March On Washington 2013; Dream Fulfilled?

As I prepare for my journey to Washington, DC to participate in the 50 year commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington, I travel with mixed emotions and a heavy heart. How I wish I was preparing to travel for a Victory March celebrating the realization of 50 years of undeniable accomplishments of improved race relations in the US, of  undeniable and proportionate Black American achievement in the US, of undeniable peace,harmony, fair play and equal opportunity in the US...  

50 Years later and still we march. See ya' in DC....   

Just Wasn't Gonna' Happen...

The prosecutors in the zimmerman trial threw the case from the moment they empanelled the jury to the end when they were scrambling for suitable charges. There is NO way they expected that a jury composed of 5 White women, from the south no less, who stereotypically are most fearful of young Black men, were ever going to find empathy for Trayvon nor share some maternal bond with his grieving Mother. Fair trial? Fair verdict? Just wasn't gonna' happen...

Moreover, the prosecutor who steered clear of, but who should have argued, racial profiling was not about to do so when daily he defends the ideology of racial profiling. To do so would have put him in a position of vulnerability, that surely would have come back to bite him. His own words would have set precedent and would have been used against him in his defense of racist cops and others in future cases. He was not about to zealously defend the honor of Trayvon at the expense of losing his legal footing in other cases. Just wasn't gonna' happen...

And let us not forget that judge's children DON'T go to prison! zimmerman, the jerk that he is, has a father who IS the good ole' boy network, old, white and male. It was undoubtedly his father's meddling that manipulated this "justice" from beginning to end. His son was not about to go to prison. Just wasn't gonna' happen...

"Post Racial" is a joke! Racism is alive, well and thriving in America and this case is a reflection of such in the mirror in which we don't want to see ourselves. Those women, nor the prosecution, saw Trayvon as a young innocent Black boy. They saw a young Black "gonna' be" thug who if not causing trouble on that night would have caused trouble in the future. They saw not grieving parents but instead parents who, by virtue of their skin color, should have expected such fate for their son. As Black parents, as a Black community, they/we should be immune to the reality of their/our Black sons being shackled and cuffed, landing in prison and certainly lying dead following some senseless crime. What other future did the Martins expect for Trayvon? A bright future with college degree, 2 children, a big house with the white picket fence in our "post racial" society? A pipedream! Just wasn't gonna' happen...

While I am disappointed in the verdict and would like to have seen a fair, just and colorblind outcome, I am not surprised by the verdict. I never thought zimmerman would be convicted, nor did he. Not in this society, not in this racially biased judicial system that dehumanizes young Black men daily as it takes delight in stripping them of their manhood, parading them in courts clad in ridiculously bright orange jumpsuits, pimping them for free labor in prisons filled to the rim with them, returning them to bondage so to keep other folks employed and to make corporations very rich! zimmerman, a racist and a judge's kid, in the very hell hole the system his father served and likely helped to create incarcerated with the men that very system takes delight in condemning? A fair trial for a young Black boy in America, no matter his innocence? Sorry Folks, but it just wasn't gonna' happen... 

The Long Arm of Discrimination...

As many of you know, I strongly advocate the message in Michelle Alexander's book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The Washington Post article posted below, Two Companies Accused of Discrimination in Hiring, is a prime example of exactly what she writes about. Mass incarceration of Black Americans is equivalent to re-implementation of Jim Crow. It is undeniable that Blacks, who are often railroaded in the criminal justice system and who are therefore disproportionately burdened with criminal conviction records, are most excluded from the workforce and most adversely affected by enforcement of employer's blanket "no hire ex-offenders" policies. 

WHEN does an American stop paying for a crime? WHEN are such persons allowed full re-entry into society? I often wonder if since such persons are summarily excluded from society, denied basic rights and privileges of citizenship in every way that is meaningful, then why should such persons be made to pay taxes? For what benefit do they pay? Certainly not their own. Most cannot vote, can't find work, are denied housing, college grants, certain professional licenses, food stamps and so much more after being forced into a free labor system, because mass incarceration is also tantamount to re-implementation of slavery. Inmates are forced to barter the prospect of freedom (better referred to as early release because once branded a criminal, freedom escapes you) for so few pennies for the hour, that essentially they work for free. Don't believe me? Read Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II by Doug Blackmon, the title sums up the message. Is it expected that when persons with convictions are fortunate enough to find or create work, that they should then work and pay to support the comforts of America for everyone but themselves? Seems rather unfair, seems unjust... 

