Heroes and Kingz

About 30 years ago I applied to be a Deputy Sheriff in San Diego, California. I had passed all the physical, mental and intellectual tests. My decision to become a sheriff was not about a commitment to make a difference in my community.  Furthermore, it was not a decision to curtail crime in the streets. During this time I was working for the Dept. of Social Services as a supply clerk, in junior college and worked out everyday. I was not making a  lot of money, but me and my best friend had an apartment, cars, nice clothes and was living a the life of two heterosexual single men. After  going through the background checks, FBI background checks and references it was time to learn what the job entails. The preparation, I learned that you would have to do a few years working in the county jail before you would be working in a specific area.  I grew up around some guys who were into everything and my first thought was I was going to see half the guys I grew up with or know in the jail; no problem. My reputation in the streets was solid, so I had a fleeting thought that i could possibly change their mindset if I was put in the right situation as a sheriff. Two things happen that night would change my mindset and consciousness. First, there was another recruit who happened to be Caucasian and just left military. This other recruit and I where the top recruits in this class in all the tests. Second, the county jail prison bus just happened to pull-up in front of the courthouse/jail during our break from the 1 on 1 interviews. As the bus pulled up I remember the other recruit getting excited and voicing his anxiousness to get on the streets and “fight crime”. My first thought of him was if he was my partner he would get us both killed. But, as the bus parked and the Sheriffs and the inmates got off the bus, one thing was glaringly obvious. Every Sheriff was white and the 95% of the prisoners that got off the bus was either African American or Hispanic. The moment I had that visual I knew I could not be a Sheriff and at that moment I had to figure out how to keep Brothers off that bus. The next day I withdrew my application and I explained to my Mom why I could not be a Sheriff just for the money. To be in law enforcement is a special calling and I commend the good cops who have chose this profession. But, my knowledge of society and history told me there were too many Black men on that bus. Through my education, travel and life experience I now know why and the solutions are complicated. Over the years I have been helped and I have helped people as well. As I close in on my 55th  birthday I realize I can not change people, but I can attack the narrative. We have been called everything under the sun, but children of God. Thus, for me and my perception of reality and the standard and title I want brothers to aspire to is no less than a Hero and King. After 1000 years there is no other title that can be what we actually are but Heroes and Kingz. Unofficially, it began that night…Officially, it will begin Nov. 5th, 2017