It was 1962 when Rev. Jesse Jackson started with Operation Bread Basket - a grass roots organization to assist poor African Americans in getting jobs, and not buying where they could not work, it was originally initiated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was highly successful in Chicago, through the staging of boycotts of several national brands - including Pepsi and Coca Cola - in getting 2000+ jobs for local residents. However, after King's assassination in 1968, Rev. Jackson was designated to head up the organization in Chicago. Due to his later refusal to relocate the organization to the South, a schism occurred, and the Rainbow PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) was born in December 1971 - 45 years ago.
It has evolved into a major player in the realm of research and economic parity - both on the national and international scale - with it's premiere Wall Street Project (January of each year), providing cutting edge information, insight and opportunities to Black Americans who have been economically disadvantaged and marginalized by the financial industry.
More than just a feel-good event, the Wall Street Project - which is held in New York City, was originally held on Wall Street - giving participants first hand opportunity to interact with major financial houses and learn about investments, and determining factors that affect their communities. Subsequent to the Attack on the World Trade Center, the conference has been held in Mid-Town Manhattan at the Sheraton Hotel, where experts share their knowledge with novices, businessmen and women, investors, political figures, activists, and ministerial representatives.
Rev. Jackson and Dr. King both recognized early on that the most segregated area was the economic divide that marginalized Black Americans in practically every area of their lives - from grass roots to the most sophisticated arenas.
It's no secret that I am an unabashed admirer and supporter of Rev. Jackson - for all he's done and tried to do for Black people. Somehow we don't seem to grasp the full impact of this brother's genius. There have been instances that he's been so far ahead of the curve that other's are just beginning to catch up on information he provided years ago. Some are just beginning to realize that economic development is key to our survival - something he's been working assiduously on for decades.
His team of researchers work year round assessing where we need to focus our efforts - and he's been correct 95% of the time. It's high time we began to get on board with what he's trying to accomplish and form the critical mass necessary to move us from Lodebar to self sufficiency and autonomy.
For those of us who do not reside in Chicago, the Rev. has posted a connection via YouTube to keep abreast of the Month-Long Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of PUSH - check it out -
show some love and appreciation for the dedication of Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the entire Jackson Family to the Progress of Black People.
During this season of giving we urge you to put PUSH under your Christmas Tree this year.
Every contribution large or small is an investment in our movement for social change.
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson Hello All: I have a blogger friend who goes by the name of JShep - and I love what she posts! From time to time I will extrapolate it and share it with you, because, thus far, she's not on FaceBook - I just recently read this and took a break from another article to share this with you. I hope it brings both insight and action. This was originally written in 2007 - and in the context of today's issues we've got a lot to do before lunch - and definitely a lot to do before 2016 Election. We'd better get busy - we already blew 2014 elections which should have been used to change the tide; we're definitely looking at treason on the part of the repuglycons who think they can thwart President Obama and get away with it because we didn't do what we were supposed to do in voting their sorry asses (yes I said it - asses) out of office. This is not as much President Obama's fight as it is ours - because we are the real targets - they are racists and we handed them the noose by which we can all be hanged. You may not like what I'm saying, but you know - individually and collectively - that I'm telling the truth. The ray of hope is that we are now being roused out of our torpor by such issues as Ferguson, Staten Island, Ohio, Los Angeles, Florida, North Carolina and the growing evidence of rampant racist injustice around us. Enough to galvanize us to stand together. There are some stirring questions that we must needs answer and begin to build a movement and a base around - immediately, if not sooner,
This is the text of the message I received - read and respond: Subject: Part XX-126....A Message From 'Your's Truly'....Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Speaking In NY
Today...
Part XX-125...Wednesday,
November 28, 2007...Black History Repeats Everyday...24/7...Black to
the Future...Bring Back Black...Black At Ya...Black Power...It's A Black
Thang....Is You Is...Or Is You Ain't
'Knowin' that you can't read fast...I is writing slow'...an ole saying that my family use to say.
We
are so Blessed to be Alive Another Day. If you're reading this...Holla
for a brand new day. I'll get right to the point(s). Towards the end
of this year, I'll be shifting gears. I won't be sending out the emails
to all of you, as I have for over 4 years. I 'know' that I have
provided New Information and Historical Facts. I've learned so much
along the way...and I know 'You' have
too...because We All Don't Know Everything. There are Many of us very
Knowledgable about Many things...and that's a Good thing. There are
Many of Us...who are Learning things we may not have known...but Should
have known. I know that's the case for me.
