By Lonita Cook
Kansas City Local Writers Examiner
Roger Suggs, professionally known as Vigalantee, is a rapper, social activist, and, as co-founder of the Fringe Benefit of Education, an advocate for higher learning. Suggs has also been a long promoter of the Emmett Till story, even writing a song dedicated to the tragedy, considering his death to have been in vain. The Trayvon Martin killing resurrected a feeling of helplessness, and thus activism for people who refuse to allow children to be harmed and then subsequently having the authorities do what is interpreted as nothing.
“The burden is on us not to let this thing go,” a line from a new song Suggs has written and published suggests, commemorating the Trayvon Martin death, and branding him the new Emmett Till. It is a call to the public asking it not to engage in futile shows of solidarity for a couple of weeks and then get bored as he believes happens with so many causes. The outcry is important, but, now is the time for the public to truly be verbal.
“This is the beginning of how the law changes,” Roger says, warning people not to believe an arrest, or charge is the end. Though as of now he believes the “Stand Your Ground” law might be modified because of this case, but not eradicated. “Guns rights [activists] won’t let that happen.”
He also takes issue with the charge against Zimmerman itself. “He was already acquitted when the First Degree [charge] was taken off the table. Period. People get happy about checkers when the system is playing chess.”
Closure is important for the family, and Suggs hopes that is what’s happening, but fears the charges may simply be to pacify the public.
Continue reading on Examiner.com The Trayvon Series: Roger Suggs, rapper and social activist examines the charges - Kansas City local writers | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/local-writers-in-kansas-city/the-trayvon-series-roger-suggs-rapper-and-social-activist-examines-the-charges#ixzz1rvyFulFt
“The burden is on us not to let this thing go,” a line from a new song Suggs has written and published suggests, commemorating the Trayvon Martin death, and branding him the new Emmett Till. It is a call to the public asking it not to engage in futile shows of solidarity for a couple of weeks and then get bored as he believes happens with so many causes. The outcry is important, but, now is the time for the public to truly be verbal.
“This is the beginning of how the law changes,” Roger says, warning people not to believe an arrest, or charge is the end. Though as of now he believes the “Stand Your Ground” law might be modified because of this case, but not eradicated. “Guns rights [activists] won’t let that happen.”
He also takes issue with the charge against Zimmerman itself. “He was already acquitted when the First Degree [charge] was taken off the table. Period. People get happy about checkers when the system is playing chess.”
Closure is important for the family, and Suggs hopes that is what’s happening, but fears the charges may simply be to pacify the public.
Continue reading on Examiner.com The Trayvon Series: Roger Suggs, rapper and social activist examines the charges - Kansas City local writers | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/local-writers-in-kansas-city/the-trayvon-series-roger-suggs-rapper-and-social-activist-examines-the-charges#ixzz1rvyFulFt
