New Haven Independent

posted by: cedarhillresident on November 30, 2007  9:24am

Ok This is a good thing. For those who are made about it
Try doing a longer standing memorial the way I did. With help of my community Greenspace Group.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/happypixie/treemom.jpg

posted by: Onebyd on November 30, 2007  9:46am

First let me clarify one thing, street memorials are NOT a “black culture thing”!

Next, I agree completely with Cedarhill, the tree tribute that she did to her mom was beautiful and is a wonderful reminder that will last for many, many years that all of us can appreciate.

You can plant a tree, flowers, or plants, establish a bench, plaque, etc. something that can honor that person’s memory a lot better than a bunch of candles and stuffed animals that eventually get broken or soggy, dirty, and nasty looking. I understand the need to do something right away with the candles and stuffed animals, but then take that down and do something more appropriate and long-lasting.

posted by: on whalley on November 30, 2007  10:31am

In what twisted way is race being used here? To justify and excuse or to single out and differentiate?

Good ‘ol color blind residents of New Haven.

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on November 30, 2007  8:51pm

Onebyd
You Said that Street Memorials Are Not A Black Culture Thing And That You Can Honor That Person Memory By Planting A Tree or Flower Than with A Bunch Of Candles and Stuffed Animals I Agree With You About The Stuffed Animals But If You Google
in The Word The Seven African Powers You Will Find
That The Use Of Candles To Honor That Person Memory Is Part Of Black Culture That Comes From The Yoruba People Of West Africa.

posted by: Chris Gray on December 2, 2007  3:31am

Threefifths, have you ever been in Roman Catholic Church and seen the array of votive candles?  The last that I heard, they accept members of any race.  So does Islam.

While Cedarhillresident may well have created a beautiful memorial to her mother, or others find solace in a stately plaque, yet others, such as the case of this boy’s family and friends, are memorializing senseless violence perpetrated against someone for whom they held hopeful dreams cut short in an ugly way.

Perhaps a rotting teddy bear is a very appropriate symbol of the crushing of those dreams, harbored in many case since the cradle, and a grim reminder to the wider community that there is a problem here that we are not solving and letting fester.

Maybe we should call him Mohammad - with absolutely no disrespect meant here against the Prophet, either.

posted by: cedarhillresident on December 2, 2007  9:19am

3/5’s

But what you are talking about is “Santeria, Lucumi or Ocha” How many African American’s really practice Santer√≠a?? Maybe more so on the Latin side you may find this more common and Islanders but at the most part today’s black family does not participate in this religion. So we can’t really say that it is a modern day practice for today black culture.

And I think most do not have a problem with candels and stuffed animals for the first month after someones death. Or even an annual gathering following the lose of the person. But to remember that person with beauty just seem to be a better way than a blighted scene. In 20 years from now family and friends can go back to that sight and say this was were your “uncle cousin ect” died. this is his tree. That just seems to be more poetic in the end and far longer lasting.

posted by: Edward_H on December 2, 2007  11:22am

“Doug Bethea, ... called street memorials “a black culture thing.”  “
I am sick to death of people trying to justify their actions by claiming some type of behavior is part of the “Black Culture”. As a previous poster stated these memorials are more properly described as a ghetto ,street or urban culture.  What offends me more than this man’s misinformed statement is the New Haven Independent repeating it . How many times do we need to be subjected again to this ghettoizing, denigrating insult to millions of people. The specific type of memorials referred to in this article are not only erected by black people. People of the inner city of EVERY background erect these types of memorials. There is nothing “Black” about making an annual spectacle of yourself at the place where someone was killed or injured.
Are homeowners now supposed to let these people pile trash in front of our houses for 30 days since they have a permit? My block has enough litter problems with the patrons of the liquor store on the corner of Whalley and Winthrop throwing their “nips” and assorted liquor bottles on the ground. As well as the patrons from Newt’s who get the munchies throwing their food litter in front of our houses as well.  If these people want to worship the dead and build shrines in their name they can do so at the cemetery or in their own homes

posted by: Chris Gray on December 4, 2007  2:33am

Edward_H, you may be “sick to death”.  I, on the other hand, am sick of death, especially the violent or other avoidable kind.

Apparently, yes you do have to “let these people pile up trash” if a murder happens in front of your house.  It, along with the nips and the people at Newt’s are all factors of urban life in New Haven.

Have you done anything to change that , lately, other than be sick to death?  (Hey, writing about it is a start.  I’ve lived up in that neighborhood and, sometimes it does leave one hopeless.)