Black Lives Matter

photo provided by: https://theodysseyonline.com/yes-all-lives-matter-but

The Black Lives Matter campaign was brought about in recent years because of the increasing number of Black lives being lost to law enforcement officers, and so-called 'neighborhood watch' vigilantes like George Zimmerman.

Lives such as those of Tamir Rice, a 12 year old boy shot down by police for playing with a toy gun. No charges were filed against the officers because they said he "did not exercise due care to avoid injury." Really? A 12 year old? Do authorities truly believe that a 12 year old has the mental maturity to know what to do when law enforcement officers who have sworn to protect and serve him, are pointing their weapons in his direction?  I'm sure this child was totally frightened.  I'm sure he didn't wake up thinking that that particular day would be the last day of his life.  The world will never know his potential of greatness because on that day, his Black life didn't matter.

Samuel Dubose was shot in the head by Officer Ray Tensing, who lied about being drug by Dubose's car as his reasoning for the shooting.  After the release of the video, in which Dubose was being pulled over for a missing front license plate, (is that even against the law??) it was shown that the victim was unarmed, and had not acted in an aggressive way what-so-ever before being murdered. As a matter-of-fact, the shooting by the officer was referred to by members of the court as "senseless," and "asinine."  It is a great thing that the officer's own body camera was able to catch what truly happened and hold him accountable by exposing his lies.  But on that day, did Samuel Dubose's Black life matter?

Sandra Bland was pulled over in Prairie View, TX. for not using a signal during her turn in traffic. This young, educated woman, who happened to be a very candid voice on social media for the rights,or lack there-of, of people in the Black community, ended up dead in jail after a minor traffic stop.  This traffic stop in particular was one where you had a Black female who continued to proclaim her rights as a citizen to the arresting officer.  One can only wonder would this woman be alive today if she had not been pulled over by an officer who chose to flaunt his power simply because he did not like what she had to say.  On that Sandra Bland's Black life did not matter.

Quanell X, one of the Houston area's local activist, stood against the actions of the police department in their protection of Sandra Bland's arresting officer.  To protect and serve is what they take oath to do, but it seems there is an underlying meaning in that promise.  All stops were pulled out as the department relocated this officer to a complex in Katy, TX, away from his home.  Though there was a non-violent protest organized by Mr. X, and advertised as such in meetings, armed officers on horseback, in cars, and on foot lined the outside of the complex to ensure this officer's safety against unarmed, non-violent people.

To protect and serve... An oath taken in reference to their own.  Why weren't these stops pulled to protect the lives of the lost? Even an animal has laws in place to protect the way they can be killed, or whether you can kill them at all.  Was Michael Brown's life not worth even the least bit as much as that of an animal? Besides the fact that his activities were delinquent, he was still just an 18 year old young man shot down by police and left on display in such a way that it was inhumane.

How many cameras had the opportunity to catch footage of his lifeless body still laying in the street hours after the officer had shot, then disregarded him? Even the carcasses of road kill have been picked up faster, and handled with  more care.  On that day, did Michael Brown's Black life matter?

Yes, many will say all lives matter, and of course that is a fact, but if all lives truly mattered, would there have been a need for the Black Lives Matter campaign?  Would I have to teach my two Black son's to watch their backs where the police are concerned, because they are automatically at a disadvantage due to the color of their skin?  One-sixteenth of an inch separates them from their white counterparts in the justice system... One-sixteenth of an inch in a piece of skin.  Do all lives really matter?  I think not.

Guns and Violence

On the drive in to school this morning, my sons and I had a conversation about gun violence among the nation's police force.  My solution has always been to take away guns from every one, even law enforcement agencies.  The logic behind it being that if fire arms aren't so easily accessible, then the chances of innocent people being killed will decrease.

It was only when my youngest son made the suggestion that the S.W.A.T. team should be the only group allowed to have guns because they are the ones you call on when circumstances are serious enough, that I began to reconsider my solution.

Members of a department's S.W.A.T unit have to already meet meticulous minimal requirements in order to even be considered. They also have to undergo psychological evaluations to see if they are mentally prepared for the commitment to the job;  advanced tactical training in firearms to build on their skills for a more precise aim; and meet strict regulations set about by authorities.

