Our “Brothers” Keeper

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." (Martin Luther King Jr.)

 

These words were spoken some 47 years ago from Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in his covenant I have a Dream speech in 1963. These words were spoken in front of thousands of discontent and mistreated people of color. These words became the true illumination of the Civil Rights movement. In the 1960's the Civil Rights movement may have been ushered by African Americans but it represented the rights and hopes of every minority that calls America home. 47 years ago America struggled with intolerable racial laws and placed the livelihood of every minority underneath dirt filled doormats. As they continuously trampled on us, the civil rights movement inspired all nationalities to form a bond to steer away the powerful politics of injustice. Fast forward to April 2010, the United States is one year into the most historic presidency and those words from Martin Luther King Jr. still hold relevance. Is it me or do we have an obligation to form a bond and steer away the powerful politics of injustice?

In Arizona, an Immigration Bill is awaiting the Governor's signature that will make it law for Arizona police officers to investigate the immigration status of any individual with "reasonable suspicion". This law has already been passed by the Arizona State House and the Senate and has yet to be a nationwide issue. Where is the NAACP? When Martin Luther King Jr. spoke those words he spoke those words in hopes that 47 years from then he will be able to see change. This law will make it legal for police officers to profile a potential immigrant. I understand Arizona has had a continuous problem with illegal immigrants but I also understand that the foundation of the entire state came off the backs of immigrants legal and illegal. Coming from the south I have seen my share of profiling but this law supports it and also forces fellow Latino and Mexican police officers in a potential family crippling position.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Martin Luther King Jr. stood for unity and pursuing the equality that America was once built to withhold. We hold a responsibility to lend a hand to our Hispanic and Asian brothers and sisters. As a young black male I felt it is my duty to let my feelings towards legal racial profiling be known. I have had friends and family members wrongly harassed by "powerfully insecure" police officers. I have seen the damage wrongful racial profiling can cause. Arizona has just passed a law that completely erases the line between what is constitutional and unconstitutional. It cannot be constitutional to put people in prison because the person in the backseat has no ID. It cannot be constitutional for police officers to take one look at me and label me an immigrant.

These are the concerns of residents in Arizona legal and illegal. This is the time for (us) the American people to recognize that we are all brothers. We all struggle together, we all work together and we all live together. A line made famous from the movie New Jack City spoken by Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) "I am my Brother's Keeper" comes to my mind when I see this boiling Latino/Mexican Civil Rights movement forming. No matter what, we are all "our brother's keepers," we have a chance to speak out against something demeaning to the American name. I don't know if you noticed but this same injustice is what brave civil rights activist fought to demolish. There were many Hispanic's on the frontline for that fight. #imjustsaying

P.S. Is legal marijuana more important than the rights of our brothers and sisters? Think About It… Follow Me on Twitter @reelthewriter

 

Check out these sites for more information about the Immigration Bill in Arizona.

http://www.thestate.com/2010/04/19/1250689/arizona-senate-sets-final-vote.html?RSS=untracked

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/arizonas-immigration-bill_b_546842.html

 

    

Words from the Wise

 

Growing up in a city where there was evident government corruption and misguided leadership, I seen the poison that can pour into the crevices of our communities. That poison has affected urban neighborhoods for decades upon decades forcing us to strive for monetary pleasures and put morals and values to the side. These values and morals were placed under a microscope this past weekend at the Tavis Smiley: We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda, a conference that aired on CSPAN Saturday March 20, 2010 held at Chicago St. University. This conference encompassed the black leaders of America discussing the priorities of our first African American President Barak Obama. Towering public figures like Cornel West (Princeton University Professor), Michael Eric Dyson (Georgetown University Professor), Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam Ambassador), Rev. Jesse Jackson (Activist), Julianne Malveaux (President of Bennett College for Woman), Ron Walters (University of Maryland Professor) Tom Burrell (Founder of the Resolution Project), Dorothy Tillman (Former Chicago Alderman), Michael Fauntroy (Author/Professor at George Mason University) and others. This covenant panel moderated by the vocal Tavis Smiley discussed the importance or non-importance of Pres. Obama and his need to address a "Black Agenda". This discussion can be categorized as a monumental step for black America. This union of some of the most articulate minds in America to address the struggles of oppressed African American communities has been a long awaited opportunity to put raw feelings and questions out into the open. Tavis Smiley asked the question does President Obama have an obligation to address the "Black Agenda" and is there any relevance to that of a "Black Agenda"?

