Sunday, October 6, 2013

MR. PRESIDENT, SHUT THIS MUTHA DOWN! © 2013 By Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.


   
“Due to Congress’s failure to pass legislation to fund the government, the information on this web site may not be up to date. Some submissions may not be processed, and we may not be able to respond to your inquiries.” [1]

An Open Blog to:
President, Barack Obama, United States of America;[2]
The Honorable, Rep. John Boehner (R), The Speaker of the House;[3]
The Honorable, Rep. Eric Cantor, ( R), Congressional Majority Leader[4]
The Honorable, Rep. Nancy Pelosi,(D) Congressional Minority Leader[5]
The Honorable, Rep. Harry Reid, (R) Senate Majority Leader[6]
The Honorable, Rep. Mitch McConnell, (D)Senate Minority Leader[7]
 The Honorable, Rep. Cedric Richmond, 2nd Congressional District[8]
The Honorable, Rep. Mary Landrieu, (D) Senator, Louisiana[9]
The Honorable, Rep. David Vitter, (R) Senator, Louisiana[10]

Introduction
First of all, may this posting find each of you in the very best of health.  Let me commend each of you for your roles in American history that you each have dedicated your lives to service to us, the American people.  For your service, we thank you.

If you will, please note that this post comes amidst a partial shutdown of our American Government.  News reports are that each party points at the other as to whom to blame for this current shutdown.[11]  The supposed reason for this disruption of American government, is that you, Mr. President, and the Democratic leadership are unwilling to negotiate with the Republican leadership regarding the Affordable Care Act[12].  That you, Mr. President, are not willing to negotiate on defunding, suspending, or delaying what we have come to affectionately (?) refer to as, Obamacare.[13] 

“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”
― Gerald R. Ford [14]

In short, the Affordable Healthcare Act, as it is legally referred to, is the law of the land.  It has been upheld by the U. S. Supreme Court[15].  Despite the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHCA),  the AHCA has been legislated against over 40 times by the Republican Congress, only to be denied passage by the Democrat Senate[16].  And yet, here we are.

Because of our nation’s shutdown, reports are that 800,000 government workers are currently on furlough,[17] with no promise of pay, or promise of returning to work anytime soon.         Various governmental programs, parks and museums are closed or suspended as a result of this shutdown.[18]  The ripple-effect of the decision to shutdown the government has yet to be realized, but it has been at least 5 days, and the toll that this shutdown will have on not only on the government workers who are directly affected, but those who wait in the shadows, waiting for their turn to be furloughed.  The toll of this shutdown may not be measured objectively as it affects their families, and the many businesses that serve them. 

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
John F. Kennedy[19]

While this seemingly small group of 800,000 government workers are subjected to this partial, and supposed temporary shutdown, those of you who call the shots, who have affected this shutdown, are not victims of your own decisions.  You are in effect, exempt[20] from the ramifications that result in a no bi-weekly paycheck, or monthly paycheck.  You are, as leaders, exempt from the loss of business or business dollars that aren’t coming through your shops, restaurants, dealerships, or other small businesses that depend upon a mere 800,000 men and women of the U.S. Government, to be at work and to live their daily lives.  You are exempt, and therein is the problem with not just the shutdown, but your leadership, collectively.  As our leaders, you appear to live above us, beyond us, and with an apparent disconnect to the very people who we are, American Citizens. 

The Message Has Been Received
 Regardless of the message that maybe intended by you as leaders of our country and your respective districts, the message that has been received most clearly, is that you are above your constituents.  Regardless of your intentions as leaders in the Senate and/or Congress, the message is that of disconnectivity (is that word?) and a lack of concern for those whose lives your decisions will impact.  That message is clear to us as citizens.  That because you are EXEMPT! from any actions that your decisions will result in, that you are less willing to return to the bargaining table. 

“Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws.” President John Adams [21]

The message is clearly received, but not well received, that the poor, the underserved and those go to work each and everyday, including the 800,000 governmental workers who were on the frontline of this fallout, that nothing is more important than your respective political parties.   Last, but not least, the message is received clearly, and unambiguously, that for all it matters, that those who fall victim to decisions of a government shutdown, are not to be the blame of those who have failed to reasonably managed the direction of this country.  And in essence, the blame lies on those of us who are the victims.  And that’s not a stretch.  Let’s put this perception in a relative context.

