Is HOPE Just A Campaign Slogan?

Four years ago, a little girl from an after school program I helped coordinate asked me if I knew a recent local murder victim. When I told her I did, she informed me, matter of factly, "He was my dad. He got killed."

Just a few months prior to that, I had written an article about another comrade whose senseless murder was the catalyst for yet another cycle of death and destruction that has plagued the community that I grew up in over the past 20+ years.

Four years ago I was losing hope.

But then, through my work with Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives (a program intended to help at-risk children) I met Deon Rudd, an inspiring young man unlike anybody I've ever met and the one, if anyone,  could restore my hope.

In an era where shamefully, too many Black men deny their children and shirk their responsibility, Deon was a literal stay-at-home dad. He and his wife Kendra, took in other troubled kids, and sometimes entire families, providing them shelter, clothing and home cooked meals.

Deon was also something of a chef who loved to amaze a houseful of people, family and guests, with his culinary skills.

His humanitarian deeds poured out into the community in which he and his family lived. I met Deon while he and his wife were volunteering at the same after school program I mentioned earlier. He wanted to improve his life by improving the lives of others, especially kids.

He voluntary coached kids basketball and would pick my brain because he had aspirations to begin a non-profit league of his own.

Deon was kind hearted, mellow, laid back and the epitome of cool. In the time that I spent with Deon I never saw him lose his temper or raise his voice. The only time I ever saw a glimpse of frustration in his face was when The Nuggets or The Broncos were doing poorly. (Which was more often than either of us liked).

I say all this to make the point, Deon wasn't all the things that most young Black murder victims are; irresponsible.

He wasn't a self described, arrogant  and ignorant thug - He was a modest intellectual father.

He was selfless rather than selfish. He wasn't prone to making rash decisions or acting off emotion but one to make rational deliberate choices.

He wasn't artificial or superficial,  rather, he was what so many young black men falsely proclaim to be; real!

The only gang Deon dedicated his life towards was his wife and kids.

On the evening of November 4th, 2008 , I sat in Deon's living room and watched history take place. Together, along with his family, we watched and then celebrated the election of the first Black president of the United States.

At that time, I felt so much pride in how far our people have come.  I also I saw that pride in Deon's eyes as he held his infant son in his arms.

That look reflected whole heartedly the hope that was Obama's campaign slogan. That election night I saw a father see the future possibilities for himself and his seed. Upon witnessing that moment - a father will success upon his man-child, I rediscovered my lost hope.

Four years later, that hope is faltering again and I cannot look to Deon for inspiration for he has been taken from us.

The details surrounding his murder haven't come to light yet but to me and the ones whose lives he affected, they're irrelevant anyway. The facts of the matter are a wife is without her husband and four kids are without their father. Even more kids are without a coach, a mentor and a role model.

I am without a friend. As I hold my infant son, I'm attempting to hold on to that hope that Deon inspired. I want to live in a world where my son not only can grow up to be President of the United States, but where he can simply grow up and be a man like Deon.

It's apparent our political so called  leaders are more interested in the investments being made on Wall Street than investing in the young lives being lost in the city streets.

If there is one thing that bothers me more than the brutal murder of a man I called a friend is the question, Why something like gay marriage is on the radar of either parties - Democrat or Republican, election campaign rather than the epidemic of our young people dying?

Thankfully there are few who are stepping up to the plate and attempting to save our future. Terrence  Roberts is one of those who lead a movement. He is executive director of The Prodigal Son Intuitive, inc, a program born out of his struggles with gang activity in his youth.

I've been in contact with Terence over the past month and I've felt a vicarious sense of pride, similar to what I felt watching Deon that election night, when I see what Terence and The Prodigal Son Intuitive  are working to accomplish. I'm hoping against hope that their efforts will not be in vain.

We can all assist in those efforts by contributing something. Prodigal Son and other organizations that help kids can always use donations and volunteers. Like Deon Rudd, we all have to do our parts to "keep hope alive" and more than just a campaign slogan.

There will be a Remembrance for Deon May 30th at Solid Rock Baptist Church 3520 e 28th.Ave 3pm-6pm

There will be a reception to celebrate his life afterwards
2878 Fairfax st.