Ripple Effects Revisited

Recently I looked for the art piece that helped me heal the hate I had for JPF.

I hung it in my art studio. But it seemed to always be looking down at the space where my grandchildren play, so I moved it.

I usually keep it in a drawer. I didn’t really like looking at it. It was too powerful and painful. Although the intention of healing was tremendous 4 years ago, I felt a heavy weight in my heart when I looked at it.

I searched everywhere and couldn’t find it.

I called my husband he said, “Honey, I think you threw it away.” I was stunned. I couldn’t conceive of throwing it away. How could I throw away this powerful symbol that transformed me and JPF so deeply? I was so disappointed in myself.

My fear and anxiety grew.

For days I was deeply concerned about my mental health. Why couldn’t I remember throwing it away? It didn’t seem like something I would do; throw away meaningful art. I wondered why I wouldn’t sell it rather than discard it? I had offers to purchase it. But I kept it to use in race and ethnicity classes at the community college.

Days of beating myself up and retracing my steps led me to remember what happened:

I had a strong urge to listen to the last of the recorded conversations I had with JPF, the day before his execution. In our conversation, he showered me with compliments, gratitude and love. He seemed genuinely sincere when he  told me how much it meant to him that I would forgive him. He asked that I call his friend Glen Miller, suggesting he would be good to me.

I never called his friend. I may have forgiven JPF but I’m not stupid. I felt strongly that if I visited him,  JPF would have someone waiting in the parking lot at the prison to finish what he started in 1980. That’s why I only spoke to him on the phone. I didn’t trust or like him. I pitied him.

I couldn’t listen to more than a few minutes of our conversation. It was too painful and traumatizing.

I looked up Glen Miller and found several articles including these:

Glenn Miller White Supremecist Murders 3

Glenn Miller’s Wikipedia Link

Miller’s murders were committed on JPF’s birthday, the year after his execution. This act of domestic terrorism was mostly ignored by mainstream media. I sincerely believe that ignoring these domestic terrorist’s crimes, helps white supremacy flourish in the shadows.

JPF and Miller’s stories sickened me to my core.

At that moment, I felt that no one, who can do anything about it, cares about healing racism or holding white supremacist domestic terrorists accountable in our country.

Something inside me broke. I walked straight to the garbage and got rid of it, along with the memory of throwing it away.

If only eradicating the ignorance of white supremacy were that easy.