on the black hand side

For Genarlow Wilson, Shaquanda Cotton, Marcus Dixon and others: What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black

For the last two days I've had the privilege of participating in a retreat. It was job-related, very enlightening, informative and exhausting. My brain is somewhat fried from information overload and I will share some of the wonderful ideas, thoughts, movements, etc. that I took away from the activity.

The poem below was recited by one of the speakers and I'll definitely introduce you to her very soon. But, in light of all that is happening to Genarlow Wilson and happened to Shaquanda Cotton, Marcus Dixon and many others, this poem is very fitting...

What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black What shall I tell my children who are black Of what it means to be a captive in this dark skin? What shall I tell my dear one, fruit of my womb, of how beautiful they are when everywhere they turn they are faced with abhorrence of everything that is black. The night is black and so is the boogyman. Villains are black with black hearts. A black cow gives no milk. A black hen lays no eggs. Storm clouds, black, black is evil and evil is black and devil's food is black...

What shall I tell my dear ones raised in a white world
A place where white has been made to represent
all that is good and pure and fine and decent,
where clouds are white and dolls, and heaven
surely is a white, white place with angels
robed in white, and cotton candy and ice cream
and milk and ruffled Sunday dresses
and dream houses and long sleek cadillacs
and Angel's food is white... all, all... white.

What can I say therefore, when my child
Comes home in tears because a playmate
Has called him black, big lipped, flatnosed and nappy headed?
What will he think when I dry his tears and whisper,
"Yes, that's true. But no less beautiful and dear."
How shall I lift up his head, get him to square
his shoulders, look his adversaries in the eye,
confident in the knowledge of his worth.
Serene under his sable skin and proud of his own beauty?
What can I do to give him strength
That he may come through life's adversities
As a whole human being unwarped and human in a world
Of biased laws and inhuman practices, that he might
Survive. And survive he must! For who knows?
Perhaps this black child here bears the genius
To discover the cure for... cancer
Or to chart the course for exploration of the universe.
So, he must survive for the the good of all humanity.

He must and will survive.
I have drunk deeply of late from the fountain
of my black culture, sat at the knee of and learned
from mother Africa, discovered the truth of my heritage.
The truth, so often obscured and omitted.
And I find I have much to say to my black children.
I will lift up their heads in proud blackness
with the story of their fathers and their father's fathers.
And I shall take them into a way back time
of kings and queens who ruled the Nile,
and measured the stars and discovered the laws of mathematics.
I will tell them of a black people upon whose backs have been built
the wealth of three continents.
I will tell him this and more.
And knowledge of his heritage shall be his weapon and his armor;
It will make him strong enough to win any battle he may face.
And since this story is so often obscured,
I must sacrifice to find it for my children,
even as I sacrifice to feed, clothe and shelter them.
So this I will do for them if I love them.
None will do it for me.

I must find the truth of heritage for myself and pass it on to them.
In years to come, I believe because I have armed them with the truth,
my children and their children's children will venerate me.
For it is the truth that will make us free!

By Dr Margaret Burroughs (http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=39&category=artMakers), the founder of
the DuSable Museum of African American History and Art in Chicago, IL,
the first Black museum in the United States

Labels: Black Beauty, Black children, Black Culture, Black Pride, love, poetry

All-American Presidential Forum

Overall, the All-American Presidential Forum was interesting. There were no jaw-dropping comments except the last one by Mike Gravel. Why is he in this race anyway? I was pleased with most of the answers from the candidates.

They are not extremely different from each other but I must say that Chris Dodd got my attention with his answers. I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination this time but he is definitely one to watch. I must research him to find out what he's about.

There were a few technical dificulties but the questions were on point. The one minute and then 30 second responses didn't allow sufficient time for candidate response.

The candidates I'd give the nod to continue are --- in no particular order --- Obama, Clinton, Edwards and Dodd.

The Republican Forum is scheduled for September at Morgan State University.

***Notes on Live Broadcasst***

The All-American Presidential Forum is live. The expected introductions have been made, camera shots of a few well-known Blacks have been shown and a citizen was allowed to ask a question about racism. Cool.

9:28 PM - DeWayne Wickham asks a question about poverty. Most of the answers are ho-hum and expected. Obama elicits the best response thus far as he takes a potshot at NCLB (No Child left behind) and speaks to treating children as our own.

Senator Dodd speaks of his record. Interesting. Hillary admits that they have failed our children. Good answers.

9:39 PM - Michel Martin asks question about fighting HIV/AIDS. She also quotes alarming statistics about the number of African-American teenagers with AIDS.

Gov. Richardson kinda flubs this question.

John Edwards cited the alarming number of African-American women with AIDS. Need to fully fund finding a cure, need to fund Ryan White bill so that everyone can get treatment and Medicare.

