Dear America

Dear America:
Where is the wall to wall coverage of PENN STATE? Michael Vick got brought up on RICO and Dog Fighting charges and there were boycotts and rallies. Nike dropped him. He was cast out from his profession. Penn State Coaches and Administrators knew of and concealed the RAPE of children. ...Yet, all the students are upset about is the firing of their beloved coach. America, we are watch...ing you. When young black girls and black women disappear it does not make the news. When young black males received harsher sentences for selling crack cocaine than their white counterparts received for selling the more expensive powder cocaine you remained silent for 2 decades. When you illegally allowed drugs to come into minority communities to fund covert operations in foreign lands WE SAW YOU. When it was proven that rich black athletes were targeted by the police you stood silent. Where is the OUTRAGE America? Where are the mothers, fathers, teachers, social workers, etc. marching in the streets protesting? Many of these victims had two things in common. They were poor and black. Therefore, to Penn State they were collateral damage. America, young black males are not disposable. We are not merely your source of entertainment and ridicule. We bleed, we cry, we dream, and we die as AMERICANS. Maybe one day you will love us enough to march in the streets when you learn of the brutalities we suffer in order for Powerful interests to make money. Maybe one day you will love us the way we love you. Until then, we will suffer in silence in underfunded schools, neighborhoods, and social programs. Michael Vick was called an animal for fighting dogs. People wanted him DEAD. What are these men at Penn State who concealed the sodomy and molestation of young boys??? Are the lives of these young boys worth more outrage than the lives of dogs? We are watching you America. I would love to say that I am paranoid, but every time that I convince myself I am, you smack me in the face with a reality so harsh that I am awakened from my dream that "one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I awaken and I cry. It hurts me deeper than any sports injury I have endured. America, young black males dream too. We dream of being CEO's, Lawyers, Doctors, Athletes, and now finally the President. Sadly, many of us simply dream of the day when we will be treated with more love and respect than people treat a common dog. Is that too much to dream of? America your handling of this Penn State matter will tell us. (via Leonard Butter Wilkerson)