"YOU PEOPLE"

BEFORE PAPERS, LLC is a nonprofit organization that is similar to my brother’s keeper but we are set up so our Black fathers can stay in their children’s lives and parenting isn’t taboo but is very honorable. We want to learn together how to deal with our anger, management bills, address or recognize trauma, triggering events or sounds, ptsd and poverty together.  We are good with waring against each other over turfs in the same inner city and end up dying and being buried in the same cemetery.

 

GOAL: We want to proudly and unapologetically dispel the myth that Black fathers don’t care or are missing in their children’s lives. We also want to intervene before our young black fathers get on papers. They make hasty decisions for their families best interest in the heat of the moment that alters their entire lives and that should be no longer.

 

MISSION (WHY WE EXIST): We want to be the mediator between hardships, ptsd, trauma and prison.

 

VISION (WHAT WANT TO BE): TO UNIFY MEN OF COLOR AND SHOW THEM HOW TO TURN THEIR FRUSTRATIONS INTO FRUIT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

 

CORE VALUES: (WHAT WE BELIEVE IN):

 

SMART GOALS (WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE):

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Achievable

R = Relevant

T = Time-based

 

STRATEGY (HOW TO ACHIEVE IT):

 

ACTION PLAN (WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE): 

 

TAKE ALL OF YOUR SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE MASTERED:

COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY

INGRITY

INSPIRATIONAL

DECISIVE

COMMITTMENT

CONFIDENT

RESILIENT

TIMELY

HUMBLE

TRANSPARENT

EMOTIONALLY INTELLECTUAL

VISIONARY

RESULT ORIENTED

PURPOSEFUL

https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/smallbizassistance/beginhere/pages/default.aspx

 

You need 3 people to be on your board. Do make sure they are some trustworthy people who won’t steal from your organization or take the business from you.

Then you need to file for Aritcle of Incorporations ( I suggest LLC because if someone sues; they can’t sue you and take your house, car, personal anything.)

This is $50.00 to file.

To get your LLC status as a 501C3 which is more paperwork; that costs roughly around $600.00

 

THIS BLACK WOMAN of MAGIC is Dr. Bertice Berry; she is an in the closet:

Militant Black Woman
Defiant Black Woman
Angry Black Woman
Boisterous Black Woman
Rude Black Woman
An Agitating Black Woman
Obnoxious Black Woman
Loud Black Woman
Misinterpreted Black Woman
Misleading Black Woman

And many other names I can call her but these are simultaneously synonyms and antonyms.

YES TO ALL

Prefix LIB means to be FREE.

We get words like: LIBerty, LIBeration and my fave LIBrary.

The FBI closed down BLACK bookstores in our BLACK communities in America because our being knowledgeable was a threat, they felt.

We get low to no resources in our BLACK school and local LIBraries of which we need to go to white areas for fully resourced, staffed and progressive access and opportunities.

LIBraries are a central part of the community, one our inner city children aren’t knowledge.

When I would stomp in the streets being not obstinate, defiant, militant rude, disrespectful, loud BUT SPECIFIC, INTENTIONAL AND PURPOSEFUL by declaring BLACK LIVES MATTER…….

I began to reflect on two terms and Dr. Bertice: militant and extremist.

I used to be vexed by those two words but when I OWNED how we got from 1619 to 2020 on the brilliance, backs, work ethics, creativity and ingenuity of BLACK women, I shifted how I viewed it and was taught it.

People use those derogatory terms when discussing BLACK people who want and fight for justice, dignity, humanity, equality, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness to not be oppressed, suffocated, hated, treated poorly, unjustly and illegally.

Yep, Dr. Berry is an “in the closet” militant and extremist.

I GET HER, I REALLY GET HER.

She just did the HOW and WHY thang, she was just undercover or in the closet tho…..

In Dr. Berry’s youth, I am confident BLACK people were faced with humiliating racism.

In Dr. Berry’s youth, BLACK people were LITERALLY LYNCHED if they were caught learning or teaching slaves how to read and write but today it is covert.

