Freedom Rang...It Failed: An Anonymous Supporter's Eulogy of Troy Davis

Troy Davis died today.

He was 42 years old.

He was survived by his mother, sister, other extended family, and the millions of petitioners, who in some way showed support to the Georgia prisoner who was sentenced to death for allegedly killing an off-duty police officer in 1989.  A crime which he consistently denied having committed until the day he died. 

Since he was sentenced to death almost two decades ago, thousands of people, in conjunction with several civil and human rights groups, have advocated for Davis’ clemency.

Stays on execution were granted.

Appeals were heard.

But eventually, the appeals were exhausted.  And a decision was made.  Troy Davis would die in the State of Georgia on September 21, 2011.  

Since that final decision was made—only two days ago—millions of people (including notable celebrities)  have extended their support through facebook, twitter, and by making telephone calls and sending emails to state and federal officials.  Adding further doubt as to Mr. Davis’ guilt—this morning, on the day of his pending execution—he offered to submit to a lie detector test.  His offer was rejected. 

Thus, both Davis’ and the public’s last ditched appeals were denied; and Troy Davis was killed by means of Lethal Injection—a motionless, conscious, and painful death.  A death which was administered to a prisoner whose verdict was issued after a jury heard the testimony of at least seven witnesses who have since recanted or contradicted the original testimony which implicated Davis. 

But legal standards and operation of the law prohibited Davis from having the opportunity to have the case retried.  And although enough evidence had arisen to give at least, minimally, the “slightest” indication of Davis’ innocence (as observed by the Supreme Court of the United States), he was still executed under the pretense of fair and just operation of the law.

So at what point do we ask ourselves:  When a judicial system is predicated upon notions of “just” and “fair”—and not “right,” how can it justify the death penalty as a criminal punishment?  Particularly when it is undeniable that so-called “fair and just” standards (if we want to play that game) don’t necessitate “right” results. 

Now, I don’t want for you to confuse this as a personal opportunity for me to opine on whether Troy Davis was innocent or not.  You can go back, study the history/facts of the case, and formulate that opinion for yourself.

Or not.

But what I am saying is that, in a judicial system where there is room for error—and there is practical (albeit legally inadmissible) evidence of such error, there is no justification for the taking of a human life.  Particularly when it seems that Black men are oft the victims of such taking. 

So this is a sad day for many reasons.  Sad because a man died.  Sad because the millions of people who (thankfully) took action in the final hours of Troy Davis’ life didn’t know his story before this week.  And—most of all—sad because a man was killed—when there was reasonable doubt as to whether he committed the crime for which he was sentenced.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is not a miscarriage of justice.  It is a blatant failure.   

Is Atlanta Hip Hop Glorifying Disrespect Towards Women?

Please Note: Any photos accompanying this post are used purely for illustration purposes and are not intended to characterize the subject(s) which appear in the photos.


Date: April 29, 2011

Time:  10:46 a.m.

Now Playing:  @ask_her_she_know, Friday the 13th, "Tickin, Tickin, Tickin"

O.k. I'll admit it.  When I first got to Atlanta in 2008, I could barely stomach Atlanta radio.  It seemed that every other month there was some new artist named "Lil' something or another who came out with some song with a crazy beat and no lyrical substance that became the rage of the city.  It'd typically take me about two weeks to actually decipher what the Lils were saying in the hooks (this still happens--for over a month, I thought "racks on racks" was "wax on wax"), and when I got around to listening to what they were saying in the verses, I was left feeling confused (literally) and/or saddened by the state of hip hop. 

But, after 3 years of living in Atlanta, I have come to appreciate the music I used to hate.  You just have to take it for what it is.  A dope beat, a catchy hook, and a banging delivery.  In fact, I have been seen rocking out to the most ignorant of songs in spots throughout the City of Atlanta.  For sure, I need say only one word:  Waka.

Recently, though, I have noticed that every other song that comes on 107.9 or 103.3 seems to devalue women.  I mean, think about it.  Let's look at two of the top ten songs in circulation on Atlanta radio right now: Rocko, "Goin Steady" and Tity Boi/Yo Gotti, "Boo" (otherwise known as "I don't know her whole name.")

Excerpt from "Goin Steady"

Sorry if you read me wrong

I told you what you wanted to hear

Sorry if I led you on

Yeah that pussy good

Girl I aint gonna lie

But if you were looking for a dude girl, I aint yo guy

I'm not gonna come over every day

I'm not gonna talk to you

On the phone all the time you fuckin stalker you

I aint trynna be rude but I aint tryna eat your food

Imma keep it funky with you girl, we aint that cool

Excerpt from "Boo"

I just call her boo

I don't know her whole name

Keep it on the low man

All we eat is lo mein

Came from the block

Now i gotta whole thang

And you betta put a low jack on yo hoe mane

First things first.  I'm not gonna lie--both songs go hard.  They're catchy, and they get shit jumpin--whether you're in the car or in the club.  I liked them both when I first heard them, and--consistent with my approach towards Atlanta hip-hop--I didn't give too much thought to the words.  But one sunny day a few weeks ago, I was in the car, feeling good, listening to the radio, and "Goin Steady" came on, followed by "Boo."  All of a sudden, I was disgusted by the lyrics and what they represented.  So I changed stations from 103.3 to 107.9, and, to my surprise, and  increased disgust, "Goin Steady" was on, and was followed by "Boo."  I turned the radio off, popped in my Rihanna CD, and can count the times I've turned the radio on since.

I mean, what does it say that so much of the local hip hop music we are innodated with in Atlanta seems to disrespect and/or devalue women?  Is it a matter of art imitating life, or is the end result, the converse:  life imitating art? 

When I spoke to my female friends about what they thought about this, they pretty much had the same response I had:  Why are there SO MANY songs out right now that are spewing this degrading women mentality? 

When I spoke to my male friends, however, they had a different response.  They didn't try to defend the music itself.  Rather, they told me the unthinkable:  That the songs are reflective of how things are actually going down in the streets of the A. 

Perhaps this is true.  In fact, the more I think about it, I am certain that it is.  But maybe that's the problem.  I mean, Gucci Mane tossed a woman out of a moving car.  Just because it actually happened, does not make it acceptable.  And it definitely shouldn't be glorified.  But alas, I have no doubt, that in the coming weeks, a new record called "Throw that Hoe Out the Hummer" will in heavy rotation on Atlanta radio.  And the streets will be bumpin it hard.  smh.

Date: April 29, 2011

Time:  12:24 p.m.

Now Playing:  Lloyd, King of Hearts, "Cupid"