A good leader can't get too far ahead of his followers.
                                                Franklin Roosevelt [22]

Victims Are to Blame
The victims in this instance of the 2013 Government Shutdown, are to blame.   The victims are none other than we, who are the voters.  Yes, there is a relatively small contingent of the victims who are furloughed, and who, in some cases, are being called back to work, but may not receive pay until after the shutdown.  And, it is a shutdown that is for now, at no foreseeable end.  But, all of this begs the question, how can this be, that we as citizens, are to blame for what is happening to us?  I contend that it is our fault that there can be this shutdown, and future government shutdowns because we, as voters, have short memories. 

As citizens, we suffer from a form of political alzhimers.  It is quite apparent that we are forgetful by the time elections come around.  And because of the way you as politicians point the blame at one another for the shortcomings of the direction of the company, we become confused.   By the next time an election comes around, we continue to pull the lever, punch the button, or mark an “X” on our ballots for many of you, many of whom are the same men and women who continuously and effortlessly, exempt themselves from the very laws which you, yourselves have no fear of being the beneficiaries, or suffering the consequences.

We are the victims, and will continue to be the victims in circumstances such as that which we face today, where you, Mr. President; where you, Mr. Speaker; where you, Rep. Cantor; where you, Rep. Pelosi; where you, Rep Reid; where you, Rep. McConnell; where you, Rep. Richmond; where you, Rep. Vitter and where you, Rep. Landrieu and all of your colleagues in the House of Representatives believe that exemption[23] is the greatest form of leadership.  For our failure as citizens to call a flag on the play, we will continue to be blind-sided by our representatives who live by the privilege of exemption[24], and therefore, we are to blame for our own failures to act proactively in our own best interest.

What does The Declaration of Independence[25] mean to any of us today?
It is not necessary for us to go through the entire Declaration of Independence to see similarities between the colonies of 1776 and today.  The founding fathers, in preparation for America’s independence, had reached a point where the rule of the King of Great Britain had been so extreme in measures, that they convened together to fight for leadership that did not exact injustice at a whim on its citizens.  The Declaration of Independence spelled out the need for what citizens expected of their leaders: fairness and justice.  If the founding fathers’ declaration of independence could be transposed by today’s actions, it perhaps would read as follows:

©     Inasmuch as the House of Representatives have conspired to subject its citizens to their wrath because of their inability to negotiate for the good of the people;
©     Inasmuch as the House of Representatives continue to work non-stop to pass bills excessively that are unlikely to pass;
©     Inasmuch as the House of Representatives continue to float an agenda inconsistent with their representation of their constituents, causing an increase in the federal deficit, failing to pass a balanced budget, or failing to create needed jobs, and/or carry out their respective mission for the safety, security and peaceful enjoyment of their citizenry,
©     It is hereby declared that the House of Representatives is hereby deemed to be null and void by virtue of the next election of 2014.

Perhaps it is a stretch to suggest that this would be the transposition of the Declaration of Independence for today, but I would personally ask that you not take this lone message for granted.  It should suggest strongly that many of your constituents are gearing up to stand up for the justice that your representation has failed to produce.  You may continue along the lines of exempting yourselves, business associates, colleagues, staffers and the like from the laws that you impose, or ignore the frustration and the lower than usual tolerance of your constituency, but I believe history is about to repeat itself.  And many of you, if not all of you, maybe on the wrong side of this historical event.

What is the takeaway?
The topic of this message is this: Mr. President, Shut this Mutha Down!  No disrespect is intended to the President of the United States, nor to any of you, the men and women of the House of Representatives.  But to say that there is no lack of disrespect to American Citizens is still out for debate.  The fact that the Republican party continued to present a bill for passage for 40 or so times seems indicative that all appears to be well.  Too well. That is to say, that there can be no consequence for presenting a bill that has been upheld by the Supreme Court and couldn’t possibly pass in the Senate, and was assured of a Veto by the President.  What level of strategy was that?  What is the take away when government leaders believe that they can operate without consequences to shut down the government because they cannot carry out the will of the people, unless it is along party lines?