Allow me to say what Dr. Berry didn’t do or what Dr. Berry wasn’t:

She didn’t wear an afro

She didn’t have her fist raised everywhere she went

She didn’t say vulgar words

She wasn’t one to incite insight

She didn’t scream and yell out of rage

She didn’t wear warm-up suits or sneakers

She didn’t wear all black

She didn’t wear a beret

SHE DID NONE OF THESE THINGS TO SHOW HER MILITANCY

First, Dr. Berry speaks before she opens her mouth.  Her glasses has a story.  Her inaudible communication has a story.  Her life’s journey has a testimony.

I had to add her for a number of reasons. One, historically OUR ELDERS who loved us enough to allow us to sit at their root of their tree of knowledge and wisdom would spill over us truth, potions, home remedies and life lessons to help us make it through.

We were not allowed to read or write at one point and STORIES were essential to get us to FREEDOM.

Our ELDERS used all kinds of ways of communication to GET THEIR CHEERUNZ TO FREEDOM.

Well, she shares stories and her tears and expressions intrigued me and encouraged me.

I am elated that she was not one second late for ANYTHING ON HER HER LIFE’S JOURNEY because had she been, I wouldn’t have been able to introduce this phenomenal woman to you.

STORY TELLING among us is deeply rooted in our culture,  for those who understand it; it is sacred and important times being in their presence. It was more than the story but time, attention, and the yunguns not knowing how long they will have with the seasoned ones so we took every chance we got to sit at the their feet and take in all that they were willing to give us.  BECAUSE OF HER YOU CAN!

SHADE IS something that shields you from the sun.

 

SHADE is something that let’s in and out the sun.

 

SHADE is something you throw when shedding light on truth.

 

Before she left us, SHE DECIDED TO THROW SHADE.

 

Before she left us, SHE DECIDED TO HOLD THOSE WHO CAN ACCOUNTABLE

 

Before she left us, SHE DECIDED TO SHED LIGHT ON ALL THAT WE HAVE BECOME BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY, FOUNDATION, ROOT AND JOURNEY.

 

Before she left us, her HEART was that a BLACK WALLSTREET WOULD BE RESURRECTED WITHIN OUR CITY AND IN OTHER INNER CITY COMMUNITIES.

 

Before she left us, she HIGHLIGHTED, INTERVIEWED AND SET UP just about every professional in every field whose very beginnings were in our 89Block radius and ended the interview with #IAMESTL.

 

Piñatas!

Piñatas are placed up high and a blindfolded individual is given a bat or stick to hit it to split it so the goods comes out.

The key is to swing hard enough to split it and not just hit it.

The coronavirus Piñata is representing BLACK PEOPLE and America has the stick.

The funny thing? America isnt blindfolded, discombobulated or visually impaired whatsoever.

America KNOWS

America SEES

America UNDERSTANDS

America PROFITS

America BENEFITS

America COVETS

America NEED

America RELY upon the goodness within BLACK PEOPLE.

America CLEARLY gets what it is doing to us as Piñatas.

America has ABUSED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America MISUSED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America BEAT us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America unjustly FRAMED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America KILLED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America DENIED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America OMITTED is and GOODNESS STILL came out.

America REJECTED us and GOODNESS STILL came out.

No matter what America has done; said, felt to is ONLY GOODNESS HAS COME FROM US.

NOTHING WAS RIGGED

NOTHING WAS STOLEN

NOTHING WAS ILLEGAL

NOTHING WAS IMMORAL

NOTHING WAS DISRESPECTFUL

NOTHING WAS ANYTHING YOU ARE CLAMING

YOU HAVE BEEN A FAILURE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INEPT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INCOMPETENT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INHOSPITABLE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INDISCIPLINABLE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INCOMMUNICATIVE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INSIGNIFICANT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INSECURE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INTRUSIVE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN INEXPRESSIVE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE WRONG SEAT ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN A FUCK UP ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

YOU HAVE BEEN THE WRONG ONE ALL OF YOUR LIFE

NO SIR, NOT RIGGED YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF LOSING IN YOUR PORFOLIO AND NOW WE ARE PAYING A HIGH PRICE OF YOUR LOSING STREAK