We...African
American Black People are in Trouble. There's Stuff going on, as you
are aware of, that's 'Not Right'...'Nor Just'. A couple of days ago, I
was speaking with my Mother (a very Wise Black Woman) about the
'murders' of Black Males and a few other things. She said...'Black
people are going to have to fix their Own Problems'. Now, you may have
thought so already...may not have thought that'...but it was the 'way'
she spoke it that kind of
'grabbed me'...and I've thought about it and what that entails. Now
I've been leaning that way, any way, but...it also makes it more
'Necessary'. You know...Our Parents (those of you Baby Boomers and a
little older and a little younger) know that somewhere along the
line...We dropped the ball...Didn't reach up to grab the baton...Didn't
try hard enough, etc. Not all of us...but 'just look at Our
Communities...Economic Picture..School System...Ownership...Politics...etc.
We...You..I...Us have to Unite. Others Do. As I said before in recent
email. Our House(s) is falling down and in need of repair. We need to
"FIX It'...and 'Paint It'. We don't have to 'back out' because we
can't agree on the Color to be painted. It Needs to be painted. We
Also need Carpenters...Painters that are Experienced...but we Need to
'Teach and Instruct' the young people how to Build and Repair Our
House(s).
I
want a Family Meeting....Right Away...in this city. I want it with
Members of the African American Black Family to Discuss...Resolve...Plan
for 'Living' Arrangements. We've Had Too Many Black Males Murdered and
Incarcerated..Employment Arrangements..Ownership Arrangements...
Educational
Arrangements...Safety Arrangements...Politic Arrangements...etc. If
there are to be, and I really hope they would, any Politicians, Pastors,
Business Owners, etc to come...you leave your 'Title' outside to talk.
It's not about that right now. This would be 'Black Man and Woman to
Black Man and Woman...and How we will Survive.
However...when we get to that part of it...then put 'That Hat
On'...because we'll Need to Talk to you...and have your Undivided
Attention....and look forward to....Results.
Here are a few things to think about.....
- What are the Statistics on Employment for Black People at various companies?
- Why aren't there Black Owned and Operated Hotels and Motels in every Community?
- Why are there Meeting Places and Rooms available in every Community
- Why aren't there more Black Teachers in the Schools?
- Why are the Public Schools being Closed and Torn down in Black communities?
-
Why is there always Promises for new Construction and Shopping Malls in
Communities, but few, if any Black Men and Women hired to Work?
- Why is it so Difficult to Communicate/Meet With Elected Politicians/Officials/Representatives/Servants, or have them Show UP and Speak Up..after
they are elected?
-
Why is it that White people can get 'bills passed, issues addressed,
changes' quickly...but more often Black People can't or have such a
Hassle trying to?
- What kind of 'Emergency Plan' do we have in place?
- How can we have 'Food and Shelter' for those people unable to Afford it?
- Who is Providing Information and Real Services for our Seniors?
- Why are there so many White people over Social
Agencies with Black People as recipients?
-
How is it that Black People can be on a job for years, doing the work,
and along comes somebody White...that they have to train...or becomes
their Supervisor? What immediate recourse is there?
- Why are there so many Black Males Incarcerated?
- Why does 'One' Judge determine 'sentencing' and 'whether to hear a case'...when the Evidence proves otherwise?
- Why aren't there more Black Men and Women going into Nursing/Medicine? Where are they in the hospitals?
- Why aren't there Courses given in the Schools to Prepare young people, as it was before?
These
are just some of the Issues. Even if we start getting Answers...One at
a Time...these need to be Addressed. Of course there may be other
Issues and Concerns that 'You Have'.
This
is Our Country. These Are our People. These Are Our Children. These
Are Our TAx Dollars that have and do pay for...the
Schools...Teachers...Elected Servants...Police...Firemen...Street
Repair...Judges.
We as African American Black People have too much
vested.
Our
Ancestors and Parents Paid the Price.
We're Not Going to the Back of
the Bus.
We're Not Stepping Aside for 'Others' to move in the front of
the line.
We're Not going to Stand by...while Others work...and We
Don't.
We're Not Going to Continue to Have Our Sons and Daughters
Murdered and Brutalized.
We Can't Have Our Children 'DisRespect' Us as
Parents...GrandParents...Elders...Sisters and BRothers....nor will
we Allow Others to.
