The call was from one of my uncles, who informed me that his good friend had a son shot and killed in Oakland in the middle of the night. Hearing that the 18-year-old man had been gunned down by an Oakland police officer, my interest was immediately piqued.
“He was just a baby,” were words that echoed throughout the media, in reference to the death of Alan Blueford, as I scoured the Internet to look for any news of the shooting later that Sunday evening and early Monday afternoon between my busy work schedule and shuttling my kids to and from school.
Although I didn’t know Alan personally, and cannot even recall seeing him around town, I just couldn’t seem to take my mind off of the fact that this young man’s life had ended so abruptly and in such a horrible manner. I was curious to know what happened.
My family was born and raised in Oakland, in the 1960s and ’70s, and from what I know back then Oakland was a fairly decent place to live. It was a close-knit community, almost like Tracy, but bigger. Everybody knew everybody, and large families were common.
My family grew up in close proximity to the Blueford family, and on more than one occasion I have witnessed my mother, and a few of my uncles, run into their old childhood friend Adam Blueford around town here in Tracy. They would embrace each other and reminisce about those good old days in Oakland. They might even share a story or two about the happenings of their children.
Whenever I saw Mr. Blueford, he seemed nice enough, always with a smile on his face and saying positive things about his children.
Needless to say that hearing about the shooting death of one of his children made me sad. I wondered if the officer who fired his weapon at this young man really thought that his own life was in danger when he was hot on Alan’s heels during a pursuit. Did the police officer even for one minute think about the death of Oscar Grant, or Trayvon Martin, two young innocent men who were gunned down by zealous men with weapons, one a peace officer, and one a volunteer neighborhood watchdog?
Or was he thinking that the situation could turn out like that of Lovelle Mixon, who in March 2009 gunned down and fatally wounded three Oakland police officers after a routine traffic stop?
I wondered if Alan had ever been schooled in the proper protocol for being stopped by a police officer. Had he ever heard about the Grant shooting, or the Mixon shooting?
Although I am firm believer that police really are here to serve and protect the community, growing up in Oakland, I was taught differently. In the city by the Bay, where homicides are frequent and the death toll by gun violence is ridiculous, young people and even older people are afraid of the police. I was taught that you avoided the police at all costs, even if you were innocent, because they were above the law and you never knew what could happen if you were caught by one of the bad apples in the bunch.
Even as a married adult living in Tracy, I was scared to death the first time that I was pulled over on a routine traffic stop. I didn’t know what to expect — was I going to jail, would I be yelled at, harassed or tazered?
I was scared to death, but I followed the proper protocol and pulled over. I did not run, because I knew that the only thing I was guilty of was picking up my ringing cell after I had lost my earpiece. The officer who pulled me over turned out to be friendly. He explained why I had been pulled over and made small talk with me before asking for my license and registration and insurance. He went back to his vehicle, came back and, although he wrote me a ticket, I felt OK.
I know that comparing my minor run-in with Alan’s is like comparing apples to oranges, but I wonder if Alan and his friends wouldn’t have run from the police, would the outcome have been different?
I know that nothing will bring him back to the loving arms of his parents, and I know that there is no way to change the outcome of the situation. I am also not blaming him for running from the police, because his running does not justify being gunned down in the wee hours of the night in cold blood by those we hire to protect and serve us.
But I do feel that we should not let his death and his experience be in vain. I think children need to know that the role of our local law enforcement is to protect and serve. I think that teens and preteens need to know the proper protocol for dealing with the police. They must be taught never to run in any circumstance. They must know that any sudden movement can trigger a defensive response from police officers.
Children need to know that they have to face their fears head-on, and that running away will never solve the problem.
I wish that Alan had known that he should have stood his ground and answered any and all questions that the police threw his way. According to his family and friends, he wasn’t armed or dangerous — if only the police officer who shot him knew that.
It’s up to parents and the community to save our children from the perils of the streets. We cannot condone or accept bad behavior or violence from them. We cannot overlook petty crimes, including nonviolent burglaries and petty theft. When our kids have a problem, we need to turn to the community for help.
It’s too late for Alan, and my condolences are with his family. I do hope justice is served, but I hope we all learn something from this tragic incident. Let’s not let this young man’s death be in vain. Let’s train our children to be successful adults. Let’s teach them to stand their ground, know their rights and never to run.
• Kendra L. Willis is a financial broker and mother who has lived in Tracy since 2003.
If yer not markj then just say so an leave it at that. If she or someone else don't accept it then it's thair problem ain't it?
Or are ya like some that just have ta get th last word in? Hey, we all do that at times now don't we? At least I admit it.
Don't worry, ya can have th last word if ya want it cus it really don't matter ta me.
debbdaves, If you pay attention as I do, you will know that Mr. Gumfudgen was gone for awhile after being a regular here, when he came back not too long ago his first comment was, guess what? "test"
You some how and incorrectly make something out of nothing. Mr. Gumfudgen, would you care to chime in on this? debbdaves, to move forward and get past what you incorrectly assume, my name is Bob - no Mr. Gumfudgen, not Bob Blinker.
