By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Author’s Note: Grace Under Pressure is an ongoing series of posts honoring everyday people who courageously make positive differences in their own lives and consequently in the lives of others. It is my own personal affirmation that unexpected heroes live among us and that their service is quiet but unshakable proof that virtue really is its own reward – and ours, too.
They buried little eight-year-old Martin Cobb, Jr. here in Richmond (Va.) on Friday afternoon. Rev. Theodore L. Hughey, pastor of Abundant Life Church, praised the youngster for his courage and then went on to condemn the community and the bureaucrats who oversee it for letting crime fester and forgetting about the children who suffer from it. A handmade sign above the tiny coffin read “Pound for pound, year for year, few greater heroes … if any.”
And little Martin, as his neighbors in the Mosby Court public housing project knew him, was a hero. A small stature caused by an open heart surgery while he was just three-months-old hid a fighting spirit. Many neighbors thought he was only three or four years old. One of them, Harry Hunter, recalled that “He was so small, I used to carry him in my book bag.”
But no one “carried” Little Martin on Thursday evening a week ago when he died defending his sister from a sexual attack at the hands of an alleged 16-year-old sexual predator who, at his young age, had already been charged with viciously assaulting another young boy and has suffered mental health issues.
Marty and his eleven-year-old sister were devoted to each other. Growing up without a father figure and living with a mother who worked to sustain them, they stuck together. Local proprietors recalled the two stopping by in the afternoon to indulge Marty’s rather modest vice for “Hot Fries,” a fast-food snack with a kick of Tabasco. Mosby Court is one of Richmond’s toughest neighborhoods plagued with crime and drugs so the two were always together out of love for each other and fear of the surroundings.
On Thursday evening last, love and fear would intersect at the children’s home on Brandon Road with horrific consequences. Then, according to press accounts, 16-year-old Mairese Jershon Washington, burst into the residence allegedly intent on sexually assaulting Marty’s sister. Confronted with the invasion, Little Martin fought back with all that his four-foot frame would muster. It took a brick to the head and a strangler’s hold to stop the young boy. His assailant retreated, but not before dumping Martin’s little body on the railroad tracks behind his home.
Mourners here Friday were sad and proud. “As soon as he could talk, I told (him) he’s the man of the house. That’s what he did. He’s a hero,” his mother said. “I’m proud of him. I’m proud that he stuck up for his sister. He did what he was taught,” family friend Geraline Pitchford added. Another neighbor Sudan Aunu said, “To have the courage to defend his sister as if he was a grown man. His sister is alive today because of him.”
Rev. Hughey’s words struck some as off the point Friday or a disservice to the heroism of the victim. But were they really? How can a community allow a crime infested neighborhood to wallow decade after decade and do little if anything to address the real problems of poverty, lack of father figures, and unaddressed mental health issues. Virginia has been sorely lacking in answers for all three and it took a highly publicized case of State Senator Cree Deeds’ maiming at the hands of his mentally ill son to even raise the issue of shoddy mental health treatment. Poverty and unstable homes bear hardly a mention in this southern city where conservative policies rule and “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is deemed an article of faith yet only a historical reality for the second and third generation monetized elite who run the town. Rev. Hughey was calling that out and trying make Marty’s death mean more than an icon of family fidelity and intrepidity. He wanted the second grader’s death to bring change. But change for the benefit of the city’s children, it seems, takes more courage than even Martin’s selfless act can accomplish. It takes a community’s courage not just one small person’s. At least, the community has a blueprint for that change now.
A memorial fund has been established in Little Martin’s name at the Wells Fargo Bank called the “Keys For Marty” fund here in Richmond. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch.
Source: Richmond Times Dispatch
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Nick said
‘KarenS, It goes beyond donations. Red States are good tippers, Blue States poor tippers. My liberal friends tend to tip 10-15%, always having some horseshit complaint. I always kick in enough to make it @ least 20%. When I am on my own, 20-25% or more. Always tip housekeepers.’
How about a nice chianti?
http://ruthsippelpace.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/stir-the-pot.jpg
Please read my comment @ 10:53 again, and eat your crow w/ some fava beans and a mice chianti. It is “seldom” pleasant to eat crow it but serves a purpose, making people “prudent” before they type. Educable people that is.
Didn’t Nick say “I NEVER used the word feminazi!” In a different thread today? Yes I believe he did. Never say never. 😀
Nick,
“‘All, Never, always’ are words prudent people seldom use.”
Then why do use these words so much?
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/8c/24/cc/8c24ccfdee0df6e41575efc88f13107a.jpg
Indeed.
LOL
I ALWAYS suspect people wo don’t see their own faults.
“All, Never, always” are words prudent people seldom use.
Steve, no one is innocent, all have taunted and become personal, even you toward Professor Turley, IIRC. I do agree that it’s not the best strategy.
