Tag Archives: Mike Brown

#FreeFerguson

“Now let’s talk about freedom…
The Negro says I want my freedom now, and others say never.
The voice of a responsible, educated, non-bias person says, togetherness, there is no other way.
Until justice is blind of color,
Until education is unaware of race,
Until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of a man’s skin,
Emancipation will always be a proclamation, but not a fact.
You see prejudice squints when it looks, and lies when it talks.
Damn fools!”

I used that monologue while attending college for a presentation, and who would’ve known that the speech would continue to hold such merit today. I understand everyone’s upset! I know the pain all too well; witness it first hand (the psychological ramifications) and read about it on a daily basis as do you. So because of the anger we harbor inside, we feel it’s necessary to unleash our fury on anything & anyone who opposes us. So we burn down the stores where we shop to attain the necessities in life; we vandalize structures that were the pillars of our community; we destroy all the things that had meaning, that were monuments, beacons and landmarks which served as gathering spots. But now think of this, that structure you demolished; those dreams which were quickly dashed by setting those buildings ablaze; a lifetime of work and money invested reduced to ashes, were they Black owned? If not, then who stands to win? The “true” owners will reap the benefits of the destruction by receiving a check from the insurance company. The losers are those who no longer have that establishment to return to. And it isn’t their moral obligation to reestablish that company that you’ve now destroyed. They can cut their losses and head off into the sunset check in hand. Vacant lots make the property value go down; reacquire, resell and turn another profit. Hmmm…

From the time of the shooting until the decision was made last night, monies were being collected for both Mike Brown’s family and Darren Wilson. By late August, Wilson had collected almost $350,000, while Brown’s Memorial Fund collected $214,000. So with Wilson set to resign and move forward with his life, he has monies to be able to sustain for quite sometime, allow the media madness to die down before moving on to his next venture. Meanwhile, there’s no dollar amount that can replace the life of a loved one; as life is more precious than a “Promissory Note”.

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Lastly, the misnomer of “Black on Black” is ridiculous. There’s no such thing. Sure the message was clear in the song “Self Destruction.” We view the headlines from Chiraq (Chicago), Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami Gardens reporting the incidents. However, the term is a media creation to instill fear and give the appearance that this is a problem which takes place solely in OUR community. If you live in Liberty City, Overtown, Opa Locka, Richmond Heights, Perrine, Goulds, etc, who else are Black people going to commit crimes against? You commit crimes against those you’re most associated with or live in close proximity to. “Black represent 13% of the population but commit 50% of the murders; 90% of Black victims are murdered by other Blacks. Yet the disturbing truth, according to the FBI’s most recent homicide statistics, is that the United States is in the wake of an epidemic of White-on-White crime; a (staggering) 83% of White murder victims were killed by fellow Caucasians.” (This was as of August 2014) I ask again, and I always harp on this, why do you think they reinforce OUR negative behavior, never insinuating the positive? Because YOU sell the newspapers, move the needle for conversation, drive the Internet with your songs, participation in sports and theatrics on television. I’m sure you weren’t aware that several young people visited Geneva for a meeting of the United Nations Committee Against Torture, refusing to back down during testimony about police brutality in the U.S. I don’t claim to know everything nor do I profess to be a prophet. The goal is to live outside of the confines of society to attain a higher understanding of oneself. As someone mentioned, the Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted one year, which conversely led to change; do y’all think not shopping on Black Friday; one day of 365 will make a difference? This sh*t is chess not checkers? “I don’t want you to think like me, I just want you to think!” #shotsfired “We Are The Change!” I’m gone! (b)

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Drive In Theatre

Play this as you read the post. This blog was inspired by Curren$y’s mixtape with the same title. Low volume preferred.

It’s the weekend… and family time is in order. A sitter has been procured to watch the children; they’ve been fed; and instructions have been left as to what’s expected when bedtime arrives.  After a long work week, ROR has been recommended and a night of entertainment and dining are the slated activities.  With both parties refreshed, fully clothed and smelling good, the only decision remaining is what will be viewed at the cinema.  After reviewing several movie locations to find out what featured films will be showing, a conclusion is drawn to “take it back to the old school” and go to the drive-in.  Entry and the ability to pay for food will be much more cost efficient and being comfortable is a premium that can’t be denied.  Besides, the windows are tinted on the luxury vehicle and who knows, a little “hanky panky” may take place; foreign eyes need not be invited to that escapade.

