A year ago today I was teaching a community media production course at Georgia State for 14-18 year old young black men. Beyond The Bricks purpose was to empower young men to seize control of the media images of their communities by giving them the tools (and encouraging the inclination) to tell their own stories. We had fluctuated between 5 and 10 participants, but had dwindled down to two stalwart, committed young men: Macio Thompkins and Joshua Watkins. My co-teacher Chuck Barlowe Jr and I spent the rest of the semester in a sort of intensive mentoring relationship with these two young men. Joshua missed the last week of the program because he had graduated from High School and had to start working immediately to help his family out and save for college...
On December 24th 2012, Joshua was murdered while sitting at a bus stop on his way home from work.
Joshua was smart and respectful, calm and responsible, diligent and focused. He was a great young man and his death was a devastating loss for Atlanta. He was one of those kids you think is definitely going to make it and do some good things in the world. I didn't worry about Josh at all. When I heard about his murder I balled all night.
Lost in all the gun talk are the human beings on both sides of the gun. The mental illness it takes to kill another being so wantonly. The loss of potential when a life is cut short. Until we deal with the nihilism, isolation, detachment, and lack of empathy rampant in our society, the violence will not stop.
I pray for Josh. I pray for his murderer. I pray for us all. We have a long way to peace.
Joshua's family has started a scholarship fund in his name and are organizing a benefit concert this Saturday April 13th at 5:30pm. See the above flyer and please attend if you can. Josh's potential to do good in the world isn't totally lost...
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