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It is nearly impossible to write an appropriate introduction for this interview piece. Amid overwhelming heartbreak and anger over the murder of George Floyd, I reached out to two exceptional women who are leaders in our community and serve as leaders in the local chapter of Moms of Black Boys United. We want to thank Stacey Ledbetter and Sabrina Prichett-Evans for taking time out of their busy schedules to share with our readers.
Tell us a little about yourself? STACEY – I am “Black & Blue.” A Black
woman – mother of two young adult Black sons, wife, sister, cousin, aunt, friend. God ordered my steps with a Blue career – I am a retired Captain (2017) who served over 25 years in law enforcement at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. My expertise is in community policing, and I established numerous trusting and lasting relationships with community members over the years, to date. I am now the CEO of Black & Blue Networking & Consulting, LLC, we do training, facilitation, and team-building with a cultural awareness and equity lens. I am also on the Leadership Team with Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Kalamazoo.
SABRINA – I am a child of God with wants,
desires, love, joy, and fear like all other human beings. My race and gender do not change what God has for my family and me. As a mother of two sons, my desire is for the world to accept them for the wonderful souls they are and the uniqueness and beauty that they bring to our world. It is also my desire that they use the gifts that they have been bestowed for the betterment of themselves, family, and humankind.
STACEY LEDBETTER
I’m also a business owner for over 27 years. I own two insurance and financial service agencies located in Kalamazoo & South Haven.
Tell our readers about M.O.B.B. SABRINA - M.O.B.B. (Moms of Black Boys)
SABRINA PRICHETT-EVANS
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July 2020
United for Social Change, Inc (MUSC) is dedicated to positively influencing how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society. The founder is Depelsha McGruder, located in New York, NY, and the executive director is Vanessa McCullers, located in Los Angeles, CA. It started as a friendly Facebook support group in 2016. MUSC is the advocacy arm and sister organization of Moms of Black Boys United, Inc. Its goal is to influence policy at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure that Black boys and men are treated fairly and
equitably. MUSC is focused on eradicating harassment, brutality, and unwarranted use of deadly force by law enforcement. We want our sons and law enforcement officers to make it home safely every night. I first became aware of the group through the Facebook page. I later became interested in the advocacy side and joined as a dues-paying member. After I found out that there wasn’t a Michigan chapter, I started a local SW Michigan chapter. We needed nine members to form a chapter, and we made it happen. We all want the same things for our sons. We want society to view them as the wonderful human beings we nurture that brings joy to hearts and creates a sparkle in our eyes.
Why is it so important to not generalize and say, “all lives matter”? STACEY - “All Lives Matter” should be a
given, but countless horrendous incidents against Black people – both historical and current – have, among other things, magnified the lack of inclusivity and marginalization, which has resulted. A very general example is that All Houses Matter, no one wants their home destroyed - but if your house is on fire, you want the fire department to spray water on your house and put out the fire, not the one down the street that is not on fire. The point is to focus on the issue, not to smother it with statements that are a given, and unnecessary at that time.
What are the essential questions we all need to be asking in our community? STACEY - I think that people need to start
by asking themselves questions. Turning to wonder when you hear about things that you simply do not identify with, have preconceived notions about, or have not experienced. Checking one’s own biases is an intentional activity. What brought me to that conclusion? I wonder what that person has gone through in life? Questions to be asked in our community are
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