Trayvon Martin, a Tragic Killing, a New Beginning

No matter how you may perceive what happened to young Trayvon Martin, if there is a human heart beating within you, some part of you should be screaming, “Dear God, do not allow this young man’s death to have been in vain!”

Trayvon’s death is an irreparable loss for his family and friends, and it is an American Tragedy for us all. It will be an even greater tragedy, if we here in Atlanta just stand idly by and shake our heads disapprovingly. If we simply continue our daily round, and do not face up to the consequences of his killing and its aftermath, then we might as well be living in some other galaxy and not in the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am a son of the South, a native Atlantan. I have witnessed racism, and all too sadly, it is still alive and well.

I am asking you reading these words, as well as my colleagues who serve with me as part of our Higher Ground Group, what can we do to honestly and directly face up to the racist poison that so many of us try to deny and hide? Cannot we here in Atlanta begin some effort, dialogue, and action across our city, that could well serve as a model for our nation?

Let us hear from you. We cannot bring back Trayvon Martin. But, we can at least attempt to do something so that his death will have not been in vain.

Please, for the decency that lives within your heart, let us hear from you…

Alvin Sugarman