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS UPSTANDING

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS HIGHLY EDUCATED

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND TO 1 WOMAN AND FATHER OF 2

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS A STRONG LEADER

YOU HAD A MAN WHO HAD A VISION

YOU HAD A MAN WHO HAD A LARGER PICTURE OF A BETTER MORE INCLUSIVE AMERICA

YOU HAD A A MAN WHO WAS STRAGETICALLY MOVING US UPWARDS AND FORWARD

YOU HAD A MAN WHO CONTROLLED HIS TEMPERAMENT

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS FUTURE FOCUSED

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WASN’T AFRAID TO BRING MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE ON BOARD

YOU HAD A MAN WHO HAD HIS DIRECTION MAPPED OUT BEFORE HIM FOR US

YOU HAD A MAN WHO CONTINUALLY WAS STIRIVING TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER FOR ALL

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS IN TUNE TO REACHING ACROSS THE BOARDERS AND MENDING FUEDS AND TURNING ENEMIES TO ALLIES

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS A CRITICAL THINKER

YOU HAD A MAN WHO CENTERED HIS POLICIES AROUND PEOPLE

YOU HAD A MAN NOT GRANDFATHERED IN

YOU HAD A MAN NOT TAINTED WITH THE BUSINESS AS USUAL APPROACH

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS CONFIDENT IN HIMSELF THAT HE WAS ABLE TO HONE HIS INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE ON THEIR LEVEL

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS INDEED TRANSPARENT

YOU HAD A MAN THAT DIDN’T BELIEVE IN FORCING GROWN MEN AND WOMEN TO DO RIGHT, BE FAIR AND JUST TOWARD HUMANITY; SOME PEOPLE ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IT JUST COMES WITH BEING HUMAN

YOU HAD A MAN THAT WAS CLEAR IN HIS POLICIES AND MESSAGES

YOU HAD A MAN THAT WHEN HE TOOK TO THE MIC; WE ALL STOPPED TO LISTEN AND ADHERE BECAUSE WE REALLY FELT INCLUDED IN THE FOR ALL PART

YOU HAD A MAN THAT KNEW WHEN TO THROW HUMOR IN AND WHEN COMPASSION WAS NEEDED

YOU HAD A MAN WHO LEAD IN TIMES OF CONFUSION

YOU HAD A MAN THAT NOT ONLY LISTENED TO THE ISSUES, HURT AND EXPECTATIONS BUT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE THEM

YOU HAD A POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC MAN

YOU HAD A MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRITICISM AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND HE EMBRACED THE LATTER WELL

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS EMOTIONALLY FIT

YOU HAD A MAN WHO TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HE DID AND DIDN’T DO

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS DECISIVE

YOU HAD A MAN UNAFRAID TO GIVE CRITICISM AND TAKE IT TO ALLOW IT TO MAKE HIM BETTER BECAUSE HE WAS WELL AWARE THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW IT ALL

YOU HAD A MAN UNAFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THOSE MORE INFORMED, SKILLED, TALENTED AND PROFICIENT WHERE HE WAS DEFICIENT

YOU HAD A MAN WHO MANAGED CRISES AND CONFLICT WITH OUT ENEMIES IN BATTLE WITH COOLNESS

YOU HAD A BOLD MAN

YOU HAD A FEARLESS MAN

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WALKED IN INTEGRITY

YOU HAD A MAN WHO INDEED GOT THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION

YOU HAD A MAN OF GREAT COMPASSION

YOU HAD A MAN WHO GOT SHIT DONE

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS SUPPORTIVE, ENCOURAGING, CARING, COMFORTING, KIND AND THOSE THINGS WERE SO UNFAMILIAR TO YOU ALL

YOU HAD A MAN THAT HAD TO TAKE RISKS BECAUSE HIS CONGRESS WASN’T FOR HIM

YOU HAD A MAN WHO EARNED THE RESPECT OF OUR ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD BUT YOU MOCKED HIM AS AN APOLOGIST

YOU HAD A MAN WHO WAS DETERMINED TO SHOW WHAT AMERICA COULD BECOME

YOU HAD A MAN THAT DID EXTRODINARY THINGS GIVEN ALL OF THE BLOCKS YOU LEGISLATED AND PROMISED TO DO EVEN IF YOU WATCHED AMERICA SUFFER, HURT AND BECOME HARMED

