It seems that I have always respected and valued communication with my Black and Original ancestors. Although I admittedly do not always follow their counsel, I do look to them often for direction, overstanding, forgiveness and more.
On one particular night during my 1960s – 1970s ‘Movement’ days, Stokely ‘Black Power’ Carmichael (lka Kwame Ture) and I both felt a sudden uneasiness while riding through the streets of Washington, DC. Stokely was at the wheel of the car and I was seated in the passenger side. For no apparent reason, I felt a sudden uneasiness; squirmed and quickly turned around. Almost simultaneously, Stokely voiced a similar uneasiness.
As was often typical, Stokely and I saw that we were being followed by folk we ‘assumed’ to be FBI/CIA. This time, however, their presence in the car that trailed us was not met with ‘comic relief’ or gestures. Instead, Stokely and I instantly knew that the evening was not ‘intended’ to end well.
Stokely pressed down on the gas pedal hard as we raced through the streets of DC with the car that was following us in hot pursuit. Quickly, Stokely and I prepared for a probable violent confrontation should the car manage to overtake us. We overstood the seriousness of the situation….
As Stokely and I discussed tactics over the blare of our car’s radio, we spoke words to one another and to our ancestors. Stokely told me that he did not have his drivers license; we both knew that that fact alone would provide an ‘out’ for law enforcement to justify their ‘intended’ violence towards us. No matter the cost, Stokely and I both knew that we could not let that happen. Me, I did have my drivers license….
So, as our car raced on sidewalks and streets throughout the DC area, Stokely and I did what we had to do. (Today, I marvel at the protection and agility our ancestors provided us with….)
While gunning the pedal to the metal, Stokely and I somehow managed to change places with me winding up in the driver’s seat of the car.
Having made the switch while the car was in full motion, there was no time or way to adjust the driver’s seat, etc. to accommodate my shorter body frame. Stokely continued to operate the steering wheel throughout the duration of the ‘chase’ as I managed to slip my foot under his on the gas pedal. I kept my foot grounded on the car’s gas pedal as Stokely and I continued to travel the streets of DC.
Stokely and I drove through alleys, on sidewalks, on streets – you name it. And, although the pursuing car tried to continue the chase, we eventually – with the help of our ancestors – managed to leave that car in our dust.
In time, Stokely and I ditched the car and ran via our feet through various buildings and more until we reached a ‘safe’ destination amongst DC’s Black population. As Stokely and I sat amongst the safety of our people, we both laughed heartily and long and spoke of how we had managed to do that which many had thought to be ‘impossible’….
Needless to say, both Stokely and yours truly lived to fight another day and another night!
Undying love for Black people!
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Pacific Northwest Racism – Black Death and the Railroad
Like so many other places, the Pacific Northwest has its share of racist secrets — secrets that were, and still are, spoken about in private. I am convinced that there are times when some secrets should be told in order to educate and remind us of the dangers and ugliness of racism.
Yes, I do believe that some secrets should remain secrets; however, this is one truly discomforting secret that BlackParentSpeaks has chosen to share with the readers of BlackAngryWomen. This is the telling of a horrendous and tragic secret that involved racist Whites and the courageous Blacks who worked on the railroad c.1940s – 1960s.
I have always respected and looked up to my daddy, always. Daddy was the epitome of what a man, father, husband, and protector should be. Daddy was a Black man. Daddy was highly respected and trusted by fellow Blacks: men, women, and children.
One day, when I was still but a young child, Daddy sat me down in the music room of our big house and talked to me about my tendency of ‘putting him on a pedestal’.
Daddy explained that no man should ever be put on a pedestal and he went into great detail as to why…. That was the day I was ‘allowed in’ by my father – a ‘former’ porter on the railroad.
Daddy said that I needed to know — it might help me to know the truth as I grew in wisdom and knowledge. That day, Daddy revealed to me what had happened to a fellow Black porter on the train and why he, my Daddy, had early-on quit the railroad.
My father — like many of the Black men here in Portland, Oregon — worked for the railroad during earlier days. Daddy’s stint as a porter on the train had, by choice(?), been short-lived….
My recollection of what I was told by my father follows:
Daddy explained that a White woman had openly stated that she wanted to have a sexual encounter with a particular Black porter on the train. The White woman had indicated that the Black porter ‘met her fancy’. Needless to say, the Black porter ‘of her fancy’ was not interested.
My father and the other Black porters who were working on the train quickly discussed the situation. They knew there was ‘danger’ in the White woman’s desires. All of the Black porters agreed that it was best for that particular Black porter to switch places with one of them who had not met the White woman’s fancy.
