By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
I can recall my parents telling me to get ready because we are going to a parade.
There was a lot of joy attached to going to a parade as a child. Bands were playing and people all dressed up were waving from floats.
In my hometown, we didn’t have many parades so each one we had was a special occasion. You will agree that there is something exciting about watching a parade.
Over time with humility, I say that my family and I have been privileged to be in a few parades. So, I have had the chance to be on both sides of the float so to speak.
The past few months have been filled with parades. Some we have watched on television like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and others we have seen in person such as a parade associated with a football bowl game.
If you live in the Crescent City, you just witnessed a wonderful Mardi Gras season. I have often said to people you have to see a Mardi Gras parade in person. You must travel to New Orleans during carnival season. You will never, ever forget the experience. Make your reservations now!
Of course, there are parades associated with professional sports teams. When they win a championship, you can count on their team’s city hosting a parade in their honor. Players and coaches are among those on floats showing appreciation to the fans for their support.
At some point during the celebration, the players will enthusiastically tell the crowd that they will win the championship again next year. When Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs said that last year, did you believe them? Well, they won the Super Bowl last Sunday in dramatic fashion against the San Francisco 49ers.
However, something went terribly wrong at Wednesday’s parade. There was a mass shooting. To use the terms mass shooting, and Super Bowl parade together is unbelievable. It is just beyond the pale that joy could turn into pain in a matter of moments is unthinkable.
Yet the unthinkable and the uncalled for did happen. The shooting occurred as the parade was ending. One person is dead and 22 people were injured. Some of the injured were children. Bullets from a gun going into a child’s tender body is unimaginable.
Two juveniles are being held at a juvenile detention center on gun-related and resisting arrest charges according to reports.
Kansas City Police Chief, Stacey Graves said, “I am grateful for the charges against the two juveniles who hurt innocent people, simultaneously scarring an entire community.”
Further reporting says there was some type of dispute involving a small group of people. Whether a small number or a big number, innocent bystanders had hurt, harm and danger overtake them through no fault of their own.
The death of a popular radio personality, Lisa Lopez-Galvan is being taken hard by community members. Her brother, Beto Lopez said, “She was a very wholesome, very caring, very loving individual.” His comments were made on NBC’s Today Show.
Sadly, but a fact of life is that some people who get dressed to go out have a gun as a part of their apparel. They carry with the intent of protecting themselves from us.
However, we aren’t carrying guns. I won’t ever understand the need for guns in the public square. Someone’s life was taken because of momentary insanity. Now, the two juveniles who are under suspicion will face the consequences of their actions.
Sadness, hurt and mourning will be a part of these families’ lives forever.
Unfortunately, this tragedy is not like a football game where one team wins and the other team loses.
Here, everyone lost.
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a long- time educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. One of the top tennis players in the state, he was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame in January 2021. A graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, he received his M. A. degree in Education from Catholic University in Washington, DC, and Ed. D. degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. He has also done post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
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