The takeaway is for each member of the House of Representatives is to prepare for their political demise.  The takeaway for each of you mentioned above, is to take this one blog, representative of the frustration of many of your fellow Americans,  and weigh out how important it is to conduct the business of the American people with all due speed.  Because if this government shutdown is a snapshot of what many of us can expect to happen in the foreseeable future, as leaders, you maybe surprised how long a memory the American people may have.  In other words, if you don’t take the American people’s frustration seriously, then I say to you, Mr. President, President Barack Obama, with all due respect, shut this mutha down!  Shut down this country!  Close the United States of America down!

We will survive!
©     It is unimaginable, but should the Department of the Treasury close down, we will survive;
©     If the Department of the State shuts down, we will survive.  Shut it down, Mr. President.  Shut down the Department of Justice, where prisons, courts and law enforcement officers are without a bi-weekly paycheck.  We will survive.
©     Shut down the Department of the State, where Secretary of State John Kerry will be left unable to travel or communicate with allies on moving our country forward on the world stage.
©     Close the doors of the Environmental Protection Agency, let us risk that companies will self-manage regarding legal-discharged wastes.  Shut it down, we will survive.
©     Barricade the doors of Homeland Security.  Send the men and women home who watch over our security not only here but abroad.  We will survive.
©     Keep out our Veterans!  The men and women who defend our shores and our interests abroad.  Shut the hospitals that tend to their care, risking their well-being.  We will survive!

Shut down America, Mr. President! Chain the doors, block access to whatever it is that has brought us as a country this far. Because the men and women who are supposed to play a vital role in her continued development, are playing games with the lives of each and everyone of us.  We can’t continue to sit idly by while our representatives cherry-pick or selectively choose what parts of American Government can continue to operate.  It is not fair to have some working, while others have to sit on the sidelines, hoping to be paid.  While we will survive if you shut down this entire country, know that when those doors open for the Department of Education, our survival should signal the demise of government as usual.

When the doors of the Department of Labor re-opens, it will be a clear signal that those who stood by while they were closed, will be seeing their final days as representatives, because they did just that: stood by.  But we, as citizens, we will survive. 

Know that we will have survived a shutdown and the re-opening of the Department of Transportation, where train operators, bridge operators, flight operators who had to sit out an unnecessary shutdown, will come back more motivated than ever to never go to sleep at the wheel of politics.  They will have survived, but they will be greatly inspired as will be the men and women of the Department of Housing, and will no longer vest their belief in a representative who promises to do so much, only to have done so little. 

We will survive, Mr. President, those of us who have small businesses that depend upon the government workers, now know what time it is.  We will survive, but we will never turn our backs again on those who occupy their seats in Congress or the Senate with a level of not only comfort, but disregard for our power as voters.  We will survive, hopefully, long enough to get to October 2014, as well as 2016, and we will remember every day that our cash registers didn’t ring.  We will remember everyday that our shops remained empty, shuttered, and without business because our leaders worked with total disregard for how their decisions in effect, shut us down, and we were not given a choice. 

Mr. President, act with all due speed, shut this mutha down!



Disclaimer:  All information provided here is deemed to be from reliable sources, but not guaranteed.  Please consult with respective consultants, or licensed or certified professional before making any decisions that may affect your income or livelihood.



[2] President of the United States, Barack Obama- http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369  
[3][3] Speaker of the House, John Boehner- http://www.speaker.gov/  
[4] Rep. Eric Cantor, Congressional Majority Leader- http://www.majorityleader.gov/
[5] Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Congressional Minority Leader- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi 
[6] Rep. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader- http://www.reid.senate.gov/
[7] Rep. Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader- http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/
[8] Rep. Cedric Richmon, 2nd Congressional District- http://richmond.house.gov/
[9] Rep. Mary Landrieu, Senator, Louisiana- http://www.landrieu.senate.gov/ 
[12] Affordable Care Act- https://www.healthcare.gov/
[14] Gerald R. Ford quote on Government-http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/government
   
[22] Franklin D. Roosevelt Quote-
[24] Federal Government exempts itself of paying water fees in D.C.- http://www.bayjournal.com/article/federal_government_exempts_itself_from_dc_water_fees
[25] The Declaration of Independence- http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/
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Sunday, September 29, 2013

PARTICIPATORY INJUSTICE WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.


