#AllLivesMatter: Lionel “Chinx” Pickens’ death must serve as a wake up call for everyone
By K.B. Tindal
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
This week, a lot has been going on, but there are still a lot of stories surrounding the death of Chinx. Because of Chinx’s role in the hip hop industry, coverage of his death has been all over the internet. Of course, there are detractors who have a lot to say about this coverage.
These people fill social media comments, accusing sites of clickbaiting for views and accusing people of trying to get attention off Chinx. Then, there are others who question why there isn’t more concern for the people who die in the streets daily. It’s definitely a lot to deal with.
What everyone seems to be overlooking in the wake of all of this Chinx stuff is that a man is dead. Who the hip hop world knew as Chinx is who two young men knew as their dad and who many others knew as a humble young man trying to make it in the hip hop industry. Lionel Pickens is the man who embodied the Chinx persona and who had the New York streets buzzing.
Yes, Lionel Pickens is Chinx and his death made for a very big story, arguably the biggest hip hop story of the year, so far. But, Lionel Pickens is honestly one of hundreds of black men getting killed by other black men, presumably. For the right reasons, a lot of noise was made about the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray, among others, but what about the killing we do to our own?
It’s unfortunate that Chinx had to be one of the many who has lost their lives, but his death can count for something besides memories those who know him possess. If everyone is willing to step up, do their part, and improve, Chinx’s death can be the final straw, as people vow to do better. Regardless of how some may feel about him or his music, so on and so forth, a life is a life and Chinx’s death means a father, son, friend, cousin, nephew, and grandson is gone.
Daily, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandsons, and granddaughters are getting killed and for what? There are so many things people could be doing to better their lives and Chinx isn’t the only person who came from the streets to find success. Many businessmen are contributing to hip hop today and they hail from places similar to where Chinx is from and they are bringing life to those close to them.
Bottom line is that people are getting killed on a daily basis and it’s not race specific. Killing is wrong, but it’s happening more and more often, especially in America where Black vs. White is still a discussion. But, there are people of all races killing each other and it needs to stop, no one deserves to have their life taken when they are not threatening a life.
Chinx is dead, he won’t be coming back, but his death should count for more than site traffic, annual social media posts, and the #RIPChinx hashtag. If not, there will be many more people, famous, semi-famous, regular, weird, etc. being gunned down senselessly. In the case of Chinx, he was an everyday guy from the streets who made it and that should inspire motivation, not hatred.
There are many more stars to come from similar backgrounds and many people from many backgrounds that will never be heard of. They all deserve the right to live and make something out of their lives. This can only happen if the people still alive make changes and commit to them, because life is too short as it is, it makes no sense to make life even shorter.
ALL LIVES MATTER!
Follow K.B. Tindal on Twitter @KBTindal.