"
<>>>><<><><><><><><<>>
The Bell family, including Sean’s mother Valerie and
would-be wife Nicole, made a special appearance on the panel —
moderated by Terrie Williams, author of “Black Pain,
” and including other victims of personal tragedies.
Valerie Bell spoke about the painful, viscera
l connection with her son the night he died.
She had never felt labor pains with Sean, she said,
having given birth by Cesarean section.
But on the night of his murder, she said, “that was the night
I felt my labor pains.” William Bell discussed the difficulty
of expressing emotion for some Black men, but readily
admitted that he weeps openly. From birth, Black men are told
: suck it up. Don’t show emotion,” Williams responded.
Also on the panel was Donna Hood,
mother of Kevin Lamont Miller Jr., a 13-year-old bullet
killed by a stray bullet in Queens.“It’s come to a point where we expect,
it’s okay to bury our children,” she said, breaking into tears.
At one point, Williams asked every mother and father in
the audience who has lost a child to stand up. About six did,
and she invited them all to the podium to tell their stories.
One man shared the story of his own son that was shot
and killed. As he left the podium, William Bell stood up to
embrace the man, revealing on his back an
artist’s drawing of his son Sean."