Why This Piece

There are six areas that I had intended to focus on for this piece.  Instead, I have decided to focus on two areas: Crime and Education.  The topic, Participatory Injustice within the Black Community speaks more broadly to our responsibilities as community stakeholders.  As stakeholders, we expect a return on our investment when we do what is necessary to ensure that our community grows.  What does this mean?  It means at least 3 things:

a.       We raise our children to respect us (parents and community);

b.      We raise our children to respect themselves, and last but not least,

c.       We take all reasonable action to protect our children from those who would do them harm, including themselves

 

These three things are not exclusive to any one culture.  It is not a Black or White thing, it is not a Hispanic or Middle Eastern thing.  These 3 essential elements are foundational and yet, our children are more often than not, victims in a world that seems to have no regard for our children.  How is that?  How is it that our children, Children of Color, are the most likely victims of murder, or are the most likely orchestrators or participants of crime?  

 

If we, as a community, are teaching our children respect for us, for themselves, and are protecting them, then how is it that our children makes the 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11o’clock news with such regularity?  If we are doing just these three things that I suggest that are foundational, then where are we dropping the ball and what do we need to do save our own children?

 

Respect for us (parents and community)

As parents, we all take the responsibility of raising our children respectfully.  But what does that mean?  The only point of reference that I have is how I was raised.  My parents, the ones that took me into their home at 6 years old, had to teach me the importance of telling the truth, especially to them.  I am not sure that it worked out all of the time, because they had caught me in quite a few doozies. One time, I had to lie for them. But even with that, I still could not lie to them. 

 

The other thing my parents emphasized to me was not to tell their business to everyone, even to other family members.  They always wanted me to protect their confidentiality by not repeating things I had heard at the house to others, especially family members.  I learned that was very important because family members seemed to always wanted to know something, no matter how seeming innocently they tried to prime me.  I always kept my mouth shut.

 

Respect for us as parents and the community as a whole, in this context, is not necessarily a separate issue.    Growing up, if my parents were teaching me right from wrong, then the same right and wrong was the same no matter where they sent me, or where I went.  The same right and wrong applied at school, church, at a friend’s house, or at Aunt Sally’s house, for example.  It was important then, and it is important now, that our children have an appreciation of what we expect of them.  For example:  we expect our children not to hang around other children whose parents do not teach the same values as we teach our children.  As parents and community, we expect our children to commit to their goals and dreams, and not to be distracted by those who have limited dreams or ambitions.  We drill this into our children, theoretically.  So, what happens?  What changes if we, as parents and community, are doing due diligence to ensure that our children have a clear understanding of what we expect of them?

 

Respect for themselves

If we expect to see a change in our children, teaching them to have respect for themselves is perhaps the most challenging of the foundational approach to raising children.  I am no psychologist, counselor, or parental expert, so, don’t feel compelled to follow so closely on my lead.  But, for what it is worth, there aren’t any psychologists, are counselors lining up to help us with our children like talking about it.  This is not a stab at these experts, but let’s be real.  Society dictates that these are the groups who should provide vital information to us, as parents, in order for us to raise our children properly.  But, we can’t afford to have these experts helping us daily with advice to help us raise our children.  It’s not free, and it isn’t practical.  So, we have to stand together to emphasize real common sense values to help our children to be successful.

 

Teaching our children respect for themselves, as easy as it would appear, is a daily challenge.  From teaching them how to dress like little gentlemen and ladies, to teaching them to not hang around kids who are “bad”, such as kids who steal, curse, or disrespect their parents or other members of the community.  Respect for themselves mean not allowing others to use them to do bad things such as acting as a lookout while others are doing something improper.  Teaching our children self-respect means not changing how they look in order to fit in with someone who doesn’t like them.  And of course, self-respect for our children means emphasizing that they should love themselves too much to let others discourage them from achieving their respective goals.  But somewhere, in the midst of all that we do, self-respect maybe getting lost.  And who is going to take the blame?  Who should we blame?  Our children?  Why not, isn’t that something else we teach when we are teaching them self respect?  You know: Take responsibility for their actions? 