In the Washington Post article, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges that two employers, BMW and Dollar General, are discriminating in their hiring practices, refusing to hire or blatantly firing those persons with criminal convictions. How dare both companies, who undeniably make a ton of money in the Black community which is unduly burdened with the stigma of criminal convictions, enforce such practices, particularly where long term and otherwise good employees were terminated for matters that seem minor in nature and that occurred in the distant past.    

This is where we need to be reminded of the power of a boycott. We have forgotten the effect of collectively refusing to buy a product or use a particular service. Our history has proved that launching a mass boycott of these type employers, would force them to revisit their discriminatory policies. In this instance, where would Dollar General be without Black and/or poor patrons, both of whom are disproportionately burdened with criminal convictions, both of whom largely constitute Dollar General's customer base? I think we know. Here I must plug and encourage you to read Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy by Maggie Anderson. She passionately and convincingly details for the Black community the power of our dollar and encourages that we make demands in return for our patronage, that we exercise our muscle in terms of our significant spending power.  

If companies can set up shop and sell their goods and services to persons with criminal convictions, certainly they can be more lenient and reasonable in terms hiring such persons therefore rewarding the "hand that feeds them". The crime prompting exclusion from employment should be directly related to the work to be performed and even then, there should be a consideration of relevant circumstances; further involvement in criminal activity and certainly how long ago the crime was committed. 

My hat is off to the EEOC for investigating, exposing and hopefully enforcing strong penalties for such blatant discrimination. These are but two of MANY employers who are equally guilty of  enforcing similar exclusionary policies. Join me and support that the EEOC sends a very strong message of zero tolerance and puts an end to even to this long arm extension of discrimination!  


Check out the article: 

Two Companies Accused of Discrimination in Hiring

Today I Celebrate Me...

WOW! Another year has gone by. Hard to believe. Where does the time go? At this time last year I was in Los Angeles hanging out with a variety of Friends, some of whom I had not seen in a very long time. I went seeking sun and beach only to learn about "June Gloom". Apparently some parts of LA are void of sun for the most part of June. Because I was staying at Redondo Beach and was so close to the water, some days were damn near cold and some others were overcast with the gloom of June... Who knew? LOL! It was a fabulous time nonetheless! I enjoyed my time with Friends and Family. It was great...

As I prepare for what will be a subdued birthday this year, I am reminded of birthdays past. Without exception, my birthday is my special time to celebrate me! I have celebrated birthdays by doing something as simple as spending a day being pampered at a local spa, as I will today, to spending the entire month of June in Egypt marveling at the wonders of my history and dining on the Nile.

Milestone birthdays have been purposeful and extra special. The big 4-0 was celebrated on a cruise with 25 dear Friends. 35 was celebrated partying harder than I have ever partied in life. I reconnected with an old Friend from my college days and went to St. Maarten for the very first and the very best of the Sinbad Soul Festivals, 1995. Chartered planes filled with a few hundred mature and spirited Black folks from around the country descended on the island for a week of nothing but pure fun! Parties were held on a different beach every day. Concerts were held nightly with the best of performers from the 70's; Earth, Wind & Fire, The O'Jays, Gladys Knight, Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, Ohio Players, Natalie Cole, Al Green and more. Celebrities, to include Angela Bassett, Isaac Hayes and Tom Joyner mingled, partied and took photos with us regular folks. HBO taped the event, segments of which aired later that summer. Night clubs stayed open and filled with partygoers, including myself, til' 5am! The weather was perfect and everyone was in good spirits. I had so much fun that I had to remind myself to stop and eat. Sleep was almost unheard of until we boarded our flight for home. It was such a grand time that one of the DC ladies had a party at her house later that summer for all to gather, share photos, swap tales and reminisce about our trip. It was the best time ever!!!

Miss Higgi & Frankie Beverly

Thirty was celebrated by having a party at "The Club" in Washington, DC. I remember that it was on a Friday night and I danced all night long! One of my Friends described that I partied like an over aged teenager! This too is a good memory. The Club became on of my favorite DC hang outs. It was at located above the Days Inn Hotel at 12th & K Streets, NW. Ah, the good ole' days!!!

Fifty was fab too! I celebrated in Punta Cana & Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with two very dear and long time Friends. In between I have celebrated birthdays in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Florida, Jamaica, San Francisco, Arizona, Las Vegas, Sydney, Australia and more.

Today I turn 53! Today I am truly grateful! Grateful that despite a few bumps along the way, this ride of life has been mostly good. I fully recognize and appreciate that I have been blessed in that I have been afforded some truly wonderful experiences and met some truly fantastic people! 

Thank You God for Your many blessings and for another year to inspire others and to Celebrate Me... 