Daddy and the other Black porters were keenly aware of the White woman’s anger as they politely listened to her racist words directed at all of them. As the White woman’s anger intensified, ‘word’ soon traveled to all of the Black porters that the White woman had spoken to a White employee of the railroad.
What followed was horrific and I – to this day – continue to shed tears for all of the Black men who were there. Their lives and other lives were changed in ways that words can never convey.
At an UNscheduled stop, the train came to a halt. All of the train’s Black employees were ordered to get off the train. Outside the train was a White mob carrying shotguns and more. One of the White men in the mob identified himself as law enforcement. Several of the White men had ‘restrained’ vicious dogs while others carried shovels.
The train’s Black employees were ordered at gunpoint to take the shovels and dig. The hate-filled racist voices from the White mob grew louder and louder and all kinds of ugly language and comments were shouted at my father and the other Blacks. The train’s Black employees did as they were ordered to do.
Eventually, the Black men were told to stop digging. Soon after, one of the train’s White employees stepped forth with the White woman whose sexual advances had not been reciprocated. The White woman was asked to identify the Black porter who had, according to her, attempted to sexually advance on her.
The White woman pointed to one of the Black porters and that porter was ordered — at gunpoint — to jump into the hole that he and the other Blacks had dug. Protests and denials meant nothing to the White mob as they lunged at the Black man and fired shots in the direction of my father and the other Blacks.
Once the identified Black porter was standing upright in the hole, my father and the other Black men were ordered to fill the hole in with dirt. Again, shots were fired and the still-restrained dogs continued to bark viciously.
When the dirt covered all but the neck and head of the Black man in the hole, the Black employees were ordered to stop filling in the hole with dirt and to step aside. At that point, the restraints on the wild dogs were loosened by their White handlers. The dogs wildly charged at the man in the hole and proceeded to rip-off and chew at the head of the Black porter who had been identified by the White woman.
My Black father and the other Blacks who worked on the train that day were forced to watch. My Black father and the other Blacks listened to and heard the agonizing screams and cries coming from their fellow Black porter – their friend.
Following what seemed like an eternity to my Dad, my father and the other Black employees on the train were ordered to completely finish filling in the hole. Daddy and the other Black employees were told that if they ever told what happened to anyone, they would meet a similar fate.
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(BlackParentSpeaks must pause now to wipe away the tears and to offer up a cry to God and our Black ancestors….)
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Being so young, I asked my father why he did not do something – why didn’t he speak up and stop the Whites from doing what they did? Daddy explained that the Whites (including the White employee of the railroad) already knew that the Black porter had not done what the White woman had claimed. Daddy said that there was nothing that he or any of the other Blacks could have done….
Daddy said that he and the other Black employees of the railroad made a pact to remain silent upon their return. He explained that the Black man had a family here at home and that they, the Black porters, agreed to simply say that the man ran away with other women along the train’s route.
I have thought about and wrestled with that secret for many many years. I have thought about that Black man and all of the Black lives that were destroyed and damaged that day. I have wondered how many other Black men ‘supposedly’ ran away while working on the railroad.
My father chose to quit the railroad. My father maintained his silence about what occurred as did the other Blacks who worked on the railroad.
I was allowed ‘in’ on the secret and it seems that the other Blacks who worked the railroad felt a degree of peace knowing that I, too, knew the secret. Over the years, I listened to and learned from the Blacks who worked on the railroad – sometimes they spoke of that and other racist incidents they endured as Black employees.
Please be advised that for Blacks ‘working on the railroad’ came at a real price. Both remaining employed and quitting took true strength.
BlackParentSpeaks dedicates this writing to the memory of all of our strong Black men and women who worked on the railroad during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s….
Undying love for Black people!
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We who are Black need to develop our own set of rules and procedures under which to organizationally function and operate. The basic foundation should be the use of ‘Black’ common sense and ‘Black’ respect.
‘Black’ common sense entails an appreciation for the enthusiasm and emotions that can arise in an organization, group, meeting, conference or any other gathering. It means using flexible procedures that fit the gathering and attendees as well as those who are actively participating. ‘Black’ common sense calls for using overstanding whenever needed. It means flexibility and the ability to calmly and satisfactorily resolve any dispute or disagreement that may warrant a resolution.
‘Black’ respect includes welcoming, listening to and hearing the input of all who are present. It means allowing the participants to, in fact, participate. ‘Black’ respect means paying attention to the speaker and speakers as well as acknowledging input as common sense leads US to do. ‘Black’ respect means flexibility in allowing the time needed for the participants to express themselves. It means showing patience and making accommodations as called for and whenever appropriate.
BlackParentSpeaks has chosen to blog on the subject of ‘Black’ organizational meetings and gatherings because we Blacks need to establish our own ’Black’ guidelines under which to operate. We should not continue to blindly follow Robert’s Rules of Order or any other blueprint laid out for the use of others. Instead, we need to glean that which is relevant and useful as we create and recreate our own set of rules and procedures — our BLACKprint — under which to function and operate.
