I agree totally… and when I first read this story — I immediately thought of his family, and my own (if I had fallen victim to a similar act/incident).

My family is also a stalwart group of African American conservatives (talk about competing priorities?!!). And I can – with 100% confidence – assume that they value quiet dignity and familial reputation over justice. In fact, that maintenance of dignity is often seen as more contributory to the “greater good” than the noisy scandal associated with making a public move for legal justice.

Whether I had made the decision to get married and project the image of a straight family man; or even if I came out and live the life of an educated, stable, power-gay — my family would have found the whole “screwing in a public park” event to be quite seedy and beneath acknowledgement. They’d privately (and, most likely, individually) attempt to come to terms with my death; while also struggling with their own judgement of my actions. The general perception would be that I laid the foundation for such an ugly event by engaging in less-than-honorable sexual activity (the whole “lay with dogs, wake up with fleas” routine; coupled with “couldn’t he have met a nice guy at work or at a bar?”).

Trust me… it will be stretch for them to understand that, if they let the legal course of events transpire without input (or protest, if necessary) — the “greater good” now suffers disservice. No one, outside of their family and immediate community, cares about their quiet dignity — but is now afraid that, just based on perception (because we don’t know all of the facts) this can lead to further instances of wrongful death of gays & minorities at the hands of police (without investigation).

Right now… it’s probably difficult to reconcile; much less gaining the courage to weather more reputational impact by jumping into the pool of drama that will come along with pushing for pursuit of an investigation.

Sadly — I sit on the fence with my opinion. I see the greater need to push for clarity… but I also see his family’s precarious position; and — honestly — part of me judges the victim through that same ugly, conservative lens of “why would a person in a position of corporate leadership – and with a family – be so selfish and sloppy as to risk it all for a quick diddle in a public park? That’s seriously cruisin’ for a bruisin’!”

I realize I have no right to judge, however. And that no one should be KILLED for an action that had no forcible bearing on anyone else’s life. However, it’s still hard to put down “the lens” — and I’m assuming that’s doubly hard for his family.

Just another negro dead by the hands of pig cops..
Yep, business as usual eh?