 

We should teach our children to take the blame for their actions, but know that that means whatever we teach our children, they expect to see the same in us.  And when the time comes for us to assume responsibility, let’s not go for the easy way out: “I am an adult, do as I say, not as I do.”  Easier said than done, but if we are trying to teach our children self-respect, and to respect us, then it may have to be the hard pill that we will have to swallow.  I know how hard it is, and too often I have been called on my mistakes by my kids, and I had to bite the bullet.  Because of that, I believe that they are better kids, and I thank God for them. 

 

­Protecting our children

As I indicated earlier, I want to believe that every culture works to protect its children.  The Black community can’t possibly be any different.  But, here is where I think I am wrong.  I think I am wrong because too often, if not frequently, our children are dying on the streets, in our homes, and in our cars.  It becomes our little children who suffer from gunshot injuries, drownings, or locked up in hot cars, sexually abused, or hurt in more ways than it would be important to mention.  The bottom line is, we, the Black community, are not protecting our children. 

 

We are not protecting them from drugs (use, or distribution); we are not protecting them from guns (robbery, assault, gang violence, illegal possession), nor, are we protecting our children from the decisions that they may ultimately make that results in them dropping out of school.  We are not protecting our children by instilling in them the need to follow their dreams, when all that they want to do is wait on someone else to make their lives better for them.  We have failed to protect so many of our children, and as hard as it is to take, we are participants in their detriment. 

 

Participants in the self-destruction of our community

 Each time a child is shot and killed, or arrested for a crime, we have to take it personally.  We have to feel responsible in some way, shape or form.  The children that God has blessed us that we are loosing to violence, or who are dropping out of school are getting younger and younger.  This would suggests that we are letting go of their little hands quicker and quicker.  It would appear that we are turning our children loose on the world too quickly. 

 

Also, too quickly and too easily, we seem to believe that any and everyone else is to blame. It appears that our responsibility, as a member of our community, is far removed.  And that’s where I believe that we are wrong.  I think that there is so much that we each can do on some level, yet, so few of us are willing to do one thing different that could make a difference in our young people’s lives.  By virtue of this failure on our part, I think that that makes us participants in the destruction of our communities.  I think that it makes us responsible, even if by 1/100th of a percent, if we aren’t doing something significant within our communities to help make a difference not only in the lives of our young people, but in our communities as well.

 

Taking the Lead

How will we know if what we are doing will make a difference, if we decide to become more involved?  We won’t know.  And perhaps, we don’t need to know.  The point here is that we not take for granted that there is something that we can do that can make a difference.  However slight the effort, our young people have to see an improved effort by each and everyone of us that suggests that we are in this for the long haul.  Our young people must be able to see a climate of change in how we communicate to not only each other, but to them as well.  As a community, we have to take the lead on something as simple as reminding our children to respect themselves and not let others use them for criminal means.  As parents, we have to take the lead to remind our kids how much we love them and how much we expect them to remain committed to their dreams and goals. 

 

Taking the lead means that we are doing more to protect our children from those who would otherwise do them harm.  It is a lead that we cannot check for progress every three days, three months, or three years, because this is for the long haul.  It is the type of lead that requires not relinquishing on something as simple as “I am proud of you,” to “I know you can do better.”  Taking the lead means that each of us are committed to holding our heads up and addressing our young people as young men and women, letting them know that we see them and that we believe in them.    We can do simple things like these, not looking for a reward, or hoping that someone notices us for what we do, or we can continue to believe that it is someone else’s fault that our children are continuing to go down a slippery slope.

 

If we can’t take the time to give our children a word of encouragement, then we can assume the role of participants of the injustices that our young people experience everyday by a society that is already writing them off.  It’s our choice.  I trust that we will make the right one.
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Sunday, September 22, 2013

THE ART OF BEATING A BLACK WOMAN DOWN (By Her Man) © 2013 Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.



Why this piece? 
Recently, there were two unedited phone videos here in the New Orleans area on several news channels. The videos were depicting, in both cases, young Black men striking, if not beating a young Black woman without regard to any consequences to themselves, or the physical punishment that they were subjecting the young woman.  First of all, this disturbed me deeply, both as a father of a daughter and a son.  Secondly, as a Black man.  This is not to say that there aren’t other incidents of Black men beating their sisters, however, the turnaround and frequency is perhaps the more shocking.