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DISCLAIMER: BlackParentSpeaks does appreciate and value the work put into Robert’s Rules of Order by ‘White’ Henry Robert, a military man and the son of Reverend Joseph Thomas Robert who was the first president of ‘Black’ Morehouse College. However, it is more than obvious that much of Robert’s Rules of Order does not optimize or fit the needs of our Black community.
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The workframe for any organization and group or official body should include both common sense and respect. If a ‘successful’ meeting is the desired outcome, we can effectively run our meetings with overstanding enthusiasm and appreciation for the passion that may naturally ensue. If a meeting for the sake of having a meeting is the desired outcome, however, there is no need to change current procedures that employ Robert’s Rules of Order or stringent timetables that permit little or no time for genuine participation.
Community meetings that are ‘intended’ to be successful should always allow time for getting together before the meeting begins. There should be snacks and drinks whenever possible. Drinks should include juices and water and possibly coffee, tea, cocoa and whatever else is decided upon by the meeting conveners. If tea or coffee is available, both sugar and sugar substitutes should also be available. Because of food allergies and more, peanuts should NEVER be included in the snacks. Likewise, pork and pork products are ‘no-nos’ for obvious reasons.
Again, the NO SERVE list should include products containing peanut butter and pork ingredients as well as peanuts.
Whether this is a formal or informal meeting and whether it be a first meeting or not, there should always be time allowed for audience participation…. How much time, of course, will depend on time restraints and deadlines. It is important that the audience know that they are more than observers and that they are truly welcomed to participate – even if audience participation is limited.
In terms of the meeting itself, there should be an agenda – ample supplies of the agenda should be available for the participants. Extra copies of the agenda should also be available for audience members and observers. Depending on the size of the organizational body and its capabilities, the agenda can also be made available on-line.
The agenda for the meeting should allow time for ‘new business’. There should also be a place for general discussion items which allow for participation by all present. Suggestions for future consideration and action should be listened to and discussed.
It is vital that the convener of the meeting NOT be so sensitive as to take the words exchanged in the meeting on a personal level. The convener must be composed and flexible if the convener is to run an effective and successful meeting.
The convener sets the tone for the meeting and gathering. The convener should always address Black men, Black women, and others with respect. Men are adults and women are adults and the meeting convener should always be cognizant of– and a purveyor of — that fact.
The convener should NEVER refer to a woman as a “girl” – nor should the convener ever refer to a man as a “boy”. Men and women are adults; they must be respectfully addressed and discussed as adults by the meeting convener. Regardless of the words used by others in attendance, the meeting convener must always respectfully address men as men and women as women.
Once the meeting is called to order, folk should be thanked for coming out to the meeting and, if another meeting is already scheduled, folk should be told the time and place, etc. of the next meeting. Note: A supply of printed notices announcing the details of the next meeting should also be available.
During the opening of the meeting, the convener should point out the exit ways and the locations of the bathrooms. The convener should introduce himself/herself; and, if there is a panel, the members of the panel as appropriate. If ‘particular’ people are in the audience, they can be acknowledged.
Recognizing the serious nature of the Minutes, a recording secretary can be a person already on staff or the recording secretary can be someone who is hired or contracted for that purpose alone. Whatever the situation employed, the recording secretary must be allowed the time and space to do the job required to produce both the unofficial ‘draft’ Minutes and the finalized ‘approved’ official Minutes.
The unofficial ‘draft’ Minutes of the meeting should be prepared and available for review and editing within 1 to 2 weeks following the gathering. The recording secretary should use both the written notes taken at the event and the audio recording to prepare the unofficial ‘draft’ Minutes that are submitted for review and editing. The audio recording will help in verifying and clarifying possible confusion or uncertainties.
The finalized and ‘approved’ official Minutes of the meeting should always contain the date of the meeting, the beginning and ending time of the meeting, the names of the convener(s) and Board members ‘officially’ present, and other identifying information as appropriate. ‘Official’ decisions and approved and adopted resolutions should be easily identifiable and clearly stated in the finalized and ‘approved’ official Minutes. Whether the decisions made are unanimous, majority, or by general consensus should be spelled out in the finalized ‘approved’ official Minutes.
The above ‘BLACKprint’ is Part One of “Black Trumps Robert’s Rules”.
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All questions have answers – even if you do not know the answers or do not like the answers.
There is seriousness in jest.
Being resilient does not mean that Black people should ever forget our horrendous and inhumane enslavement by Whites. Black resilience does not mean that we portend to not recognize racism.
