Monday, March 26, 2012

Diamond in the Rough (Part II)

http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/26/trayvon-martin-my-son-and-the-black-male-code.html

     Perhaps there is hope for the Journalism "industry" after all. With all the manufactured news out there it's nice to find an artisan's work. I know we had a "Diamond in the Rough" post last week, but this deserves some recognition, too.

     The journalist creates a poignant image while refusing to play up the "victim killed by loose cannon" feel: for a seasoned AP writer, this is below his dignity and caliber. Instead, he explains the interaction between father and son.

     This is obviously "biased" journalism. Jesse Washington has an express purpose to this writing, a goal that the reader should feel a certain way and adjust their actions and thoughts accordingly. He means to share an experience and thereby shed light on a societal issue. He plans to leave a mark on the world in hopes that another young black man will not have to suffer the same fate.

     This is "Social Responsibility" at its finest. This is beauty-- poetry within prose. And, even as a white woman with no personal experience close to this, no ability to empathize whatsoever, I was moved.


Were you?





Post scrpitum:     It is interesting to note that this and last week's inspired posts were from two AP writers. What prompts them to such good work? Perhaps a follow-up is in order.

No comments:

Post a Comment