Lions' Carey: Black lives matter, even those in the womb
Don Carey is a defensive back from Grand Rapids in his fifth season with the Lions. He will be offering commentary in the Free Press during the season.
Hey, everyone! I hope your day is going well. Before we begin, I'd like to thank you all for the responses to my first column on the culture we live in. I know that it was a bit heady, but I believe that it was necessary to properly portray my message. As we move forward, if there are any topics you'd like me to address (within, reason of course), please feel free to submit them to me via twitter: @DonCarey.
OK, let's get into the meat of today. Recently, my colleague Richard Sherman, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, made some statements in regard to the Black Lives Matter movement, with which I completely concur. Sherman's point was that "if black lives matter, then they should matter all the time." I do, however, see that there is a slight difference between "black-on-black" crime and the brutalities committed against African-American people by several police officers. Nevertheless, his words still ring true.
I personally have some concerns in regard to the Black Lives Matter movement. I remember when this movement burst onto the scene several years ago. I was both enamored and repelled by its message. Enamored, because as an African-American man, I have experienced and seen injustices committed against my people, sometimes due to no fault of their own. For the first time that I can remember, it seemed someone was standing up for them on a national level. However, I was quickly turned off by this movement due to the narrow mind-set and irony that exists at its roots. Let me explain my meaning.
According to a study by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, more African-American babies were aborted (31,328) in New York than were born (24,758) there in 2012. Needless to say, this number is severely repulsive. Yet, we've heard nothing from those within the camp of Black Lives Matter on the subject. It seems that we have Matthew 7 dilemma. That is, we are so focused on the speck in eyes of others that we are ignoring the plank within our own. We are so focused on the injustices done by a few wayward police officers that we ignore the blatant disregard for life within our own culture.
I truly want this movement to flourish. I can easily see the Black Lives Matter movement being the catalyst behind moral and cultural change within the African-American community. However, I fear this will never happen unless those within this movement begin to embrace the totality of its name. Yes "black" lives matter. This also includes those still within the womb. Those who seek change must first be proponents of that change or else those on the outside looking in will ultimately view them as hypocrites.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think?
Sent from my iPhone
Don Carey is a defensive back from Grand Rapids in his fifth season with the Lions. He will be offering commentary in the Free Press during the season.
Hey, everyone! I hope your day is going well. Before we begin, I'd like to thank you all for the responses to my first column on the culture we live in. I know that it was a bit heady, but I believe that it was necessary to properly portray my message. As we move forward, if there are any topics you'd like me to address (within, reason of course), please feel free to submit them to me via twitter: @DonCarey.
OK, let's get into the meat of today. Recently, my colleague Richard Sherman, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, made some statements in regard to the Black Lives Matter movement, with which I completely concur. Sherman's point was that "if black lives matter, then they should matter all the time." I do, however, see that there is a slight difference between "black-on-black" crime and the brutalities committed against African-American people by several police officers. Nevertheless, his words still ring true.
I personally have some concerns in regard to the Black Lives Matter movement. I remember when this movement burst onto the scene several years ago. I was both enamored and repelled by its message. Enamored, because as an African-American man, I have experienced and seen injustices committed against my people, sometimes due to no fault of their own. For the first time that I can remember, it seemed someone was standing up for them on a national level. However, I was quickly turned off by this movement due to the narrow mind-set and irony that exists at its roots. Let me explain my meaning.
According to a study by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, more African-American babies were aborted (31,328) in New York than were born (24,758) there in 2012. Needless to say, this number is severely repulsive. Yet, we've heard nothing from those within the camp of Black Lives Matter on the subject. It seems that we have Matthew 7 dilemma. That is, we are so focused on the speck in eyes of others that we are ignoring the plank within our own. We are so focused on the injustices done by a few wayward police officers that we ignore the blatant disregard for life within our own culture.
I truly want this movement to flourish. I can easily see the Black Lives Matter movement being the catalyst behind moral and cultural change within the African-American community. However, I fear this will never happen unless those within this movement begin to embrace the totality of its name. Yes "black" lives matter. This also includes those still within the womb. Those who seek change must first be proponents of that change or else those on the outside looking in will ultimately view them as hypocrites.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think?
Sent from my iPhone
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