Redemption song
Owes by Steven Hirsch
A lot has been said about the ‘good’ Afrika Owes. “She’s a good girl … she’s well-liked and well-loved … she was valedictorian of her charter school before winning a scholarship to prestigious Deerfield Academy, a $43,800-a-year college prep school in Massachusetts … she attended Abyssinian Baptist Church, sang in the choir and was a member of its youth ministry … she was a scholar … she attended basketball camp and won a poetry contest … she had a great future ahead of her … Harlem’s darling … smart girl with fantastic credentials.
And then there’s the ‘other’ Afrika Owes. “She was kicked out of Deerfield Academy … she was running drugs and guns for the ‘137th Street Crew” – a violent gang in Harlem … she carried guns for her boyfriend and happily accepted the bling and other gifts he bought her with drug money … she was considering opening an operation for the gang in Massachusetts … she was an “entrenched” member of the violent gang.”
These statements all were made about the same person – 17 year old Afrika Owes – who was arrested in NYC in February, 2011 on conspiracy and gun charges.
Prosecutors allege that Owes carried guns for her boyfriend, Jaquan (Jay Cash) Layne, the 20 year old alleged to be the leader of the violent 137th Street Crew. Prosecutors allege that Layne was running the criminal enterprise from jail at Rikers Island.
It is reported that the authorities have taped telephone conversations between Layne and Owes in which Layne instructed Owes to carry three firearms to his brother, Malik. “If the [expletive] gets crazy…head shots only.” The 51-page indictment portrayed Afrika as an urban Bonnie to drug-dealing boyfriend, Layne (Clyde).
Owes remained incarcerated on the charges for 2 months until she was bailed out on Tuesday 19, April, 2011 by members of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, where Owes’ mother still attends. It was reported that the church posted a $25,000 bond for Owes release. The church will forfeit the money if Owes does not appear for her next court date.
“Young people make mistakes,” said Ted Shaw, a church lawyer. “We are more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” Another church member said “This is redemption for Afrika. We do not throw young people away. Afrika is symbolic of our church.”
Several news sources reported that Rev. Calvin Butts, spiritual leader at Abyssinian Baptist Church, took to his pulpit to urge his congregation to back 17-year-old Owes. He compared her to Patty Hearst, the kidnapped heiress who was 19 when she joined her captors in violent bank robberies.
“Hearst got help from two former Presidents”, said Butts. “They spared no expense getting her out!” he said. “She robbed a bank and described herself as an urban guerrilla!”
“If Patty Hearst can have a chance, why can’t we take that chance on Afrika?” he said. “It’s not just for Afrika, it’s for hundreds of thousands like her. We have to stand for all of our young people who have been unjustly incarcerated. “It’s the new slavery,” he said. “It’s mass incarceration.”
Butts’ comparison seems over the top and self-serving. It sounds like just another fast-talking preacher trying to convince his congregation that putting up the $25,000 from the church’s coffers (which usually consist of tithes and offerings) was the right thing to do. And while many applaud the church’s act of forgiveness and love and pray for Owes’ successful turn-around, especially during this Easter season, one cannot help but wonder why Owes? Will the church do the same thing for the daughter of Sister Ella or Sister Smith who may not be as pretty or as book-smart as Owes?
Most people are happy for Owes, and would probably have voted in favor of bailing her out also. It was reported that 470 church members at Abyssinian voted in favor and only 1 person voted against it. But by bailing out Owes the church set a precedent which it must continue. The church must be just as willing to do the same for all of its members and their relatives. At the very least, the church should set objective criteria for dealing with similar requests so that redemption is equally available for ‘whosoever will’.