the value in the life of this one child? The impact of that overwhelms me at times. The attempt to defame Trayvon's reputation reminds me of the way rape is handled. Blame the victim. This is the crime perpetrated on people of color, immigrants, women, children. Trayvon is denied HIS right to self-defense in this verdict. Clearly, a black youth can be stalked and threatened, impeded in his natural course of life, and he has no right to defend himself or react to the terror he must feel in such a situation. Instead, the stalker may kill him in "self-defense" if the victim (target?) dares to fight for his life. What the hell kind of logic is that, can you tell me? Happenstance, I just finished reviewing a book of poetry, "White Papers" by Martha Collins, in which she contemplates whiteness and the assumptions and impacts of this non-color no one is, the moveable line of race we use to privilege the power structure. In the case at hand, Zimmerman is white--because Trayvon is black. In another situation, Zimmerman (who seems not to publicly identify with his Hispanic ethnicity) would be brown, and justice becomes a little more elusive. We all know the score: darker on lighter crime goes to jail; lighter on darker crime is self-defense. How sad to be so paranoid you have to build a system to protect you from everyone else! Seems like atonement toward real justice would be a better social building block. I am not encouraged that this travesty of justice will provoke an(other) conversation about race. Trayvon didn't want to become the face of race in America, but perhaps his death propels him there. Still, it is important that we keep talking and refuse to accept this excuse for legal palliative.”- Connie Everett, Editor, Pudding Magazine. She is also an organizer for ComFest, culling the community for potential workshops and speakers. “While I have given a lot of thought to the decision I am not sure I can articulate my concerns at this time. This one is hard, very hard, and very close. I have a grandson the same age as Trayvon, looks a lot like him, wears a hoodie, and lives near Sanford, FL.”- J. Herman Blake, Ph.D., Humanities Scholar in Residence, Medical University of South Carolina “SICKENED!”- Mary Pattillo, Ph.D., Harold Washington Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, Northwestern University “Not guilty? What a crock! Yet, we knew this would be the decision. We remember the dictum of the DRED SCOTT decision of 1857. To allow murderer George Zimmerman to go free--to declare this pig not guilty--is a transparent indication of the decadence and bankruptcy of the US (il)legal system. Trayvon Martin's murder is a travesty of enormous proportions; his family has not gotten the justice they deserve! What are they to do now? Who feels their pain, anguish, and outrage? Many of us are aware that the black male is the most hated and feared figure in the USA, and we are angry, outraged, and resentful at their wanton killing by racist cops and wannabe cops. We need to view cops and pigs like Zimmerman (a wannabe racist cop) as the killing arm of the oppressive and racist state. Zimmerman's murder of an innocent young black man needs to result in consequences. For the remainder of his life, Zimmerman should NEVER live a day, a moment, or a second of peace--mental, physical, or emotional! He is guilty of murder--his hands drip with the blood of Trayvon Martin--and he needs to suffer the consequences of his despicable and evil behavior! This case, its decision, and the US system of (in)justice, demonstrate that the euphemism of justice is a sham! NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!”- Floyd W. Hayes III, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University “My reaction ran the gamut. Initially, I was outraged. How dare they, in 2013, continue to devalue Black life. However, reason took over and I remembered, although we know this is America and in America race matters. Consequently, The NOT GUILTY verdict reinforced my commitment to working for social change, community empowerment, and social justice. I became stronger in my struggle against racial injustice and more committed to producing warriors for social justice.”- Terry Kershaw, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Department of African American Studies, University of Cincinnati “As a sociologist and someone who studies exonerations of Black men--exonerated on average after spending 15 years in prison--for crimes they did not commit, I was hoping at this juncture, living in America with a Black President, a Black Attorney General, that George Zimmerman would not be found NOT GUILTY of killing a young Black man, Travyon Martin. Shocked. Disappointed. Sad. Frankly, pissed off!” - Earl Smith, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Wake Forest University “Although I was not surprised about the verdict, I was nevertheless outraged by the outcome of the Zimmerman trail. As a father and grandfather, my anxiety about the safety of my loved ones has not been relieved. My belief in the justice system is unchanged. When it comes to Black people there is no justice. The facts are: Trayvon Martin was an unarmed teenager walking home from the store, who was stalked and murdered by George Zimmerman who believed that the young Trayvon was suspicious simply because he was walking while Black. Zimmerman racially profiled Trayvon Martin and then killed him for no other reason than the color of his skin.”- H. Ike Okafor-Newsum, Ph.D., Chair, Department of African American and African Studies, The Ohio State University
the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
7
