Category Archives: Racism

Say It Ain’t So

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In a recent article from Colorlines it appears that many people in Sanford, FL have had mishandled cases by the police department. This comes to light in the aftermath of the Trayvon murder and scandal of an uncharged man. For those of you who may live in a bubble of seclusion, Trayvon was followed by a 240lb man on a dark rainy night. To which, Trayvon defended himself from attack and that man shot him, point-blank, in the chest. Said man claims self-defense. I’ve eliminated the racial identities of both Trayvon and his killer because honestly, as much as this may be racially fueled, this is more a matter of wrong and right. You cannot follow someone, approach them, and then claim self-defense when THEY were defending themselves against you – a stranger who pursued them on a rainy night. Anyway, in light of this tragedy, many others are stepping forward with claims of injustice in their cases. The Justice Department is stepping in to review the police department in Sanford. (article: http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/03/sanford_city_manager_asks_justice_department_to_investigate_entire_police_department.html)
An old adage says, “in every bad comes a good.” Maybe this is the good to come from Trayvon’s untimely and unjustified death. I personally support the national sensation surrounding this tragedy. I believe that some of the good coming out of this is 1. Sanford, Fl is being publicly put on display as on overtly racist town and community 2. racial injustices are being brought to the forefront of discussions and 3. people are FINALLY taking notice to much of what I’ve said all along – racism exists in systematic policy, government, and law. I’ve been hearing a lot of people say things like, “the way this world is going” or “how things have changed” BUT I disagree to those statements. Nothing has changed in our world and it is going the same place it always has been. This country was founded on systematic racism, discrimination, and injustice. The change is the internet and social media. People are finally becoming aware to the MULTITUDE of racial injustices of our country. Social media is allowing for the likely breezed-over story (of Trayvon and so many others) to come to light with force and magnitude.

A revolution needs to happen.
notjustmythoughts

Juvenile Lifers

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I think crime is wrong no matter the age. I think murder is worse no matter the age. BUT I also believe in second chances and rehabilitation. I am not saying that every juvenile who gets life deserves a second chance. BUT I think that circumstances should be weighed. What was this child’s life like, mentally, physically, etc… was there abuse? Can the child get mental help and cure the demons prompting the violence? Furthermore, this IS a racial thing. If it were up to “whitey” he’d lock every black and brown kid up for his natural life… How is it so easy to give up on the youth? Which reminds me of “The Other Wes Moore”. If you’ve been following my blog you may remember this post. It was a book a read about to gentlemen names Wes Moore. They lived two completely different lives, in adulthood, but in childhood their paths were very similar. The author, Wes Moore, includes an antidote about his friend who was told to stay away from him by a teacher. The friend instead thinks, how is it so easy to give up on a 12 year old. It’s a sad reality, but people do it all the time. And sentencing a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole is no different. Society, likely, failed them twice. First, by not offering opportunity. People believe this country is filled with equal opportunity, but it’s not. Let’s look at education. This is the most fundamental thing that can be offered to anyone…knowledge. Knowledge is the source of power because it opens one’s mind to a world previously unknown. But if you look at schools in poor/bad/ghetto/urban/forgotten neighborhoods, you will find graffiti desks, metal detectors, and children treated as criminals with random searches and assuming stares. How is this an equal opportunity? Your neighborhood injustices cannot be escaped even in the quest for knowledge. On and off the streets you are seen as a worthless criminal. The second failure being, the opportunity for rehabilitation. When you dive deeper into the juvenile lifer population you find that most of them have had psychological trauma that went untreated and lead them down the wrong paths… their paths never being steered in the other direction thru rehabilitation or outreach…

Maybe I am over simplifying, but check out this article and do some research of your own. These are my conclusions and likely, notjustmythoughts.

http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/03/juvenile_life_in_prison_without_parole.html

Slavery’s Last Stronghold

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“Slavery’s Last Stronghold” by John D Sutter (pictures/video by Edythe McNamee)

Please read this article from CNN. This story was so moving. I believe slavery exists in this world in many forms, but even I did not believe that it still existed to this degree. While the world is screaming outrage for KONY2012 and other online articles make its way virally, let’s spread this reality like wildfire and spawn change.

link: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/index.html?on.cnn=1

you’re welcome,
notjustmythoughts

Caste System

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When you think of the Caste System largely you think of India, but today, think of Mexico.

Mexico has long been considered to be a non diverse country. Meaning, people there consider themselves to be of largely the same background, mostly of mixed race of European and Natives. However, this isn’t exactly truth. Yes, a lot of Mexicans are of mixed race, but there is still a large number of indigenous people. There are also blacks. Mexico was not sheltered and they experienced their own waves of immigration into the country which brought slaves and different European backgrounds. In a docu-series Black in Latin America, there was an episode exposing the truths of blacks in Mexico. While I knew there had to be (simply because I believe every country has their share of black, native, and European mix) I didn’t really know anything about it. While watching this episode on blacks in Mexico, I was surprised at the discrimination. I am not sure why I was even surprised. If you think about the Black community here there is an onslaught of discrimination against them and they American. So American in fact, that they helped build this wonderful country. Though much of it was through slavery under unfortunate circumstances, if it wasn’t for the Black community our country wouldn’t have made the progress it did early on (think about the cotton/textile industry, the tobacco industry, etc.). I am not praising slavery AT ALL. I am simply saying, that African Americans helped shape America and they are discriminated. So why did the discrimination of Black Mexicans surprise me? I am not sure. I guess maybe because I just like to hope things are better than they really are, which I am continually reminded of the fact that no, things are not better…they are just as I believe them to be (discriminatory, harsh, unforgiving, destructive, racist, etc).

I’ve digressed from the point of this post… the point is that there are unofficial caste systems all around the world (even here in America). And I wanted to shed light on one of them – Mexico. Check out the link below. It is from globalpost.com and and talks about some of the injustices in Mexico faced by the black and indigenous community. The article specifically highlights 3 YouTube videos that have gone viral showcasing the upper “white” class of Mexicans berating other Mexicans. It seems that with money, people believe they can treat others without it anyway they want. The sad reality is, this is mostly true. The saying Money, Power, Respect isn’t just a moniker used in rap songs. This is tried and tested in the workings of government and policy. Money buys you the power (over people, power to buy government [hello, this is EXACTLY what lobbyists are]). Money buys you the respect (albeit respect garnered in fear of repercussions). Money is the highest caste system of all.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/mexico/120309/social-gaps-on-youtube

notjustmythoughts

Ain’t this some sh*t

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Colorlines.com never fails me… please check this artilce out. It is worth the read. Essentially this is another day in the life of systematic racism in the form of government policy… think, Jim Crow. It seems he’s been resurrected (and not just in the incarcerated sense like the 2010 book THE NEW JIM CROW, by Michelle Alexander)…
http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/03/voter_id_card.html

I just don’t understand (although sadly I do) how this can happen in 2012….

notjustmythoughts

Disparate Impact: Black Lawmakers and Ethics Investigations

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Is anyone surprised by this? As you may have guessed, there was no shock value in the article for me because… It is as I believe them to be, systematic racism and discrimination…

check out the article from theatlantic.com… http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/disparate-impact-black-lawmakers-and-ethics-investigations/253931/

notjustmythoughts

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/

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?