YOU HAD A MAN WHO RAN THE COUNTRY AS A LEADER SHOULD AND WE GLEEFULLY FOLLOWED

YOU HAD A MAN OF STRENGTH

YOU HAD A MAN OF CHARISMA

YOU HAD AN INFLUENCER THAT PEOPLE LISTENED TO AND FOLLOWED GLADLY BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTHFULNESS

YOU HAD A MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF BEING A CHEERLEADER AND THAT SPARKED MOVEMENTS

YOU HAD A MAN WHERE WE FELT COMMUNITY ANC COMMUNAL

YOU HAD A MAN WHO REALLY GOT OUR COUNTRY’S MOTTO WHO WANTED DIFFERING BELIEFS, POINTS OF VIEWS, RELIGIONS AND LIFESTYLES BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ESSENCE OF E PLURIBUS UNUM (OUT OF MANY ONE)

YOU HAD A MAN UNAFRAID TO BUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT’S AT THE BOTTOM IS WHAT’S HOLDING THIS COUNTRY UP

YOU HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS IN PRESIDENT OBAMA AND YOU CHOSE TO MAKE A PLEDGE TO NOT COMPLY, NOT SUPPORT, NOT OBLIGE, NOT PASS, NOT AGREE, NOT BACK, NOT ENCOURAGE AND NOT ENFORCE PROGRESS BUT YET: YOU ARE THE SAME GOP THAT PLEGED EVERY SINGLE THING ANTI AMERICA?

NAAAAAAA YOU ARE THE EMPITOME OF AMERICA FRFR.

AMERICA IS A THIEF

AMERICA IS A LIAR

AMERICA IS A LOOTER

AMERICA IS A CONNIVING

AMERICA IS A USER

AMERICA IS AN ABUSER

AMERICA IS MURDEROUS

AMERICA IS ABSOLUTELY A SHAMEFUL COUNTRY

THESE GOP SENATORS HATE TRUMP AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR BUT HAVE STOOD BY JUST LIKE ALL OTHERS AND ALLOWED HIM TO KILL OUR LOVED ONES, STRIP OUR CHILDREN OF THEIR EDUCATION AND START THIS HUNGRY AS WE PAY THEIR SALARIES, AS THEY GET DECENT HEALTHCARE AND OTHER PERKS THAT COME WITH TAX PAYERS FOOTING BILLS FOR THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY EACH MUST BE VOTED OUT:

Senators: Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE). Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).

WASN’T TAINTED

 

WASN’T GRANDFATHERED IN

 

WASN’T COHERECED

 

BELIEVED RIGHT WOULD BE EASY

 

BELIEVED JUSTICE WOULD BE GAINED

 

UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITY

 

CONFIDENT IN HIS MANHOOD

 

ABLE TO ADMIT WHEN HE WAS IN ERROR AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE

 

CLEAR ON THE CONSTITUTION

 

EMBRACED DIGNITY OF ALL

 

HAD THE HEART OF A SERVANT

 

GENTLE WITH THE INFANTS AND SEASONED SENIORS

 

SHOWED COMPASSION

 

INSPIRED THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED

 

EMPATHY FILLED WHEN OTHERS HURT

 

VISIONARY OF A BRIGHT AND BETTER WORLD

 

PURPOSEFUL IN HIS MISSION TO INCLUDE ALL AND HEAL ALL

 

SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE WHOSE LIVES CHANGED DUE TO UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE

 

EMOTIONAL WHEN IT CAME TO HIS FAMILY AND ISSUES NEAR AND DEAR TO HIS HEART

 

GREAT COMMUNICATOR OF DIRECTION OF WHERE HE WANTED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY

 

INCLUSIVE OF WHICH MEANT ALL……..NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS JUST ALL

 

ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE ACCOUNTABLE

 

EXTREMELY HUMBLE WHEN IT CAMES TO SPEAK HIS NAME

 

YES SIR, YOU ARE INDEED MISSED AND APPRECIATED

 

 

ROLLED UP AT A STOP LIGHT AND SAW THIS SIGN; I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT BECAUSE BABY ON BOARD IS SO NOT US BU BABY UP IN THIS BITCH IS.

