…Make Some Noise

Holding a Hurst for Mayor sign and yelling “One City” the night before the election, two thoughts crossed my mind. First, I was thankful I wore my gloves. Secondly, I hoped that with my 12-year-old son waving, no one would yell an insult or throw something out of their window. My apprehension was warranted as I was familiar with some comments about Justin on social media, in private groups, and in comment sections. This is what happens when you are a truth-teller. People become uncomfortable, indignant… and afraid.
Fear shows up as anger and rage. If one publicly supported Justin, they could become the target of that rage. For as many people who have been inspired by his tenacity and transparency, others hold contempt. History has shown that being an outspoken, young Black leader with integrity creates dissent. Justin was “disrespectful” for calling out his predecessors for remaining satisfied with the status quo. He should respect his elders; there’s a way of doing things. Justin was a disruptor. He was also “not ready” to lead a city; this came from those who have internalized their own oppression. This only fueled my support. I knew a disruptor was what Springfield needed.
When Justin sat beside me in 9th-grade Physics class, was my lab partner in 11th-grade Chemistry, or when we competed as seniors for high scores in English or African American History, I would have never imagined that one day he’d become one of my heroes. The way we teased each other as underclassmen, I didn’t even think we’d be friends. Eventually, we went from playful competition as teenagers to cheering each other on through graduate school and sharing lesson plans as educators. One day, he admitted that he had to study and work harder to earn an equivalent score, while getting A’s came easy for me. The one thing that bugged him 30 years ago was what helped him develop resiliency. He studied and worked hard. Justin didn’t just study law; he studied the city’s legislative processes and called out inconsistencies and illegalities. He openly condemned practices that undermined equity and democracy. The very traits people criticize Justin for qualify him to hold top office in the city.
Years ago, Justin taught a college course on the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. He also studied and embodied their qualities. Like them, despite credible threats of violence, Justin helped organize a protest in the summer of 2020 to address police brutality. Like them, his heartfelt and impassioned words reach deep into the soul of anyone who hears them. Like them, he has inspired marginalized and disengaged citizens to become active in the political process. He is a man of faith who stays prayed up and prayed for as he rises to each challenge. Like them, he is a wonderful husband and father who leads by example.
He will continue to have my support, not because he’s my longtime friend, my son’s godfather, or the son of the owners of a newspaper I contributed to for more than a decade. Like Martin and Malcolm, Justin’s courage inspires others to be courageous. Like them, he has not fully grasped his impact on the world. I see it and I am moved. ■