By Cheryl Smith
As I sat home alone — multi-tasking, cleaning, writing and returning phone calls; I turned on the television to TV One and watched the movie, Overcomer.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the wonderfully beautiful and talented Priscilla Shirer starring in this story centered around a coach and a young track star.
Sometimes you get messages in the strangest places and the messenger is not always who you expect.
Young Hannah was going through troubling times. Finding out that the father she had been told was dead, actually was alive, was a bit much for the 15-year-old.
It didn’t help especially when Hannah’s bitter grandmother continued to lie.
Dealing with her mixed emotions, Hannah confided in Principal Brooks (Shirer), who in turn talked extensively about being a Christian, and shared a scripture.
Which brings me to my truth.
Immediately my thoughts went to Tammy Kemp, the Presiding Judge of the 204th Judicial District Court in Dallas and former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
After a highly emotional jury trial Guyger was convicted and sentenced for the murder of businessman Botham Jean, who was home watching television when Guyger “mistakenly” entered the apartment and opened fire.
Before she was removed from the courtroom, Guyger, who was watching the judge interacting with the Jean family, expressed remorse to the Judge and asked for direction.
Kemp said she told her, “Brandt Jean (Botham’s brother) has forgiven you. You have to forgive yourself.”
Guyger told the Judge, “Do you think God will forgive me?”
Kemp responded: “Yes, I know He will.”
As they talked, Guyger told Kemp that she did not own a bible and she asked for a hug because she thought the judge treated her fairly.
That hug pissed people off.
The same people who sit quietly in boardrooms, classrooms, or in the streets and laugh and smile at racist jokes, or never speak up when someone is the victim of racist attacks; were quick to vilify the judge.
Hell, they don’t even remember the names of some of the judges in historically racist cases (Judge Curtis Swango, Judge Samuel Alito, Judge James Horton, Judge William “Two Gun” Worrill), to name a few.
Those who are quick to say, “have a blessed day,” or “blessed and highly favored,” suddenly spoke their real truth, as hypocrites. After all, they weren’t the only ones upset over Mr. Jean’s death, or the numerous others; but for some reason, it has become easier and easier to attack a Black Woman.
That situation, just like in the movie, was about forgiveness, redemption and atonement — the true measure of a person.
After finding out that her lie had been revealed, the grandmother asked for help in forgiving her granddaughter’s father, who she felt had brought so much pain to her family.
Yes, it was challenging, just as it must have been for Judge Kemp, who said she heard her dearly departed mother’s voice saying, “Now, Tammy, I know you aren’t going to just talk to the Black people in the room and not go over and offer a word of encouragement to this woman.”
I know there were so many people who if faced with a request from Guyger or Hannah would have said, “Hell NO!”
People were actually angry that Guyger didn’t get more than 10 years and they blamed the judge.
They were so blinded and deafened by their anger that they didn’t realize that it was the jury and not the judge that rendered the verdict and the sentence.
All they wanted was vengeance.
To Judge Kemp’s credit, she has remained true to her purpose. There are many who celebrate her for that reason; even Botham Jean’s mother who I have heard speak fondly of the judge.
Now I have written about forgiveness before, because I have heard so many pastors preaching that theme.
But in this case, I saw a difference because the pastor who condemns abortion until his daughter is pregnant or is for the death penalty until someone he knows or loves commits the crime, hypocrisy reigned supreme.
Judge Kemp was vilified by people who go to church at a greater rate than I and are quick to tell you they are Christians, but they were so vicious in their assaults because she shared her faith.
I guess I am not the only one in need of a little guidance on this spiritual journey.
The late, great Dick Gregory used to tell me that faith and fear cannot occupy the same space.
I think faith and forgiveness should, though! And, I definitely don’t want to be a hypocrite!
