Guest Blogger JShep We Can Do What It Takes To Progress & Survive - We Have To!

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 

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WE CAN DO...WHAT IT TAKES...TO PROGRESS and SURVIVE...WE HAVE TO.....        

    COUNT ON YOU..TO DO..WHAT HAS TO BE DONE...

         What Shall Be Done?...................

             WHAT'S WORKING?  WHAT'S NOT?  ACHIEVING WORKABLE   RESULTS.....    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    

Message To You From Me...Plus...Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Speaking in NY Today

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Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

'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.

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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

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Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?

 

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria 

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Take The Voting Machines to the Victims of Hurricane Sandy

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson Hurricane Sandy roared through here on a mission, and with a ferocity never before witnessed on the East Coast, leaving devastation and destruction in his path. New York and New Jersey sustained major damages - physically, mentally and spiritually and the aftermath is still being assessed. President Obama and Governor Chris Christie surveyed the utter destruction of the Jersey Shore. Mayor Bloomberg kept New Yorkers abreast of rescue efforts, transportation delays, and plans for reconstruction over the next days weeks and months. First responders, FEMA, and other organizations tried to make sure those hardest hit had food clothing and shelter. And everybody prayed. And as we continue to clean up after Sandy, grieve over those who have lost their lives, their homes, their loved ones. My condolences to all who were victims of this horrible force of nature. But the 800 pound gorilla in the room is how will the voting be handled come Tuesday, November 6th, 2012? With so many power outtages, so many people displaced, so many people in a state of shock and despair, how will we as a nation, get through this election? This question was posed to me by my best friend, Annie Gee in Philly, who is highly concerned about making sure the victims aren't further victimized by not being able to vote on election day. With the Rep-ugh-blicans already trying to disenfranchise so many of us, will this deter others from voting and give them an ersatz victory? Power outtages have rendered some of the original sites useless. Many of the buildings no longer exist - especially in the hardest hit areas of New Jersey, Staten Island, Far Rockaway , and affected states along the coastline, where Sandy tossed them around, pulling them off their foundations as though they were mere doll houses. John Conklin, New York Board of Elections spokesman, said changes in polling sites are possible.“We don’t know what the changes will be,” Conklin said. “The local boards in the storm areas are assessing their poll sites right now, so they’re looking at whether the poll site has power, whether it could have power by Election Day, whether it’s accessible to the general public — can voters get to it? Can the board get to it and get machines there? And is the building structurally sound?” In listening to the news reports, there seems to be no plan in place to make sure that these sites are replaced. The New York State Board of Elections also announced Thursday that it would extend application and submission deadlines for absentee ballots, and local boards in storm-impacted areas have spent much of the week surveying polling places and considering alternatives for Election Day. They've extended the deadline for voters to apply in person for abseentee ballots to Monday, November 5, and had voted to accept mailed or faxed applications for absentee ballots through Nov. 2, easing the original Oct. 30 deadline. (what?) Rockland County residents, however were unable to get to the post office for the last three days according to Louis Babcock, Republican elections commissioner for Rockland County.The board also extended the deadline to submit the ballots in person by six days, from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19. Ballots returned by mail still must be postmarked Nov. 5 but have until Nov. 19 to reach the local board. For those who can’t vote in person, they may designate another person to submit absentee ballots on their behalf to local boards before polls close Nov. 6. Polls will be open Election Day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. But whether the various boards of elections in the most highly affected states have made preparations and allowances for people already suffering from devastating losses is still unclear. And the real question is, considering the trauma they've experienced, will people even be interested in voting? They need some additional hand holding and encouragement during this period of despair. They've got enough to contend with without having to go running around trying to jump through these latest hoops in order to vote. I think the boards of elections in each state and municipality hit by Sandy can do a lot better. So here are some suggestions that may be helpful in making sure no one's vote goes uncounted: 1) Provide mobile trucks with the voting machines on them at the emergency shelters where people still can't get back to their homes. They can be positioned at the different rescue centers and shelters on election day to provide them with an opportunity to vote. 2) Deliver the absentee ballots for early voting prior to the election day to the various emergency shelter sites, rather than requiring them to travel to postal facilities. And have postal trucks positioned at the sites so they can be mailed out directly from them. 3)Volunteers can organize vans and other modes of mass transportation to and from polling places for victims of Hurricane Sandy. 4) Where there are power outtages, generators can be installed t run the electronic voting machines; and/or paper ballots can be substituted for electronic voting; 5) Volunteers and community based organizations can coordinate with local municipalities and to make sure the election process goes smoothly. Provide those people who have lost their homes with coffee, tea, and other comfort items while they're voting. 6) FEMA and the Red Cross can provide options for voting places and opportunities for victims. 7) Additionally, since there are many who do not have radio or TV contact with the outside world, door knocking, flyers, and other modes of communication and outreach should be developed and put into effect immediately so that they are informed of their options. 8) Since the New York Marathon has been cancelled the equipment and hospitality set up they would have been used for them can be deployed to the various shelters - not just for election day - but for food and comfort stations while people are transitioning back to their homes, or into new homes. 9) This not exhaustive. There's room for more creative ideas. We definitely can't leave things to chance, or to the just bureaucrats. These plans should be put into action immediately, if not sooner. Regardless of your race, ethnicity, gender, or political pursuasion, it's much too important to leave something as important as your vote to the bureaucrats. I'm posting this on my blog: www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com. Regardless of whether you are in any of the effected states or communities, or not, please pass this on, take action and make it happen. We are really all in this together, and can't allow geography or neighborhood divide us. Churches, community action groups, elected officials, need to be about it. Remember "Teamwork makes the dream work!" It will be far worse to have endured this horrible experience and then wake up on November 7th and find out that the aid and assistance you had been promised, and so desperately need, are now in the hands of heartless individuals who care more for the dollar bottom line than your welfare and recovery. Paraphrasing a time honored institution, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF): A VOTE IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. My prayers and condolences to those who were victimized by this vicious hurricane. Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson