So I’ve been listening and watching about the events in Charleston, South Carolina. I had to sit back and think about all the horrific sights and the devastated hearts that followed as a result. You know now that those souls are laid to rest and the conversation is as strong as ever about race relations and the Confederate Flag, I think its time for a little more perspective.

I’ve been watching as social media has been running the constant comparisons of the decision the Supreme Court handed down on gay marriage and the inequality that still exists for Black people and White people. And make no mistake about it, there is still so much to be done but these moments need to stay separated and I will address it more in my next post. For now lets just focus on the symbolic nature of this killing and actions of the families following.

As anybody who has talked to me knows, I’m not very effusive in my praise for the Black Church, because for all it has stood for throughout history and continues to stand for today, there are so many outdated and ancient practices in the church that has kept it from continuing to be the rallying point that it once was. Not to mention the drama and histrionics of those wanting to have “stature” and “power” in the Church community. The Church has been torn apart by greed and money and it’s a shame.

But, lets still remember that the Black Church, for as long as they’ve existed in this country, has stood as a symbol of power and togetherness for the community. It was the place that launched the career of Dr. King, the church is the place Malcolm X became such a demonstrative figure. The church is where refuge was sought during slavery and slaves quest for freedom.

The Church was the place that we went to in order to recharge and hear a word to uplift you in times of struggle. The Church was the place that groomed young men and women for the world. It was the place that when the rest of the world told you that you weren’t good enough, it told you that you were. When the world told you that your pigmented skin was ugly and not humane, the Church said it was beautiful, unique and amazing.

See that radical, racist, prejudiced White man, went to the symbolic place to try and incite another Civil War. For all the bull shit that his people trying to “defend” him put out about him being mentally unstable, the reality is this man was very sane, stable and rational. He knew that if he went to that historic church and executed those people it would cause outrage and he hoped that it would lead to war and to further expose Black people, in his mind and the minds of others, to be out of control, angry, violent people; not worthy of being considered equal.

He said as much on his social media rants. He wanted to go to a place that symbolized the strength of the African American community and cause emotional and physical scars that would paralyze a community with fear and hatred, leading to violence and slaughtering of countless men, women and children of color. See for all the rush by some in White America to paint him as unstable and mentally challenged, it is the opposite in fact that’s true about him. He knew where to strike  Black America, he just didn’t expect the reaction he received.

I must applaud that Church and the parishioners and family members of those in that church for their reaction to this tragedy. Another racially charged terroristic act. Yes, I will call it that because that’s just what it is. See we have to realize that while we damage our own cause by stupidly killing each other, we also give rise to those who truly hate us to kill us and use the veil of Black on Black killing as justified comparisons for what they do.

Symbolism folks is just as strong, if not stronger at times, than the act itself. Because it’s the symbolic images and emotions that people illicit from these tragedies that spur actions. Now all across the deep South, politicians are rushing to remove the Confederate Flag because they feel convicted by this latest massacre. But maybe what really got them is they realized the negative, destructive, and contentious symbol that the Flag represents and finally they say no more.

Keep this debate up, equality comes from courage, conversation and numbers. Power is in the masses ability to come together.