7 Replies to “Aaron Hawkins (Uppity-Negro.com), RIP”

1. Rae says:

   September 10, 2004 at 4:29 pm

   So nicely said, Jeff.

2. Jeff Goldstein says:

   September 10, 2004 at 6:11 pm

   He was a passionate guy—very sharp, too.  He’ll be missed.

3. Jer says:

   September 10, 2004 at 7:55 pm

   Jeff, I looked at his website and saw his sister’s note.

   Do you know what happened?  Something sudden or did he have a long standing condition?

   Just wondering as I feel the same as you and was really shocked to see this post.

4. John says:

   September 10, 2004 at 8:05 pm

   Blogs from his close friends indicate that it was likely suicide.

5. Jer says:

   September 10, 2004 at 8:08 pm

   Thanks, John. 

   That’s really sad.

6. Dean Esmay says:

   September 12, 2004 at 12:53 pm

   It’s hard for me to speak to this. To be blunt, I always disliked him intensely. It is ill form to speak poorly of the dead, but it’s the simple truth. I only say this because I am fairly certain no one in his family will see this. I intensely hope they do not, for if someone were to share it with them, they would only be bringing pain upon them for no good reason.

   Yet it is the case that he always seemed like an angry, angry, angry man, filled with bile toward anyone who ever disagreed with him. Who indeed, like so many of the left, seemed to feel that those who merely disagreed were outright evil, rather than just stupid, silly, or what have you. The few times I corresponded with him, I told him so quite bluntly. I don’t feel guilty about that, but I would feel badly if my bluntness toward him contributed in some way to his demise.

   Now he is dead. I feel sad for him and especially his family. Yet, if it is true that he died by his own hand, I would say that he was an object lesson in what happens to people, left or right, whose political opinions are so intense that they allow themselves to become embittered about the world around them.

   I do not really believe in life after death–a difficult reality for those of us who don’t believe in the supernatural to face, but one we embrace anyway. Yet I would that, in some way, his end would be a lesson to others.

   I support Bush in the upcoming election. Yet should Kerry win in a massive landslide, 58% of the popular vote, 400+ votes in the electoral college, and the Democrats take back both House and Senate and a majority of governorships and state legislatures, and everything I believe about the Iraq war completely repudiated, I will still intensely love America and her system of government and her people.

   I think more people, left right and center, should remind themselves of such penultimate truths. I’m not sure Aaron ever did.

   If he has a soul, I hope it has found peace. If there is no such thing as a soul, then I hope his family finds such peace, and never blames themselves for this tragedy.

7. pbhughes says:

   September 20, 2004 at 11:28 pm

   So sad to hear of Aaron Hawkins’ apparent suicide. 
   
   I am not up on blogs, had never heard of uppity negro.com,
   
   until I saw the article in the Sun-Times. 
   
   I immediately wondered what had caused his sudden death,
   
   and when it mentioned that he had felt isolated in college,
   
   that struck an all-too familiar chord with my own experience.
   
   It sounds like Aaron touched many peoples’ lives.
   
   He was so young and handsome and bright. 
   
   My deepest sympathies to his family.
   
   For anyone out there who has struggled with or is currently
   
   experiencing symptoms of depression
   
   and possibly has even contemplated suicide, please
   
   know that help is available, and there is no
   
   need to feel ashamed.  You are not alone. 
   
   If you are in pain and feel overwhelmed,
   
   don’t give up.  It may take a few steps to get the help you need
   
   but keep trying.  You can be happy and feel good again. 
   
   I know.  I’ve been there. 
   
   Good luck and remember, you are meant to be here
   
   and life is worth living.

   Suicide Prevention Hotline
   
   1-800-SUICIDE
   
   1-800-784-2433
   
   Toll-Free Nationwide USA
   
   24 hours / 7 days a week

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