My son's reasoning for making fire arms available and accessible to this particular unit of people was to provide protection in the case of a bomb threat, or terrorist attack,. With those out there who make demented plans to harm others, and have the mental capabilities to design and build their own homemade bombs, the nation will need this type of protection. It will provide a greater sense of security knowing we have highly trained officers such as those on the S.W.A.T. team to have our backs.

My son also mentioned how, if an officer were to kill someone, especially the innocent, their punishment should be just as severe as those who were to kill an officer of the law.  Being that we're all citizens with (so-called) equal rights, I can only see this as a fair analogy.

If it were up to me, I would remove guns from every law enforcement office, home, and high court in the world.  It would be a better, and more safe place to live without them.  But since that is next to impossible, I say we should take time and listen to the advice of some of our youth.  "Out of the mouths of babes" can come wise counsel for those who take the time to listen.

*For more on guns and violence in the between police and the minority community, please read my next blog: Black Lives Matter.

photo courtesy of: https://sites.google.com/a/nvusd.org/change-makers-guns-and-violence/

Living with Depression

photo provided by:  /www.theodysseyonline.com/struggles-people-suffer-anxiety-depression-avoid-talking

Yesterday one of the students at my school pulled out a "chord" from his backpack and proceeded to wrap it around his neck.  He began to strangle himself with such a force it required great effort by the PASS teacher to free him from his own hold.

This bothered me because this particular child I tend to compare with a Chihuahua, small in stature and all bark with no bite. He seems to feel the need to vocally defend himself even though there may not be a threat of attack. His form of physical aggression is typically to throw a desk across the room while shouting expletives to whomever will listen, but never has he been known to put his hand on anyone; until yesterday, when he chose to put his hands on himself. 

I look at this child and wonder if he lives with the same crippling entity that I have lived with for so many years.  

Depression is an ever-present body that lurks in the minds of its victims, waiting for its chance to break through and destroy their peace of mind.  I live with it, not inside my own head, but it is still a strong presence in my life. A presence which has taken hold of some who I love the most.  One in whom I promised to love for better or for worse, through sickness and in health. 

Mental health doesn't tend to be looked upon, or considered with as much concern as we do physical; but it can be just as debilitating to one's life as a cancer cell that is allowed time to grow and spread. Approximately 14.8 million adult Americans are affected by this illness, and it comes in 3 forms:  Major Depression, Persistent Depressive Disorder (or PDD), and Bipolar Disorder, formally called Manic Depression.

Looking at the people I love suffer produces a consistent feeling of helplessness.  I struggle still to understand how, even when everything is lined up right in their lives, the glass, in their view, is always half empty.

I remember growing up and watching my own sister struggle with something we just couldn't understand.  Back then we simply referred to her as "different." She seemed to take no joy in what one would consider a happy occasion. 

Once, my mother and I had taken her to a carnival, where the merry-go-round was a ride we felt would get her spirits up. She was only about 6 years old at the time, and I remember thinking how happy she should be to experience her first ride on a merry-go-round.  My mother and I stood and watched as she went around and around, clapping and cheering her on for motivation; yet she looked as if she had the world on her shoulders.  The whole time she rode, she did not smile once.  She kept watching us as if there was a great desire to be rescued from what ever it was she was suffering through.

We didn't understand what was going on with her. Her being "different" seemed only to get worse as she grew older.  My mother always felt that if we prayed hard enough, Jesus would fix her, and I agreed, but even the Bible states that faith without works is dead.  Yes, Jesus would fix her, but we also needed to have the knowledge and resources to go about working out our faith.   These things wouldn't come along until years down the line, when she was an adult and able to go get diagnosed on her own.

As many as 1 in 33 children may already suffer from depression, and may not even know it.  This is of great concern to me because young people are driven by so many emotions that they may not have the tools or maturity level to control.  Those emotions can drive them to do things, that if not guarded, can cause serious, even permanent consequences.

I thank God all the time that my loved ones are still here, living life and warrioring through their struggles. It is not easy, for either those who suffer from it, nor the ones, like me, who live with it and are affected by its existence. Still, even now, I struggle within myself to understand the seriousness of this condition; until I hear about a life being taken away by the ravaging hands of the depression storm.

Depression is very real, and not something that can be wished away or overcome by sheer will power. If you think lightly of this illness, like I used to, simply because you don't suffer from it personally, think again.  It can attack in the most unexpected of places, and through the most unassuming people, because it wears many masks.