Sen. Obama agreed with Edwards and added a need for education on the issue. Poverty, lack of health care are all interconnected.

Rep. Kucinich - It's time to get serious about health care. We have to end for-profit health care.

Sen. Gravel - Tries too hard to stir up emotion. Education - Yes. Health care - Yes. Put pressure to "end war on drugs which is ravaging your community."

Sen. Dodd - Minority community suffers from a lack of access; it's bigger than just AIDS.

Sen. Clinton - Applause to Hillary on this one. If HIV/AIDS affected white women at the same level it affects Black women, there would be outrage.

Sen. Biden - Policy of neglect on denial. Spoke of efforts to educate and talk about it.

9:51 PM

Reuben Navarette: Economic Disparity

John Edward: Get rid of George Bush's tax cuts. Honor work not just wealth.

Barack Obama: Are we willing to make the investments in genuine opportunity in this country?

Dennis Kucinich: Wealthy need to pay their fair share and the war needs to end.

Sen. Gravel: Tax system where everyone knows what others pay.

Chris Dodd: This guy is giving good answers.

Hillary Clinton: Economy was better in the 1990's. Tax system must be changed.

Bill Richardson: Tax incentives to middle class and businesses. Globalization must work for middle class.

Joe Biden: For the first time in our history there was a shift of tax burden to wage-earners.

DeWayne Wickham: Crime & Punishment

These questions are limited to 30 second answers now. They are coming way too fast to keep up with individual answers.

Issues touched on mandatory minimum sentencing, disparity between sentences for crack and powder cocaine, non-violent criminals and application of law equally. Richardson mentioned necessity of ways to deal with poverty. Edwards admitted that justice system is not color blind. He mentioned drug counseling and other options.

Michel Martin: New Orleans/Hurricane Katrina - Right to Return (I am so digging her hair.)

Hillary has 10 point plan for Gulf coast recovery. Residents treated unfairly. There is nothing to return to now.

Richardson said it is the most disgraceful episode in America helping its people. Force insurance companies to insure Gulf coast residents.

Edwards will appoint someone to cover New Orleans recovery.

Obama mentioned companies (Haliburton) getting rebuilding contracts and not using New Orleans residents to help rebuild. Must have president who understands reality that people of New Orleans were being neglected prior to Katrina.

Reuben Naverette: Outsourcing Jobs

I really like Chris Dodd's answers, he's on point.

Hillary Clinton: Prepare Americans to compete globally. Great answer.

Richardson: Must upgrade science and math skills in this country. So true. Invest in high-tech industries.

Edwards: Eliminate all tax breaks for all companies that take jobs overseas.

For the most part, Barack Obama concurred with previous answers.

Kucinich: Cancel NAFTA and WTO.

DeWayne Wickham: Crisis in Darfur

OK, who is the Chris Dodd guy? I like him.

Hillary: No fly zone.

Biden: We should have imposed no fly zone two years ago.

Richardson: Find ways to stop massive rapes. Did not really answer though.

Edwards: Part of bigger question.

Obama: No fly zone, having protective force is good but what about trade and investment. Great answer.

Kucinich: Stop looking at Africa as a place to exploit people. Stop giving Sudan a pass.

Gravel: Must have president who has moral judgment; most of the people on the stage do not have moral judgment. What an answer to end on without opportunity for response.

Labels: All-American Presidential Forum, Debate, Democrats, Howard University

Georgia Judge Declares Genarlow Wilson Ineligible for Bond; Georgia, Stop the Madness!

After businessmen raise $1 million for a bond, a Douglas County (Ga.) judge cancels a bond appeal hearing. It is obvious that the State of Georgia is hell bent on keeping one young man locked up for receiving oral sex from a 15 year-old when he was 17. For the life of me I don’t want to shout racism but what is the damn problem here?

Listen folks, you can be in denial if you want, but teenagers are engaging in oral sex and all sorts of behavior not condoned by parents or the law. That's what they hear in their music and see on televsion or at the movies. Guess what? The incarceration of Genarlow Wilson will not stop teenagers from having sex; they’ll just conceal it from the authorities for fear of being jailed.

Oh yeah, those same teenagers that will keep their sexual behavior a secret for fear of being jailed will likely spread and contract sexually-transmitted diseases because they haven’t gotten proper medical attention, because why? They don’t want to be jailed. Georgia, please turn on a light and come out of the dark ages.

Genarlow Wilson has served 28 months of a 10 year sentence that he does not deserve. He should not be required to register as a sex offender. The fact that his friends accepted a plea deal should not prevent Georgia law from doing the right thing for Genarlow. I don’t blame Genarlow or his attorney for declining those so-called plea deals offered by Douglas County DA David McDade. They are insulting to say the least. Besides, the longer Genarlow is in jail, the more Georgia’s reputation is damaged.

