Columbus remembers MarShawn McCarrel II

MarShawn was many things: writer, musician, activist, civil rights leader, and community leader. For MarShawn, his true passion for life was equality for everyone.

After speaking to his friend and admirer Derek Fry, a junior at Columbus state, it has become clear that MarShawn was one of the most caring people of our generation.

“I have no doubt in my mind that he would have been the next Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, or Martin Luther King”

MarShawn McCarrel, with the help of his twin brother MarQuan, was a founder of the group “Pursuing Our Dreams,” which works to help the betterment of the Columbus community as a whole through mentorship. This group led to another of MarShawn’s amazing accomplishments “Feeding the Streets” in which MarShawn and others, all under the age of 25, set up meetings in Franklin Square where they distribute hundreds of brown-bag dinners to poor and homeless people. These meetings would also include MarShawn trying to help those in need to get out of their current situation and into better times.

In Derek’s words, his friend showed him a bigger view of life. He had always thought that he looked at the big picture more than anyone else, until he met MarShawn. He played a huge role in Derek’s life as an inspiration to his writing, as he was known to have a way with words.

In the words of Theodore Decker to The Columbus Dispatch, “He was always writing, even as a boy, even in church.” Derek was blown away after hearing MarShawn’s mix-tape for the first time.

“There was no cursing, there was no profanity, everything he was playing was with a positive message.”

MarShawn was a known activist for civil rights. Not only was he a huge part of the BlackLivesMatter movement, but he also cared about everyone’s lives. As Derek put it, “In this generation, we lack people who want to better the lives of all people, black, white, fat, gay, whoever.” MarShawn was a supporter of nothing but love. He wanted to show the world that it is possible for violence and hatred to go away and for love to shine through in any situation.

MarShawn was also recently awarded the Hometown Champion award at the NAACP Image Awards just three days prior to his death. Derek told me he hopes one day his kids learn about MarShawn in history books. He also said that after seeing how much he had accomplished in only 23 years, he can’t imagine what other amazing obstacles he would have overcome in even another 20.

Even after his death, his movement shakes the world. Just two days after his passing, the Department of Justice filed a suit against the Ferguson Police Department claiming the shooting of Michael Brown, an event that MarShawn cared very deeply about and helped to raise awareness of, was a complete violation to black and civil rights.

According to Derek, he was an inspiration, mentor, and activist to change the lives of many.

“He loved people more than anyone I know,” Derek mentioned.

The morning of his passing, he posted this to Facebook. No one has the real answer as to why MarShawn may have taken his life, but his friends and family say he was the kind to take on all burdens, even those that were not his own. He may have been overwhelmed with all the problems he was trying to take into his own hands.

As many agree, we need to come together as a country to remember MarShawn for the amazing soul that he was. As for mental health, MarShawn was a support system to many and would only wish to spread the importance of having those support systems for the worst times. We have lost an important man of our generation, but we need to remember him for the boundaries he crossed and the legend he will leave for years to come.

R.I.P. MarShawn McCarrel II.