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Article originally published in Solomonjones.com

Dear Black Boys:

I pray that one day we can say with a conscious mind, “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

What does the bullet say to the living when it penetrates the skin? How does the spiral move through the flesh as it digs deeper into breath? What’s worse—dying because you were racially profiled and pursued, or dying because your generation’s pop culture music was louder than the gas prices?

We are reminded of how easily a melanin-filled body can be discarded. When parents hear these stories on the nightly news, especially mothers who carry these children for 9 months, a riveting moment of fear echoes through their soul. Now I understand why my mother would insist that I let her know my whereabouts when was in my mid-twenties, and even now, when I’m in my thirties.

When I discovered Michael Dunn was found guilty on 4 of 5 counts, I wasn’t surprised, but it hurt to know that the one count that the jury couldn’t decide was first-degree murder. So far he has been given a prison sentence that could span as much as 60 years. But if he was an African American who shot Billy Ray for blasting country music in a Confederate flag-covered vehicle it would’ve been an open and shut case, and all the citizens of America would’ve expected a life sentence.

Dunn’s court testimony included statements like, “I hate that thug music” and “my rear view mirror was shaking, my ear drums were vibrating.” Maybe the music was loud, but Dunn’s fear, entitlement, and privilege spoke louder. Now Jordan Davis is dead.

My heart goes out to Jordan’s parents and family, especially his father, who said,  “I’m the type to lash out in anger, but I wanted to represent my family and son properly.” Even in death Black males are pushed to make others feel comfortable while they sit uncomfortable as the prey, rarely as the predator. We only get to play the predator when we our hunting ourselves.

Something must change. We have voted and leveraged our existence for pain and injustice. In 2008 Barack Obama was voted into the White House as the first Black President. Last week he presented the “Brothers Keeper” initiative, which is a $350 million strategic plan dedicated to nurturing the livelihood of boys of color. “Black Boys Matter”

With his vulnerability and sharp statistics covering the topics of fatherhood, literacy, unemployment, the criminal justice system and many other things. Black America has earned the space to be skeptical, even if the initiative is coming from the lips of a president that built his campaign on “Hope.” It is a good beginning towards solving a problem that has been haltering the progress of Black America since reconstruction. It’s a small victory towards transformative change, but is $350 million enough financial capacity to make a significant impact. Only time will tell. If this money is facilitated properly there will be some progress, but what happens long term is still hanging in the oxygen of patience and cynicism. Humanizing men/boys of color is a human problem that has been perpetuated by media images and ignorance. Black boys and men are valuable assets to the world community, not just America. That needs to be known globally. We are great supernovas outshining the galaxy of ignorance, constantly surviving, but never truly occupying the space to live. No matter what others think we are tired of living uncomfortably as the prey, and extremely exhausted with being the predator our own reflection.

Gregory Corbin is an award-winning international poet, motivational speaker, activist, teacher, and Founder/Executive Director of the award winning Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement. A Philadelphia native, Corbin is a prominent community leader that has extensive experience working with and mentoring youth throughout Philadelphia and beyond. He has been featured at schools, conferences, festivals, and has discussed youth advocacy and empowerment along with the power peer mentorship on TED talks, HBO, CNN, CSPAN, BET and other networks.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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