Rev. Crystal's Full Moon Blessings

For those who know me well, you know that I have always called myself a closet revolutionary. I believe in the power of change and the many methods we as a people have had to go through to obtain equality. Whether this refers to race or religion or general human rights. While the media (rightfully so) has focused on the positive change happening right before our eyes with the presidency of Obama, I have also been reminded of the continued need for change. It is easy to think that since we have a black President (woohoo) that the world or the United States has reached the level of equality between our races. this could not be more wrong.

The positive strides towards equality and change does not take away from the continuous injustices that happen. Although it is a damned good start.

For us Californians, we have watched the Bart shooting of Oscar Grant over and over on the news and for me it still doesn't seem like enough. The sheer brutality of these types of situations came to us in an undeniable way, even though these injustices have continued to happen repeatedly in urbanized areas and is not new. It is easy for those who are not around this type of community to assume that these things don't happen and in reality, they happen too much.

The newest development of another officer punching Oscar Grant in the face, just prior to him being shot in the back by the Bart officer has me enraged. Watching a video of this young man being assaulted and then shot by those who are in a uniform feels like one of the biggest violations of our human rights within this country. What do we have if the very people who are to protect us are the ones who we have to fear.

Now, let me be clear.... This is nothing new for those who have to live in this type of environment and live this life everyday. I am lucky and have had the opportunity to remove myself and family from living within the energy of the inner city, to a certain extent.

The voice of the people came out when they rioted and protested the streets of Oakland two weeks ago. Riding down the streets of Oakland to work and seeing the destruction can be disheartening. But at the same time, seeing the pictures of Oscar Grant, memorials painted in his name and a call for justice gives me hope. Signs stating "no justice no peace" are posted all around the city. In a community so devastated by crime, drugs, poverty, unemployment and sadness.... we still have a sense of pride and a knowing that we must be heard.

In the days and weeks after the riots, we have seen a large response from the people in charge. The officer was arrested, Bart finally (after more than 10 days) reponded to the shooting, now the other officer is being investigated for assault and attention is being put into a broken system.

We have also seen the FBI come into Oakland and start an investigation of the Oakland Police Department, sparked by several different things. One of those things was a man who was kicked to death by an Oakland Police officer, who is now the head of the Police internal affairs department. He is also suspected of getting other officers to cover this up.

And let's not forget the Oakland Riders, those 3-4 officers (maybe more). Here is a clip from an SF Gate article by Chip Johnson in 2005, "After two criminal trials, a lawsuit that the city settled by paying $10. 5 million in damages to 119 victims, and a court order that has placed the Oakland Police Department under the supervision of a federal judge, the Riders have walked away again."

As black people, we are not oblivious to the sacrifice we have had to make to seek justice. And it is easy to think now that there is no need for us to continue to fight. Things are different right? Things have changed..... Prejudice, police brutality, racism, racial profiling.... all those things are in the past, right?

Please, open your eyes. I am not calling for rioting and destruction but I am saying that the time is too crucial to think that we are not still in a state of inequality. Let us not be fooled to think that because something is one way for us that is like that for all others. Let us not think that just because we have a black president that we no longer have grave racism in this country. Thank goodness we don't all have to riot but I respect those who have sacrificed their freedoms and done the things I can't or won't do in order to get attention where needed.

If it were not for those people we would not have had a civil rights movement, a Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, Huey P Newton and Bobby Seal, Little Bobby Hutton, Angela Davis, Cesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and the list goes on. We must continue to seek justice. We must continue to lead the path to equality.

Or else it might be my child, your child, your brother, your father, your mother, your friend or you who is beat and killed by the cops, shot at the BART station, framed for a crime, scared to call for help, prisoner in your community and potentially lose your future.