I THOUGHT ABOUT THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CAR

I THOUGHT ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CAR

I THOUGHT ABOUT THE WORKING DEAD END JOBS OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CAR

I THOUGHT ABOUT THE LACK FROM PAY DAY TO PAY DAY OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CAR

I THOUGHT AND I THOUGHT AND I THOUGHT…..

NOW, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CAR

I AM NOT JUDGING NEGATIVELY OR HARSHLY BUT I AM BEING REAL WITH SOME OF OUR THINKING

IN THE EVENT I AM NOT, IF YOU HIT THIS CAR; THE SIGN WILL MATCH THE MOFO ASS KICKING YOU GONE GET BECAUSE THERE IS A PRECIOUS AND PRIZED BABY UP IN THIS BITCH!

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE FOOD?

 

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE FAMILY?

 

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE GIVING?

 

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE TRAVELS?

 

IS IT REALLY ABOUT TRADITIONS?

 

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER THAT WE STAND STRONG?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY HOME AND SAVE THEIR LOVED ONES LIVES BUT THEY REFUSE?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY ARE WORKING JOBS THAT CAUSE THEM TO CATCH THIS VICIOUS AND DEADLY VIRUS BUT CAN’T HAVE SELF CARE OR PAID TIME OFF OR AFRAID TO GET TESTED FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOB THAT DONT’ GIVE NO FUX ABOUT THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY ARE SEEN AS NONESSENTIAL WORKERS FOR REAL FOR REAL?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN HUNGER IS DAILY?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY WORK LONG, HARD AND STILL HAVE TO BE DEHUMANIZED BECAUSE THEY NEED FOODBANKS?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY ARE VIEWED AS LAZY, MOOCHERS AND OTHER INHUMANE, IMMORAL AND ERRONEOUS WORDS BECAUSE THEY STILL NEED HELP?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN THEY SERVE, PROTECT, HONORABLY UPHOLD LAWS, RULES, CODES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES AND WITNESS THEIR LOVED ONES GET GUNNED DOWN IN THESE SAME STREETS THAT DISREGARD, DISRESPECT AND DISPARAGE THEM?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN  PROFESSIONALS ARE BEGGING AND PLEADING WITH THOSE WITH PRIVILEGE WHO SUPPOSEDLY HAVE CARE, LOVE AND CONCERN TO WEAR A MASK AND THEY STAND UPON A DOCUMENT THAT HAVE ALWAYS VALIDATED THEIR IMMORAL, INHUMANE AND DEHUMANIZING ACTIONS TOWARDS MANKIND AND HAVE TURNED A SIMPLE ASK INTO A BLUE AND RED ISSUE?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN AT THE ONSET OF ALL OF THIS PANDEMIC, AS LONG AS WE WERE THE TARGETED POPULATION; EVERYTHING WAS ALL GOOD AND NOW WE SEE THEY ARE ALLOWING AND PERMITTING US TO DIE 1 BY 1 IN THESE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN FOOD IS DISAPPEARING BEFORE OUR EYES?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT HUMANITY WHEN AMERICA ALLOW AND WIELD HUNGER, HOMELESSNESS, HURT, HARM, CRIME, EDUCATION MALPRACTICE AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND STILL WILL EXPECT US TO PAY BILLS, DO THINGS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO HAD WE BEEN WORKING AND GETTING A SALARY WHILE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AS TAX PAYERS?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN OUR CHECKS ARE GONE BEFORE IT HITS THE ACCOUNT BUT SOMEHOW THEY SAY SAVE 6 TO 12 MONTHS OF OUR INCOME? O OK

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT IT’S ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN TRAVELING IS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR YOU WITH PRIVILEGE BECAUSE YOU CAN GO AND COME AS YOU PLEASE; EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC AND SPREAD IT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION?

