We lost a student Sunday night. Not just any student, but a senior who was 5 weeks away from graduating. A student who had transferred to our school and had worked tirelessly to raise his GPA so he could walk the stage. A young man who was a leader on our campus and for the men's basketball team. I worked with this young man daily and had just sat with his Mom and him on Friday talking about graduation and creating a plan to ensure he makes it.
And his life ended. He was standing on the sidewalk in front of his house and was killed.
Yesterday, another student I work with had his house shot at twice. He was hit in the hand.
I am numb unsure of how to feel. But my body aches, my heart hearts and my stomach is in knots. I am still processing it all and will continue to each and everyday.
I sit here, at school today, angry and sad. These incidents do not make national news and they barely make local news. Why? As a country are we immune to these tragedies and the conditions in which they occur? Do we not wish to admit that we have cities that are being left behind?
Oakland has had 35 homicides so far and although I don't wish to acknowledge it, I know there will be more this year. Where is the conversation or national coverage? Where is the investigation? Or the public outrage?
I want to talk about this. I want you to talk about this. I want our state and country to talk about this. Conversation is the first step to addressing this. Silence does nothing. Talk. PLEASE. Our kids deserve it.