Reactions to the Verdict “The murder of Trayvon Martin illustrates the continued shabby treatment which is doled out to blacks, especially if they do not fit the ideal mode of how a black man is supposed to dress, think, talk or behave. Too many people forget the lives lost during the height of the Civil Rights era, and believe that with a black president, everything will be alright. They have sucked on the juices of the American Dream, and still refuse to understand the bitter aftertaste of the American lie. The murder of Trayvon Martin diminishes this whole society, and the small souls who can not or will not recognize that fact, are as cold and dead as that young black man.”- Steve D. McCutchen, Oakland, CA., former member of the Black Panther Party, Oakland and Baltimore ‘I Am Not Trayvon Martin’ - I'm a white, working class, queer from the country who is fed up with white supremacy and racial profiling. I am tired of the white supremacist culture that says Trayvon's life is less valuable than mine because he is black and i am white. I am tired of "white fear" being used as an excuse for stalking, terrorizing, and killing youth of color. I am not Trayvon Martin but i stand in solidarity will all those who are.” - Charlie Fredrick “I had hoped that a guilty verdict might have prompted a discussion about the still rampant attitude in white America that all Black males pose an imminent danger. Obviously, that acknowledgement isn't going to happen. It is a tragedy for all of us.”- Rita Schwerner Bender, widow of Mickey Schwerner (one of the three civil rights workers killed by Klan members in Neshoba County, Mississippi in 1964, along with Andrew Goodman and James Chaney) “If you are surprised, you don't study enough US History. We were told a long time ago, we are only 3/5ths of human beings. That has yet to be amended. However, reciprocity will served in its purest form. George Zimmerman will now know what it feels like to be me, and my fellow Africans in America; for the rest of his mortal life. Everywhere he turns people will be staring at him and his kids, and he will have difficulty finding a job. His track record and work ethic will stand for nothing. When he walks down the street people will cross to the other side, and not show any respect for him; despite the fact they don’t know him. His kids will be discriminated against, and he will be harassed continuously.” - Marcquis Parham, Director of Member Impact/YMCA USA Certified Life Coach, YMCA “When I heard the verdict, I was disappointed, but not shocked. My immediate concern was the look on my 8 year old son's face, as I saw him try to reconcile his paradigm, while losing a piece of his innocence. He and I had to have more of "the conversations" that we'd started having over the last few years. Fortunately/unfortunately, he's able to process some of this better than he was, last week. On Independence day, we discussed the Revolutionary War, then we watched Episode 1 of "Roots." Saturday night, my son asked "May we watch episode 2, tomorrow?" The verdict means that, now, more than ever, my wife and I are charged with managing his anger, navigating his confusion, all, while helping him process the world around him. We do this while we, ourselves are, still, reeling from the disappointment that goes with the understanding that things will probably get worse, before they get better. The need to organize, unite, plan, trust, execute, is immediate. The best time to plant an oak tree is 15 years ago... the next best time is, today. By tomorrow, the ground will no longer be fertile, and the growth of an oak tree, won't be supported.”- M. Simeon R. Frazier, President, Alumni Association of the Ray Miller Institute for Change and Leadership “I wasn’t shocked by it, but I was upset definitely. White people have been killing black men and getting away with it for years. From an historical perspective that is why I wasn’t shocked.”- Prince Moody, Former Poindexter Village resident “As your heart heals and you move beyond the shock of the verdict, what are you going to do next?”- Tamara Butler, Ph.D. student, College of Education, The Ohio State University “It is Another Sad/Disappointing/Disgusting Day that We have Encountered. What's Changed? Very Little...Another Black Man Child/Son has been 'Taken' from us… As a Black Woman, a Mother.....My Heart Breaks.....for the perpetual 'Loss' of our Black Males....We Must Step Up...Step Out...Speak Up...about 'Deliberated Genocide' and Put A Stop To This...Time is of the Essence...We Can't Tolerate this Blatant DisRegard for Black Life!!! We Need to Turn Up The Heat on the Elected Officials....Make them Accountable to us Before these Indecent 'Stand Your Ground Laws' are passed. Modify and Pass New Laws that 'DO NOT" Make Us An Enemy of the Court System...all the way around. We Can Never Give up or Give In...to Our Demise of Spirit and Endurance We Shall Not Be Moved…”- Jamia Shepherd, Community Activist/Newsletter Publisher “When word came down that Zimmerman had been let off completely for his killing of Trayvon Martin, I felt like I felt when Malcolm X and Dr. King got killed.”- Nathan Hare, Ph.D., First chairperson of a Black Studies Department, formerly of San Francisco State College/University “The "I did not hear the Fat lady sing yet!" This, we should make sure a petition to Eric Holder supports Federal action against zimmerman, the small case z is intentional since he is "small" in my eyes. Let's not sit silent on this one!”- Barbara Nicholson, Ph.D., Chairperson of Council of Elders
the Bronzevillian Supplement Special Edition
8
Reactions to the Verdict “My reaction to the verdict is that George Zimmerman became guilty when he refused to listen to the 911 Dispatcher. In other words, Trayvon Martin would be alive if he had not STALKED him, SPOOKED him, SHOT him.�- Dollie M. Curry