And they’re off! An adult beverage is had by both to remove the edge of a long, trying day. For him, cognac made neat; she has vodka and cranberry, as it reduces her inhibitions.  Upon their arrival, the movie is agreed upon, the proper radio frequency is selected, the front seats are pushed forward and they cuddle in the back seat.  The characters in the featured film are all too familiar; though the eras differ the plot remains the same.  And as the opening credits roll and the title flashes across the screen, the words, sounds and images no longer matter; they’re mute.  The characteristic of each individual have been predetermined.  The people of color will be either killed first when faced with horror, the comic relief, savages or depicted by their “criminal nature”.  All others are the heroes or heroines and when the closing credits roll, they would’ve done something to shock the conscious or entice the viewer to wish they had those same attributes.

rice peterson

In real life, there’s no director yelling “Lights, camera, action”; no trailers to return to when a scene doesn’t fair well to refresh and regroup; no stunt double to replace you when you’re designated to take a hard fall, be involved in an accident or be murdered in a violent fashion. Everything is performed in real time; no filters or adjustments.  The media plays a profound part in public perception.  They single handedly control the minds of the masses.  They can build an individual up to receive sympathy and public support, or vilify that same person and have them at the doorstep of purgatory.  In a flash, the news coverage went from wall to wall Mike Brown, police harassment, Ferguson, Missouri, to domestic violence and child abuse.  And in each of these instances, the featured characters are those of color.  And when public sentiment was at its peak, the plot heightened and it was thought that the ending would be different from that of Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Emmit Till and a slew of others, the media without hesitation focused their attention back to that of Ray Rice and now Adrian Peterson.  Ray Rice’s initial incident occurred during the month of February; he appeared in court and was punished by the NFL.  However, when new video surfaced of the same incident, he faced double jeopardy, and was again punished; this time more severely for a crime he already committed.  (The cuddling has stopped and now patrons are at the edge of their seats.  The straw can no longer consume the liquid that was once in the cup and all that can be heard is a slurping noise as the inhalation can’t draw sustenance.)  For Peterson, his crime can be credited to psychological embedment.  Since the 1600s, the cracking of the whip was as synonymous with those brought here from the banks of West Africa as the word “nigger”.  The whip was used as a form of punishment; discipline. How could it not be passed from generation to generation when it was instrumental in instilling fear in the hearts of those it was used to enslave?  And now, there are faces associated with domestic violence and child abuse.  The images are of Ray Rice and Jonathan Dwyer.  One almost forgets that Mel Gibson and Nicholas Cage also had similar incidents, and their names have much more prestige.  The cases of Hope Solo and Kelly Brooks are easily forgotten when placed side by side against their male counterparts.  In the case of Brooks’, she admitted to punching both of her past boyfriends in the face, wrote a book about her transgressions and laughs about it when questioned.

As the couple leaves the venue, they were well aware of how the story would end. Like so many pieces, the predictable outcome doesn’t leave the viewers unsatisfied; for them it’s just a night of enjoyment.  In life, although the script can be rewritten to change the conclusion, most people choose to leave everything status quo, play their roles and be the subsidiaries to those that are willing to “rock the boat” and alter the consequence.  As with the events taking place today, like a wrestling match, the ending is foreseeable.  People of color are regulated to the role of heel, while everyone else basks in the glory of holding the championship belt.  They’re engulfed by the applause while the villain is showered with boos.  There’s no drawn out kisses or music reaching a crescendo highlighting a historic, heroic end; only misery and suffering.  Ask Danny Glover how troubling it is to fund a film where people of color are the heroes and “whites” have no bearing on the finish other than being the ones that are being overrun by those being oppressed (the film was to be based on Francois Dominique Toussaint Louverture [1743-1803], a former slave and one of the fathers of Haiti’s independence from France in 1804, making it the first black nation to throw off imperial rule and become a republic).  The drive home from the night’s outing isn’t one of depression; when you’re oblivious to your circumstance, the conversation revolves around the value had involving precious time spent with each other.  The sitter is paid their fee; the couple undresses and prepares for a night’s sleep.  When the sun rises again, the previous night will be a distance memory and the rigors of the day begins anew. While some strive to change the landscape placed before them, the large majority continue to like things the way they are.  And that’s fine if you enjoy the screenplay composed of your life preordained from birth to death; however, if you’re unhappy with the actors playing the role of your character in your own life, the only person that can fire the staff and change the result is you.  Flip the script! Popcorn please! “We Are The Change!”  I’m gone! (b)

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Miranda

A birthmark is a benign irregularity on the skin which is present at birth or appears shortly after birth, usually in the first month. They can occur anywhere on the skin. There are methods of removal which include cosmetic surgery or vanishing crèmes, however in a person’s subconscious, whenever they look at the location where the mark once existed, it’ll be a constant reminder of a blemish which caused an imperfection.  To a person of color, as am I, our melanated skin is a lifetime souvenir that cannot be returned to its original owner.  It’s the sole identifying trait that differentiates us from the rest of society.  To the ill-informed, most believe that the presence of melanin relates to skin, hair and eye pigmentation. However, unbeknownst to a majority of the masses, melanin contains within it the entire electromagnetic spectrum; all the colors of the rainbow.  Our exposure to the sun recharges us; supplying us with a natural ability to manufacture vitamins like Niacin and Vitamin D; and on a spiritual level, an active pineal gland (3rd Eye) secretes melatonin which creates melanin.  Although many of us enjoy our inherited qualities, a large portion of society “hates the skin that I’m in” and have displayed their displeasure over the course of time.  The inclusion of self-hatred, whereby people of color are psychologically programmed to have a dislike, distain and distrust for their own race (i.e. the Willie Lynch syndrome) magnifies our circumstance and makes it all the more difficult to cope during these trying times.

