Moments For The Culture – The Importance of Bearing Witness

by Richard Lallite

It is especially poignant that at the time that I am writing this article, we as a people are watching as history repeats itself once again.

“Those Who Don’t Know History, Are Doomed To Repeat It”

It is especially poignant that at the time that I am writing this article, we as a people are watching as history repeats itself once again.  The victims and victimizers are different, the exact narrative and circumstances have changed, however the feeling of Deja Vous haunts me. I purposely avoided watching the movie Till starring the brilliant actress, Danielle Deadwyler because I wished to avoid inflicting the trauma of Emmett Till’s horrific murder upon myself yet again.  It is a sentiment that I hear from African American’s frequently nowadays, particularly those of age to have lived through it in real life, or who came of age when it was still a fresh offense against humanity. 

Just a few short weeks ago Tyre Nichols, a young father and by all accounts a creative and loving human, being was on his way home to his family, having committed no offense, he was stopped by law enforcement officers, was horrifically beaten and died in the hospital a few days later, barely recognizable to his family. 

“In Spite Of the Trauma . . .”

The trauma I sought to avoid is now being replayed hourly on nearly every news channel, but it made me realize the importance of bearing witness. Without a witness, these incidents are too easily swept under the rug and forgotten, only to be trivialized or denied in future generations. We must bear witness, our children must bear witness, and their children, and so on through the ages. The names of our collective lost and loved must never be forgotten. The collection of Mother’s and Father’s tears must have a witness. 

 In spite of the trauma, I will be a witness. I will tell the story. 

 This Black History Month Let Us All Say Their Names and Bear Witness. 

