bLaKcEo
Pass the Blunt? (We) Collect $200.
Aug 26, 2009
Some Chicago-area residents are laughing all the way to the bong after a measure was passed decriminalizing carrying small amounts of marijuana in unincorporated Cook County.
Residents, community organizations and politicians say they support the ordinance that would not require some marijuana offenders to be arrested but receive a $200 ticket instead.
Supporters, many of whom were caught off guard by the passing of this ordinance, claim that, though unexpected, this change was long overdue. Recession-driven cutbacks further bleeding an already clogged court system, wasted police man-hours and racially disproportionate drug-related arrests may be among the reasons that some lawmakers have given this legislation the green light.
Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley supported a similar idea some five years ago saying the vast majority of such cases are thrown out of court anyway - at taxpayers' expense. "If 99 percent of the cases are thrown out and we have police officers going [to court], why? - It costs…a lot of money for police officers to go to court.â€
Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins, who sponsored the ordinance, has a different motive -- among other things, to racially even the playing field. The commissioner said that for too long Blacks have been arrested for marijuana possession while Whites were let go with a warning by police. “You cannot tell me that Blacks use marijuana more than Whites. It appears that way because most of the arrests are of Blacks.†Collins told the Chicago Defender.
Others counter that such arguments are only smoke and mirrors and that, actually, “It’s the recession - stupid.†–
Municipal coffers across the nation are bleeding and it is, more than likely, becoming fiscally irresponsible, if not impossible, to continue spending dwindling tax dollars on non-violent “soft†crimes. Members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) a non-pro-drug 10,000-member organization started by police, prosecutors, judges, FBI/DEA agents, corrections officials, military and others who fought on the front lines of the “war on drugs†seem to agree; “..by learning a lesson from American history and ending today’s expensive and counterproductive prohibition of drugs like we ended the earlier prohibition of alcohol, we can cut wasteful spending and generate new revenues, all while making America’s streets safer. A legal and regulated drug trade will lead to far fewer people being arrested and incarcerated at taxpayer expense and will generate essential new revenues, some of which can be earmarked to finance improved drug treatment and recoveryâ€
Mexico, in the midst of fighting its own deadly war on drugs, recently decriminalized some possession of a number of drugs including marijuana and cocaine citing overcrowded prisons and dwindling law enforcement budgets. Should more local governments, if not the federal government, follow suit and decriminalize “recreational use†drug possession – or is this budding movement to "go green" a slippery slope towards a drug-induced national disaster? B.C.
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How to Be Black For a Day
Jul 31, 2009
There are some, who after reading this article, will proceed to call me a "racist".I expect that. However, I am not. My sole intent is give you just a little insight into what it’s actually feels like to be Black in America. Come, take a closer walk with me. I want you to be Black For A Day.
Wake up: Saturday Morning 8:30a Go online. You pay a few bills and then decide to run a few errands. As you head to your car you wave at a white neighbor who yells “What’s up bro?” from across the street. He asks if you want to hang out later with his friends but you turn down the invite. Your stomach turns as you recall hanging out with he and his friends (all white) and being expected to be the Google of black-Americana or to somehow represent all black people.
9:26a You decide to go shopping but dare not venture out on posh Michigan Ave or Fifth Avenue because you know from a lifetime of daily reinforced race-based experiences dating as far back as childhood that you will not feel comfortable in any high end store. You know that you will, without a doubt, encounter a standoffish sales associate who will make it a point to immediately ask if you need help finding anything – read: “I want you to know that we know that you’re here and we can describe you if you try to steal something and run.” You decide to enter a store and true to form here comes the associate ready with his opening line, as if on cue. You take notice of how the white mom with her teenage daughters, who were 10 feet behind you, are only smiled at and are summarily dismissed by the same associate. You debate if you should just leave the store or bring the matter to the attention of a manager but be careful. Do not get loud b/c if the police are called it will be your word against the stores and rarely have these occurrences turned out in your favor. Plus, there’s no need to add to the stereotype of the perpetually angry black man or sassy black woman and risk subsequent embarrassment or arrest. So, just continue to shop and ignore the security guard who either has a twin working on the opposite side of the store or is quite obviously following you. Stop being paranoid - this can’t be discrimination – it’s just something that consistently happens to some people.
11:15a You walk up the Avenue. As you move briskly along the sidewalk you notice that you are approaching two white women from behind. Slow down and make a conscious effort not to walk too closely. Do not be so much concerned about frightening them but be prepared for one or both of them to visibly grab and hold their purses a little tighter as you pass. Yes, there it is. Like clockwork. You feel a tinge of hurt and helplessness - but hey it's nothing new. Racism? Maybe not- because this is just something that consistently happens to some people? Maybe they’re from some small town and are afraid of the big city. It's their problem. I mean -when was the last time you heard of anyone anywhere snatching a purse anyway? Wait, a bigger white guy brushes past you and then them. Hmmm...no grab...no hold...well maybe they just didn't see that guy.
12:00p You grab a newpaper - You grimace as, once again, President Obama has his qualifications questioned or is vilified for killing a fly, wearing jeans, for saying this or for proposing that. Let’s forget that he inherited this mess, is far more intelligent than his predecessor and seems to want to work with all people. Everyone has a solution or complaint but only he has the job. If America will not respect the man can't they at least respect the position that they elected Obama to? Malcom X once said “What does [white America] call a Negro with a PH.D.? Nigger.” But no way - that was so long ago. These attacks couldn't be thinly veiled racism – not in America. Turn the radio off. No point in starting the day off badly.