“White privilege (or white skin privilege) is a term for societal privileges, existing in predominantly white societies, that benefit white people beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people in the same social, political, or economic circumstances. The term denotes both obvious and less obvious unspoken advantages that white persons may not recognize they have, which distinguishes it from overt bias or prejudice. These include cultural affirmations of one’s own worth; presumed greater social status; and freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely. The concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one’s own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional while perceiving oneself as normal. It can be compared to and/or combined with the concept of male privilege.”  The lesson that should be learned and reinforced to people of color in relation to the death of Mike Brown (Ferguson, Missouri; unarmed black male youth killed by police officer Darren Wilson) is that “your skin is your sin.” I’ve been disappointed by the comments on social media which in many instances state that “racism exists, there’s nothing that can be done about it” or “But really, I fault in the parenting of each one of the individuals I just spoke of (Mike Brown and Kajieme Powell)! Parenting consists of teaching kids right from wrong, respecting authority, hard work, etc…! I know one thing that’s a fact, if each one of these kids respected authority, it don’t happen…” In “my” opinion, those comments are irresponsible on many levels.  True, racism is the elephant in the room that no one wishes to discuss; the ruling class is unwilling to make amends for the past and are reluctant to rectify the wrongs of yesteryear by providing “significant” initiatives that provide people of color an opportunity to appear on equal footing on “all” levels.  Secondly, teaching your child morals, values, respecting authority and the importance of hard work have nothing to do with the fact that as an individual under the Constitution of the United States, each of us has a right to “due process.”  In the case of Mike Brown, he was denied his Fourteenth (14th) Amendment Right defined in the first section and states that no state can “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”  And as with many of our brothers and sisters which have been struck down by the “long arm” of the Criminal Justice System without justification, we’re “all” entitled to an opportunity to appear before a jury of our “peers” to be either found guilty or exonerated of any wrong doing.  Many of you reading this won’t ever have the specter of being watched or followed in convenience or department stores under the suspicion of stealing merchandise; you don’t have to worry about being apprehensive when the police abruptly drive behind your vehicle, palms sweating as you peer through your rear view mirror observing the officer call in your license plate information and subsequently pull you over under the pretense of “your vehicle fits the description of a (blank) in progress!”  Even as I explain this, you can never fully understand what being “Black” means. To many it’s a source of pride; to others, a badge of shame.  It means being looked upon as a second (2nd), sometimes third (3rd) class citizen.  It means be overlooked for jobs when you know you’re distinctly qualified and the person hired doesn’t have the expertise or experience; it means working twice as hard to receive the accolades of an individual barely doing enough to get by. It’s unfortunate but real.

“I ain’t did nothing/Nobody sweat me/They just won’t me, go on with my life/But I’mma protect me /Can’t let them stress me/So let me go or read me my rights!” Scarface Presents… The Product “Read”

And lastly, as evidenced by the incident concerning Ray Allen and his family where several white teens came into his home in the middle of the night, causing Allen’s wife who was asleep with their children to fear for her life, and police not bringing forth charges characterizing it as a “silly prank”, many of you won’t ever have to worry about hearing this statement, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”  Let’s be honest, if the situation involved Black youths, they would’ve been detained, arrested, sentenced and forced to live with the remnants of a “Scarlet Letter” on their records (adjudication withheld or conviction) which would mar them for the remainder of their lives. The Miranda Rights were created in 1966 as a result of the United States Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona. The Miranda warning is intended to protect the suspect’s Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer self-incriminating questions.  The Miranda rights do not go into effect until after an arrest is made. The officer is free to ask questions before an arrest, but must inform the suspect that the questioning is voluntary and that he or she is free to leave at any time. The answers to these questions are admissible in court.  In many cases you don’t have an opportunity to have them read as in the recent incident involving Charles Belk, a television and film producer who was mistakenly arrested by Beverly Hills police who stated, “Within an evening, I was wrongly arrested, locked up, denied a phone call, denied explanation of charges against me, denied ever being read my rights, denied being able to speak to my lawyer for a lengthy time, and denied being told that my car had been impounded…..All because I was misidentified as the wrong ‘tall, bald head, black male,’ … ‘fitting the description.’” And with that prize comes many times being handcuffed, detained and ordered to sit on the curb as onlookers pass in their cars judging and perhaps saying to themselves “Their kind are always in trouble.” And when proven to be in error, the person victimized will often times never receive an apology. Do I believe there’s a way to overcome the racial barriers built by society that hinders our progress? Of course I do! With my success, I hope to enlighten and empower others to overcome those same hurdles.  However, as NWA so amply stated in their song “Niggaz4Life”, and this is true, unfortunate and a sad reality, no matter the measure of success, until things change the lyrics exacerbates  the following, “You’re a nigga ’til you die/If you’re a poor nigga, then you’re a poor nigga/If you’re a rich nigga, you’re a rich nigga/But you never stop being a nigga/And if you get to be educated, you’s an educated nigga.”  Damn… Something has to change. It is our responsibility to not sit idly and elicit that change. “We Are The Change!”  I’m gone! (b)

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