SINZAE REED KESHAWN THOMAS DANTE KITTRELL JAYLAND WALKER CHRISTOPHER KELLEY RUTH WHITFIELD PEARL YOUNG KATHERINE MASSEY HEYWARD PATTERSON CELESTINE CHANEY GERALDINE TALLEY AARON SALTER JR. ANDRE MACKNIEL MARGUS MORRISON ROBERTA DRURY PATRICK LYOYA DONNELL ROCHESTER AMIR LOCKE ISAIAH TYREE WILLIAMS JASON WALKER JAMES WILLIAMS MICHAEL WAYNE JACKSON ARNELL “AJ” STEWART FANTA BILITY ALVIN MOTLEY JR. RYAN LEROUX WINSTON SMITH LATOYA DENISE JAMES ANDREW BROWN JR. MA’KHIA BRYANT MATTHEW “ZADOK” WILLIAMS DAUNTE WRIGHT JAMES LIONEL JOHNSON DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS DONOVON LYNCHMARVIN SCOTT III JENOAH DONALD PATRICK WARREN XZAVIER HILL ROBERT HOWARD VINCENT BELMONTE MONICA GOODS BENNIE EDWARDS CASEY GOODSON JR. AIDEN ELLISON QUAWAN CHARLES KEVIN PETERSON JR. WALTER WALLACE JR. JONATHAN PRICE KURT REINHOLD DIJON KIZZEE DAMIAN DANIELS ANTHONY MCCLAIN JULIAN LEWIS MAURICE ABISDID-WAGNER BRAYLA STONE RAYSHARD BROOKS PRISCILLA SLATER ROBERT FORBES KAMAL FLOWERS JAMEL FLOYD DAVID MCATEE JAMES SCURLOCK CALVIN HORTON JR. TONY MCDADE DION JOHNSON GEORGE FLOYD MAURICE GORDON CORNELIUS FREDERICKS STEVEN TAYLOR DANIEL PRUDE BREONNA TAYLOR BARRY GEDEUS MANUEL ELLIS REGINALD “REGGIE” PAYNE AHMAUD ARBERY LIONEL MORRIS JAQUYN O’NEILL LIGHT WILLIAM GREEN DARIUS TARVER MICIAH LEE JOHN NEVILLE CAMERON LAMB MICHAEL DEAN ATATIANA JEFFERSON BYRON WILLIAMS ELIJAH MCCLAIN JALEEL MEDLOCK TITI “TETE” GULLEY DOMINIQUE CLAYTON PAMELA TURNER RONALD GREENE STERLING HIGGINS BRADLEY BLACKSHIRE JASSMINE MCBRIDE ALEAH JENKINS EMANTIC BRADFORD JR. JEMEL ROBERSON CHARLES ROUNDTREE JR. BOTHAM JEAN HARITH AUGUSTUS JASON WASHINGTON ANTWON ROSE JR. ROBERT WHITE EARL MCNEIL MARCUS-DAVID PETERS DORIAN HARRIS DANNY RAY THOMAS STEPHON CLARK RONELL  FOSTER DAMON GRIMES JAMES LACY CHARLEENA LYLES MIKEL MCINTYRE JORDAN EDWARDS TIMOTHY CAUGHMAN ALTERIA WOODS DESMOND PHILLIPS DEBORAH DANNER ALFRED OLANGO TERENCE CRUTCHER CHRISTIAN TAYLOR JAMARION ROBINSON DONNELL THOMPSON JR. JOSEPH MANN PHILANDO CASTILE ALTON STERLING JAY ANDERSON JR. CHE TAYLOR DAVID JOSEPH ANTRONIE SCOTT BETTIE JONES QUINTONIO LEGRIER COREY JONES SAMUEL DUBOSE DARRIUS STEWART SANDRA BLAND SUSIE JACKSON DANIEL SIMMONS ETHEL LANCE MYRA THOMPSON CYNTHIA HURD DEPAYNE MIDDLETON-DOCTOR SHARONDA COLEMAN-SINGLETON CLEMENTA PINCKNEY TYWANZA SANDERS KALIEF BROWDER FREDDIE GRAY NORMAN COOPER WALTER SCOTT ERIC HARRIS MEAGAN HOCKADAY NATASHA MCKENNA RUMAIN BRISBON TAMIR RICE AKAI GURLEY TANISHA ANDERSON LAQUAN MCDONALD CAMERON TILLMAN DARRIEN HUNT KAJIEME POWELL MICHELLE CUSSEAUX DANTE PARKEREZELL FORD MICHAEL BROWN AMIR BROOKS JOHN CRAWFORD III ERIC GARNER JERRY DWIGHT BROWN VICTOR WHITE III MARQUISE JONES YVETTE SMITH RENISHA MCBRIDE JONATHAN FERRELL DEION FLUDD GABRIEL WINZER WAYNE A. JONES KIMANI GRAY KAYLA MOORE COREY STINGLEY DARNESHA HARRIS JORDAN DAVIS MOHAMED BAH SGT. JAMES BROWN DARIUS SIMMONS REKIA BOYD TRAYVON MARTIN WILLIE RAY BANKS KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR. CLETIS WILLIAMS ROBERT RICKS EUGENE ELLISON DANROY “DJ” HENRY JR. AIYANA STANLEY-JONES LAWRENCE ALLEN OSCAR GRANT JULIAN ALEXANDER MARVIN PARKER DEAUNTA FARROW SEAN BELL KATHRYN JOHNSTON TIMOTHY STANSBURY JR. ALBERTA SPRUILL ANTHONY DWAIN LEE RICKY BYRDSONG AMADOU DIALLO JAMES BYRD JR. NICHOLAS HEYWARD JR. MARY MITCHELL SHARON WALKER ELEANOR BUMPURS EDWARD GARDNER ELTON HAYES FRED HAMPTON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ALBERTA ODELL JONES JIMMIE LEE JACKSON MALCOLM X JAMES EARL CHANEY LOUIS ALLEN MEDGAR EVERS HERBERT LEE JOHN EARL REESE EMMETT TILL WILLIAM MCDUFFIE DELLA MCDUFFIE MALCOLM WRIGHT GEORGE STINNEY JR. DR. ANDREW C. JACKSON WILL BROWN LEVI HARRINGTON 

Moments-For-The-Culture-Slider-The-Importance-of-Bearing-Witness

It’s the vibration that focuses our formidable spiritual, artistic, political and financial power. The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world.