One would never guess my own husband to be a sufferer because he tends to put on a happy face so others will be protected from his feelings. That is the nature of his character, to protect, while he suffers alone; but I don't plan on letting him do that any more. I can't... I won't...

Transgender Restrooms in Schools

picture provided by: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

The Obama Administration has proposed that the transgender restroom issue be moved into school districts nation wide.  As much respect as I have for the man, I have to say that I strongly disagree with this present proposition.

It is currently not being upheld as a law, but it is being said that if transgender restrooms are not allowed, then districts could lose federal funding and run the risk of lawsuits.  This sounds like a threat, and it is one that is used to force an issue onto those who do not want to accept this as a part of their lives.

Only the government can and WILL use their power to bully their way into people's every day lives.  This idea is egregious because by allowing students who "identify" themselves as the opposite sex into the restroom with true members of that sex, we will be opening a Pandora's Box of troubling possibilities.

What about the safety of that "transgender" student?  Will they now be bullied for using the restroom opposite of their God-given nature?  What about the comfort levels of those who are not transgender?  Are we no longer concerned with EVERYONE'S rights in order to make those who live an alternative lifestyle feel better?

I am sorry to say, but gay is NOT the new black.  There is no way your struggle compares to the ones of my people.  There is no shame in saying I was born Black, and it is something I cannot hide, not with makeup, nor hair, dresses, or pants, hats or hoodies...  My people suffered a great burden simply because of the skin we were born in; kidnapped, and held captive, enslaved and beaten, and still today fight to get the same opportunities as our White counterparts.

This is not to say that there is no struggle in homosexuality.  I recognize that.  I believe all people should be treated the same, but changing your clothes, your hair, your body(parts) etc., will never change the XY, or XX chromosomes embedded into each cell of your body.  You were born how you were born for a reason, and though homosexuality has been around since biblical times, the problem with using separate restrooms based on the sex you were born with has never become an issue until now.

Anything goes in today's society, and as long as that is the case we will never be satisfied.  Will someone stand up and say no? If so, who will listen?  If the members of the transgender community can stand up and speak for their rights, why can't we?

George Zimmerman-Hatred Personified

picture courtesy of: http://radaronline.com/tag/george-zimmerman/

George Zimmerman's name is synonymous with the word hate.  He became known in the media, as well as the rest of the nation when in February of 2012, he shot and killed a 17 year old Black male teenager named Trayvon Martin. This teen, whom he said was a threat to his life, was carrying a pack of Skittles, a can of iced tea, and his cell phone, having just come from a run to the 7-11 convenience store.  Neither of these items even remotely resembled a fire arm, or weapon of any type.

Zimmerman was recorded calling the police and reporting a "real suspicious guy," who was a "black male," walking around in a gated neighborhood.  One would be left to wonder if Zimmerman had not proceeded to follow this young man, possibly egging on a confrontation, would the altercation between the two have happened in the first place?

All of that was said to say this:  This man, George Zimmerman, is currently attempting to sell the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin on a gun auction site. His plan being to put an end to the Black Lives Matter "violence," and showcase that 'the firearm for sale being the firearm that was used to defend his life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin...'   He also goes on to include that he is seeking offers from the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D. C.  Thankfully, the very site he was using to capitalize off of his crime, took down his ridiculous advertisement just an hour after he published it.

How heartless can a person be to do this?  Trayvon Martin's mother is still very much alive and watching the news which broadcast all of his senseless ignorance being posted on news boards.  I wonder if, God forbid, someone were to kill one of his children, and that person was let off for the murder, would he like it should they advertise the weapon they used to do it?

What I don't understand is, how a man with a Latin mother, a woman who technically would fall into the category of being a minority, could be so hateful.  Have you taken a look in the mirror?  If so, do you like what you see?  Is there shame in all of the violent acts that have plagued your past, and still after the murder continue without hesitation?

The N Word

photo courtesy of http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/voting_start.html

This word carries so many connotations. It is a word rooted in hatred, and used for the degradation of a group of people who come from African descent. A word Southern Whites used to control a people whom they felt were worthy only to serve them and the demands of their needs.  The word dismisses the value in being a human being, and reduces a person made by God's own hand, to the role of a service animal.