Black people have been — and are –oppressed as a race; we do not have the choice or the luxury of individualism.
Black unity does not mean Black uniformity.
I have been asked if the end justifies the means. My answer is ‘No’. It is the ‘means’ that justify the end.
We who are Black should not be forever in the mode of, without compensation, teaching White folk about race and racism. I am tired of so-called White ignorance and the pretense of race ignorance coming from White lips. I am tired of the multitude of excuses made for racist White folk.
Racism is ugly and dangerous. Racism should not be excused or tolerated. And, if White folk or others want an education relative to what racism is and more, they should expect to — want to — pay for that education.
Reactions and responses to BlackAngryWomen have been both educational and reflective.
One of the more recent ‘Black’ interventions involved a racist posting in the workplace. In that situation, the White supervisor quickly apologized in writing to the Black employee, removed the racist workplace posting, etc.
BlackAngryWomen commends the Black employee – a ‘Black’ woman – for stepping forth, expressing her anger in writing, and making a difference….
‘As long as there is breath, there is hope….’
Be Involved!
‘Don’t forget our reparations’.
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According to a November 15, 2013 article on TheGrio.com, Renisha McBride’s family does not want race to be a factor in the prosecution of her killer. Renisha McBride is the 19-year-old Black woman who was shot in the face by a White man after she knocked on the front door of his house in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Ms. McBride was apparently seeking help after a car accident.
Renisha McBride’s killer, 54-year-old Theodore Wafer, said he thought McBride was trying to break into his house and that his gun went off accidently. Unfortunately, this has become an all too familiar scenario – a young Black person is gunned down after being “mistaken” for a “criminal.” The cases of 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell in North Carolina and 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida provide just two recent examples of similar incidents. Yet, in spite of this pattern, Renisha McBride’s parents have rejected even the possibility that their daughter could have been a victim of racial profiling.
According to TheGrio.com, “The parents want the public to imagine that McBride could have been anyone’s loved one, not a woman who was shot for being black.” And further, “Preferring to refer to McBride’s death as a ‘case of human profiling,’ [McBride’s father] asked the public to ‘think about the fact that any 19-year-old girl might be in a similar situation.’”
I pose a question to all who read this BlackAngryWomen blog. Do the parents of ‘Black’ Renisha McBride want so much to believe in White acceptance of us (Blacks) that, even in the deeply tragic and personal circumstance of the killing of their own daughter, they have denied even the possibility that race could be a factor? This is deep, y’all.
I state, unequivocally, that the Renisha McBride case is racial. We cannot extricate Renisha McBride’s killing from the many other cases of young Blacks being shot dead due to racist perceptions of perceived ‘Black’ criminality. Nor should we want to.
We Blacks cannot ignore or deny racism out of existence. We will only experience racial justice when we call, and call out, racism by its name. Similarly, because race is still salient in this country, the public (and, by extension, potential trial jurors) will view this case through a racial lens no matter how many appeals McBride’s family makes to do otherwise. The implications of the Renisha McBride case go beyond Renisha McBride. Again, this case falls within an all-too-familiar pattern of young Blacks being killed by Whites or “White-minded” individuals (George Zimmerman).
The outcome of the Renisha McBride case may affect the course of future cases. Even more, the McBride case could serve as a rallying point for people to fight or continue fighting for racial justice. That the parents and their lawyers have declared the case ‘non-racial’ is unfortunate; however, it should not dampen any of our efforts to mobilize.
We saw what happened in the George Zimmerman trial when the prosecution declined to bring up a racial motive in the case. Instead, the defense lawyers brought up race, to the benefit of George Zimmerman. The defense seized on the “creepy-ass cracka” comment that Trayvon Martin reportedly made in reference to Zimmerman, to show that Martin was the one doing the racial profiling. The defense created the impression that Martin pursued and “attacked” Zimmerman for his race instead of the other way around. The defense also had several White residents of the neighborhood where Martin was killed testify that young Black males had been responsible for previous break-ins in the area and that they were terrified of potential future break-ins. Thus, the inference was that Zimmerman had a right to be suspicious of ‘Black’ Trayvon Martin.
Remember that Zimmerman was acquitted.
With Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy already stating that race will not be a factor in the prosecution of Theodore Wafer’s killing of Renisha McBride, I worry that his trial will go the way of the Zimmerman trial. If and when Wafer is acquitted, many of us will cry out in frustration and wonder how such an outcome could have happened, just as we did with Zimmerman. However, maybe we should start by looking at ourselves.
Racism is real. We need to acknowledge and fight against it 24/7.
