People are your greatest resource.
10.12.2014
When I was born, the government name I was given is one that I never use: Carson Jamal Wright IV.
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| Carson C. Wright. This man was tough. You had to be tough to be one of the few Black Sergeants in the NYPD, during the Civil Rights Era. He took hell from both sides of the controversy.You can see the resolve in his eyes. At least I can. |
My dad's dad, was Carson Chester Wright. We are all Carsons, but the tradition is that the first born sons are always called by their middle name until their father dies. So I am Jamal. And my father, Carson Anthony Wright, is "Tony." I respect this tradition even though my son's name is Jhalil D'Vyne Wright. But I digress, as always.
My grandfather Chester, was one of the first Black police Sergeants in Queens, NY. In fact, the Wright family has a history with many members in law enforcement. It's strange to me considering how many problems I've had with authority figures. But grandpa Chester wasn't really much like me. He was a man of God and an Elder in St. Paul's Pentecostal Church, an organization he helped to create with his wife, Dorothy Wright, my dear grandmother. It was the church I grew up in. and even now, 50 years later, it thrives.
My dad's favorite, of my grandfather's 11 brothers, was Irving Wright. He was a cop too. But he also operated a small business in Harlem. Unfortunately, he met an untimely demise when He was shot in the back and killed by friendly fire from other cops who mistook him for a criminal who robbed his store. Irving was chasing the real culprits at the time of his murder, by cop.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Although that's plenty reason for a cop to be bitter towards the streets, my grandfather never was. In fact, he told me the following story all the time:
