The doors of the church are open. Good morning, Saints.
Saints, you probably heard the news yesterday. Young Karmelo Anthony’s motion for a new trial was denied by a Texas judge months after the original trial judge said that the jury “got it right.” This new ruling was handed down despite dozens of pages of evidence showing that Austin Metcalf was a violent racist bully.
So this morning, I know Black America is angry and grieving again because this case touches on old terrors and because yet another child of ours is being thrown away. I know there are so many parents out there wondering this morning whether any amount of preparation can keep our children safe. You’re wondering if the story has already been written for them. Will my child come home? Will my child be snatched from the future by the police, a prosecutor, a judge, the courts, a racist who feels entitled to provoke or hurt their body?
But for this morning’s sermon, I want to do what Black Liberation Theology calls us to do, which is to speak tenderness over our young. Neither the courtroom nor the white grievance mob gets to define Karmelo’s humanity. The state has condemned him, but they cannot revoke his sacred worth and so we must redirect all his righteous anger toward a survival strategy.
In today’s audio sermon, I want to remind folk that this country insists on making Black children sacrificial lambs, hashtags, and vessels for white grievance. But we must resist this white supremacist mandate and remind Karmelo and the rest of our young that they do not belong to those people. We must remind Karmelo that he is worthy of protection, tenderness, and a future despite what happened under that tent on the worst day of his life. And we REFUSE to let this country throw him and any other Black child away.
Come go with me into the sanctuary.
Come listen.
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THIS CONTENT IS WRITTEN IN THE AUTHOR’S PERSONAL CAPACITY. ANY OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THE AUTHOR’S OWN AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO HOWARD UNIVERSITY OR MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