My father was a Black man who wore his Blackness both outwardly and inwardly. Daddy took great pleasure and satisfaction in being Black and he actively supported and worked towards the betterment of Black people throughout the diaspora. Daddy did not waste time in conversation with Whites regarding racism. Daddy simply stated a fact and ‘allowed’ Whites to determine whether or not the racial ‘issue’ had to go to a physical level….
A ‘good’ example of my father’s racial character (c.1950s) came shortly after he went to play golf on a previously all-White golf course in Portland, Oregon. When confronted on the course by a mob-mentality group of White men intent on doing my father physical harm, Daddy stood his ground and refused to leave. And, when the ‘mob’ moved to advance on my ‘Black’ father, Daddy swiftly pulled an iron from his golf bag and swung it around his head as he exclaimed to all that the ‘first one in is dead….’ Needless to say, the mob quickly dispersed and Daddy continued his game of golf without further interruption.
As a result of my father’s refusal to barter his freedom to ‘enjoy’ his game of golf, that previously all-White Rose City Golf Course became my father’s ‘second home’. Daddy continued to regularly play golf on that course. And, Daddy introduced other Blacks to the game and the course and the money that could be made there.
My father was always ‘aware’ of race. He knew firsthand that White folk posed a never-ending danger to Black folk and Daddy schooled me – and other Blacks — accordingly.
If there ever was a hero on earth, it was my father. Daddy did not kowtow to White folk nor did my father ‘allow’ Whites to joke about race or racial issues in his presence.
Amongst my fondest memories, as a child, was my daddy reciting the poetry of ‘Black’ Paul Laurence Dunbar in our home – a practice I continued with my own children and others. I also remember both the respect and the sadness my father expressed when he spoke in ‘private’ detail relative to ‘Black’ Paul Robeson….
My father was a man of many many talents. Along with speaking Creek, Latin, Spanish, and English, my father built his own printing press for use in the multiple businesses he started. Daddy was an adept accountant, mover, electrician, plumber, painter, writer, golfer, and more.
Daddy’s morning routine included running a distance of 10+ miles, exercising outside our house, a cold shower, preparing breakfast for our family, singing, and often playing our family piano. Daddy regularly managed all of the above before going to work or before going to play an AM round of golf on the golf course we nicknamed Daddy’s “second home” – Rose City Golf Course in Portland, Oregon.
My ‘Black’ father was a man who especially enjoyed the cold. He played golf all year round — ice and snow did not deter him or his enthusiasm. In fact, Daddy took great pleasure in playing golf during the winter weather when few, if any, White golfers were on the course. In relatively short time, Daddy developed and established an annual golf tournament which he named the “Iceberg Open” at Rose City Golf Course in Portland, Oregon.
Under my father’s direction, I handled much of the advertising end (including write-ups and more). All of the ‘Iceberg Open’ details – including rules, names, categories, scoring, payouts, etc. came from my father’s mind and creativity. Following the c.3 day event, Daddy and I collaborated in writing up and printing the results and news pieces for the media. As expected by my dad, the annual ‘Iceberg Open’ Golf Tournament was a fun and challenging success.
Integration at Portland’s Rose City Golf Course was not a smooth process for my father or the other Blacks he soon brought with him to the course. Before steering other Blacks towards Rose City and the game of golf, Daddy schooled many on the reality of racism. Daddy admonished all of us to be aware and prepared. Daddy exclaimed that ‘a Black man knows better than to call the police in a dispute with a White man. A Black man knows to handle the problem himself….’
There were many instances of racism at Rose City Golf Course, however, we Blacks handled the problems swiftly and effectively for the most part. And, there was a silent agreement amongst all of the golfers that ‘what happens at Rose City Golf Course, stays in-house’. I am reminded of an incident that required a Black golfer to pull a machete from his golf bag. The Black golfer was playing golf with three White golfers and the Black golfer was ‘winning’. Following the machete incident, that game of golf continued and the Black golfer won. That was just one of the many racial incidents that occurred on the course at Rose City Golf Course.
Daddy never really ‘liked’ working under the control of others who dictated commands. Accordingly, Daddy quickly began his own business which incorporated a variety of ventures. Daddy, with overstanding and without restraint, provided jobs to Black folk. Under my father’s tutelage, I learned such skills as writing, accounting, scheduling, organizing, management, typing, language, carpentry, pricing, racial and human relations, and more. Daddy also advised that it is often better for me to do something than to walk away wishing that I had done something….
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Secretive and sensitive information was often anonymously relayed to me during my days and nights in the 1960s and 1970s Black Movement. Whether or not the information was factual or a ploy, I know not. However, I was faced with the task of evaluating the info and ‘wisely’ handling or not handling it.
Stokely ‘Black Power’ Carmichael (lka Kwame Ture) would say that living for your people will prove to be more difficult than dying for your people. He explained that anyone can die. Stokely’s question to me was: Can you live for your people?
