The Gantt Report
By Lucius Gantt
I see you Don Lemon. All of God’s warriors and soldiers see you as a protected journalist.
Don, I know your life and career has not always been what you desired or expected, but hopefully you’ll take the bitter with the sweet.
Life for some, is red roses, but to get to the rose, you have to dodge the thorns. You weren’t manhandled and arrested for doing your job as a seasoned journalist and media professional, you were arrested because you were Black!
I have seen the inside of jailhouse cell bars several times myself. The last time I was incarcerated was for “Felony Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer”.
If you’ve ever been arrested, you may have spent time in a “holding cell” being locked up with many other, good and bad, individuals.
Because of who I am and the charges I was given, the police arbitrarily decided I was a threat behind bars and handcuffed me, only me, to the top of the cell bars with my hands above my head. Handcuffing inmates behind bars doesn’t even happen in Hollywood or in Tyler Perry movies.
My arrest awakened me. I changed my life. I became more conscious, more considerate, more giving, and more attentive to my relationships with my God and others.
When I tell people with devilish minds and intentions to leave me out of the drama and negativity, they think I’m being comical, even though I’m the last one to attack with lies, envy, and betrayal.
You’re being attacked right now Don Lemon. You may not know it. You may not feel it. Your media mission was attacked, your lifestyle was attacked, your talents and skills were verbally minimized, your intentions were misrepresented, and your future was doubted, just like mine.
Don, you’re a mini-hero now, not a full-blown hero that seeks to do heroic things daily until you take your Final Journey. Sometimes, heroes are just victimized, exploited, and mistaken as being lesser than their haters.
Mr. Lemon, something has happened to you that has happened to many great Black men and women.
TGR family members can tell you all of my heroes have been incarcerated. Jesus, Martin, Malcom, Marcus, Rosa, Angela, Nat, Denmark, Nelson, Winnie, Patrice, and many others have felt the feeling of having cell doors clanging when shut to lock you in.
Don, you were detained for a reason to show all Black people our time is near. Many others will be jailed, but stay calm, don’t rush to over-explain your situation, don’t lash out. Plan your response. Show your strength and your force when it’s time to accomplishes your goals.
That’s what I do!
