Family mourning after 17-year-old son stabbed to death outside home weeks before graduation

The sad case of Amari Clarke should cause one's spine to quake. The teen, prepared to graduate on June 1, succumbed to his injuries after a knife fight. The family wants a resolution.

On his way to becoming an elevator technician, Clarke found himself in a world of hurt, harm, and hazard.

An unidentified man stabbed him and would later die from his injuries. This all took place in Prince George’s County Maryland. In the time he had to defend himself, those moments slipped by as his assailant kept punching him and wouldn’t stop. Eye witnesses reported that the man wore a yellow shirt.

This should’ve been solved at the time of the crime. The family should've been notified of the offender’s capture and that there should’ve been a sense of justice within the first four hours if not forty-eight.

The family also claims that the attacker absconded with Clarke’s phone and sneakers. How appalling is it that this young, industrious man be cut down like a piece of chaff. He had a roadmap for his success but it disintegrated when the punches and stab wounds solidified his fate.

Now is the time for people to snitch. It is apparent that this monster is still on the lam and could do damage or destroy another life. PGC Police Department wants people to tell so this mystery can be solved. It takes too much out of the family and other loved ones to endure this tragedy and it’s even worse when there is a suspect still out there.

To snitch would mean that someone can be rationally self-interested enough to bring together a case where there seems to be little leads and virtually no trace of the suspect.

As a young man of color, does race apply here? If someone saw a white boy getting pummeled, would the witnesses be more forthcoming in divulging information? What is it about the racial climate that makes it difficult for people of color to not snitch to assuage the pain of other black people?

Is it a mysticism? Do people say “no weapon formed against them shall prosper” but then see a weapon go against someone else and say “well God needed him more”?

Is it a case of collectivism? Is this something that should have never taken place and now the group begins and takes over for the entirety of the case. People might say I’m not saying anything until someone else steps forward.

Maybe this is an altruism thing? The sacrifice of the individual for others is at the root of virtually every crime. It is this unnamed mass of people who claim that people should die in a selfless, egoless way.

Amari Clarke was selfish. He wanted the best for himself and his family as noted by his career choice. He would have been making upwards of $80,000 a year had he survived and went on and graduated from high school and trade school.

His self-interest would’ve permitted him to create a better situation for himself and his values. That’s what separates the true individuals from just hangers on and second handers. This is the idealism that continues to haunt even the most allegedly balanced places around the country and world.

The act of snitching blasts away the whole notions of mysticism, collectivism, and altruism. It cuts into the fabric of lies and deceit and allows for the sharp blade of justice to slice through the nonsense.

It encapsulates the very essence of proper behavior. As human beings to function as humans it means that the individual should be able to distinguish right from wrong.