When Good Friday Got Real

Four years ago, on Good Friday, I was headed out to a community service co-hosted by the clergy association and local churches. It was at noon, but I didn’t get there until it was nearly over.

It so happened that Stephon’s funeral was happening on the same day, which I watched on TV. He had been shot and killed by Sacramento police, who mistook his cell phone for a gun. The grief of his mother and the entire family was on display for the world to see. I planned to watch until time to leave my house for our local event, but I could not pull myself away. It appeared that Stephon Clark’s brother just broke or was on some substance, and some may have seen his activity as disruptive. It may have been, but it was real.

It was everyblackfamily. It was me; it was Diane grieving for Stephon and Black boys everywhere and caring for our own four sons.

Rev. Al Sharpton carefully loved Stevante to restore order to Stephon’s service. Stevante became a vocal advocate for police reform. He helped propel AB 392 into law, a bill signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, and is thought to be one of the strictest laws in the country regulating when police officers can use deadly force.

The late theologian James Cone juxtaposed Jesus’ cross with the lynching tree. I do, too, but I don’t suppose most churches, especially white ones, will even see who Jesus is today.

Ask Patrick Lyoya.

Ask those shot and killed one year ago today at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis primarily staffed by Sikhs.