Story and photos by Julie Carasone
On Wednesday night, the YWCA hosted a “Vigil Against Racism”.
Two local speakers came out to discuss race issues in the community. Brandon Armstrong, owner of Royals Barbershop, spoke on the issue of misunderstanding, especially when it comes to the media and how people think the media is hyping up racial tensions.
“I think what the media does is dehumanize black people and gives off a negative image. So when you see what happens to George Floyd, the knee on the neck, people start to justify that by saying he was a thug or drug user. So the negative picture in the media, paints a different picture of what we really are,” says Armstrong.
Armstrong also talked about the need to have a conversation when “black on black” crime is brought up.
“We have to start unpacking those things and we have to start asking the critical question, why? Why is there black on black crime. Some of it is racial based laws. Where you have a pedophile that gets a lesser sentence than a black person who has a longer sentence for crumbs of crack cocaine.”
He said it starts at home and it starts by speaking up on racism and calling it out. Armstrong is one of four men that created the group, Just Kings. Just Kings will begin organizing discussions centered around racism and white supremacy.
Reverend Sheila Campbell McCullough, a prison chaplain, spoke in defense of the Black Lives Matter mantra.
“The Black Lives Matter mantra is a positive, sacred utterance that seeks to affirm a people that have been historically targeted for dehumanization, suffering devaluation, injustice and abuse. The Black Lives Matter mantra will continue to empower the black community globally.”
Afterwards, speakers and attendees spoke the names of 31 black men and women who were lost to racial violence in a “Say her Name and Say his Name” ceremony.
Several other speakers also stepped up to the podium to talk about what their promise will be in learning and speaking out against racism, making a commitment to support the black community and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The community then dismantled a wall of systematic racism and built a path to wholeness. You can find Just Kings on Facebook. The group is planning a chicken barbecue on July 18th from noon until sold out at the YWCA on North Street.
