My Brother’s Keeper Is the Wrong Scripture

It was all-to-easy for many to overlook the tragedy occurred Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 6:20 pm in Brooklyn, NY — Kahton Anderson shot and killed Angel Rojas. Spirit And Blood. On that tragic day, Angel Rojas was doing what he had done every day since arriving from the Dominic Republic – riding the bus to work to support the needs of his family. Unfortunately for Angel and his family, a 14 year old African-American gang member shot and fatally wounded him bringing undesired sentimentality to his surname. Mr. Rojas – or “red” as in the color of his blood – was killed as his body fluid was senselessly spilled on the B15 bus in Brooklyn. 

Mr. Rojas being gunned down not only paints a more disturbing blood red picture of America’s sick obsession with guns but it also brings directly into the crosshairs the doubts about the value of the Presidential Mandate, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK).

My Brother’s Keeper is Flawed. MBK was introduced as an initiative that would give boys and young men of color access to the same opportunities that all Americans enjoy. Yet, MBK did not help Kahton Anderson nor Angel Rojas’ son, Saury.For as well intentioned as MBK might be, this sad incident illuminates MBK’s flaws. Like America’s gun policies that made it possible for a 14 year old to fire a Magnum 357 on a bus, MBK is flawed. MBK has about the same chance of success without addressing it flaws as do Saury and his sister have of realizing socio-emotional, academic and economic success without the presence of their father.

The poorly named “My Brother’s Keeper,” originates from Genesis 4:8-10. The scripture details Cain murdering his brother Abel. When confronted by God about his brother’s whereabouts, Cain retorts “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” There are more than 31,000 verses in the Bible to consider yet the one chosen to represent an initiative for boys and young men of color is the one that symbolizes the experience Angel Rojas had on the B15. Boys and young men of color like Kahton Anderson killing and attempting to kill one another while defiantly barking “Am I my brother’s keeper?” [excerpt of full article]

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Nathaniel A. Turner, J.D. is an eclectic individual who holds degrees in Accounting, Theology, History and Law. He currently works in the financial services industry, but his most important job has always been fatherhood.  His son, Naeem Khari Turner-Bandele, recently graduated high school and is in the process of selecting a university to attend. Naeem intends to major in Computer Science/Computer Engineering. Naeem speaks three languages, has never missed the honor roll, is a member of the National Honor Society, has traveled the world playing soccer in professional soccer academies, freelances as a web designer/developer and is an avid photographer.  Nathaniel and Naeem live in Indianapolis, IN.

For more information, visit www.raisingsupaman.com.