The emotional upheaval was heavy for yours truly. I saw many of the brothers and sisters who gave and gave and gave literally ‘lose it’ behind their ever-reaching desire to bring about righteousness in America. America was a cesspool of racism and Whites played that ‘race card’ with ease. Whites openly argued that nothing-of-worth existed without White validation or White discovery.
Whites equated words like black and dark as negatives while equating words like white and light as positives. Whites did not like Black people’s use of the word ‘Black’ in describing ourselves. And, Whites were made uncomfortable when ‘Black’ was linked with the word ‘Power’. Whites were sent off-kilter by Black men and Black women who rejected being called “girl” and “boy”. A sister who wore a natural was looked upon with suspicion by Whites who felt it was a sting and a rejection of White values and limits.
Ralph Featherstone (Feather) — a young Black man in the ‘Movement’ — would often and regularly ask me if there was a ‘contradiction in a sister, clad in a mini-skirt, wearing a natural’. Sadly, Feather died in a car bomb explosion before I ever had the insight or the wherewithal to answer his question. For a myriad of reasons, Feather’s death – like many others’ — will likely remain etched in my memory forever….
We in the ‘Movement’ realized the seriousness of winning. We knew that Black people needed to see us win. Stokely emphasized that our people needed to see us win – regardless of the costs.
There was a real disconnect between Washington, DC’s ‘Black’ Howard University and the Black community of DC. As we formed and organized the ‘original’ DC Black United Front (the Front), one of the many issues we confronted was the separation of Howard students from the community. Folk in the community said that the Howard students thought they were ‘better than and different from’ the Blacks in the community. They spoke of how the students shunned the community and rarely—if ever – lifted a finger to help the community.
In response to the Howard University ‘problem’, we in the Front knew we had to act. After careful deliberation and strategizing, the Front decided to push for student involvement in the community as well as a Black studies program at the school. We reached out to ‘active’ Howard students and they reached out to us.
We knew that administrators of Howard University would be most resistant to community involvement. And, we knew that the strongest possible resistance would come from ‘Black’ Howard University’s administration to formulating a Black studies program at the school. But, we were determined and, as Stokely explained: When Howard falls, the other universities and colleges will prove to be ‘mickey mouse’ to us who mean ‘business’.
Stokely’s assessment and familiarity with Howard University was right-on-target. Active resistance was employed by the University and the school ‘forced’ its students to organize sit-ins and more. Eventually, Howard University’s administration responded by having its students tear gassed, etc. and the campus was soon ablaze in fire. Vehicles were overturned and the campus appeared as a ‘war zone’. In the end, however, the students and community won as Howard University agreed to a Black studies program and more….
Following Howard University’s agreement to institute Black studies, the DC Front sent letters to other colleges and universities reminding them of ‘what had gone down at Howard’…. Needless to say, the response received from other schools was overwhelmingly positive and inviting…. Thus, the advent of Black studies on campuses throughout America resulted from the blood and sweat of both the Black community and Howard’s Black students.
Stokely was never really comfortable with the label “leader”. He saw himself as a community organizer and often spoke of himself in that manner. In private and intimate conversations with me, Stokely shunned the idea of being referred to as a Black ‘leader’.
It is interesting that Stokely, Marion Barry, Rev. David Eaton, and so many of us came together in DC at a particular time to help in organizing and formulating a Movement that brought such impactful racial change to America. How many people know that Stokely used to teach Sunday school to children, Marion studied Chemistry in school, etc.? Each of us – and others — stepped away from that which was comfortable in order to fight the good fight. What we accomplished was nothing short of a miracle. We willingly gave our lives and our dreams to the ‘Movement’….
Black folk in the 1960-1970’s Black Movement knew each other. It did not matter whether the organizers – or ‘leaders’ as some chose to be called – were from California; New York; Oregon; DC; Philadelphia; Atlanta; or NewArk, New Jersey…. We soon got to know each other as a result of our ‘Black’ activism.
I remember my first time meeting Stokely ‘Black Power’ Carmichael. The DC head of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (lka Student National Coordinating Committee) vouched for me, and Stokely and I immediately became fast friends and more. Although I had spoken to David Eaton on numerous occasions via phone, I well remember the first time we met. David and I, likewise, formed a fast and intimate friendship and more. Often, we were involved in ‘political’ trips together and I became a part of his ‘family’. I recall the first time I met Lester McKinney, Dick Jones, H. Rap Brown, Imamu Baraka, Malauna Ron Karenga, Jesse ‘the Country Preacher’ Jackson, and so many many others.
