We must NEVER betray the greatness of her legacy by focusing too greatly on the tragic final episode of her regal and defiant life. Dr. Betty Shabazz was a warrior, scholar, teacher, nurse, victorious widow, revolutionary womanist, superior single mother, and eternal queen to our most beloved king. She was the first lady of America’s most royal revolutionary family.
We must never slander such a family due to a few of its troubled members. Clearly, her murderous grandson is deeply disturbed. Granted, his mother is the “white sheep” of this Black family. But women, and sheep, do not make babies alone.
Where is this boy’s father? Is he as violent as his son? Did he abuse this boy’s mother? Did this abuse teach this boy to hate and devalue women so that he could horribly torch even his own grandmother? I do not know the answers to these questions I pose. But, I DO know that they reflect upon US ALL.
While I have delayed my comments on this tragedy, to pray that Betty might miraculously heal, so many another SEXIST columnists have rushed to attack her daughter EXCLUSIVELY. Historically, Black women have been the glue that holds Black families together. Yet, droves of absentee fathers are NEVER blamed for the violent young men they create. They are RARELY referred to as “welfare kings” “teen dads” etc.....
America is a patriarchy. Strong women can never be as successful or powerful as men in a world where men rule with iron machismo. Boys really do NEED male mentors to survive. Malcolm X had his own father and the Nation of Islam. Other men have extended father figures. Did this boy have anyone similar in his life to teach him how to live and treat his grandmother?
Perhaps this boy’s father is somewhere grieving for the evil deeds of his son. Perhaps, unlike the sexists who blame his baby’s mama exclusively, he realizes that he is also to be blamed. The fruit never falls far from the tree. The sins of the fathers do fall upon the children. Too many absentee fathers have scattered too much toxic fruit to the winds. Our collective sins have rotted our Black family tree, at its roots, and it is falling down, rapidly...
We will always remember Dr. Betty Shabazz as an outstanding woman, who defied ALL of the legendary tragedies of her life. Her unique memory will defy this final tragedy also. Her eulogy and legacy are FIERCENESS, not fire; PASSION, not pain; TRIUMPH, not tragedy.
May Betty Shabazz and El Hajj Malik El Shabazz be reunited
as lovers and legends
eternally...