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Part II - How to Be Black For a Day
Jul 31, 2009
1:37p Oh my, you only have a $20. You respectfully place your cash in the cashier’s outstretched hand. You watch as the cashier holds your crisp new $20 up to the light to verify that it’s real. As this happens quite regularly you just expect and accept this as a normal occurrence. (BTW expect to be asked for ID every time that you use your credit card anywhere – whether in a high end retailer or a rundown gas station. It doesn’t matter if the back of the card is signed or not). Observe as your change is placed on the counter and pushed towards you. (In case you didn’t know – for blacks this is a no-no. We who have always had little money when sent on errands as children were warned to “Make sure that you put this $ in Mr. So-and-so’s hand!” Could our offense to this seemingly small act stem from a time when white store owners wanted money from black customers but did not want to touch them?) Hey, worry about that later. Now step to the side and observe other transactions as you wait. It’s no surprise that the older white woman’s money was not checked. Maybe she is a regular customer or knows the cashier.
1:52p Get back in your car but constantly look out for cops on every single road and at each turn. You’ve just read a report that 15% of Blacks that are pulled over and consent to vehicle searches have illegal contraband. Yet, you wonder why more Whites aren’t pulled over considering that 25% of Whites that are pulled over and consent to searches have illegal contraband. Blacks are only 13% of the population so why are they pulled over and searched so disproportionately? It couldn't be because of residual negative stereotyping of blacks. Well, maybe this latest study that underscores many previous studies was too small to be accurate.
Flashback to a month or two ago when you were pulled over in a predominantly white neighborhood. Recall how amused you were as the white officer struggled to find an explanation for stopping you. First it could have been because your "windshield wipers were off but stuck in the up position". It’s a manufacturers defect and common on this model. “Is that illegal?” you ask. No. He responds. Watch as he walks to the front of the car and finally issues a parking ticket for a missing plate. “Just take your back plate and tape it to the front or whatever…take a picture and put it in the envelope and mail it in. They’ll throw it out.” He slyly advises you. Hmmm sounds like a valid stop. No historical reason to suspect otherwise.
6:00p Hungry again. Observe a quaint little restaurant by the roadside. Stop in. Wow, this is nice – you observe. Not opulent- but fancy. Ask for a seat and be shown to it. You barely notice as the maître d' approaches. Soon you're struggling to contain your shock and anger as he asks to see your money first. You grab your cell phone and begin recording this act of obvious discrimination. You leave the restaurant and begin taking pictures from the public street. Imagine your shock as a woman loudly yells at you and suddenly grabs your phone and dashes into the restaurant. Is this not 2009? You leave the restaurant and phone the police. When two white female cops arrive – you explain what has happened. They nonchalantly respond – “Well what do you want us to do?” You mentally record the names and badge numbers that they sarcastically give you. You forget to mention and therefore recover your phone as you drive away hurt, embarrassed and angry.
7:30p Head for home. You listen to NPR as gay rights advocates compare their plight to the civil rights movement. Inwardly you chuckle as you observe that when a gay person walks into a room full of strangers no one knows that he/she is gay. They enter the situation with a clean slate and, at the very least, any discrimination may be delayed. MORE AT: https://blakceo.xanga.com/708370121/black-for-a-day
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"Black History isn't some stale tale of yore -
Apr 7, 2009
it's America and it's present and relevant. "
First, let me publicly express my joy and admiration to President Barack Obama and Family.
I am humbled and inspired by this historic accomplishment.
Earlier this year, my 9 year old daughter Nicky told me that her class had to do Black History reports and naturally everybody wanted to do Obama. I asked the rest of the kids in the house who they were doing and I really wasn't surprised that the only people they could think of were Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Dr. George Washington Carver ('for inventing the peanut' one said. Wait- I've heard it from adults also) and Harriet Tubman. Everyone knows about the accomplishments of these great heroes but what about the unsung heroes, the lost legacies and the living and up and coming legacies. Black History isn't some stale tale of yore - it's America and it's present and relevant.
Frustrated, but inspired I thought about making a little calendar that would give just enough of a daily taste of African-Americana to whet the appetite and inspire the curious. I started researching and cross-checking facts (I guess that was the news reporter sneaking out of me) and reading about African Americans in media, sports, politics, business, education, hip-hop history - everything. I was so surprised, shocked and yet not shocked by the inventions, innovations and just learning about the things I simply did not know. At 32, with a degree in communications and having studied Black History I just had to tell a few people about what I had learned. I finished the calendar and showed it around and before I knew it people were trying to buy them from me. On a workday I picked up my first order of 25 calendars from the UPS store on my lunch break and half were gone before I clocked out.
Soon, I was invited to talk about the calendar on the radio in Chicago and the rest as they say.....so here I am. Check out the calendar at RocktheBarack.com. Even if you don't buy one- tell someone else that at least something like this exists.
Here's how I wrote the ad copy:
Own the Official Commemorative Calendar inspired by President Barack Obama's message of change, hope and unity that rang throughout his historic campaign. This 12 month calendar features 9 photo collages, 3 large 8.5x11 digital quality photographs and 365 days of quotes, facts, and quips about renowned African-Americans like Maya Angelou, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Arthur Ashe and many more. Discover what President Obama and many other African Americans have to say on everything from war & peace to family.
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You will read it all the way through the first time and every time!
Be a part of history with this exclusive offer from RocktheBarack.com!
"I'm asking you to believe...Not just in my ability...I'm asking you to believe in yours." -- Barack Obama
“For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country...hope is making a comeback.â€-- Michelle Obama
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My first email: "This was my favorite Christmas gift. I'm 28 and this was the first time I VOTED, never before did I feel my voice mattered as much as I did this time. This calendar is a daily reminder that I made a difference in 2008!" - Erica S., Portage Park, Illinois
Publisher's challenge: If you can find any other calendar with more current facts about African Americans, more pictures and more quotes, for less - Buy it!
Available at RocktheBarack.com or call 773.598.0430
Remember Black History is History EVERYDAY!!
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