Today I Celebrate Me, Happy Birthday Miss Higgi...

JUST LIVE FOLKS!!!

Last week a bridge collapsed in Seattle... Yesterday a building in downtown Philly collapsed. How does that happen? Last count 13 injured and 6 people dead, one of whom was only 35 years young and on her first day of work at the Salvation Army store, the building upon which the neighboring edifice fell.

So often my Friends tell me they live vicariously through me, my free spirit & my zest for life. I love sharing my tales hoping to spark a little spontaneity and thirst for adventure in them as well. I caution them however, not to be as carefree as me because, unlike me, most have children or other responsibilities. But by all means I encourage them to LIVE! Follow your passion! Stop dreaming for retirement or waiting for the time, money or circumstances to be right to start seeing the big beautiful world! I have visited 6 of the 7 continents and plan too see so much more!

While life WILL happen, rarely will it happen that the stars align and everything is perfectly in place for you to follow your dream, travel or whatever it is, so JUST LIVE Folks! Live without regrets! Don't wait for a building or other burdens of life to fall on you to get your wake up call. NOW IS YOUR TIME! Build YOUR bridge and start making IT Happen! You'll be alright! Really you will...

This picture, taken by a dear Friend and mailed to many as a postcard a few years back, captures the spirit and essence of life I strive to maintain... JUST LIVE FOLKS!!!

 

 

 

Miss Higgi reminding you to live passionately, be kind to others and to always Celebrate YOU! 

 

 

Spark the Change YOU Want to See...

If the video below does not motivate you to get involved and make a difference in your community or in someone else's life, then nothing will. Strawberry Mansion, the Philadelphia High School featured in the broadcast, looks more like a prison than a school. So when our youth behave accordingly, why are we surprised? It is up to us to break the cycle, to show them something different...  

 

Hats off to Principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman, the teachers and other school personnel who support her daily. She is a hero in the true sense of the word. What is more commendable however, is that she has not run away from her roots. She is back in her community, fully vested in her legacy and determined to make a difference. I have already reached out to see how I can help. Will you? Trust me, there is a "Strawberry Mansion" in a neighborhood close to you... 

 

Come on Folks. WE CAN make a difference!!!

Strawberry Mansion High School
3133 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Phone: 215-852-2636
Email: strawberrymansionhighschool@gmail.com

There is Untapped Power in the Community...

Last night I drove more than 120 miles round trip to attend a fundraiser for Sheena Johnson, a Mother of two, who resorted to living in a NJ storage unit with her sons because she felt they had no where else to go. Ironically I was 27 years old, the same age as Ms Johnson, when I was disenchanted and spent less than one year working in the very system that should provide a safety net for Moms like Ms. Johnson. Even then I was disturbed to be part of a system that seemed more concerned with destroying families rather than helping them…  

Ms Johnson left an abusive relationship and did what she had to do to keep her Family together. Did she make a few missteps? Yes, desperate people often do. She left her boys at the storage unit while she was across town slashing her boyfriend's tires. Not good judgment. When she got arrested and realized that she was not going to be released, she immediately told the cops where her sons were. Why? Because she loves and cares for her 5 and 10 year old children and because she was obviously concerned for their safety, that’s what Mothers do…  

Ms. Johnson has reportedly been drug tested twice since her arrest. She is NOT a drug user. She works with temporary agencies and despite living in a storage unit, her boys were not abused or malnourished and they attended private school. Ms. Johnson is articulate, employable, obviously resourceful and like many others in this horrible economy, down on her luck. So what does a system that should be willing to help a young Mother in her condition do? They arrest her and charge her with a felony punishable by 5 - 10 years imprisonment, strap her with a $50,000 bail that she cannot afford and take her children away refusing to let her see them. Her case will be heard in family court in Mercer County on May 31. Don’t get excited, you cannot go to show support of her because in NJ, as in most other states, family court proceedings are closed to the public, NY and FL are the exceptions. At best, you can rally in her defense on the courthouse steps. I cautioned Ms Johnson to hope for the best but to prepare for the worse. She wants her children back.

How sad is it that in times of crisis, Mothers like Sheena Johnson are so very afraid to turn to social services for help? That is the purpose of the agency, is it not? I have a Friend whose teenage daughter was giving her hell, as teenagers do. Fortunately she called me before calling her local social service agency to ask for a local reference to secure psychological assistance to help solve her Family problems. She had no idea of the potential for harm to which she would have subjected the sanctity of her Family had she made that call. Once the courts and social services become involved in your family life, they dig for dirt and they are there to stay. Certainly, I would never advise handing them the invitation and I am an attorney and a former social worker. How sad is that?

