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Editorial
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Feature
It’s Their Privilege
hen I first witnessed
the siege on the U. S. Capitol back in January, where a large horde of Don- ald Trump supporters at- tempted to stop the certification of Joe Biden's presidency, I thought to my- self, "every one of these crazy bas...rds are going to find themselves locked up in prison for a long time." With the image of violent insur- rectionists beating up police officers, calling for the head of then Vice-President Mike Pence and stealing documents from the floor of the House of Representa- tives, I just knew that things were going to end very badly for all parties involved.... I
was wrong.
I forgot that if you have
the right skin complexion,
leaning more towards al- abaster than chocolate, you can do almost anything in this country without suffer- ing any real consequences.
That was, once again, proven when 38-year-old Paul Hodgkins, the first person convicted for his role in the Capitol siege, was sen- tenced to 8 months in federal prison.
To put into perspective how lenient of a sentence Hodgkins received, the guy got less time for participating in an attempted coup, where several people (including a cop) ended up losing their lives, than the average per- son receives after missing several child support pay- ments. And the question I can't help but wonder is, "how is that even possible?"
Surely engaging in a criminal activity that re- sulted in death and caused serious injury to several law enforcement officers is a more serious offense than being delinquent on court ordered payments, right? So how is it that, if both of these individuals were sentenced at the same time, the rioter would beat the deadbeat dad home?
This case, unfortunately, is another gross example of white privilege in all of its unjustified glory. Not only does a light skin tone allow a person to survive a situation that would surely result in the instant murder of some- one much darker but, when it's all said and done, it also allows for him to get away with a slap on the wrist for those same actions, regard- less of the severity.
I guess some things will never change.
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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Anti-Transgender Legislation Harms Youth
ust before Christmas of 2008, four-year-old “Jerry told
his mother, “Mama, I feel like a girl inside and I would like to get dolls, a set of dishes, and a fairy princess dress for Christmas instead of cars, trucks and guns.” Of course, Mama decided to give the toys she had already purchased to other children and went shopping again to buy the toys Jerry wanted.
Jerry’s parents hid the fact that Jerry dressed up in girl’s clothes and played with girls’ toys from other family members until Jerry reached the age of 9. Jerry now has the love and support of his entire family. One can only imagine the fear, shame, and angst that Jerry felt and still feels about other peo- ple’s reaction to his gender identity and threats to his safety.
Today, Jerry and children like her face a host of anti-trans- gender legislation (100 bills) in at least 33 states with predom- inantly Republican legislatures. For some reason, Republicans like to tell people what to do with their bodies and seem to spend a lot of time minding other people’s busi- ness.
At least 33 states are introducing legislation that bans hor- mone treatments, that bans insurance companies from paying for the treatments and surgery for transgender youth under the age of 18.
The state of Arkansas has become the first U. S. state to outlaw “gender confirming treatments and surgery for under- age youth.” The bill also “bans doctors from providing pu- berty blockers, or from referring transgender youth to other providers for treatment.”
The law also bans health insurance companies from paying for treatments. Such legislative interference into the health- care of transgender youth is governmental overreach into cit- izens’ healthcare needs.
Transgender youth already have high suicide rates and a high incidence of depression. The passage of the proposed leg- islation will only increase the mental health problems of transgender youth.
Every day is a struggle for LGBTQ youth and adults, ... a struggle with their identity, rejection, ridicule, harassment, discrimination, bullying, employment, equal treatment, job assignments, promotions, teasing and terms or conditions of employment.
Government interference in or denial of medical treatment to youth is a slippery slope down the path of removing the right of parents and youth to make decisions about their chil- dren’s’ health care. We certainly support legal challenges to this unprecedented government intrusion into personal healthcare.
Nine-Year-Old Entrepreneur Designs Jewelry And Accessories
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Nine-year-old Isabella (Bella) Nickson- Green is quite the young artist. From present- ing her artwork at three-years-old to designing accessories at 8, the 5th grader loves beautiful things and sharing them with her customers.
Bella loves accessories and styling outfits. When she traveled with her family to Panama, she fell in love with Molas, the multicolor tra- ditional textile craft made from layers of col- ored fabric that are stitched and cut using applique techniques to create patterns and pic- tures.
Bella designs beautiful, jeweled key- chains, backpacks, hats, and scarves.
Her mother, Altamease Nickson, says Bella has had three pop-ups since June. Two at Belmont Market in Ruskin and the other at a Juneteenth celebration at Paschall Blanc Art Studio in Brandon.
Altamease Nickson wants people to know that Bella’s Studio is being driven by Bella herself. She approached her mother and grandfather with a clear vision of what her store would include.
Bella designed the logo and helped design the website. Originally, her mother was not crazy about the name, but Bella stuck to her guns. She goes through all designs, and she de- cides what to include. Bella has also been ex-
ISABELLA NICKSON-GREEN
posed to a business plan and her mother is using this to teach her daughter an entrepre- neurial spirit.
In the future, look for Bella to expand be- yond fashion accessories into home décor.
Bella is very appreciative of the support she gets from family, especially her dedicated grandparents, Danilo and Romaine Green.
Bella is planning another pop up in Au- gust.
For more information and see where the next pop up will be, visit Bella’s website at https://bellasartstudio.me
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FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 5-A