This is a horrible story and I hope all of those offenders are tried as adults. Sadly stories like this don't come as a shock in those kinds of areas. I'm sure people are asking why and how anyone could do such a thing but the answer is alarmingly obvious.
At 13 this poor kid already has goals for a better life. He wants to serve his country as a Marine and then become an architect. In his interview he sounded very well spoken and surprisingly resilient provided what has happened. I am sure he has strong academic interests which likely yield excellence within the classroom. Because he isn't perpetuating a destructive cycle like these other guys he becomes a target. My only hope is that this young man continues perusing his goals and succeeds in making a better life for himself. Hopefully the school, community leaders, and the justice system make examples of these bullies.
This would be a great time for someone like Al Sharpton or a group like the NAACP to step in and denounce the behavior of the "bullies" and support the goals and dreams of the young man. They could offer to help him get any academic support he needs that is not already available or help finance his dream of becoming an architect. However, you will not see them step in to help because it is a black-on-black crime. This doesn't fit their agenda that blacks want to excel and make better lives for themselves but it is white people holding them back. They are so willing to intervene in instances like the Duke lacrosse allegations because it is a chance to show blacks as "victims" and whites as their oppressor. We all know how that turned out.
Lets keep track and see if the beloved Al Sharpton or the NAACP do anything to actually "advance" this young man. Because after all that is the mission of the NAACP. Right?
