After a second Boston Massacre
By Joe Nathan
We’ll come back, sadder but stronger. That’s what I’ve predicted, in talking with youngsters about the second Boston Massacre – the one that just happened. Acts of horror often have the reverse impact of what was intended by those who produced them.No one should defend any of these horrible acts, committed by cowards. They are terrible tragedies.
But look what happened after the first Boston Massacre, in March 1770. According to Wikipedia, “British army soldiers killed five civilians and injured six others.” People throughout New England were infuriated. This helped bring the colonies together, eventually resulting in our freedom.
Not quite 50 years ago, in September 1963, a Birmingham, Ala., church was bombed. Four innocent little girls died, and many were injured. Horrific. But this helped unify millions of Americans to support civil rights legislation. Again, quoting Wikipedia, “The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S. 1960s Civil Rights Movement and contributed to support for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
Award-winning author Langston Hughes wrote a poem, “Birmingham Sunday,” which reminds us of the tragedy, and looks forward hopefully to a better world. Part of the poem reads:
“First little girls
Who went to Sunday School that day
And never came back home at all –
But left instead
Their blood upon the wall…
“Four little girls
Might be awakened soon
By songs upon the breeze
As yet unfelt among
Magnolia trees.”
American history is not just names and dates. It’s also about the successful struggle to expand opportunity and freedom. Sometimes it’s been difficult. Sometimes we’ve had to deal with tragedy.
But we have moved ahead. Quoting the remarkable Mr. Hughes again, in his poem “Mother to Son,”
“Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. So, boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps. ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now— For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”
Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome – please post comments below.
Janis Stoven
April 29, 2013 @ 10:42 am
Hello,
I just finished reading your feature while listening on MPR to the memorial service being held this morning in Boston. I reread some of your words, the poem and ending. Your comments and thoughts were meaningful and created a sense of comfort for me. Thank you for sharing.
John Witte
April 29, 2013 @ 10:43 am
Joe:
I have sent your message to my faculty and the hudreds of students here. Thanks.
John Witte
Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Nazarbayev University
Ronn Robinson
April 29, 2013 @ 10:44 am
Joe. This is great! Thanks much.
Ronn
Victoria Bergsagel
April 29, 2013 @ 10:45 am
Beautifully poignant and inspirational Joe. Thx.
William Brenner
April 29, 2013 @ 10:46 am
Inspiring piece, Joe. thanks. — Bill
Holly Hart
April 29, 2013 @ 10:47 am
Well said, Joe. Hopefully this sad event and the sad vote yesterday in the Senate on gun sale checks will mobilize thinking people to action.
Ann Werner PhD
April 29, 2013 @ 10:48 am
Wow! Joe. This is POWERFUL.
Thanks. Ann
Karen Starr
April 29, 2013 @ 10:49 am
Thanks for the wisdom, Joe, and loved the sources of this inspiration–education of the heart and mind, you are!—Karen
Sahro Abdullahi
April 29, 2013 @ 10:50 am
I believe this is a great way to look at a tragedy. we must use this tragedy as a lesson instead of doom that comes over us and divides people. It is sad these young man use innocent people to make a point but whatever hatter in their hearts will not deter people to coming together because this has outraged many, and no one in their right mind will sympathizes with them
D. T. King
April 29, 2013 @ 10:51 am
Powerful piece, Joe….thanks for sharing. Violence never solves problems. But it does bring solidarity.
And as MLK and Gandhi said, perhaps, one day, peace.
Cheers,
Tom
Lynnell Mickelsen
April 29, 2013 @ 10:52 am
Wow! Just wow! Thank you so much for also adding the quotes from Langston Hughes.
Really great column, Joe!
R L Bishop Jr.
April 29, 2013 @ 10:53 am
Very good Joe. Thank you.
Eric Paisner
April 29, 2013 @ 10:53 am
Joe
This is really nicely written.
Eric
Julie Febres
April 29, 2013 @ 10:55 am
My favorite poem- about the crystal stair- I carry it in my walllet and gavea copy to my son. I love reading Langston Hughes.
Well, we must go ahead, I agree, stronger. Also, it doesn’t hurt to look at the past, to study it from all points of view and see anew what we might have missed the 1st time around. History comes alive when we do that, and makes the present take on greater value.
I read a saying on the back window of an SUV: ” Genealogists study dead rela-tives.”
J M H Febres
Diana Shulla-Cose
April 29, 2013 @ 10:56 am
Thank you Joe