I learned a lot before I ever had the privilege of meeting particular people in the Movement. I learned a lot while working with and for specific folks in and out of the Movement. And, I have learned a lot since. When I was but a child, my father told me that I would soon learn that the more I learn, the more I will grow to realize how ‘little’ I actually do know. My Daddy was right!
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Looking back at the 1960s – 1970s Black ‘Movement’ from my most-intimate and involved vantage point, I am now comfortable in stating that there were sacrifices – great sacrifices.
My Oregon parents and their neighbors were questioned regarding me. There were threats from America’s law enforcement community to my livelihood, my life, etc. I was offered money, a leadership position, and ‘protection’ to sell-out. My home was entered while I was away. At least one attempt was made on my life. I was relentlessly followed. And, yes, there was more.
It was not uncommon for me to look up from my paid job with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program and see FBI agents coming to take me into custody. At times, I was placed in handcuffs. At other times, I was not handcuffed.
I was often escorted from my job, driven away in a car, and questioned at a different location – usually in a downtown DC building. There were sometimes veiled threats. At other times, I was told outright that I could or would be harmed if I did not cooperate. Needless to say, I NEVER knew anything. Therefore, I was NEVER able to give any information to the FBI or any of the other law enforcement ‘agents’ assigned to follow and monitor me.
I recall one occasion when I was taken away by two FBI agents and interrogated relative to an ‘alleged’ relationship between Muhammad Ali and a ‘Chicken Man’…. Although I responded that I had never personally met Brother Muhammad Ali and I had no idea who ‘Chicken Man’ was, the futile questioning continued. Finally, after repeated questions, I was told that my life was in danger ‘because of my refusal to cooperate’ with law enforcement.
My position in the ‘Movement’ commanded a keen sense of awareness. I was trusted with ‘sensitive’ information. At times, I had to make split-second decisions. I can truthfully say that never did I waver nor have I ever regretted any of the decisions I made with respect to the ‘Movement’.
Encouragement – for me – came from a c.93+ year old Black woman who mailed us (Stokely ‘Black Power’ Carmichael and me) a note with two dollars to help in the ‘Movement’. Her note expressed her gratitude and faith in us to keep up the struggle. She wrote that she could ‘die in peace’ knowing that we were continuing the fight for our Black people…. Letters and sentiments like that brought heaviness to my heart and tears to my eyes. Our elder sister’s words-on-paper reinforced my commitment to righteousness. Indeed, I was privileged and ‘chosen’ by a power beyond man….
Because our lives were intertwined with the ‘Movement’, caution and awareness were employed. I became an intimate confidant of Stokely’s and Martin’s (Martin Luther King) and David’s (Rev. David Eaton) and others’.
I recall being driven around DC by the son of the Ambassador from Pakistan. I recall dinners in New York and at the home of Tanzanian Ambassador Gosbert Rutabanzibwa. I recall dancing with Charles Diggs. I recall contemplating a move to Cuba and changing my mind. I recall reading Chairman Mao’s ‘Little Red Book’ and the passage regarding men and oral sex.
I recall being ‘almost’ raped by a well-known ‘Black’ man (deemed a “leader” by the White media) who I fought and struggled with to the point of sweat-ridden exhaustion. The man finally stopped his vicious assault on my person only after I managed to say that if he stuck his ‘thing’ in my vagina, I would tell the ‘world’….
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Knowledge of the past can help us to avoid repeating the mistakes as we move forward.
It seems that life has always been about ‘purpose’ for me. I have tried to be responsible and loyal while allowing myself the freedom to make mistakes. While I was but a young child, my father told me that ‘it is better to do something than to walk away and later wish you had done something’. That is one of the mantras in my arsenal.
While working with the Citizens Advocate Center in DC, I found myself in need of a secretary. There were deadlines to meet and the Hunger In America report, which I was charged with coordinating, was a project of immense importance. I quickly put the ‘word’ out that the Center was hiring.
After interviewing several Black prospective applicants, I went back into my office to make that all-important decision as to who I would hire. While mulling over my choices, a rather shy looking young Black woman entered our offices. I was summoned to the greeting area to meet and possibly interview the young woman for the secretarial position. Although the lady had arrived late for her interview, I chose to hear her story.
The sister was in her twenties and she had dropped out of high school as a tenth grader. She expressed that she did NOT know how to type, etc. In fact, she was convinced that she would not be hired for the job because of her lack of secretarial skills and more. As tears began to fill her eyes, she fidgeted with her clothes and nervously told me that she knew she should not have showed up for the interview and she apologized for taking up my time.
I quickly handed the young sister a box of Kleenex and got her a soft drink and told her that I had ‘all the time in the world to hear her story’. After getting as much information as I could from the young woman, I told her that she was hired. I expressed that her job as my secretary would be to ‘return to school’. I expressed that she would learn how to file, how to type, English and more while working as my secretary. As she continued to cry, I told her that she could start that same day or the next day – it was up to her! And, as a welcome to the job, I handed her money from my purse.
