There have been so many deaths, not just of the body but the spirit.<\/p>\n
We choose to honor Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, D-Jasper, the pastor of Mother Emanuel, with public viewings at the State House, in Ridgeland, and in Charleston, and with a eulogy by President Barack Obama. Dubbed the \u201cmoral conscience of the General Assembly\u201d\u009d before his killing, Pinckney was called to preach at 13, appointed a pastor at 18, elected to the S.C House at 23 and the S.C. Senate at 27.<\/p>\n
But we choose not to remember Frazier Baker and his family. Baker was appointed postmaster in Lake City in 1897. But he was black, and the whites objected. Eleven set fire to his home, and as the family tried to escape, shot Baker dead. They shot dead Julie, a 2-year-old in the arms of Lavinia, her mother. Lavinia and daughters Rosa and Cora escaped, each shot in the arm. So did son, Lincoln, shot in the arm and stomach. South Carolina would not prosecute. When the federal government did, a mistrial was called because of a deadlocked jury….<\/p>\n
Most whites don\u2019t know these stories and perhaps don\u2019t want to know, too embarrassing, too shaming. Many African-Americans don\u2019t know these stories because their grandparents and parents found them too painful to tell.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to talk, and without the talk, only a little will change.<\/p>\n
Read more here: http:\/\/www.thestate.com\/news\/local\/article25330030.html#storylink=cpy<\/p>\n