 

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE WORKING POOR THAT THANKSGIVING IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN, ALL THAT WE HAVE CREATED TO ASSURE PEACE AND GOODWILL ON THIS EARTH FOR WHITE FOLKS TO ENJOY? O, MY BAD I MUST INDEED GIVE THANKS!

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS AND WHAT WE PRODUCE

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACK WOMEN BIRTHING GREATNESS

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING TOLERANT

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING PATIENT

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING FORGIVING

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING LOVING IN SPITE OF

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING TAMED

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING MUTED

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BEING BEHIND THE SCENES

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS  BEING INVENTIVE

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS HAVING MAD SKILLS

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS AND WHO WE ARE

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS STRONG AND UNDENIABLE WORK ETHICS

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS SHARP MINDS

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS AND THE INNATE MAGIC WE SLING

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS AND HOW RESILIENT WE ARE IN SPITE OF KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING AND BEING

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS GREAT AMBITION

 

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE BLACKS BECAUSE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE BLACKS; THERE WOULD BE NO AMERICA!

No matter if the memory was good

No matter if the memory was bad

No matter if the  memory was indifferent

If you can remember the name CLARENCE ELLIS you were shaped by him and his household

Mr. CLARENCE ELLIS was a civic leader in our community

Mr. CLARENCE ELLIS was an education advocate within our community

Mr. CLARENCE ELLIS was a pillar within our community.

Mr. CLARENCE ELLIS shaped our community, he shaped my life.

Charismatic

Loyal

Aware

Resourceful

Encourager

Neighborly

Conscientious

Empathetic

Energizing

Loving

Lively

Intuitive

Sociable

Sacred

Radiant

PERIODT!

Mr. Clarence Ellis, when I think of him, his power within our community as a dad, politician, a husband these words easily flowed. Good, bad or indifferent he shaped me.

SUMMA, SUMMA, SUMMA TIME was eagerly awaiting because I knew our community would gather and play volleyball. Dr. Ellis had drinks and Mr. Ellis brought the humor and trash talk but not only that; HE GOT ON THE “court” WITH US.

He being a seasoned one; he couldn’t play but he got out there with us, as a young person in the community finding her way, learning this world made an indelible mark on my life.

HE WAS WITH US AND HE PLAYED WITH US, HE MINGLED WITH US AND HE LISTENED TO US TALK OUR TRASH AND OUR CONCERN on the VOLLEYBALL “court.”

In writing and reflecting on his transition; was it about him being here no more or the impact he had on us, me…..THE MAN? More of the latter.

COMMUNITY, COMMUNAL, COMMUNICATION, COMMEMORATION…..WHEN WILL WE DECIDE TO GET BACK TO COMMUNITY?

Our children NEED this, they hear of the community we were raised but really can’t grasp it because we dropped the ball and left them dilapidation, poverty, desertion and lack.

We were a community of unity: ONE MIND, ONE VISION, ONE BODY but the young people of today NEED to see, hear and feel who that generation raised but not to misrepresent, miseducated, mismanage, misinterpret, hurt, harm and put them in known and willful danger BUT to love, have compassion, surround and reposition them towards the SAME greatness that is within them that he had within us because that is exactly what our root has always been in EVERY inner city throughout America; GREATNESS BECAUSE THAT GENERATION DID JUST THAT……

We dropped the ball on this generation and should be responsible for what we are seeing amongst OUR future.

His generation may not have spoke a lot or explained things to us as children but we can’t say we weren’t WELL equipped, ready and in tune with our roles and WE HAD: WEALTH, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY.

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to see YOU being upstanding; OUR BLACK communities do

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to see YOU exuding EXCELLENCE; OUR BLACK communities do

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to see how FAMILY ORIENTED you are; OUR BLACK communities do

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to hear YOU using “standard” English: OUR BLACK communities do

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to profit from and benefit greatly from your HARD WORK, AMBITIOUS and ETHICAL LIVING; OUR BLACK communities do

WHITE COMMUNITIES don’t need to benefit from the magic, creativity, ingenuity, brilliance, skills and talents that comes natural; OUR BLACK community do

The sooner we get that we are the ones we have been waiting on; HIS LIVING WILL NOT BE IN VAIN!