Steve, your bias is showing.
Annie, yes, it is. Around 11, 12 years ago I worked on an engagement with a gentleman 15 years younger than I. He graduated from Harvard. Matamba was an African American. (Still is, I think.) We would often (always?) discuss politics at lunch. Respectful discussions. As many questions as statements. Always looking to understand, not convince; to navigate to the truth, not to the gotcha. In this blog, I occasionally see flashes of thoughtful dialogue. It’s why I still “subscribe”. My bias is against those who taunt, who launch personal attacks, and who seek to debase others. I miss Matamba: a liberal with a heart and a brain.
“If you like your health insurance, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” “There was not even a smidgeon of corruption in the IRS” (as Lois Lerner pleads the 5th). “It was because of a video that the embassy in Libya was attacked.” “Boko Haram is not a terrorist organization” (in spite of the FBI, CIA, and bipartisan members of Congress stating otherwise.) “All Obamacare horror stories are lies.” “The White House only changed one word, “consulate” in the talking points” (as emails came out via FOIA showing the White House removed all references to terrorism or policy failures.) “American families will save $2500 with Obamacare.”
Yep, the Capitol is rife with intellectual dishonesty.
Karen S.
I restored a comment I found from you in the spam filter.
Folks, check for Karen’s post at 7:16
Karen and Mark,
Wow! What a ride! And as I read the (sometimes tedious) comments in this thread, I see two patterns:
1. Karen has a well-grounded intellectual streak;
2. Mark relies on a single data point to support his perceptions and then embarks on personal attacks and ridicule.
One is a conservative who’s belief system is based on common-sense and honest debate; the other, a liberal who’s belief system is based on blame, gotcha, and personal provocation.
The conservative can find solace in knowing that the country continues to turn in her favor. The liberal can find solace by blaming the Koch brothers.
One inspires me. The other validates the caricature of liberals.
So Obama, continuing the bush administration tactics and you blast him for that?
keebler – yeppers.
mespo asserts:
“Tom:
Thanks for the conservative talking points that have nothing to do with your argument on this topic. Once you get around to correcting your foolish assertion that the city sets welfare policy, we can have the time to discuss your half-truths spouted in you latest comment.”
Are you talking to me? What conservative talking points? Where is my foolish assertion that the city sets welfare policy?
Are you confusing my lack of progressive talking points with conservatism?
The city DOES attempt to set education policy and the city does set tax and zoning policy. Maybe we need to discuss what “welfare policy” that you keep talking about has to do with anything and what is this vague “welfare policy”?
Are you saying that welfare recipients need more cash? Do more people need to be on welfare? Do enlightened young middle class white people clutching their social sciences degrees need to spend more time telling black adults how to live properly? What changes in this magic silver bullet you call “welfare policy” need to be made so that all the problems associated with urban poverty are made invisible to the white suburbanites?
You seem to think the answer to why Democrats have failed to deliver what was promised in Richmond is to point to Republicans at the state level. If that is the case, why do Democrats lie about what is possible?
Here’s a fact: I’m no shill for any political party or any conservative or liberal group. So, mespo, you can shill for the Democrats. This is a reflection on you. I may tend to agree with you about Republicans and/or conservatives, but merely hating one group is no reason to embrace the other group when both groups are corrupt to the core.
The solutions to the problems we all face in every city and state in America have no political solutions. It is the politics of the corrupt oligarchy that is the problem. A fascist economic system made for the benefit of the ruling elite is literally killing the poor as it enslaves a dying middle class. And it is one faction of this ruling class that you shill for, mespo.
As for me, I’ll stick to my story. It is the politicians and the nasty little liars that shill for them that have caused the problems and prevent solutions from emerging from the bottom up.
Karen, We hopefully never get to where the unconstitutional change made by Obama, delaying the mandate, comes. If people demand this abomination be trashed, it will be. Elections matter.
Mespo:
Do your OWN research and then apologize to us all for claiming that real facts and figures are lies.
Mr Keebler – no doctors accept Exchange policies, and it turns out that ACA compliant individual policies are considered Exchange identical.
Which means that on top of paying unaffordable premiums and deductibles, we individual policy holders must also pay cash to actually see doctors, which does NOT count towards deductibles or caps.
So, yes, our “agenda” is survival.
God help Democrats when the employer mandate hits.
Indeed
marty CobbThey buried little eight-year-old Martin Cobb, Jr. here in Richmond (Va.) on Friday afternoon.
What a waste of a precious life. May his sister and community remember his sacrifice and strive to provide Martin’s generation with the economic and educational opportunities that have been and continue to be so sorely lacking in a great many areas of the US.
Rest in peace Martin.
Mespo,
You know that there are folks that just have one agenda.