Two things struck me about this message.
The first was the more widely quoted, If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin. There is a photoshopped poster circulating on Facebook, Trayvon included in the Obama family photo. It brought to mind immediately the young men I know who look like Trayvon. I don't want to write their names, fearing, like O-lan from The Good Earth, that to speak such praise as they deserve would tempt the jealous gods to do them harm.
Their mothers are among my closest friends. I can hardly speak of Trayvon Martin in their midst. What it must mean to be the mother of a fine young African American man.
The second was a minor note, a hidden note, one that will be forgotten, was forgotten as soon as it was said, All of us have to do some soul-searching.
We Do Not Search Our Souls
Of all the words that this shooting has birthed, all the pundits and opinions, soul-searching is not among them.