We Can't have being Afraid to...Leave Our
Houses...Go Out After Dark...Being Robbed or Burglarized...Home
Invasions...Scams...Red Lining...ForeClosures, etc.
Black Women have
said..'I've got to get home before dark'. Oh No...This Can't Continue.
We Have To See To It!!!!!!! If Not You...If Not Us...Then Who...Will
Do What Has To BE Done?
This
is one thing that really 'irked' and 'irks' me. A couple of years
before my Grandmother, who was 89 years old, passed away, I had driven
her somewhere for her to take care of some business. This young white
boy about 25 or so...called my grandmother by her first name...when he
started talking to her. I had to 'check' him real quick on that. He
started to tell me...he does that and she don't mind..and I
said...'Don't Do That'...and I Do Mind. Another time recently...I drove
my Aunt, who is my grandmother's sister, to a specialist...and the
young white girl calls her up...and starts addressing her by her first
name. Well...she went on in with her...but I had to go to the desk and
request that they not do that, because she was an elderly person and
needed Respect. What are 'Young People' being
taught...plus..it also should come from the 'Head' People at a company
about certain Manners, Respect and Good Customer Service.
Regarding
the emails that I have sent out over the years...as I have said before
there are Many of You that 'Never Respond' one way or the other...about
Anything. I don't know if you're getting these...reading these...want
these or what. You know if you haven't responded. I'm not speaking to
the people who have responded to questions...or commented...or
communicated with me off line. I feel these Issues and Information
concerns us All. Maybe 'it's all good'....with you...and I hope it is.
But...one day...it just might 'happen to You or Your's. So it
'Behooves' Us as a
People...to be Concerned, Care and Work at making it better....By Any Means Necessary.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I am inserting a piece that I wrote in March 2005 as an entry at Kim Dulaney's(Writer/Author)Black History website..Kim would ask a question regarding Black People/Events/HIstory each day and asked for
responses.....
Dropped, Robbed, Had and Sentenced I
also thought about Our Mental Health. With the tides (1. tides of
discontent and/or 2. A time and a season) of an ever changing landscape,
in which we live, it is Crucial for Us/We, the Survivors, Descendants,
Tax Payers, Loved Ones, Psychiatrists/Psychologists (Drs Alvin
Poussaint, Julia & Nathan Hare, Richard King, Frances Cress Welsing,
Na'im Akbar, and others), Doctors, Pastors
and Others to try to Prevent, Our Black Men, Women and Youth from
slipping through the ‘cracks’ and ‘open pits’ that Exist. They have been
“Devoured” and are being ‘Swallowed up, right here in our Communities
and throughout USA. How many Men and Women do you see walking the
streets..swinging at the air..with a look of Scowl..talking to
themselves, etc. Those who have ‘given up’ and ‘called it quits’ on
Life, excused themselves from their Responsibilities and Obligations,
committing ‘Black on Black’ crime and ‘Suicide, abandoned their Children
and Families, not taking their medication, etc..and not
Realizing...They were “Dropped, Robbed, Had and Sentenced”.
