Christian Reflection and Prayer

HOW ABOUT FERGUSON? (1)

Michael Brown was a good kid, by accounts of those who
knew him during his short life. But that’s not why his death
is tragic. His death isn’t tragic because he was a sweet kid
on his way to college the next week. His death is tragic
because he was a human being and his life mattered. The
Good Kid narrative might provoke some sympathy but what
it really does is support the lie that as a rule black people,
black men in particular, have a norm of violence or criminal
behavior. The Good Kid narrative says that this kid didn’t
deserve to die because his goodness was the exception to
the rule. This is wrong. This kid didn’t deserve to die
because he was a human being and black lives matter.

This post originally appeared at janeewoods.com. Follow
Janee on Twitter at @janeepwoods.