Today the term is coined in the black community to mean homeboy or friend. It is used as a term of endearment, or an accent to a conversation between members of the Black community.  Its as if all the connotations have been forgotten as the members, mostly those who are considered our youth, push toward changing the meaning of the word.

Whether the word ends in an "a", or an "er," the meaning has never changed, and it is still hurtful when used by others outside of the Black race.  I was reminded of this as I sat and watched a movie last night with my husband.  The movie was called 'Dirty Grandpa,' and I watched it only on the recommendation of one of my co-workers.  Toward the end of a very agonizing viewing, we watched as Robert DiNero sang a karaoke version of and Ice Cube song.  This particular song had the "N" word in it, and the film took it so far as to allow him to use the word (more than once) in a format that was meant to be for the amusement of keeping in line with the song. I didn't laugh.  As a matter of fact, I couldn't even set my eyes on the screen after the first time he said it. I remember thinking to myself, "Just because he's married to a Black woman, and has Black children does not make what he said okay."  The whole movie was raunchy to say the least, but this particular part took the cake because it stood out as the most offensive.

The word is still used today to try and "keep Black people in their place." I can remember being called this word by a little White kid when I was twelve years old.  Back then I handled things very differently than I do now.  Even though he was only a child, when I was twelve I couldn't see that it was not him who truly called me and my friend the derogatory name, but rather the parents who taught him that this was who I was. My response to this kid was to chase him through the skating rink, along with my friend, and show him what happens to people who called us that name.

Saddly, my children, both of them, have experienced being called the same. Hatred is not dead, it is very much alive and well.  It is a master schemer who wears many coats, and has dressed itself in a disguise so well blended, one can miss it if you're not alert.   We are not born to hate, no hatred is taught, a learned characteristic that we can either accept within ourselves as apart of who we are, or dismiss as ignorance derived from the most evil source.

It burdens me to see the people of my community use this term so loosely.  For me it is a brainwashing that so many of us are buying into. The same brainwashing that tells us we are not worthy, not as beautiful as, not as smart as, not as acceptable as... The list goes on and on, but I refuse to buy into the rubbish.

My hope is that this next generation will buy into their own freedom of thought.  I hope that they will rewash their minds and grow in the knowledge of the fact that they are worthy, they are beautiful, they are smart, they are acceptable, they are perfect being Black in every way God's hands made them, and they are NOT a ni**er.

Sarah Palin & Donald Trump

This past weekend I watched an interview where Sarah Palin clearly stated her support for Donald Trump and his campaign for the presidency.  It was disappointing to witness this interview, but it gave me a clear view on how easily former Governor Palin's mind bends to match the agenda she's been told to support.  At least this is the way I feel.

I remember watching the HBO movie 'Game Change.'  This movie detailed the campaign that Senator John McCain had against, at the time, Senator Barak Obama. It painted a clear picture of the behind the scenes struggle these candidates had to deal with in running an election campaign, and in particular the struggles of Alaska's then Governor Sarah Palin (2006-2009).

While watching this movie, I can remember feeling a great sympathy for this woman who only wanted to make John McCain proud, and to ensure that she placed her country in the hands of who she felt would carry it into a new tomorrow.  Her demeanor exuded humility, pride in her country, and most importantly her faith in God.  Personally, I don't feel I could handle the amount of stress that comes along with holding a political office, while vying for another one even higher than the current; not to mention balancing those responsibilities along with being a full time wife and mother. Yet I was taken aback when toward the end of the film,  after giving one good speech (one in which she had only memorized the lines to, since basic political knowledge and world history escaped her), she emerged as super egotistical, ordering the staff around as if it were she who ran the show.  She also went as far as to demand she give the concession speech after the GOP was defeated by Democratic candidate Barak Obama.  This speech is typically, and traditionally given by the ACTUAL candidate for the presidency, not a potential Vice President.

The light has just come on... Maybe THIS is why she supports Trump's run for the presidency. They both share the same character flaw.  Both seem to be so absorbed in self that they feel America should be drawn in the same direction their agenda steers.   Its sad that campaigning with John McCain seemed to have brought out the worst in Sarah Palin. It's one thing to be the uninformed matron from the middle of a place that may as well be a blank canvas, but yet another to emerge as an arrogant reflection of a man who could stand as the poster child for why America has failed.

Photo provided by: Facebook.com.vocalprogressives