I am willing to believe that if I looked on line, I could find no shortage of videos depicting not just Black on Black crime, but more disturbingly, Black men engaging recklessly and heinously in acts of violence against, of all people, Black women.  To me, if it isn’t too late, the message will be extremely clear to not only the Black community, but to the entire nation, that this is the way Black men treat their women, and that is a very serious message that will be very difficult to undo.

Who is to blame?
Blame is free-flowing.  Anyone can be blamed.  Many of us won’t stop until we are blaming the victim, herself.  And if we want to, then blame her.  But be just as quick to blame her assailant, her attacker, her brother, her son, and in no fewer cases, the love of her life, her man.  Blame, if you will, the White society at large; blame, if you dare, video games or television; blame if you will, music, sexting[1], or porn.  Blame the children, whose mother often defends them against everything, and everyone, and unfortunately, in too many cases, her man, her husband, and above all, her perhaps otherwise worldly ally and counterpart- her man. 

Does she bear the blame at some point?
For the sake of argument, and if it will make many of you happy who will find solace in blaming the Black woman for her daily beatings, yes, she is the blame if she continues to put herself, as well as her children, in harm’s way.  There, happy?  So, if at any point the Black woman can be blamed, but her antagonist has the freedom to beat her, without fear of retaliation, or fear of repercussions, then are we doing an injustice to blame the victim if the attacker, or in too many cases, her assailant, can all but believe that he, as a Black man, was not going to be disrespected by his woman?

And, if it was or is about respect, then the message that our Black men are sending, to our Black sisters, is that respect comes at the end of a fist, or, the back of a hand, or a cutting or stabbing with a knife, or, a threat of, or the actual use of a gun.  If that is how respect for our Black men is best achieved, we, as a community, have greatly failed in raising our sons to respect not only our mothers, our sisters, our communities, others, and above all, themselves.


Speaking of respect
The Black man’s quest for respect has long been one since he (and his woman) first landed on Plymouth Rock, or so the story goes.  Actually, the disrespect that Black men fights so hard for is actually being diminished by his own hand.  The respect that the Black man believes that he deserves from any and every other community, is being shelved, degraded, and/or being all but swallowed up as a result of many of his own self-destructive actions, not the least of which is how he treats his Black sister.

Respect, as many of us as Black men would suggest, is not demanded, but forced.  Even in today’s technological world, respect does not come to any of us as we carry ourselves well below a standard that no one respects in anyone.  Whether vulgar, or violent, Black women’s continued exposure to mistreatment will result in a consequence far greater than imprisonment, far greater than death, for us, her Black brothers.   Like what?   I think the toll is becoming obvious, but I will get to that shortly.  Hint: Trust

She ain’t nobody
I have not heard this said, so don’t quote me.  But we live in a society of perceptions.  The perception by the treatment of any one Black woman, who is portrayed in videos as anything other than dignified, suggests that the Black woman is not worth her role in not only the Black community, but the world as a whole.  And who is sending that message?  The Black woman? The Black male?  Perhaps either or both are sending out a message that the Black woman is not serious about getting her respect.  For her, it may come down to what she is willing to do to save her family.  And who among us can judge a mother who works any number of jobs, or one job with long hours, while her male counterpart can’t seem to find a job, or is always in trouble with the law?  That maybe her message, that she is willing to do anything constructive that puts food on the table.  And perhaps on the other hand, her male counterpart disregards her role, her eagerness to support her family, or to make something of herself, while he himself sit around and blame everyone else for his failure, including her.

It would appear easy to send a message that a Black woman has no value if the intent is to hide behind one’s own inability to bring something substantive to the table.  The message of devaluing our women who are doing the most to secure the family is a lesson well learned, but unfairly portrayed.   We may not be telling the world via the Washington Post[2], or the Wall Street Journal[3], but the message comes through loud and clear each time we see raw footage of our Black men hauling off and striking their sisters with all of the hatred they can muster, and hurt with all due intent, possibly causing a concussion, or other seriously bodily injury.  The fact that such injury can be inflicted, so frequently, and by a Black man (none of whom need to be identified) against a seemingly defenseless young woman (who needs not to be identified), suggests that we have a very serious problem within the Black community.  We are assuming that our Black women have no value, and that because of that misperception, Black men are walking around blindly attacking and degrading our Black women.  How soon Black men forget.