Just a few days away from a July 5 bond appeal hearing, Douglas County Judge David Emerson declared that Genarlow is ineligible for a bond. Give me a break; this situation is just inhumane. It’s time for some folk to put a spotlight on his situation and turn up the heat even more than before.

With serious issues that Georgia has to deal with, it’s incomprehensible that oral sex between two teenagers would result in such a waste of taxpayer resources. This case not only makes Georgia look like a racist, backwater State, it makes the USA look like backwater, knuckle-dragging hypocrites.

If Georgia AG Thurbert Baker, DA David McDade, Judge David Emerson and Gov. Sonny Perdue really want to apply the law equitably, Georgia should just lock up all of its teenagers guilty of engaging in oral sex under the age of consent. If honesty prevailed, there’d be few teenagers in school and most of them behind bars.

When all is said and done, I pray that Genarlow continues to stand on principle and doesn’t allow these men to break his spirit.

Labels: David Emerson, David McDade, Genarlow Wilson, Georgia, Oral Sex, Racism, Sonny Perdue, Thurbert Baker

Tavis Smiley to Moderate Presidential Forum Live from Howard University Tomorrow Night

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL FORUM AIRS JUNE 28 ON PBS STATIONS NATIONWIDE

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson will participate in the “All-American Presidential Forums on PBS,” moderated by Tavis Smiley, on June 28, 2007, from 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET at Howard University in Washington, DC.

Questions to the candidates will be posed by Smiley and journalists Michel Martin of National Public Radio, nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. and USA Today and Gannett News Service columnist DeWayne Wickham.

The event will be televised live on PBS. “All-American Presidential Forums” on PBS, moderated by Tavis Smiley, marks the first time that a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color will be represented in primetime. The candidates will be asked about issues ranging from healthcare and housing to Katrina relief, the economy and the environment, among others outlined in the #1 The New York Times best-seller, Covenant With Black America. A second forum for Republican presidential candidates will be held on September 27, 2007, on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of all parties for this historic event,” said Smiley. “From the title to the format, the ‘All-American Presidential Forums’ was created to provide fresh perspectives and an unprecedented level of inclusion for all Americans in general, and people of color in particular, in these critical discussions about our country’s future.”

“The Forums will give voice to vital questions the American public wants to have answered in this crucial election process,” said John Boland, PBS chief content officer. “Kicking off an ambitious line-up of content on multiple platforms for PBS Election 2008, we are proud to help facilitate this important dialogue, which truly represents the mission of public broadcasting.”

Immediate public feedback on the performance of the candidates will be conducted by noted pollster Frank Luntz, who will also appear on “Tavis Smiley” on PBS the following evening to discuss his findings. The PBS Democratic Forum will be simultaneously webcast on PBS.org, and video of both events will be archived for download and viewing on the Web site.

The Web site (pbs.org/tavissmiley) will include additional coverage of the presidential candidates and their positions on key issues of the campaign, including past interviews, backgrounders, viewer polls and a forum blog and election resources. Visitors will be able to submit their own questions for the candidates, read commentary and share their own opinions.

Labels: Barack Obama, Democrats, DeWayne Wickham, Hillary Clinton, Howard University, Michel Martin, PBS, Presidential Forum, Presidential Race, Reuben Navarette, Tavis Smiley

FREE GENARLOW WILSON: $ 1 Million Can't Buy Freedom

Businessman, Whitney Tilson, founder and Managing Partner of T2 Partners LLC and the Tilson Mutual Funds, convinced 9 of his friends to join him in a contribution towards a $1,000,000 bond for the release of Genarlow Wilson. He was successful in his fundraising endeavor but Genarlow Wilson still remains behind bars.

Make no mistake that some Georgians applaud AG Thurbert Baker's handling of this situation while others criticize his staunch effort to keep Genarlow Wilson incarcerated. Baker has been accused of not exercising the same zeal in other situations. Whether that is true or not is beyond me as I did not know of Baker until the Genarlow Wilson case.

With that in mind, the focus on the bond issue should rest squarely with Douglas County DA David McDade, not AG Thurbert Baker. McDade can easily put this situation to rest but he chooses to offer B.J. Bernstein, Wilson's attorney, little consolation to compromise. It is in the State of Georgia's best interest to keep AG Baker in the spotlight to diffuse charges of racism. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what's going on and it won't diminish the cries of racism either.

It's also important to note that Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue supports Baker's position. Perdue may prefer to watch from the sidelines but the media and Georgia voters should make sure that he does not avoid public scrutiny and/or outrage either.

Maybe it's just me but I still think that this entire situation could have been avoided early on in the case. In spite of the antiquated Georgia law under which Genarlow was convicted, judicial and law enforcement officials could have tried to salvage this young man's collegiate academic and athletic career potential. The mother of the victim has already proclaimed the sentence too harsh --- talk about overkill. Baker, McDade and Perdue also could have avoided another black eye against the State of Georgia; you'd think Georgia law enforcement would have learned after the Marcus Dixon case but I guess old habits die hard.

Labels: A Miscarriage of Justice, B.J. Bernstein, David McDade, Genarlow Wilson, Georgia, Racism, Sonny Perdue, Thurbert Baker, Whitney Tilson

Thinking Blogger Award

I have been tagged by ndpthepoetress, of Binding Ink, with the Thinking Blogger Award. Thank you… thank you… thank you, oh great Muse. I am indeed humbled and honored.

In keeping with the purpose and directive of this award started by ilker yoldas, I am to select 5 blogs that make me think. Hmmm…five blogs, huh? That may prove difficult as there are some really great blogs in the blogosphere, but I’ll give it a try.

The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

Interestingly, I found that several blogs I would have selected have already been tagged with the Thinking Blogger Award. I guess great minds think alike. Without further ado, in no particular order, are five blogs I’m tagging with the Thinking Blogger Award.

AfroBella: AfroBella is also known as Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik, a reformed tomboy from Trinidad. AfroBella is a website dedicated to product reviews, ruminations about style, and interviews with women all shades of beautiful.

Now That’s What I’m Talkin’ About!!!!: The purpose of this site, by Theo Johnson, is to inform, educate and have a little fun on the side. He covers a variety of topics ---social issues, politics, black history, business, technology and entertainment.

Young Black Professional Guide: YBP Guide is a forum of multiple perspectives and advice to support the many challenges that Young Black Professionals face. Their mission is to empower Young Black Professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to foster progression and productivity in the Black community.

YBP Guide was started by Kimberly Michelle and Fredric in October 2006. While they are the editors of the Young Black Professional Guide, many of their peers often contribute articles.

MartyBLOGs: Martin Lindsey’s blog challenges you to change your life with an ‘actionist’ attitude. An actionist is not hung up on opinions but interested in forging ahead and doesn’t get fixated on placing blame, just finding a solution. Handle business, take care of things, then move on. That’s the actionist way.

David McQueen: David believes we are all born magnificent, and each have a right to express that magnificence for our benefit and our communities.

He is a speaker, writer, youth worker and mentor and a Christian with a keen passion for education and youth development.

That’s it, folks. I hope you enjoy the thoughts on the pages of these wonderful bloggers. Be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

Thank you, again, ndpthepoetress!

Who is Genarlow Wilson and why should we care about him?

By now, you may have heard the story of Genarlow Wilson, a young man incarcerated in a Georgia prison for receiving oral sex from a 15 year-old girl. Genarlow was 17 when the incident occured. There was a video of the sordid shenanigans that took place in a motel room between Genarlow, his friends and several girls.

Although the female victim in this case was not forced to commit the act, she was under Georgia's age of consent which is 16. Genarlow refused the plea bargain that his friends accepted and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He would also be labeled a child molestor. The antiquated Georgia law has been changed but Genarlow and the seven other prisoners convicted as teenagers were not grandfathered in. Genarlow has been incarcerated almost 29 months.

Recently, A Georgia judge voided Genarlow's conviction thus freeing Genarlow from prison. The Georgia Attorney General appealed the judge's decision and Genarlow remains in prision.

The Genarlow Wilson case has received major media coverage recently. Many have expressed outrage at his sentence and the Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is beginning to feel the heat.

The mother of the victim feels that Generlow's sentence was too severe. She also spoke of Gestapo-like tactics used by Georgia's State Attorney's Office. As this continues to unfold, hopefully the Georgia legislature, ACLU, NAACP and other organizations will make sure that the Douglas County DA and Georgia Sate Attorney's Office are investigated.

Genarlow Wilson and his friends were irresponsible for engaging in sexual activity the way that they did. Filming the acts was reprehensible. The young girl willingly performing a sexual act in the presence of others and allowing it to be filmed was nauseating.

This case is bigger than Genarlow Wilson, it exemplifies the moral decline of American society and our utterly ridiculous show of surprise that such an incident occured in the first place.

Labels: A Miscarriage of Justice, Genarlow Wilson, Georgia, Oral Sex, Politics

'on the black hand side' gets face lift and new address

As you can see, 'on the black hand side' has moved from blogspot.com to its own domain and has been renovated so to speak. Although I've moved Vanessa: Unplugged to Typepad, 'on the black hand side' will continue with the Blogger format.

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy the new look and the more frequent blog posts. Smooches...

Labels: Blogger, blogging, new address, Typepad