"The headline, search warrant says marijuana found in Botham
Jeans apartment after deadly shooting"
His apartment also contained a homicidal off duty police officer who killed him.
Why?
Why does this continue to happen?
Why is it that whenever a black person in this country
is taken at the hands of injustice, the justice system
and many in the media do everything they can to
criminalize the victim?
"This was an intent to come after this young mans character which is
impeccable by the way."
Before I go on I want anyone, and I mean anyone who looks at this headline, and is
not profoundly outraged and disgusted, to tell me why.
Please tell me why.
Seriously. Yesterday was Botham Jean’s funeral.
A brilliant young man who, after 26 years on this earth, was celebrated by friends
and family as a generous, kind, thoughtful mind who left nothing but a stellar
impression on everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.
"His smile lit up the room."
"He was the guy you called anytime you needed anything."
"I said hit me with your real name he said Botham Shem Jean I said Bo BO.
thats what its gonna be bro."
26 years on this earth and not one, not one personal encounter with
the criminal justice system.
It is simply horrifying right that this needs to be said, but in
this country, where the vilification of black people has
become standard practice in the wake of their untimely death, it
IS necessary.
Because it was on that day, a day no family should have to endure where they
are forced to bury a loved one, the Dallas PD released to the media
the ‘breaking news’ that weed was found in Jean’s apartment.
Let's put aside for a moment Dallas PD's incredibly cynical
and transparent effort to pin the blame for his own murder on
the victim by searching Botham Jean's apartment, sifting
through all of his belongings before doing a comparable
investigation of the killer - which by the way they still haven’t done.
But in what world is this 1) relevant and 2) a piece of information you lead
with as BREAKING news when reporting on the young man's
tragic death?
Listen and listen carefully.
STOP VILIFYING AND TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE BLACK VICTIMS.
This man was murdered in the comfort of his own home.
He did not have to follow any commands - that’s irrelevant.
And smoking weed, whether he did or did not, is not, a justifiable reason
for homicide.
But this just follows the consistent ‘black lives don’t
matter’ protocol where law enforcement and media outlets
will talk about a hoodie, a pack of skittles, a pack of cigarettes,
a joint, a wallet, a cell phone - anything and everything to criticize a victim
and deflect blame from where it belongs - on the murderer.
Why are these media outlets not looking into her background?
Why aren’t they addressing these clear flaws in her character?
You know, the person who committed the crime?
Instead of doing backflips to try and tarnish the character of a black
man who was unjustly taken from this earth.
And then people have the cheek to ask why players kneel?
And ask why I talk about race so much?
And you ask why I spend my time highlighting these examples and then accuse me or
people like me of race baiting and virtue signaling?
This is why man!!
People of color in the United States are far more likely to be subjected to this
type of treatment than any other demographic.
No other group in this country are forced to endure the consistent and
incessant vilification that comes in the wake of an already
excruciating loss.
No other group.
So if you are a person, and are even remotely conscious, and this doesn’t
both break your heart and outrage you to your very core, then you are
part of the problem.
If it does, then help alter the narrative.
Dispute every attempt to deflect blame.
Share this and every other video or article that
seeks to shed light on the truth and remember Botham Jean for the
person he was, not the person the justice system wants him to be.
"Botham Shem Jean was not a silhouette Botham Shem Jean was
a godly man."
Continue the conversation on my instagram @francismmaxwell and if
you want to become a member go to tytnetwork.com/join.