The Black Woman, Historically Speaking
©     Sojourner Truth [4]- Born into slavery, sold, escaped from slavery, fought for women’s rights;
©     Mrs. Harriett Tubman[5]- Escaped slavery in America to become a hero in conducting the “Underground Railroad”[6] to form a chain of safe houses to help others escape slavery;
©     Mrs. Michelle Obama [7]- First African American First Lady to First African American President of the United States of America;
©     Oprah Winfrey[8]- African American billionaire actress, filmmaker, and award winning talk show host;
©     Dr. Mae C. Jemison[9]- First African American Woman in Space;
©     Barbara Jourdan[10]- First African American Congresswoman from Texas
©     Sarah S. Lewis[11] - Mother, former Domestic worker, went to school to become an LPN

There is World History, American History and everyone else’s history after that.  For People of Color, their history in America began in Slavery[12].  America would like to forget about that portion of her growth.  But all indications are that America will only work to push this painful piece of its history under the rug, if not by deleting it all together, by removing references in history books, or changing the perception of what slavery was right here in America.  Additionally, America continues work feverishly to have as negative impact on Black life as possible going forward.  For example, a continued look at voting rights and their repeal, voter suppression, mass incarceration of predominantly Black males, as well as the rush to suspend or expel Black males for infractions that would ordinarily require a detention.

Historically, the women mentioned above are no less likely to have suffered the injustices faced by her Black male counterparts.  So, when a Black woman, who has to overcome the same adversities that her brothers have to overcome, why is it that she is further victimized in the struggle, by her own brothers?  Why should Oprah Winfrey, or Michelle Obama have to worry about a back hand, or any threat of violence from someone with whom they are going through the same thing?  Why should Halle Berry, [13] worry about her family being in danger from someone who is no less in danger of being targeted in America because of the color of their skin?  Why did Harriett Tubman have to worry about being beaten by her brothers who were just as likely to be lynched, or killed just because they both shared a common denominator:  the color of their skin?

Trust
We can’t talk about the issue of us as Black men taking out our frustrations on our sisters of color, if that conversation does not include the word trust.  We subject many of our sisters to violence.  It would be equivalent to sweeping slavery and Jim Crow under the rug.  It happens, and many of us are guilty of putting our women at odds with their roles as sisters in the struggle for equality.  The probability of achieving equality as a people will always be subject to many factors.  One of those factors is how we treat our sisters.  If there is any reason why the African American community will not achieve full parity in America, it will be due to a lack of trust, between the men and women who share that struggle.  If the struggle for equality includes violence of man on woman, man on woman’s children, man on woman’s psyche, or any activity that causes his sisters in general to be abused, then that is a struggle that both will be striving through on separate planes.  The journey will be diluted and made less worthy for one more than the other.  Because as history shows, the Black woman is not going to be counted out in the struggle for equality, or for value.  The option for the Black male is to determine whether or not he deserves her trust, or will he have to blend into the landscape of those who are pressed to take her dignity, and beat her down constantly?  The trust that she gives initially, when violated and once lost, does not come back without following her ground rules.  In other words, her house, her rules.

Taking the Lead
To suggest that Black men are the only ones who beat their women down is not the intent here.  I believe that every race has its own share of Domestic Violence[14].  White men, Asian men, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, all races demonstrate their presumed superiority of men over woman.  This not an endorsement of violence against women.  What the takeaway here is, particularly for Black men, is to take the lead in ceasing and desisting in not only the physical, or sexual, but the mental abuse of our Women of Color.   In a country, no scratch that.  In a world that judges all of us by superficial factors, and treats others according to their prejudices, wouldn’t it be great if we, as Black men, began a crusade of our own for the benefit of our Black sisters? 