An agenda is defined as a formal list of things to be done in a specific order. I do believe there are plenty of issues within our society that warrants immediate attention by President Obama. But there is no reason to expect him to accomplish all that needs to be done. Louis Farrakhan said during the conference "There have been plenty of black mayors, but the black neighborhoods still have not changed." This quotes explains that there have been many black political figures who have vowed for change (none as high as President of course) and the same problems we face as minority communities continue to accumulate and go unchanged. This leaves the changing in the hand of the people who are closely affected by the historical Health Care Bill that recently passed. This leaves the changing for the victims of the elevating unemployment rate. This requires change from the people who need help from the government, the forgotten dwellers of the inner city streets. The enlightened words of Dr. Cornel West "having a black face in a high place, makes it easier to forget about the ones in the field," shows that the importance that Obama maintain the vision of the working man who played a significant role in positioning him in office.

This conference was an important step in identifying our black leaders; figures like Michael Fauntroy, Dorothy Tillman and Julianne Malveaux were allowed to express their personal concerns and be introduced to a wider audience. That is what black America has been longing for over the last 10 years, the identification of our leaders and who will take the voice of the people and relay it to the President of the United States. "In Love" was the centerpiece of the discussion. Tavis Smiley wanted to make sure that people understood in critiquing the president it showed that black America is still paying attention and him being President does not excuse the fact that minority communities are still less privileged and overlooked. By the end of the 4 hour long CSPAN broadcast I could feel the looming controversy building and the debate about what was appropriate flaring in the air. I felt the conference opened the eyes and ears to the world allowing them to hear the enormous voice black Americans play in the foundation of the entire planet. Michael Eric Dyson one of my favorite Authors said it best "We love you; you know we love you (Obama), we just want you to love us back." I hope we all recognize these Words from the Wise, it is time we become active in the strengthening of our fellow black, brown and white Americans and stop expecting one man to right what has been wrong for centuries. Think about it...

To learn more about some of our BLACK LEADERS check out these links. Check out www.tavistalks.com for more on Tavis Smiley.

Julianne Malveaux http://www.juliannemalveaux.com/aboutjulianne.html

Tom Burrell http://www.hayhouse.com/authorbio.php?id=557

Ben Jealous (NAACP President) http://www.naacp.org/about/leadership/executive/jealous/index.htm

Marc Morial (Civil Activist and Former New Orleans Mayor) http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Marc+Morial

Cornel West http://aalbc.com/authors/cornel.htm

Michael Eric Dyson http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Michael%20Dyson.htm

Michael Fauntroy http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/

 

 

Let US ALL Stand up

Dear: Any who will read

The world is once again feeling the wrath of Nature. Haiti has been devastated by a monstrous earthquake, and the number of injuries and casualties are becoming more and more massive to even imagine. I have read articles in which explains the death toll could be in the 10s of thousands "unofficially," this is not a blog to entertain this is a letter to inform people we have to support. After America has been devastated with our own Natural disasters we should know the effects these terrible ordeals can have. I am asking you to stand with me and donate to help with the Haiti Relief. I am no representative of the Red Cross; I am just someone who has been affected by the videos and articles I have read about the numbers of lost family members and love ones throughout Haiti. If you are looking for ways to donate and to learn more about the disaster please check out these websites:

HERO Program: http://www.herononprofit.org/

Catholic Relief Services: http://crs.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-relief-h_n_421014.html

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=15c0c5a210826210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html

If you have the means to donate please do, and if you do not please just send out as many prayers to the victims and their families as your heart will allow. We have to stand up and let them know they have support from their neighboring countries. If you want to donate to the Haiti Relief Project lead by Red Cross please text YELE to 501501 and $5 will be donated straight to the Red Cross for relief. This $5 will be added to your cell phone bill and to donate $10 text Haiti to 90999.

The Red Cross has vowed to send an Initial 1 million dollars as well as people and supplies to Haiti, The text to donate project has generated over $800,000 already but more is needed. The supplies and people who can help are limited in Haiti, hospitals, clinics and many important health entities have been destroyed by the earthquake, nearly 1.8 million people have been affected by this terrible act of nature. You can always make an unrestricted donation to the Haiti effort at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RedCross (1-800-733-2767).

Let Us all Stand up… Thank You