Heroes Come in all Colors

It was humid, as it almost always is in the Tampa Bay area. A woman walked the streets of St. Petersburg alone. She could feel the air hugging her face and thought how thick and heavy it felt.  She pressed on in the dark. On these dimly lit streets the humidity was punctuated by halos that appeared around the street lights in South St. Petersburg, in an area known as "Midtown." 

"Midtown" is a beautiful neighborhood, rich in history and full of promise for the future, but in the present, it is marked by liquor stores and poverty. Drug deals are commonplace and in the open, in spite of the community's efforts against the criminal element, bars are still mounted to business windows, and the homeless mark their territory with their empty bottles, and shopping carts. 

She continued on towards her destination, unfamiliar with her surroundings. She had a vague recognition of the area, where she was in relation to where she was heading, and how long it should take for her to get there, but now with each step she took uncertainty began to grow. When she felt his presence fall in step behind her, uncertainty turned to fear. When his shadow fell upon her fear turned to panic.  

Then, there was the glint of steel flashing in the dark and panic became absolute terror. At first no sound came out as she screamed. She was certain that this dark figure was death, come to claim her. 

And then he was gone.

Around her were three young men, asking her if she was alright, and assuring her that she was safe. These young men had heard her cries for help, and had driven her attacker away. He had fled into the shadows from where he had emerged.

In this day and age, we see more and more incidents of violence on Youtube and Facebook than ever before. Nearly everyone has a cell phone, but rather than using it to call for help, too often it is used to make videos of these acts. People being beaten or even killed is only a web search away if you need to see it. Many people will not call the police in these neighborhoods, because it "isn't their business."

A week after this incident took place, a St. Petersburg City Council member would say to these young men who had made this their business, that what they did was remarkable. He told them that "It wasn't your concern, but you made it your concern. You didn't have to act, but you chose to." 

Courage, it is said is finding it in yourself to do something, even when it terrifies you.

So... Why do I do what I do? Why do I choose to work with youth that other people would just as soon write off?

Because I have always been contradictory. I have always looked for the exception to the rule. In a society that calls our youth--especially our back youth "entitled," and "self-centered," I have living proof of the contrary. Our culture looks at young black men as "thug," "ghetto," "lazy," "street," and any number of unglamorous labels that only fuel the stereotypes that lead to disaster, these three young people acted in an extraordinarily courageous manner.

They did the right thing. Because it was the right thing to do.

Every day I am nauseated by the polarized view on race in this country. Too often these views are displayed in social media and on websites after something terrible has happened. Somewhere along the way, our country has to figure things out. Note the faces you see preventing looters during the Ferguson, Missouri riots. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/16/ferguson-protesters-guard-stores_n_5684042.html

On a side note, I would like to point out the faces you see in Kentucky, after their loss to Wisconsin.
http://nypost.com/2015/04/05/kentucky-fans-take-out-anger-by-rioting-after-loss-to-wisconsin/

Pay attention to the children whose actions saved a five-year-old from a kidnapper.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/justice/pennsylvania-teen-heroes/ 

Recognize the young man who saved the life of the police officer who was arresting him.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/after-arrest-florida-teen-helps-save-officers-life/

Contemplate the actions of the teen who protected a Klan member from an angry mob in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/keshia-thomas-black-teen-white-man-kkk-rally_n_4175020.html

Respect City of St. Petersburg, Florida's "Sunshine Ambassador" award winners, Barrington Williams, Richard Canty, and Chauncey Swinton. Three young men who had the courage to do the right thing, in spite of what our mainstream media would have you believe. It is character not color that matters. Someday, I hope to blog about how one citizen helped another, rather than how a "black" or "white" citizen helped another. Until than, I will rave about the actions of the few, that benefit the many.

Top Row: Councilmembers Amy Foster, Karl Nurse, Charles Gedres, Steve Kornell, Darden Rice, Bill Dudley and Jim Kennedy. Bottom Row: Councilman Wengay Newton, Chauncey Swinton, Barrington Williams, Richard Canty, and Myself.

Ordinarily I am not allowed to post on the youth I work with. This, however is a matter of public record, and these fine young men stood before the Mayor of St. Petersburg, and the City Council of the beautiful City of St. Petersburg, Florida. 

In a society that calls our youth--especially our back youth "entitled," and "self-centered," "thug," "ghetto," "lazy," "street," I call them "upstanding," "citizens" and "protectors," and heroes.

I am exceptionally thankful for all those who shrug these stereotypes. I am especially grateful for our heroes. Our society needs them. 

After all...
We are still savages.