Unimaginable

A couple of days ago, about 10 minutes from my own home on the south side of Chicago, 4 students were shot on a CTA bus. One, Blair Holt of Percy L. Julian High School, died.

I heard about the incident later on that night and I can honestly say that the news hurt me, regardless of the fact that I had never met any of the victims. But, for some reason, I felt some sort of emotional connection to this kids. Maybe it was because they were young, black high school students like myself. Or that I knew several kids who attended Julian High School. Could've been the shooting's close proximity to my neighborhood.I don't know. All I do know is that all I've thought about over the past week is this senseless, disgusting act.

The Chicago Tribune featured the only fatality's, Blair Holt, devastated parents as the top story the next day. His mom was a fire chief, and his father a cop. Holt was an only child and an honor student, consciously avoiding the ills plaguiing his society. He was outgoing and popular and, at 17, in the prime of his adolescence.

In what kind of time do we live when students can't even let down their guard on the bus? After a long day at school attempting to learn, Holt couldn't even catch a break on the ride home. I know he's going to be labeled a hero in the coming weeks, with crowded funeral services and a gang of t-shirts bearing his likeness, but I don't think he's a hero. Celebration has no place in a situation like this. Blair was a victim, a tragic one, and more questions and change need to raised than anything.