The Executive Director of the Citizens Advocate Center was Edgar S. Cahn – a Jewish attorney. Attorney Cahn was not initially pleased with my hire, however, after I explained my ‘reasons’, he quickly jumped on board to help.
The young woman I hired was in search of her ‘family’. Her nine brothers and sisters — all children — had been removed from her care years prior by social workers who discovered the circumstance of their living conditions. The young woman’s parents were both deceased and the woman had biological children of her own to support. The woman feared that even her own biological children would be taken away by social workers because the place they were staying in was uninhabitable.
Quickly, I began making phone calls and sending out ‘feelers’ in an attempt to locate the young woman’s siblings. Attorneys handled the legal turf as Black community activists and others stepped in with support and more. Within a matter of weeks, we had the entire ‘clan’ together and we secured a large home in Northwest DC for the young woman and her ‘family’. We furnished the place (two refrigerators were donated) and went shopping for clothing, groceries, and other items needed for their ‘home’. Our ‘no-walls’ support for the family continued….
Later, I hired another employee for the Center and that sister assisted in putting together a thorough ‘first-ever’ report on Hunger In America. To her surprise, I made a conscious decision to credit her on the final report.
BlackParentSpeaks contends that God provides us with countless opportunities to ‘do the right thing’ and to pay our dues. In the Movement, some of us would sometimes quip that we were ‘over’paying our dues and paying the dues for all of us. And, yes, I do know that there is an African proverb that states ‘behind jest is sometimes seriousness….’
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There are times when each of us should take leave of ‘self’ in order to truly see. Our lives do have purpose even if we know not the purpose. Have a useful, purposeful, and committed 2014 New Year.
In my thirst to learn and grow, I listen to what people say and I hear some things that are unsaid by others. I see that which is oft-times unseen and I tap into my ancestors for overstanding. I allow myself to hear and feel as I welcome and seek the wisdom that comes with Black consciousness.
We who are Black must be grounded in who we are. The trappings of temptation abound and many of us wake up one night to discover that we, too, are lost in lascivious lifestyles that are void of purpose and commitment – void of Blackness.
Do not idolize or put on a pedestal any man, woman, or child. None of us is perfect. We are human and we are all capable of doing wrong and making mistakes. Some of our mistakes and wrongs afford us and others additional opportunities to learn and grow.
Material possessions do not make any of us better than others. Attributes that matter include involvement in and supporting us who give of ourselves for the betterment of future generations.
We who are Black must look at accountability and we must keep it relevant to who we ‘really’ are and what we should be about…. Excuses and apologies are not attractive; we must ‘keep it real’!
Offers to compromise our Blackness and to sell-out our fellow Blacks have been around for a long time. The lures include money, sex, drugs, the facade of power, authority, stardom, celebrity status, a ‘position’ – you name it, the lures are plentiful. Know that temptation can be a very powerful magnet.
So, we who are Black must be aware. We must periodically give ourselves a self-constructed litmus test. We must not get so caught up in ourselves that we become arrogant and think we are above temptation. Strength demands awareness. And, we must remember that ‘as long as there is breath, there is hope’. We must love each other in spite of our mistakes. Again, ‘as long as there is breath, there is hope’. Undying Love for Black People!
My litmus test measures who I am. And, it measures how far I have – or have not — progressed along the line of Black commitment. As pointed out in an earlier post: ‘many are called, few are chosen’…. I truly believe that I was ‘chosen’ and my life had — and continues to have — ‘purpose’.
I am in awe at the force that brought the likes of Marion Barry, Rev. David Eaton, Stokely ‘Black Power’ Carmichael (lka Kwame Ture), KoKo Hughes, Chuck Stone, Francis Welsing, Calvin Rolark, Betty Diggs, myself, and so many others together in DC during the 1960s. Our commitment and work ignited a ‘Black’ force that reverberated throughout the world. So many things were accomplished and we truly did ‘raise the bar’. Many many people have benefitted as a result of the things we did and the actions that we took to bring about real change for Black people and all people.
In remembering the past, I think about Martin (Dr. King) and his ‘side’ trip to DC to speak with some of us before he returned to Memphis. I think about Martin’s words – which I recorded — questioning whether or not White folk, in fact, had a conscience. I think about the fact that Martin and I both knew that he would likely never return from Memphis and I remember that he was okay with whatever the future held for him. I remember our talk and I remember that the ‘word’ was out that Martin would be killed if he returned to Memphis….
There are a lot of stories yet to be told. Fact is, however, most of the stories from the 1960s and 1970s Black Movement will remain untold….
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