It would be a crusade that would be returning to their placing of honor, our sisters, our mothers, our ladies, our queens and princesses, to their pedestals of worship.  We would bow down at their feet, and worship the ground that they walked on.  Would this be pushing it too much?  Why would it?  For the Black man, he must forever remember that it is the Black woman who has historically fought for him, even to this day.  It has been the Black woman who has stood by him, from slavery, through the Civil War[15], through the Civil Rights Era[16] and even now, as shootings of unarmed Black men are replacing the Sunday lynching picnics.   It wouldn’t be too much for worshipping and honoring the women who stand at far too many caskets of children and loved ones, killed by young black men who believe that to be a man, requires threatening and killing one’s own family, one’s own friends, destroying one’s own community, or causing great bodily harm to his woman or sister. 

If we as Black men, could lead a crusade that places our women at the forefront of every level of that which we do, we could possibly see the dawn of our rebirth as a people.  Never mind how we are perceived.  If we would put our women at the very top of our agenda, we would see a side of our women that has yet to be revealed.  How do I suppose this?  Look at how much she has endured all of these years, all of these centuries.  She has cleaned up after everyone else, and continues to be the envy, as quiet as it is kept of all who hate her.  Why?  Because of the very things that so many would have the world believe they hate about our women, I believe they love: her full lips, her ample bosom, her womanly hips, and big behind.  Oh, and dare I forget, her intellectual presence.  

Our counterpart, the Black female, the Black woman, doesn’t focus on herself as much as she focuses on everyone else, whether related or not.  Wouldn’t it make sense that we, those who seemingly know her best, would find a way to throw roses at her feet, roll out the red carpet, and do everything to ensure that every step she makes is nothing short of walking on a cloud for her royal highness?

If as Black men, we do not see our Black women for their truth worth, then we are digging a grave not only for ourselves, but for our children, and for generations to come.  If we aren’t careful, the work that so many of our sisters have done to ensure that we enjoy the freedom that we tentatively have, we will find ourselves in the unenviable position of our Native American brothers and sisters.  The key to ensuring that that doesn’t happen is to make sure that we rebuild our relationship with these beautiful women that God has blessed with, who share our struggles, but may not necessarily share our future demise.  Why?  Because our women will most likely survive us  as Black men, and will no doubt go on to achieve greater things, despite, or inspite of the ongoing struggles that are not unique to us as a race.  The question before Black men today is, “Are we with them (our Black sisters), or are we against them?”

This is our last and best chance
As Black men, we know all about self-destruction.  From taking and selling drugs.  We know about selling drugs to our children and in our communities.  We know about self-destruction when it comes to using violence against one another, failing to work things out intellectually, while choosing guns, knives and fists to resolve our differences.  We know about self-destruction, because as Black men, we see each other as rivals, enemies, and combatants.   And now, we have carried that perception to our women.  We are on the road to self-destruction, because of our failure to realize that our one remaining ally is now on course to be our rival as well.  As Black men, we only have ourselves to blame.  But there is hope.

Turning it around
Today is the day. Not, ‘can be the day’, but, ‘must be the day’.  Today must be the day, that we, as Black men, begin the crusade to make each and every woman of color realize what fools we have all been.  Today is the day that we, as Black men, must take it upon ourselves to cease and desist placing our sisters of color, whether mothers, or literally sisters, in harm’s way.  This is the day that we, as Men of Color, say to each other that we put away our physical weapons that we use to intimidate not only one another, but our women as well.  Only we can turn this around.  Only we can take this situation of self-destruction of not only ourselves, but of our families as well, and ensure the future of who we are.  It is our choice that we crusade for our women and families, or we continue down the self-destructive path that sends all of our women on a path greater than we could otherwise travel with them.  It is our decision to turn it around and stop beating our Women of Color down, or perish for our thoughtless deeds.


Disclaimer:  Unless specified, no one is specifically indicated herein.  Any possible reference is coincidental.  If you are going through a violent situation, you are advised to contact 911, and seek counseling.  No part of this post should be considered legal advice.  All information provided is deemed to be from reliable resources but not guaranteed  There are no endorsements included in this posting..
Domestic Violence Hotline- http://www.thehotline.org/get-help/  


[1] Sexting- http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sexting 
[3] The Wall Street Journal- http://online.wsj.com/itp
[11] Sarah Sims Lewis- My adopted mother, 1908-2008


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