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Stop Being A Pain Freak
lton Sterling’s life
still doesn't matter. That was the message the Department of Justice sent to the world when it an- nounced last Thursday that the evidence against the two officers who killed him was- n't “sufficient” enough to warrant filing charges. I sup- pose the video of Sterling having his face blown off while his back was pinned to the ground by two 250+ lb. men, and his hands were im- mobilized by his side, was viewed as business as usual.
Should we be shocked by this outcome? Probably not.
After all, Attorney Gen- eral Jeff Sessions de- clared two months ago that his department wasn't going to waste any resources inves- tigating local police issues. That was his way of dog- whistling to police depart- ments across the country that they could continue to kill "darkies" with his bless- ing. Refusing to indict Ster- ling's murderers was simply Sessions reassuring those departments that he stood by his promise.
I just wonder how many more Black people have to be killed before we finally catch the hint that the powers- that-be have no intentions of ever doing right by us?
Like the wife who can't bring herself to leave her abusive husband, we con- tinue to hold out hope that things will eventually get bet- ter. And, just as with that
battered spouse, we fail to re- alize that the longer we stick around the worse the beat- ings become.
Marcus Garvey tried to warn us a century ago that this would happen. He pro- posed leaving this country as our best chance for survival. But those who thought they knew better thought if we stayed on our knees in prayer, educated ourselves and assimilated into the larger society, that we could better our circumstances.
One hundred years have passed since then. And even though some have success- fully maneuvered themselves into a decent life, many more are still suffering under the same oppressive conditions as their parents, grandpar- ents and great grandparents.
With everything we con- tinue to go through over here, at some point, taking Garvey's advice and relo- cating to a different part of the globe has to be consid- ered a serious option, right? I mean, as large and as spa- cious as God has made this planet, there has to be a place we can go where our presence will be appreciated.
This doesn't necessarily mean giving up our citizen- ships. We can still have legal ties to the United States Cor- poration for business pur- poses. We would just have the benefit of residing some- where that allows us to spread our wings freely.
The only problem with
this game-changing scenario potentially becoming a real- ity is that 99% of the Black population in America seems to be pain freaks who've de- veloped a bad case of com- placency. We claim that we're tired of the lashings but, if escaping them means missing out on enjoying Net- Flix or an episode of Empire, being mistreated every so often becomes a little more tolerable.
We can trick ourselves into believing that we can talk, pray or march our way out of this mess. But the un- comfortable truth we have to accept is that nothing will ever change as long as we oc- cupy a room inside of house where we're not wanted.
So, when that day comes, when someone you love suf- fers at the hands of police brutality, is given a life sen- tence in prison unjustly, be- comes hopelessly addicted to a street narcotic or commits suicide because the pressure this nation places on Black- ness became too much to handle, don't bother taking your anger out on the cop who pulled the trigger, the system that made the laws, the government that oper- ates the drug pipeline or the predominate white society as a whole. Just chalk those misfortunes up as the sacri- fices you chose to make for the lifestyle and the world you couldn't let go.
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B-CU Versus Betsy DeVos:
Flagrant Act Or First Amendment?
ould late leader-educator Mary McLeod-Bethune
be turning over in her grave because of the steamy reception B-CU graduating students gave new Education Secretary Betsy DeVos when she attempted to address that university’s graduation ceremony, the other day?
And if indeed, the spirit of that great educator-social activist was upset, was she more upset because of DeVos’ obvious inability to speak on the subject of the heritage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (a subject which in earlier commentaries she had proven she knew nothing about), or would Mrs. McLeod-Bethune’s spirit have been more vexed over the unwillingness of her stu- dents to honor the First Amendment in a tradition where civility has often outweighed rage?
Most certainly, B-CU students had every right to be angry with Secretary DeVos’ comparing the plight of B- CU to the concept of school choice, a misstatement she’ll likely pay for in political purgatory. But, did DeVos’ bone- headedness merit the fusillade of boos, baahs, and cold shoulders Black graduates heaped upon a federal execu- tive administrator who was Secretary of Education in name only?
Painfully, we think not, and though we sympathize with B-CU students, we also empathize with B-CU President Edison Jackson who threatened to shut down the com- mencement.
A hidden question, of course, is why would university officials have invited DeVos obviously knowing how the majority of students felt about her? The answer, no doubt, speaks to a possible lump in the throat of campus commu- nication between B-CU administration and the student body.
However, we shall not judge other than to say, given the unforgiving attitude of the current state and presiden- tial administrations, we would watch very closely the fis- cal give-and-take between the Wildcats and the political hands that feed them.
TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
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healthy productive adult, Black people should internalize and act out the “village” concept.
Instead of focusing on firing principals for mistakes they may make, we should focus on what is or is not happening in these schools to help students succeed and to help parents become better mentors and advocates for their children.
If 20 percent of adults in Florida lack basic literacy skills such as being unable to read a newspaper article, at least 20 percent of parents are not equipped to help their children do well with reading or mathematics classes. Therefore, community support is crucial to help children succeed in schools.
We extend kudos to Allen Temple AME Church for adopting the Robles Park Com- munity and its feeder school, Broward Elementary School, and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for stepping up to mentor and tutor children attending Potter Elementary School.
While most sororities and fraternities have youth programs, the adoption of “D” and “F” schools by churches and civic and fraternal groups is an undisputed emer- gency need for Black children in these schools.
After all, God is not in the “failure factory” business.
It Takes A Village...
hether it’s a veteran white principal of an “F”
school (Campbell Park Elementary School) or a neophyte Black principal in an “F” school (Potter Ele- mentary School) in Tampa, the fact that these schools (nicknamed “Failure Factories”), are predominantly Black, cries out for community support of the children in these schools.
Indeed, the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” is appropriate for these two schools or any other predominately Black school in any American school district. In order for a Black child to become a
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