Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Society

Grace Under Pressure: Little Martin Cobb, Jr. And The Courage of Change

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.

marty CobbThey 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

 

262 thoughts on “Grace Under Pressure: Little Martin Cobb, Jr. And The Courage of Change”

  1. Karen S. sourced Commentary Mag. Far Right

    Commentary is currently edited by Norman Podhoretz’s son John. The elder Podhoretz, who served as editor-in-chief until 1995, is currently the magazine’s editor-at-large.

  2. I guess the Marty problem is solved and we’ve moved on to Obamacare. As Jonathan testified before Congress, Obama arbitrarily delaying the employer mandate was unconstitutional. Obama HAD to do it because there would have been a revolt if he didn’t. We can go back and forth here but as I said on another thread that morphed into Obamacare, this disastrous plan will be up for a referendum in November. If the employee mandate had not been delayed it would have been a bloodbath. All indications are the Dems are still going to be in for a loooong night. Probably the best thing that could happen for Hillary is that after November, Obamcare is dismantled. Because, then she won’t have to deal w/ that 800lb gorilla, the employer mandate.

  3. It’s mid-May. I guess all media outlets in CA are engaged in an Obama conspiracy to cover up reports that California citizens are unable to find any physicians or hospitals that will accept exchange patients.

    Until then, I suggest disabling the propaganda outlet and stop wasting your time chasing their ‘reports’ written by right wing ideologues.

  4. Yeah, screw all of those people who have no healthcare. Why did we need any change at all? The status quo was just fine, Paul, huh? These debates are always circular, we always end up were we started. Now I have to go run some errands, do something productive.

    1. Even under Obamacare, if everyone signs on who is supposed to, there are a bunch who will not be covered. Obamacare is smoke-and-mirrors.

  5. Annie:

    I read every article you send me, regardless of the author. And then I judge for myself.

    Liberals are not my enemy. In fact, I believe that we always need people asking, “Are we doing enough?” I just also think we need people in charge asking, “Is this program effective? Are we putting too many obstacles up for people to succeed? And how are we going to pay for this?”

  6. Annie:

    There were many things I wanted changed about the American insurance industry. Doubling premiums, increasing deductibles 1,000%, savagely restricting drug formularies, and paying doctors so little that the majority won’t accept insurance were not among my solutions.

    That’s like saying, my neighbor’s house had termites so I burned it down. Hey, at least I DID something!

  7. National Review, say no more. My truth is better than your truth? Ah truth, elusive.

  8. Annie – there is no reason the Republican or anyone else has to come up with a competing plan.

  10. Paul said: “Annie and Elaine, as you can see I was explaining to mespo that I had walked the walk.”

    You got paid to do a job…and you did your job. That’s what it amounts to.

  12. Karen do you seriously think our healh care plan before the ACA was acceptable? I know you have posted various right wing plans, that would hurt poor Americans, like health savings accounts. The right hasn’t come up with a better plan, far from it.

    1. Annie – thanks, I remember those idiots. They are sniffing glue if they think single payer is going to work.

  13. Annie and Mespo:

    Why was the employer mandate delayed until after the elections if it was so wonderful?

    I wish very much that everyone was in the same boat. It is not fair to do this to a small percentage of the population, and illegally delay the rest until after an election, for political gain.

    This should have hit everyone, at the same time. People would all be experiencing the same problems, and the population would demand it be repealed immediately. Instead, they are trickling it in so that astronomical premiums and deductibles will just be the new norm.

  15. Annie:

    I have posted multiple links about why Republican Governors chose not to expand Medicaid. The Feds only pay for it temporarily before their support will decline, among other reasons. If you choose to ignore the reasons, that’s fine, but don’t pretend ignorance.

  18. Mespo:

    The LA Times article was based on an erroneous directory (which you can ascertain for yourself) and directly contradicts the CA Medical Association.

    Who are you going to believe – the LA Times or the doctors themselves?

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