As the Wicked Watch(83)
The timing of these interviews could be a blessing or a curse. It would give me breaking news to talk about but would come with an expectation of more answers than I had to give as the first reporter to break the story.
“By now, most of us have heard about the three boys who’ve been charged in the murder of Masey James. One of the kids got in trouble for bringing a kitchen knife to school earlier this year. So now that makes him a murderer?” Gil Thompson opened with what sounded more like a statement than a question. “We’re so lucky to be joined this morning by Jordan Manning of Channel 8 News. Welcome, Jordan.”
“Thanks, Gil. I’m happy to be here,” I said.
Gil sighed. “Whew, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s start with the evidence. What proof do police say they have that points to these kids as the killers?”
“Gil, we don’t know. Police have been very tight-lipped about what evidence they have connecting the boys to Masey’s murder and even how they obtained it. We’ve heard about the knife incident, but what does it mean? They found a kitchen knife in the home. So what? People have kitchen knives. The lack of transparency has left people to imagine all types of scenarios, even the possibility of police planting the evidence,” I said.
“The father told police his son took the knife to school because he was afraid for his own safety. He didn’t hurt anyone. Our kids can’t make mistakes,” Gil said. “Jordan, I just read an article about the number of Black children in elementary school who are expelled for things that a kid in a White suburb would get detention for. But our kids get kicked out completely for the year, left to run the streets.”
“Many things will be uncovered here, Gil. Your listeners, our viewers, are waiting to hear, at least right now, what comes out of the indictment against the thirteen-year-old and the juvenile petitions against the younger boys. And if it’s not as clear as police are saying, heads are going to roll.”
Heads are going to roll. Did I just say that? Check yourself, Jordan.
I mustn’t be too emotional in my responses. I don’t need police shutting down on me, or someone making it appear as though I’m more interested in proving the police wrong as opposed to accepting the sad possibility that they’ve arrested the right people, no matter their ages or their race.
Gil asked, “What’s it like to cover a story like this as a Black reporter?”
Oh boy, here we go.
One of my pet peeves is something my colleagues and I have talked about many times. This is the perception by the police and others, including our newsroom colleagues, that Black reporters are incapable of reporting on what’s happening in our community without bias. We instantly become part of the story if the suspects or victims are Black.
I took a deep breath, not knowing how to answer. Would it sting as much if the victim were a White girl Masey’s age? Was it supposed to hurt more because Masey looked like me? There was no answer I could give that would make everyone happy.
“A victim is a victim. I care about everyone, Gil, I do. But I’ll admit that this feels more personal, because when I look in the mirror, I know that Masey could be my sister, my cousin, or my child one day. So yes, it does hurt in a different way.”
“Jordan Manning, thank you for coming on the show today. We’d love to check back in with you, because it doesn’t look like this case is going away anytime soon.”
“Thanks, Gil. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Oh, and before you go,” he said, “you’re still not married, are you?”
Just like that, he shifted from discussing a serious topic to taking a parting shot, demonstrating the true artistry of the radio morning show hosts, who were masterful at this. Bass, if he was listening, would have a field day with this. But I didn’t mind because it was a break in the weight and the pain of it all.
“You’re all up in my business, huh, Gil?” I retorted playfully.
“Hey, you know how it is when you get around family,” he said. “This ain’t the Channel 8 newsroom, okay? You’re around family now, and family will get in your business.”
Family.
“No, Gil, I’m still single,” I said. “Happily single.”
*
AM News Radio: The scene is building outside the Cook County Juvenile Justice Division, where dozens of residents, led by local activist Louise Robinson, have gathered in protest over the shocking murder charges brought against two eleven-year-old boys in the murder of Masey James.
After I left Gil, I made it back to the newsroom in time to grab coffee and hop in the news van with Scott and another cameraman to cover the growing unrest outside juvenile court during the hearing of Cecile Harvey and his best friend, Michael Blasingame. Derek Harvey, thirteen, was to be arraigned tomorrow at 26th and Cal. Father and son were both arrested the night of the scuffle with police, but Bernard Willis was released on a recognizance bond. Derek spent the night in adult lockup, where he remained in isolation for his own safety.
“Are you ready for this day?” Scott asked.
“How could anybody be ready for something like this?” I replied.
Police directed traffic as bodies and vehicles converged, moving at a crawl along the boulevard leading up to the courthouse. Parking was a scarce commodity, but luckily spots were reserved for news crews and we pulled up right in front amid the protest. As important as this case was to them, other cases were being heard here today, cases equally or more important to the individuals and families dealing with the heartbreak of losing a loved one to violence, or losing one so young to the system, struggling to come up with the bond money to bring them home and to get on with their lives.