In
the Beginning of the unwilling “Middle Passage”, We were ‘Had’ by some
African Traitors, ‘Robbed’ of our Freedom, ‘Dropped’ into the
waters, ‘Dropped’ in America and ‘Sentenced’ to not ever seeing our
African Families left behind. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survived
Dropped
off at Plantations, We ‘Had’ to work from sun up to sun down, thus
being ‘Robbed’ of our Free Will to Escape (though some did), and
‘Sentenced’ to Inhumane Conditions. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survived
Men
being ‘Robbed’ of their Manhood, Women ‘Had” by Massa, couples were
‘Robbed’ of a true Romance and Matrimony...’Sentenced’ to Guilt and
Shame. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survived
As
grown Men ‘Dropped’ to
their knees, Women crying out..”Lord Help Me Please”, while they ‘Had’
to let go while being ‘Robbed’ of their Child..’Sentenced’ to a life of
Misery. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survived
Fast
Forward to Today...through the years of Racism, Discrimination,
Segregation, Jim Crow Era, Last hired/first fired, Assimilation,
Integration, Lynchings, Cross Burnings, Black Wall Street, Rosewood,
Church Bombings, Protests/Rallies, Dog Bites, Affirmative Action, Riots,
Racial Profiling, Police Brutality, Driving While Black, Downsizing,
Out Sourcing, Red Lining, Voter Fraud/Suppression, Health Problems, No
Health Insurance, HIV/Aids, Black College Closures,Foreclosures, etc. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survive
Over
20 years ago, (WMD’S}Weapons of Mass Destruction a.k.a. ‘Guns’ and
‘Crack Cocaine’were “Dropped” in the Black Neighborhoods to try to wipe
us out. (Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Great Warrior, waged a fierce
battle to expose those responsible for unloading the genocidal Crack
Destroyer) We were “Robbed” of Our Brightest Stars, like a Thief in the
night. Our ‘Potentials’ (young men and women who could, would and should
have been the next Dr Ben Carson, Mary McCloud Bethune, Shirley
Chisolm, Marva Collins, Mayor Harold Washington, Ossie Davis, etc.) were
“Had” by careless shooters, drive by shootings, crack addicted Mothers,
etc. Drug Sales have escalated Gang Wars in neighborhoods, that have
become Fortresses. 15..20..25 Year..Unfair Mandatory Drug “ Sentencing”
has ‘Robbed’ the Life out of Our People. Grieving
Parents/Relatives/Friends have been”Robbed” of their Loved Ones and
“Sentenced” to a Life of Heart Break and Ache. Mental Shock - Mental Torture - Only the Strong Survive We
have to draw a line in the sand. Life is too Precious. We All have to
Do Something. Children need their Parents. The Parents need their
children. We All Need Each Other. We Need Jobs, Affordable Housing,
Health Coverage, Good Educational System . Seniors can not be taken
Advantage of or be Afraid to walk the streets. All of this is and has
been “Stressful and Unwarranted” thus Breaking the Mind and Spirit.
We
Can’t Give Up on the Homeless, the Schizophrenic, the Bipolar, the
Foster Care Children, Single Mothers with their children, boarded up
houses, Lifeless men and women. There’s still Drugs Infecting our
communities . The Residue of the Crack Epidemic (WMD) is
still present in the “Village”.
While working in Los Angeles at one of
the four Homeless Missions on skidrow, there were so many Black Homeless
Men and Women, living in the Shelters, Living on the streets in
cardboard boxes, Unclean, Some Turned Out, digging in trash cans for
food, Given UP...it was pitiful. They had fallen through the ‘cracks’.
They were Educated, Had Families, Fathers, Doctors, previously had good
paying jobs, Veterans of Viet Nam, Home Owners, etc. More than
likely...you have or had a family member ‘down and out’. We have
skid rows in every inner city. But Remember..Therefore but the Grace of
God go I.
Time is of the Essence!!! We Are Fam-I-Ly!! What about our 40 Acres and a Mule? REPARATIONS DUE!!! -END
My heart goes out to those families in
Sandy Hook, Connecticut who so tragically lost their children and
loved ones at the hands of Adam Lanza. I watched in horror as scene
after scene of police working to get the children safely to their
families elapsed over the television. It's a day many will long
remember as one of the most horrific and tragic in the history of the
US.
I am totally in support of the
President, and the municipalities, clamping down, once and for all on
the use of automatic weapons in domestic situations. It's time they
were taken off the streets. Basically aka47's and other high powered
weapons belong on the battle field. Those in possession of them
should be enlisted in one of our armed forces, sent to the front to
defend our country. That way they can get their rocks off and serve
a useful purpose as well.
Those who are still throwbacks to the
hunter gatherer era of our evolution really only need hunting rifles
to go out in the wild and assuage their primordial needs. Got no
problem with the big bad hunter bringing home the kill, cleaning it,
tanning the skin, putting the head on the wall to show his prowess.
All part of who we evolutionally are. Kool.
But let's not overlook another factor –
one that's been lurking around for centuries. One that's walking
with us, eating at the table with us; going to college classes with
us. One that the parents try to hide or force to stay in the room
when company comes, so they won't say or do something embarrassing.
The child who's just a little bit different. The one who is either a
little angrier, or more withdrawn than the rest of the family. The
one who shrouds himself under a hood, or a towel over his head; or
who sits apart from his siblings. The one you can't talk to, because
they're not really listening to you. They're listening to voices.
I'm talking about the child who
displays the early onset of pre-schizophrenia. He's usually about 19
to 26 years old. You've begun to notice changes in his demeanor, but
you shrug it off as just post adolescence, or generation gap.
However, in the back of your mind, you know there is something
horribly wrong. But, you say, “not my Johnny, or Susie, or Mark!”
He's just going through a phase. He'll be alright. But as the
weeks, months, years, drag on, and the displayed pathology becomes
even more significant, you realize that he's not getting better, he's
getting worse.
What you may be witnessing is a child
descending into the madness of Schizophrenia – from which there
may be no return, without help. Worse yet, there are a subset of
sufferers who may also be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and
may be a danger to you, themselves, their peers and their
communities.
It may be what triggered the violence
visited upon a mother who had a stash of guns, and was trying
desperately to relate to a young son who had begun to exhibit odd
behaviors. It may be the explanation behind the Columbine massacres;
or Aurora, or the college in Virginia, or the African student who
wires himself with explosives to end it all. It certainly bears
looking into. We have, for far too long taken a somewhat leave well
enough alone attitude toward our youth, thinking that it's only a
stage we all go through in adolescence. However, there is something
seriously amiss when so many of those young ones become the
instruments of death, and then take their own lives as well.
Not wanting to be an alarmist, not
saying that every kid you see who acts withdrawn ought to have his or
her head examined; but what I am saying is if there are furtive
glances; passive aggressive hostile behavior; if your kid locks
himself in a room, plays the Sterio to the top of its volume so he
can't hear what you're saying; while at the same time yelling
invectives at you – have him at least diagnosed. If you find your
kid sitting in a corner, just rocking back and forth – check it out
– what's up with that. Time to do some parenting.
And, no, there's no guilt trip to be
had here – that is unless you ignore it. Schizophrenia is a sudden
biochemical imbalance in the brain – no on knows why it happens,
but it does. When those voices begin to come, and they're suddenly
not the cute, affectionate, genius you raised; when things are
suddenly dark and evil, and you're all against them – get them some
help.
However, let me also warn you: what I'm
saying sounds simple, but the laws may actually hamper your getting
your child help. If they're over 18 in some states, they have to
consent to being diagnosed. In other states, the age is 21. If they
are over 21 and it's clear they really are out of control, in certain
states, you have to have a sheriff present, witnessing them doing
something in a menacing manner, in order to have them examined. And,
there are no house calls, whereby a psychiatrist can come to the home
to observe the behavior first hand.
Schizophrenia may be cured, or at
least, managed. However, paranoid schizophrenia is far more
difficult to mitigate. And the results of confrontation as the
result of frustration, may prove disastrous.We may never know what sets the shooter
off on his path of destruction in any of these heinous situations –
but it may have been someone who loved them, pleading with them to get
help. It may have been something they saw on TV, or in the movies.
I'm not a psychiatrist or a doctor.
However, one does not need to be to identify abnormal behavior.
There are some commonalities in the presenting syndromes of
schizophrenia. We may need to have them publicized so that people
know what they're looking at when they're in the presence of someone
who is just a little off kilter, but you don't know why. And, by the
way, according to online sources, while the term schizophrenia means
split personality, it's not the true definition of the problem. It
also has no racial boundaries. But, according to statistics, it is
more likely to strike young males between the ages of 19 to 26.
In the 80's Diana Ross did a
made-for-TV movie about a young Black woman, who was studying to be a
doctor, who suddenly became schizophrenic. It was poignant, well
written, and well portrayed. In it, a new medication, chlozapine,
was revealed to be a possible cure for the disease. In the movie,
everything tuned out fine. She regained her life, found a man (that
fine Carl Lumley), and continued with her studies.
In real life, unfortunately, it's not
so simple. If the sufferer won't consent to diagnosis, then there
can be no prescription. No prescription, no cure. The problem is
that many of the laws allow the person who is incapable of making the
decision, to have decision making powers. The book
and filmA Beautiful Mind chronicles the life of John
Forbes Nash, a Nobel
Prize-winning mathematician who was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
His is the exception, not the rule. We now have to look at what laws
there are that may be hampering the medical realm in their assistance
and/or cure of these dangerous mental diseases. And we can't wait
until 2014 when Obamacare kicks in. This has to be done immediately,
if not sooner.
So, yes, get the guns and the gangs off
the streets. Get the kids in Chicago on a program of brotherly and
self-love; have a gun buy-back don't ask, don't tell program. But
above all, recognize that there is something even more sinister
eating away at our youth's psyches, and it may well be paranoid
schizophrenia.
