EDITORIAL
Whether the Name is Emmett or Trayvon, Black Parents Still Fear for Children at Hands of Racists Had white supremacists not abducted, tortured and lynched 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955, today he may have been sitting on his front porch in a rocking chair, playing with his grandchildren and preparing to celebrate his 79th birthday next week on July 25. The brutality of his murder and the fact that his killers were acquitted drew attention to the long history of the violent persecution of Blacks in the U.S. But for Blacks it was nothing new. As the news of his horrific murder on August 28, 1955, spread across the country, African-American parents reinforced their instructions on survival – an essential rite of passage for all Black children – warning them of an omnipresent danger which thrived in America’s soil that could end their lives at any moment. It was a centuries-old sickness, parents told their little ones, often passed on from one generation to another called racism. But the best Black parents could do was to instruct their children to always be on their guard lest they meet the same tragic end that young Emmett did. Generations later, parents still have “the talk” with their young boys and girls, even though they may have replaced the name “Emmett” with another, like “Trayvon,” for example. Trayvon Martin had the misfortune of crossing paths with a man who, while he was not white, believed that as a white Hispanic, he was still higher up the totem pole of color than the 17-year-old Black youth. White privilege with all of its rights was still within George Zimmerman’s reach – or so he believed. Thus, feeling empowered, he confronted the youth, fought with him and murdered him. How dare this intruder attempt to “walk while Black” in his precious, Floridian cul-de-sac? The names continue to change. But sadly the epilogues remain hauntingly familiar. We’d like to believe that Emmett, Trayvon and thousands of other lynched Black boys and girls now rest in peace. But sometimes, it’s almost impossible to believe. And so, Black parents continue administering lessons of survival to their children, all the while wondering, “how long?” WI
Leon Harris: Redemption and Recovery When award-winning news anchor Leon Harris was arrested and charged with a DUI several months ago, he undoubtedly let many people down. The popular and respected fixture in local news pleaded guilty to one of six charges he faced for reportedly causing a three-car collision and leaving the scene. No one was apparently injured except Harris, whose career has been tarnished by his arrest and conviction. Nonetheless, NBC4 has invited Harris back on the air where he will return to the daily primetime news slot once held by the late Jim Vance, Harris’s predecessor, who NBC4 also supported years ago during his battle with cocaine addiction. Harris, 61, is married and the father of two adult children. He pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and recently spent 10 days in jail. There is no doubt that it was his family about whom he was thinking as he fought back the tears during an interview with NBC4 anchor Doreen Gentler this week. Harris agreed to discuss the details of his arrest, with no holds barred, about what happened the night of his arrest and his road to recovery from addiction to alcohol. Harris said he now undergoes three hours of therapy every morning, where he meets people who give him a new perspective on the crises which many continue to face. He apologized to those he disappointed and said, “I will try to show you I deserve a shot at earning your trust again, through patterns, not promises.” Drug use and abuse are severe problems in America. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, among Americans aged 12 years and older, 37.309 million were current illegal drug users (used within the last 30 days) as of 2020, and the numbers keep rising. Be it marijuana, opioids, fentanyl prescription drugs, or alcohol, more Americans are becoming addicted every day. But like Harris, as bad as their lives may be, addiction can be addressed, and their lives “can be fixed.” Harris must spend three years on supervised probation. An ignition interlock device will be installed on his vehicle to monitor his blood alcohol level through a breathalyzer he must use every day before starting his car. We commend Harris for his honesty and transparency. There is no doubt someone will listen and know there is hope for them, too. And we salute the fact that even a large company like NBC4 has put its reputation on the line to show compassion for someone like Harris who’s committed to living a more fruitful life in recovery. WI
TO THE EDITOR The Next Pandemic?
A Well-Informed Voter
Whenever we feel like we're overcoming one hurdle, here comes another. COVID-19, now monkeypox. Why is it that we are seeing such catastrophic public health issues with the most technology and advanced systems in the world than at any other time in history? This doesn't make any sense.
I appreciate The Washington Informer's coverage of Maryland politics. We have big elections ahead of us, from governor to state and local offices. It's critical that our community is informed about what's happening and what's at stake.
Louise Bright Washington, D.C.
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