Hats off to The Big Easy Restaurant for coming to the aid of Ms Johnson. The owner, Olugbala Sababu and his friend Dan Toto, heard her story and sprang into action to get her out of jail and then educated and galvanized the community to also support her. I was pleased to see so many who attended the fundraiser, designed to create a trust fund for Ms. Johnson’s sons, show genuine concern and support for the mother of these children. She was visibly appreciative and still overwhelmed with joy when I spoke with her later in the evening. A local church came forward and volunteered use of a home for Ms. Johnson and the boys for at least the next year. 

Olugbala Sababu, owner of the Big Easy restaurant, Sheena Johnson and Dan Toto. (Photo Source: The Times) 

There is untapped power in the community. Our apathy is overwhelming and relied on by public agencies like the courts, social service providers, the police and others who we empower with our silence. It is our apathy that licenses such authorities to be reckless and to do what they will. I am convinced however, as was evidenced last night, that when we know better, we do better. It is not that the community does not care, it is more that the community does not know. When someone has compassion, takes the time to let us know and provides a means to get involved, the community will show up…

Again, family courts in NJ and most other states are closed to the public. Although access to courts is a state issue, opening family courts is a matter that must be addressed nationally. Stipulations on federal dollars can serve as incentive for states to consider any such revisions. In the interest of “protecting privacy”, closed courts have created a shield that instead protects bad lawyering, abhorable social work and all too often a miscarriage of justice. Because Mothers so desperately want their children returned and don’t want to get on the wrong side of the courts or the social workers who hold ALL of the cards, they silently endure what ever happens to them in a closed court setting. The courts are in full control of the image and impressions projected to the public. The Family is effectively silenced through hopelessness, despair and a lack of power. And we wonder where our children learn to bully...

All too often, Families in need of help are further victimized behind the closed doors of the court. It will be interesting to see how the courts and social services react to Ms. Johnson’s story going public. Will they concede and do what is right and what they are empowered to do, help her to find suitable housing and offer life skills training and other IN HOME services to help improve her situation or will they push back, go into greater attack mode and further punish this family by keeping them separated? It is noteworthy that states get Title IV federal funding when children are placed in court ordered, OUT OF HOME placement. This money is not available for services provided while the child remains in the home. This too, needs to be addressed. It offers the wrong incentive and is not in concert with family reunification. Our silence around the country validates a failed and broken system that has no accountability...   

Based on my professional experiences enhanced by an occasional stint as an adjunct professor teaching a class on child welfare policy, I can tell you that Ms Johnson’s circumstance is not an exception but rather the rule. But for the compassion of Mr. Sababu and Mr. Toto, she would have languished in an overcrowded jail, unable to pay an excessive bail, all the while being estranged from her children. By the time she got out of jail, if she got out of jail, the state would have argued that it would be disruptive and harmful for the children to be removed from a “stable and loving” foster home at which they would have “bonded” after being there for a good part of a year. Moreover, by time of release from jail, Ms Johnson would have new hurdles to jump, hurdles she did not have before the awful ordeal began. While I don’t profess to know all the facts in Ms Johnson’s case, I do profess to know that hers is a Family that, given proper and unbiased professional attention, is salvageable…

It is a vicious cycle and there are far too many Sheena Johnson's harshly or wrongfully punished by a broken and ineffective system that is too overwhelmed, too insensitive and too rarely challenged or held accountable to stop and heal itself. Ms Johnson and Mothers like her are the victims of bureaucracy. They are victims of a system that knows no boundaries when it comes to justifying its existence and upholding its obviously flawed methods... It is no coincidence that the children who populate the child welfare systems are often the same children who eventually populate the adult prison system. Nor is it a coincidence that both are filled with Black and Brown faces, that is a story to be told on another day…  This national pathology however, endorsed by our collective silence, is called the cradle to prison pipeline.

WHERE does it end?

WHEN do we start to care enough to challenge the gross abuses of a very broken system?

WHY do we typically wait until tragedy knocks at our door to be inspired to get involved? By then it is often too late and our silence has allowed that precedent be set. 

WHAT will you do now that you know?

WHO will step up and take the lead to challenge your local systems?

There IS Untapped Power In the Community!!!

Again, hats off to the Big Easy Restaurant located at 120 S Warren Street in Trenton, NJ.

Here is the link to the news coverage: 

http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/tri-state/ewing-mom-sheena-johnson-given-new-home-following-arrest-for-living-in-storage-unit-1.5310754