“Those Who Don’t Know History, Are Doomed To Repeat It”

It is especially poignant that at the time that I am writing this article, we as a people are watching as history repeats itself once again.  The victims and victimizers are different, the exact narrative and circumstances have changed, however the feeling of Deja Vous haunts me. I purposely avoided watching the movie Till starring the brilliant actress, Danielle Deadwyler because I wished to avoid inflicting the trauma of Emmett Till’s horrific murder upon myself yet again.  It is a sentiment that I hear from African American’s frequently nowadays, particularly those of age to have lived through it in real life, or who came of age when it was still a fresh offense against humanity. 

Just a few short weeks ago Tyre Nichols, a young father and by all accounts a creative and loving human, being was on his way home to his family, having committed no offense, he was stopped by law enforcement officers, was horrifically beaten and died in the hospital a few days later, barely recognizable to his family. 

“In Spite Of the Trauma . . .”

The trauma I sought to avoid is now being replayed hourly on nearly every news channel, but it made me realize the importance of bearing witness. Without a witness, these incidents are too easily swept under the rug and forgotten, only to be trivialized or denied in future generations. We must bear witness, our children must bear witness, and their children, and so on through the ages. The names of our collective lost and loved must never be forgotten. The collection of Mother’s and Father’s tears must have a witness. 

 In spite of the trauma, I will be a witness. I will tell the story. 

 This Black History Month Let Us All Say Their Names and Bear Witness. 

DO YOU LIVE IN A “HARLEM” OF THE WORLD? TELL US YOUR STORIES.

At HarlemAmerica, we want to connect Harlem, USA to the “Harlems” Of The World. If you live in one of these places, we invite you to share with us what is going on in your “Harlem”. Get information on how to submit your story, photos or both by sending a message to the Editor below.

