Category Archives: minorities

Systematic Racism and Discrimination

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Below is a link to an article I found on Blackdoctor.org. This seems a fitting post when looking at my previous post yesterday. The article is about mental health and how there is little information in regards to mental health treatment and best practices in black communities.

In the article Dr. Carl Bell (CEO and president of the Community Health Council and director of the Institute for Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois in Chicago) says, “It’s really hard getting mental health services in black communities.These services are a scarcity, because there is no consideration for poor people with mental illnesses…Bell says there is little to no research on how to properly treat blacks suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, drug and substance abuse, and other mental illnesses, mainly because no one has devoted time to understanding the social and cultural issues affecting poor black communities.”

I’ve bolded for emphasis on what stood out to me. Last night I went to my mother’s house for dinner. I was talking about my beliefs in systematic racism and policy, to which she just nodded. Her boyfriend on the other hand laughed. His beliefs and perceptions are polar opposite to mine. But for those that don’t believe, all they have to do it look (which I said to him).

The policies of health and healthcare that affects minorities and underprivileged communities are continuously cut or not even given thought. The communities are under represented in the government and their voices are often not heard. Sadly, many times they don’t even speak up. I know many people might say, that is exactly the problem. But that’s not entirely true. There are scholars and doctors and numerous people who are fighting for these rights and yet they too are unheard. If they (the “respected”) aren’t even heard how are the “lowest” on the totem pole going to be heard? And so, many don’t try. This too I can understand… sometimes after trying and trying and failing and failing there comes a point where there is no fight left in a person. For all of those that feel defeated I am speaking up. THIS MUST CHANGE!

This systematic racism and discrimination MUST stop. The purposeful actions of harm by those with the clout to change discriminatory policies must stop. I read in an unrelated book (Hip Hop Wars by Tricia Rose) a very powerful statement, “profit over people”. This idea of profit over people and rights of ALL people must stop.

What is democracy when only some people have it?
notjustmythoughts

Article on blackdoctor.org: http://blackdoctor.org/news/article/Mental_Health/Why_Black_America_s_Battle_With_Mental_Health_Is_Failing.aspx

UPDATE: this got me thinking… a few years ago someone I know stabbed a 9 year old boy to death over a video game. This person was in and out of the mental health clinics in NYC from a young child. Due to the lack of care in the community, he was continuously released. He is now in prison for committing murder. Prison, he should not be. I don’t believe he should be “free” either (I’ve used quotes around free because truthfully, was he ever free? His whole life he was burdened with mental conflict and instability and the country that promotes freedom and equality failed him by not allowing him proper care). But [instead of prison] he should be in an institution tending to his illness rather than caged. People believe he is a monster and I’ll leave you to your opinions. I have my own and while I don’t think he was right, not by any means, this person is a sick individual and should not have been in a situation to harm anyone. He should have been given a chance at life BEFORE this incident by recieving the mental help he needed and deserved. He is the one punished, when the community and government failed him (and the family he harmed). Where is their [those that cut funding and don’t even care about the mental health in poor communities] punishment?

notjustmythoughts

Quietly done

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So, I’m a little late in the game (don’t know how I missed this one), but it was recently brought to my attention that STD funding was drastically cut in NYC (the state and other states as well.) The first link I’ve provided is from an article in the Daily News Sept 2011. The second link I’ve provided is from an article on stdtestexpress.com posted Feb 2012. This article pertains to Illinois, but I believe the implications and correlations of budget cuts to STD testing in IL can be used directionally when looking at other states (like NY) that have cut STD funding. Before I even read the article about IL or even researched the information, I thought to myself, what the ****!!! It seems to me that the most important resources a state and city can offer are the first to be cut (public education/free healthcare). I can understand that free STD testing can become a huge expense and burden on a city and state budget, but it is the JOB of the government to protect those that cannot protect themselves and in this case that relates to STD testing. Many clinics (I have found due to calling 311, the department of health, and about 25 clinics in the 5 boroughs) offer SOME free testing and all still offer HIV testing. This is good and all, but some is quite frankly not good enough. I also thought to myself, well if it isn’t free, what does this mean for people who can’t afford the “low-cost” of testing? As we know, “low-cost” (and really anything pertaining to money and spending) is relative. What is low-cost to me, might not be affordable to you. This makes me wonder what this will do to the rise of STDs in NYC (and other places who suffered similar cuts). If IL is any indication of what is to come, seems like we will have a lot more people running around in oblivion to their STD status…

In short, the disparity in income inequality continues…

 notjustmythoughts

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-09-06/local/30143550_1_std-cases-chlamydia-or-gonorrhea-rapid-hiv-testing

http://www.stdtestexpress.com/std-news/county-cuts-programs-and-watches-std-rates-rise-800706866/

Welcome to Life?