Mr. Gumfudgen, you seem to take pride in standing by your comment in regards to my screen name even after I explained it's origin. Allow me to throw some reasonable opinion and facts at you in retort.
1) You are the one associating "backin" rather than "backing" in front of "black" as a rascist acclamation, therefor you would be the one guilty of a racist acclamtion not I.
2) Google, kickin it, chargin Charlie, freakin out, are you beginning to see where I'm going?
cont.
debbdaves and Mr. Gumfudgen, you somehow find a way to associate my screen name with the word racist. I've already showed one of you the error of your ways in regards to backin, which as a reminder is "back in" run together. Onward we go....
Let's go with your incorrect assumptions and say I did mean I'm "backing black"
1) Did you stop to think maybe my favorite color is black? I have owned a number of black cars, I have a black cowboy hat and boots, I have a few pairs of black slacks. Oh wait, I couldn't be referring to my favorite color, according to you two there's a racial element here. Who's the racist?
2) Even if I meant I'm backing black people, does that mean I back no others?
3) Did you stop to think I was being sarcastic or going for satire?
4) Did you stop to think maybe I was once a good cowboy and decided to come back as a bad cowboy dressed in black.
5) Maybe I was a white knight in days gone by and have been resurrected as a black knight. Boy I sure hope my armor still fits.
Look, despite my admittedly sarcastic "who's the racist", I'm not silly enough to associate any of what either of you said with the word, maybe you should step up and drop your nonsense about my screen name.
In answer ta yer question who is th racist I shall respond with, I never implied ya were a racist but simply said that yer moniker could be taken by some as a racist remark.
I also said I hoped it wasn't an suggested perhaps ya should change it ta avoid that possible misconception on th part of others. If ya took that as me callin ya a racist I do apologize but frankly it's yer problem cus my intent was not ta do so.
Next, if ya did explain it's origin I missed it. I admit I don't see every postin that is made ta th Tracy Press. However now perhaps ya can see how someone else might jump ta that incorrect conclusion. Let me query, da ya read everythang posted? If ya do count yerself fortunate cus I just don't have th time.
With respect ta my lack of postin, I post when I feel like it an am not pressured ta post or expected by others ta post. It's an extention of one's right ta thank an act fer themselves an not perform as a trained puppet. In short, I post when I have th time, feel th inclination an have th technical ability ta do so.
In so fer as th vernacular I select fer my style of postin; thair are a vast amount of people, white, black an otherwise that use th same form of speech an it's a mislabel of thair motives an feelins ta lable em as bein somehow inferior an thus ta be ignored. It's a form of racism, or perhaps classism is a better word an it's not correct in a civilized society in my book. I say this frum actually havin lived with em an in may ways are smarter than many other people with a perfect command of th written an spoken English language.
One's speech, dress, educational stature, social standin or financial ability does not make em racist or somehow inferior any more than likein th absence of all reflected light, black, makin em racist an a sensible person in a civilized society intuitively knows that. In other words, perhaps ya shouldn't take offense until offense is actually given.
Did I imply ya were Bob Blinker? If I did it wasn't intentional cus I was simply wonderin what happened ta him as he an I sparred frequently.
On frequency of my postin; if ya look fer enough back inta TPs history ya will find many occasions where I have "disappeared" or have entered th word "test" ta check th status of my account.
Actually, if thair is an explanation necessary, which ya have asked fer, which thair ain't one necessary bein that I am a free citizen of th US an not subject ta explainin my legal actions ta ya or anyone else, I have been experiencin some trouble with my computer an was simply tryin ta see if it worked properly before wastin my time ta make comments that wouldn't be posted for technical reasons on my side.
Goin fer sarcasm or satire, that's a good en. Did ya thank I might be doin th same? Or is it that only you have that right? Don't bother answerin it's a rhetorical question that don't demand an answer, ya know what I'm talkin about here because yer not that dense.
Now that we have cleared th air, if ya wanna keep yer screen name in tact, it's OK with me. Just don't be surprised when some people might read more inta it than ya have intended.
Have a good day an don't thank it's a glib offerin cus I am serious. I do, in all seriousness, desire ya ta have not only a good day but a good life as well.
Yer correct in why I don't post with my real name though. After havin family members an friends threatened with physical violence fer thangs I have said I changed inta th Ornley moniker an did so expressly in th honor of th name of an individual I was raised around an one I respected fer standin up fer what is right in behalf of th little guy in th face of intellectual bigotry.
Th real Ornley has been asleep fer quite some time but those that knew him an his vernacular loved him an respected his love fer others an still speak fondly of him ta this day.
In his way Ornley, a basically uneducated cowboy in the southern part of the United States did more for America and Americans than many of those we idolize as great humanitarian leaders recognized in our nation's history. My sole regret in life, in this respect, is that being a local person Ornley did not have the technical ability to have his wisdom shared as the others have. Still, in the area where I grew up as a child Ornley was held in love and esteem by the hundreds of people whose lives were touched by him.
So, as another great American radio personality says, "And that, is the rest of the story."
Now ya know more about Ornley an why I use his monkier taday. I have ta say I dearly miss th old man but am comforted by th knowledge that some day in th not too distant future we can kick back an, in sport, throw dried cow pies like Frisbees at th passin chickens as we pass th time of day discussin what we see around us.
An fer ya animal rights people, don't worry, chickens are smart enough ta get outa th way of them flyin dried cow pies so none of em get hurt, just get their feathers ruffled a little as they run around squawking about stuff that ain't hurtin em. Kind of like people who like ta take offense at somethang when none was given.
"Er......who is backinblack? mark or cath? hey that rhymes! Good day to you too OC."
Neither, just someone interested in fair play, intelligent discussion, and what's right. Big brother is watching.
Read more: Tracy Press - News, events, classifieds and businesses in Tracy, Calif.
If this is markj might I suggest ya find yerself a different moniker as it can be taken two ways. One, in and of it's self might be viewed as a racist acclamation such as backin spelled correctly as backing.
Th other, an not a racist acclimation, would be more acceptable as back in black.
I'd hate ta thank it was th former so respectfully request ya consider what I've written here an make th appropriate changes as are necessary fer a better, non-offensive statement.
Society shouldn't tolerate overtly racist statements regardless of which race in that society utters them.
In peace a without malice,
OG
No offense to you as it may not be your cup of tea, but I guess I over estimated how many rockers and or cool people are left from that era as I figured they would know exactly where the screen name came from.
Your point about my screen name is duly noted and again, no offense intended but I don't think I'll be making any changes. If running the words all together leads people to read into the name the wrong way, oh well.
There are some fuzzy memories floating back to me over the years... "Hells Bells" and "Shook Me All Night Long".
Was it really 32 years ago that it came out? I am feeling OOOLLLDDD and in need of a walk down memory lane.
BeBackLater... See what I did there OG?
BM
Neither, just someone interested in fair play, intelligent discussion, and what's right. Big brother is watching.
Big brother is watching, you used the word racist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sAp6jHSdCE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APl5Wyo8UQQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyje9ADP_mE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv-0BSoXdOw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQlWnrIkaeM&feature=related
I have no doubt that after a coolin down period an some personal reflection th two of em will be back.
Ya know, one name I haven't seen here in a long long time is bobblinker. What happened ta him? Guess he had other fish ta fry. Well I wish him well even though I didn't much like his politics.
Hey, that's what makes America great. We can have our own beliefs an even air em as long as we are civil about it.
Good day ta ya.
OG
Respectfully I disagree an am grateful TP is moderatin these comments an don't feel they abridged or deprived anyone of their right of free speech.
First of all, this board is owned an operated by th TP an as such is really private an they can do pretty much as they please on what they will allow in th way of comments or not.
After all, they don't have any legal obligation to let any of us post our thoughts here.
Secondly, th feud fight between cathlab and markj had become personal an denigratin. Perhaps not denigratin each other as much as denigratin an insultin entire groups of people with comments that basically didn't add much information of any value to anyone else.
Fer lack of a better word I'll select one from th Christian Bible an simply say thair conversation has turned inta a pissin match.
If you look elsewhere in th comments you will see comments from cathlab an markj. In fact one from markj is a couple of comments down from this one.
In one area where I attempted some humor directed at Marvin for his comments on Democrats an Republicans an his cavalier usage of comparin em ta donkeys an elephants, I used another term for a donkey commonly known as a jackass.
Cathlab apparently didn't read my deflationary comment indicating that I was simply pokin some political humor into the conversation an called me a jackass. I inappropriately lowered myself to that level and responded that she was a jenny, another term for a female donkey.
Both of those comments were removed but my comment to Marvin wasn't.
Why?
The difference is civility. Hopefully Marvin was adult enough to intercept th humor I was attemptin ta interject ta indicate how his article could be viewed by some as offensive. Apparently TP recognized that an didn't remove it.
Again, civility seems ta be th key here. Heated argument is OK as long as it don't become a personal attack on an individual or a group of individuals, such as indicatin that th entire town of Tracy is populated by people who have a cave man mentality. Such a thang ain't true an it's rather insultin ta th good people who live in Tracy that just basically have a different opinion.
Anyway, that's how I view it all an ya are free ta have yer own view on it. I doubt markj is much upset by it bein he calles TP out on many occasions ta do what it seems ta me they apparently did. Can't say what cathlab thinks about it but you can ask her if ya have a mind to.
Personally, I'm just glad it's over an a little reminder on civility ain't a bad thang. At least in my book it ain't.
Have a good evenin.
OG
Markj my apologies if you think expressing liberal opinions leads to racism. Last time I checked, individuals had the right to free speech. Not under your rules I guess? In any case, if I offended you please accept my humble apologies, I was just trying to share my opinion. We can agree to disagree.