SINZAE REED KESHAWN THOMAS DANTE KITTRELL JAYLAND WALKER CHRISTOPHER KELLEY RUTH WHITFIELD PEARL YOUNG KATHERINE MASSEY HEYWARD PATTERSON CELESTINE CHANEY GERALDINE TALLEY AARON SALTER JR. ANDRE MACKNIEL MARGUS MORRISON ROBERTA DRURY PATRICK LYOYA DONNELL ROCHESTER AMIR LOCKE ISAIAH TYREE WILLIAMS JASON WALKER JAMES WILLIAMS MICHAEL WAYNE JACKSON ARNELL “AJ” STEWART FANTA BILITY ALVIN MOTLEY JR. RYAN LEROUX WINSTON SMITH LATOYA DENISE JAMES ANDREW BROWN JR. MA’KHIA BRYANT MATTHEW “ZADOK” WILLIAMS DAUNTE WRIGHT JAMES LIONEL JOHNSON DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS DONOVON LYNCHMARVIN SCOTT III JENOAH DONALD PATRICK WARREN XZAVIER HILL ROBERT HOWARD VINCENT BELMONTE MONICA GOODS BENNIE EDWARDS CASEY GOODSON JR. AIDEN ELLISON QUAWAN CHARLES KEVIN PETERSON JR. WALTER WALLACE JR. JONATHAN PRICE KURT REINHOLD DIJON KIZZEE DAMIAN DANIELS ANTHONY MCCLAIN JULIAN LEWIS MAURICE ABISDID-WAGNER BRAYLA STONE RAYSHARD BROOKS PRISCILLA SLATER ROBERT FORBES KAMAL FLOWERS JAMEL FLOYD DAVID MCATEE JAMES SCURLOCK CALVIN HORTON JR. TONY MCDADE DION JOHNSON GEORGE FLOYD MAURICE GORDON CORNELIUS FREDERICKS STEVEN TAYLOR DANIEL PRUDE BREONNA TAYLOR BARRY GEDEUS MANUEL ELLIS REGINALD “REGGIE” PAYNE AHMAUD ARBERY LIONEL MORRIS JAQUYN O’NEILL LIGHT WILLIAM GREEN DARIUS TARVER MICIAH LEE JOHN NEVILLE CAMERON LAMB MICHAEL DEAN ATATIANA JEFFERSON BYRON WILLIAMS ELIJAH MCCLAIN JALEEL MEDLOCK TITI “TETE” GULLEY DOMINIQUE CLAYTON PAMELA TURNER RONALD GREENE STERLING HIGGINS BRADLEY BLACKSHIRE JASSMINE MCBRIDE ALEAH JENKINS EMANTIC BRADFORD JR. JEMEL ROBERSON CHARLES ROUNDTREE JR. BOTHAM JEAN HARITH AUGUSTUS JASON WASHINGTON ANTWON ROSE JR. ROBERT WHITE EARL MCNEIL MARCUS-DAVID PETERS DORIAN HARRIS DANNY RAY THOMAS STEPHON CLARK RONELL  FOSTER DAMON GRIMES JAMES LACY CHARLEENA LYLES MIKEL MCINTYRE JORDAN EDWARDS TIMOTHY CAUGHMAN ALTERIA WOODS DESMOND PHILLIPS DEBORAH DANNER ALFRED OLANGO TERENCE CRUTCHER CHRISTIAN TAYLOR JAMARION ROBINSON DONNELL THOMPSON JR. JOSEPH MANN PHILANDO CASTILE ALTON STERLING JAY ANDERSON JR. CHE TAYLOR DAVID JOSEPH ANTRONIE SCOTT BETTIE JONES QUINTONIO LEGRIER COREY JONES SAMUEL DUBOSE DARRIUS STEWART SANDRA BLAND SUSIE JACKSON DANIEL SIMMONS ETHEL LANCE MYRA THOMPSON CYNTHIA HURD DEPAYNE MIDDLETON-DOCTOR SHARONDA COLEMAN-SINGLETON CLEMENTA PINCKNEY TYWANZA SANDERS KALIEF BROWDER FREDDIE GRAY NORMAN COOPER WALTER SCOTT ERIC HARRIS MEAGAN HOCKADAY NATASHA MCKENNA RUMAIN BRISBON TAMIR RICE AKAI GURLEY TANISHA ANDERSON LAQUAN MCDONALD CAMERON TILLMAN DARRIEN HUNT KAJIEME POWELL MICHELLE CUSSEAUX DANTE PARKEREZELL FORD MICHAEL BROWN AMIR BROOKS JOHN CRAWFORD III ERIC GARNER JERRY DWIGHT BROWN VICTOR WHITE III MARQUISE JONES YVETTE SMITH RENISHA MCBRIDE JONATHAN FERRELL DEION FLUDD GABRIEL WINZER WAYNE A. JONES KIMANI GRAY KAYLA MOORE COREY STINGLEY DARNESHA HARRIS JORDAN DAVIS MOHAMED BAH SGT. JAMES BROWN DARIUS SIMMONS REKIA BOYD TRAYVON MARTIN WILLIE RAY BANKS KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR. CLETIS WILLIAMS ROBERT RICKS EUGENE ELLISON DANROY “DJ” HENRY JR. AIYANA STANLEY-JONES LAWRENCE ALLEN OSCAR GRANT JULIAN ALEXANDER MARVIN PARKER DEAUNTA FARROW SEAN BELL KATHRYN JOHNSTON TIMOTHY STANSBURY JR. ALBERTA SPRUILL ANTHONY DWAIN LEE RICKY BYRDSONG AMADOU DIALLO JAMES BYRD JR. NICHOLAS HEYWARD JR. MARY MITCHELL SHARON WALKER ELEANOR BUMPURS EDWARD GARDNER ELTON HAYES FRED HAMPTON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ALBERTA ODELL JONES JIMMIE LEE JACKSON MALCOLM X JAMES EARL CHANEY LOUIS ALLEN MEDGAR EVERS HERBERT LEE JOHN EARL REESE EMMETT TILL WILLIAM MCDUFFIE DELLA MCDUFFIE MALCOLM WRIGHT GEORGE STINNEY JR. DR. ANDREW C. JACKSON WILL BROWN LEVI HARRINGTON 

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