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An exerpt from the article on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/michelle-ugenti-arizona-rep-justifies-tuition-hike_n_1304731.html

“An Arizona House committee passed a bill last week that would require every student at a public college in the state, regardless of economic status, to pay a minimum of $2,000 in tuition.
As Think Progress noted, nearly 100 Arizona students attended the committee hearing to speak out against the bill, HB 2675, expressing concern that it would make it more difficult for many students to afford college. Rep. Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale) responded bluntly in favor of the new measure: ‘Welcome to life.’”

I read this article a day after reading an article in TIME Magazine’s latest issue regarding Latinos (in Arizona) potentially “electing” president. (proper sourcing to come) In this article TIME was detailing the potential force behind the Latino vote and this potential is greatest in states like Arizona. Arizona is largely a Republican State with an abundance in the Latino population. The population of Latinos here feel they are Republicans on paper but that the Republicans don’t want them (their vote) and that they aren’t Democrats on paper, but that the Democrats do want them (this is a paraphrase of a statement by a Latino community member in Arizona).

Now, I’m not a political person. I vote yes. I believe it is important. If I want to voice my opinions well I better cast my ballot vote… so of course I follow things going on politically, but I don’t consider myself to be a largely political person. (Though I admit from my blog people often consider me political. But to me, this is just human nature. It goes beyond politics… it’s.. well this is something that should be ingrained in every human…I talk about things that are rights and equality based and that shouldn’t be political. It shouldn’t be up to a Republican or Democrat…it should…well it should just be.)

I digressed… now after reading the article in TIME and reading the article from Huffington Post I think to myself… well isn’t this pushing the Latino voter further to the fringes? The statement, “welcome to life” was made by a Republican representative. These are the sort of things that push people away. I won’t openly admit if I am Democratic or Republican because to be honest I don’t believe I fit neatly into either box. The vote should be based on who is the better person for the job, not necessarily by party. BUT what I will say is, if the Republicans are out-casting a HUGE number of voters it sure doesn’t look good for them.

Furthermore, on the equality side…really, welcome to life? Who says that, besides a mother to a child? The fact of the matter is $2000 a semester is unaffordable for some people and yet people believe there is equal opportunity for everyone. What gets me is, sure the opportunity is there, but how could it be equal when it’s out of the reach of many people?

notjustmythoughts.

Stop and Frisk

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from 2007, but look at the %s for the races... the difference is vast.Interesting that even in this sketch it's white and black...

It does not surprise most New Yorkers that the NYPD are often malicious, aggressive, brash, and racist both as an individuals and in the tactics they implement to “fight” crime. This can be seen in Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, and many others who were forcibly killed or tortured in the name of “defense” and “crime” fighting. These are the extreme [and common] scenerios. However, there are other tactics used that aren’t as aggressive or overtly racial that overlooked. They get overlooked probably because there are such extreme cases that exist on a more frequent basis than ever necessary, but they shouldn’t be. All unfairness, inequality, and racial tactics of anyone ESPECIALLY the police should be looked at and encite reaction and outrage from the community. One of the most recent police procedures to seep into the media is the “stop and frisk” method. This is not a new tactic used by any means, but the number of stop and frisks are on the rise. The problem being, minorities are being targeted at an alarming rate. NYPD says it’s an important tool in fighting crime. I don’t believe this to be true. Sure there is a chance cops might stop and frisk someone who has a gun and actually be fighting crime, but most people stopped only recieve a summons for small amounts of marijuana or they recieve nothing at all because they were law abiding citizens. I see this is as an Apartheid policy creating an atmosphere of a second class citizen and subjecting them to unfair searches warrented only by the color of their skin, the neighborhood, or their clothing. It’s shameful and disgraceful. The police are their to respect, protect, and serve… I’m not sure who those things apply to, but I can tell you that doesn’t apply to my community…

To read the article about stop and frisk, click the link or copy and paste into your web broswer: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Stop-and-Frisk-Police-Arrest-Color-Civil-Rights-139275573.html

notjustmythoughts

p.s. if you Google Image “stop and frisk” most pictures show white cops frisking black men and minorities… tells me something, what about you?