Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 6-4-21

Editorial/Column
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No Dreamland
une 1st marked the
100-year anniversary of the Tulsa, Oklahoma mas- sacre. The infamous event, sparked by an unproven alle- gation by a white woman who claimed a Black man as- saulted her inside an eleva- tor, resulted in the murder of over 300 people and the complete destruction of the 42 blocks that made up Tulsa's predominately Black Greenwood community, af- fectionately known as "Black Wall Street," due to its afflu- ence.
Over the last two weeks there have been numerous newspaper articles and tele- vision programs that have delved into the back story of how this popular enclave of Black success and achieve- ment came to ruin at the hands of racism in its rawest form. And each time I read a piece or watched a special re- counting the horrific details of the tragedy I found myself asking the same question? Have things changed all that much since?
Back then it wasn't just the savage actions of a white mob that leveled Black Wall Street. The same systemic
racist policies that Blacks face daily today also played a role during that time as well.
When thousands of white men gathered to invade Greenwood, armed with guns, ammunition and torches, the Tulsa police offi- cers who swore an oath to serve and protect didn't stop them. Just like their firefight- ing counterparts, who al- lowed over 1,000 homes and businesses to go up in flames without lifting a finger, they stood by and watched.
And even after the dust settled, when hundreds of families were left homeless due to no fault of their own, insurance companies refused to honor claims by home- owners who sought some form of compensation in order to rebuild their lives.
In the aftermath of the riots, the Black people of Tulsa found themselves not only victimized by a hateful horde who attempted to wipe them off the face of the earth, but also by the institutions they funded (either through their taxes or patronage) that were supposed to ensure their safety and well-being.
As unfortunate as that
sounds, though, a century later we're still affected by eerily similar conditions. As it was with our ancestors in Tulsa, our current tax dollars are also spent on paying the salaries of police officers who unjustifiably kill our sons and daughters on a near weekly basis.
Unruly white mobs con- tinue to form and lash out with impunity as we wit- nessed recently during the siege on the U. S. Capitol in January. And, as it was at the beginning of the 1900s, Black men are still accused, con- victed and lynched (judicially speaking) at a higher rate than any other demographic.
What occurred on Black Wall Street didn't take place in a vacuum. The pre-con- ceived perceptions, pre- sumptions of guilt, overreaction and the lack of respect and value placed on Black life that day is repre- sentative of the overall Black experience in America.
The fact that we can so easily relate to what those brothers and sisters went through means that, even though technology makes it appear as if we're light-years removed from that dark era in history, we've actually only moved a few steps away.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can email Mr. Barr at: cbscribe2@- gmail.com.
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Is It OK?
ave you recovered from the report on the GOP
Senator’s refusal to establish a commission to study and issue a report on the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol yet? Now, you all know that if the attack- ers had been Asian, Black, or Middle Eastern, the Com- mission would have been established months ago.
Does this mean that the majority Republican sena- tors think it is natural for white male mobs to attack the Nations’ Capitol and seeks to kill the Vice President and Speaker of the House?
Is it normal for attackers on the Capitol to spread urine and feces on the floor and walls of the Capitol?
How can those senators tell the 140 Capitol police of- ficers that they don’t want to know why a request for assistance from the National Guard and Declaration of a State of Emergency were denied for their protection what can they tell the mothers, father, wives, children, brothers, and sisters of the 5 people who died or com- mitted suicide because of the trauma during the attack?
Wouldn’t you love to hear what they tell the 140 Capitol police officers who were injured with concus- sions from blows to their heads, lost an eye, cracked ribs, fractured spinal discs, by stabbing with metal fence posts, suffered COVID-19, reacted to bear mace, cuts and bruises?
How can they tell voters that it’s ok and they don’t want to know how militia groups and white suprema- cists’ organizations organized to bring bombs, firearms, military style weapons and other weapons into the Capitol?
We don’t know about you, but we want to know how they plan on preventing further attacks on the Capitol. Moreover, we want to know what information Don- ald Trump has on them that make them remain quiet
about the big lie about a stolen election.
We hope voters send them a clear message that they
have served their last term as a senator or representa- tive in Congress. Let them know that they are FIRED!
FYI
2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Ends june 6th
The 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday began at midnight on Friday, May 28th and will end on Sunday, June 6, at midnight.
During this 7-day period merchants will not charge sales tax on exempted items. The holiday is designed to help Floridians prepare for the upcoming 2021 Hurricane Season. The season begins on June 1, and ends on November 30th.
During this week, residents can purchase unflavored bottled water, canned food, including meats, vegetables, fruits, peanut butter and other non-perishable food items.
Residents are also encouraged to purchase first aid kits, prescription and over the counter med- ications, baby food, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products as well.
Other useful items include any gas or diesel fuel containers, batteries for radios, radios or two- way communication items, and a battery-operated weather band radio, costing $50 or less.
Items such as reusable ice (reusable ice packs) that cost $20 or less; any portable, self-powered light source that includes candles, flashlights, and lanterns that cost less than $40; coolers and ice chest or portable power bank under $60, and portable generators that cost less than $1,000. The gen- erators can be used to provide light, communications, or to preserve food during power outages.
Items costing $100 or less that can be purchased include bungee cords, ground anchor systems, ratchet straps, tarpaulins (tarps), visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting.
The purpose of the no sales tax holiday is to allow residents the opportunity to purchase items that will be needed in a storm at the beginning of hurricane season.
For more information visit www.floridarevenue.com/disasterprep.
J
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FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 5-A