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Welcome To The Freak Show
achel Dolezal, the
white Spokane, Washing- ton woman who gained national attention two years ago for pass- ing herself off as Black, is back in the headlines. Apparently, the fallout from her bizarre story has caused her some serious fi- nancial difficulties.
According to reports, Ms. Dolezal claims that her notori- ety has made it virtually impos- sible for her to obtain steady employment. The only opportu- nities she's received for work, she says, have come from the porn industry and reality televi- sion producers.
Ms. Dolezal admits that she's currently living off food stamps and is on the verge of homelessness because of her struggle to pay rent. Her life is seemingly in a downward spiral all because her identity crisis was exposed on a national stage.
To be honest, in a way, my heart goes out to Ms. Dolezal. Even though she brought much of this upon herself by pretend- ing to be something that she wasn't, I hate to see anyone's life upended to this extent.
After all, it isn't like she made a mockery of Blackness. In her heart the woman truly be- lieves she's a Black woman.
Even now, when it would be easy for her to simply embrace her whiteness, if only to make ends meet, she still holds fast to the Black identity she's adopted.
Unfortunately though, after signing up for the experience, the universe decided to give her a full dose of what being Black in America encompasses.
The thing I find most ironic about Ms. Dolezal’s situation is that, now that she's begun to classify her status as "trans- racial," she's made enemies within an unlikely group.... The LGBT community.
You would think that an or- ganization that touts itself as the defenders of just about every outcast in society (they recently added a Q to the end of their title to accommodate those who consider themselves as "queer”) would be firmly in Ms. Dolezal’s corner. But, as it turns out, some transgender in- dividuals have a problem with Ms. Dolezal appropriating the "trans" label because, as they see it, race isn't as "fluid" as gender.
What I don't get about this beef between those who self- identify is how any man who sees himself as a woman or woman who views herself as a man could have the gall to dele- gitimize someone who also be- lieves she was born into a physical manifestation that's op- posite of the way she visualizes herself?
I'm not a doctor, but I be- lieve it's far more extreme to surgically remove or add a phys- ical appendage than it would be for a person to simply receive a
spray tan, throw on an afro wig and shout "POWER TO THE PEOPLE."
During an era when it's sup- posed to be cool to embrace whatever lifestyle you choose, it's hard to believe that someone could catch this much slack for trying to be Black? I mean, now that the door has been opened for individuals to express their true selves, who gets to make the decision on who is or isn't al- lowed to walk through?
Besides, what Ms. Dolezal’s doing is nothing new. In Henry Louis Gates' book, Black in Latin America, Gates mentions his encounter with people in Cuba and the Do- minican Republic, who he de- scribed as being the color of coffee, who classified them- selves as white. For them, since the designation of white sym- bolizes privilege and Black is synonymous with low-class poverty, it was a matter of choosing a racial distinction that would be most beneficial.
In a world where advances in technology can transform you into the image of your desire, this is the new reality. People like Rachel Dolezal, and oth- ers who are pioneering the “trans” movement, are just the tip of the iceberg.
With what's being described as "trans-humanism" (the phys- ical blending of man and ma- chine) and the possibility of "trans species" on deck, the un- comfortable truth is, as crazy as things are, we ain't seen nothing yet.
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Bob Buckhorn Will Not Run... Maybe
e reminds us somewhat of former Civil War General
William Tecumseh Sherman who, on being informed of his possible choice for Republican candidacy of the 1884 Presidential race, was rumored to have replied, “If nomi- nated, I will not accept, and if elected, I will not serve.”
Current Mayor Bob Buckhorn reminds us of Sherman, es- pecially regarding his recent reluctance to cast his foot in the 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race.
But Buckhorn said more than Sherman said. When pressed as to why he gave an almost overnight reversal to what close friends swore was a childhood dream, with a flash of his Jimmy Cagney smile, the Mayor explained he didn’t wish to miss family time with his wife and two daughters to pursue what he said was “an all-consuming campaign.”
Indeed, we know, for, we have seen what political races can do to the best of family situations. And we more than commiserate our current Mayor’s concern about certain is- sues, opportunities, and dreams that stand in line to wear his personal stamp of Tampa-accomplishment. But this still young leader, is said to have well-wishers who cheer as wise, his decision not to run.
History has repeatedly proven that Tampa Bay is a bul- wark of statewide leadership, touting impressive numbers of both governors and legislators who have come from here.
But to the following we bear witness. In terms of politics and history, a race is never done until the runner crosses the finished line.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
Women March Forth
mpowered Greetings.
Women, March Forth! It’s your month to stand up and be recognized for the trails you are blazing, the history you are making and the legacies you are leaving. In the U.S. and abroad March is the month that’s been carved out to reflect on the con- tributions that women have made and are making to shape our society. Women, March Forth this month to begin to live now, how you want to be re- membered later.
Women, March Forth with the bravery of Sojourner Truth and fight to take back our
children along with everything that is rightfully yours that your adversary has stolen, unjustly so.
Women, March Forth
with the business insight of Madam C. J. Walker by iden- tifying a problem, creating a so- lution then marketing it for monetary success. Your million- aire status is waiting on you to become the first in your family to achieve it.
Women, March Forth with the boldness of Ida B. Wells. Don’t back down. Began to write and or speak out on the ills of society or issues that you
are passionate about.
Women, March Forth with the determination of Eliz- abeth Eckford and continue to integrate arenas where others have dared to go.
Women, March Forth
with the notion from the slogan of Shirley Chisholm “Un- bought and Unbossed!” Allow the words said about herself to ring in your spirit as you con- tinue to March Forth. "I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself."
Until the next time be em- powered to empower yourself and empower someone else so that can dare to be yourself and live in the life you’re designed to live in the 21st century.
GOP Health Insurance Scam
ait and switch,” “card shark,” etc., are just two of the
printable descriptions we could use when describing the hoax that Republican lawmakers are playing on Ameri- cans with a ruse to repeal Obamacare while filling the pockets of insurance companies, investors, and the wealthy at the ex- pense of low-income, middle class and older citizens,.
According to reliable sources, GOP changes to the Afford- able Care Act (ACA or Obamacare-Lite) are projected to cause the following results:
1) The average enrollee could see an annual increase in their insurance premium by $1,542.
2) Insurers will be allowed to charge older customers 5 times as much as younger and healthier customers for the same level of coverage.
3) People ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid and without employer coverage will lose their cost-sharing subsidies.
4) The mandates and penalties for people who do not buy insurance coverage and employers that do not offer insur- ance coverage to employees will end. But anyone who doesn’t have health insurance will have to pay a 30% increase in in- surance premiums if they join because they are ill.
5) Expansions for Medicaid will be phased out and re- placed by funds based on the number of enrollees in 2016.
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6) Corporations, insurance companies, investors, and wealthy Americans will receive $600 billion in tax cuts, repealing nearly all of the taxes raised to help fund Obamacare.
7) Increases the amount an insurance company can deduct from its corporate taxes for ex- ecutive salaries from $500,000 to one million dollars.
It’s easy, therefore, to see who the real winners will be with the GOP Plan . . . just as it’s also too painful to see who the real losers will be.