A History Lesson for Black Youth

Surviving Police Encounters 101

By: William J. Booker, As Published by USA TODAY, 10/2016   

The history lesson is right outside our doors!!!! Black people don't ask much of this country, because frankly we don't expect much. But it's time our youth learn a different kind of a lesson outside of the classroom, the way our Brothers and Sisters did during the Civil Rights Movement. Black kids must learn how to embrace their culture, love and respect each other, and acknowledge their history in order to create real change in their communities. 

It is a life lesson for all black and brown children--one that is more important than anything they could ever hope to learn at school. Our history has taught us how to fight and survive in a country that is fully prepared to kick you while you're down, and pretend that you and your rights as an American citizen don't matter.

"Our young brothers and sisters are on the front lines against a growing culture of hate and implicit discrimination by law enforcement officers who have no regard for black lives."

As our kids prepare to return to school with books in hand, it is unfortunate that public and private schools in Illinois are now required by law to teach children how to deal with confrontations with the police. The Bill that was recently signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner authorizes a new curriculum for driver’s education classes which includes interacting with police, (instituted for the 2017-18 school year). But will it be enough to put an end to the police involved killings?

The issue of police brutality and killings of unarmed people of color has gotten so common place in this country that a Felony Street Law course is even being offered to young black men by The Dovetail Project, a foundation for African-American men ages 17 to 24, aimed at teaching life skills, as well as how to avoid and survive escalating conflicts with police.

But parents must also take a proactive role in their children's lives. They must plan to attend the very next community police (CAPS) meeting in their neighborhood, and let the police know that they're concerned about how the police handle situations involving Black and Hispanic youth. And hopefully the beginning of this school year won't end with a police officer taking a paid vacation--because he took the life of another unarmed person of color.

Repost: USA Today 10/2016 

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"Who am I to Judge America the Land of the Free?"

"Who am I to Judge America the Land of the Free?"

Who am I to judge America and its Founding Fathers, 

its Star-Spangled Banner or National Anthem?

Who am I to judge America and its wonderful claim, 

of being the greatest country, the world has ever seen?

Who am I to judge America and its brutal enslavement 

of hundreds of thousands of African men?

Who am I to judge America, and its mass incarceration, 

school-to-prison pipeline or racial segregation?

Who am I to judge America and its racial profiling, 

or racist police and blue-code-of-silence?

Who am I to judge America and its police brutality, 

its history of lynching or KKK?

Who am I to judge American and its Tuskegee Experiment, 

or its Jim Crow laws that said "whites only" sit?

Who am I to judge American and its Presidential White House 

that was built by black men whose votes didn’t count?

Who am I to judge America and its confederate flag 

or its “All Live Matter” movement....until a brother is dead?

From Emmett Louis Till to Rodney Glen King, 

you think if they mattered the system would change.

From Laquan McDonald and all 16 shots, 

America the beautiful...a dream I think not.

From Sandra Annette Bland and Michael Brown Jr. 

their lives cut too short for no apparent reason.

From Trayvon Martin and Alton Sterling, 

the justice they got put us all back in chains.

From Tamir Elijah Rice, and of course Freddie Gray 

to the shouts that rang out when we marched in their names.

From Eric Garner, to his cry “I can’t breathe!”, 

they're killing us all or so it would seem.

Yet they criticize me, for not standing up, 

and acknowledging my love and patriotism.

But who am I, a black man, to judge all these things, 

for the love of my country... I’m taking a knee.

Black Lives Matter :: Stop the Violence

"Stop hunting down your Brothers and Sisters. You have nothing to gain from the senseless destruction of your own people. If you must kill something, kill the enemy within you that keeps you believing that in order to have something in life, you have to take something from someone else. You are capable of great things. Don't allow yourself to fail simply because you have decided to give up. Your life is not over. You can change, if you truly desire to. We all make mistakes but they don't define who we are; absent a father or mother. Now that you have learned how to fail, you can't help but to succeed."

"What Freedom Means to Me"

"What Freedom Means to Me"

By: William J. Booker

I’m free to live and die, 

in the ghettos of America, 

and I’m free to fight for my country, 

though her liberties don’t mean much.

And I’m free to sponsor her unions; 

no matter how confederate they be, 

and I’m free to enter her prisons, 

for as long as she wants me.

And when she finally releases me, 

out into the streets, 

I’m free to go where ever I want, 

until the police stops me, 

then I’m free to remain silent, 

because it's really hard to breathe,

with your hands around my neck, 

and your partner beating me.

I'm also free, 

to just die here, 

in the middle of the street, 

with the officers 

the judge set free

after killing me.

If this freedom I have 

sounds more like a sham, 

then a speech from Doctor King, 

it is what it is, 

and those are the facts

of what freedom means to me.

"Hard Times"

"Hard Times"

By William J. Booker

I've never fallen on hard times,

but hard times have fallen on me.

I've been stumped on, spit at, pushed and kicked.

Hard times a son of a bitch.

But I won't let hard times get me down.

You better turn that ugly frown upside down.

I wish the hell you would,

I'm from the hood,

Southside Englewood!!!

where hard times be out everyday,
shuckin’ and jivin,

always two timing,

twerking and cursing,

stealing from you while you're working.

Hard times for real.

Real recognize real.

You better get wit this game;

cause I ain't a shame.

I been hard timing and freestyle rhyming

since I was a shorty in the Audy (home).

Shit'd... hard times, it's a new day.

So best to get the hell out my way.

The Impact of ‘Mass Incarceration

Black & Brown Children

By William J. Booker, As Published by: Chicago Defender, June 22, 2016

This Father’s Day, over two million American children may not have an opportunity to celebrate Father’s Day with their fathers because they are in prison.  It’s a sad fact, that the United States has the largest prison population in the world. There are over 2.3 million people in prisons throughout the United States, and though the United States represents less than 5 percent of the world’s population, it houses an astounding 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. Since 1981, the increase in prison population has surged the number of children of incarcerated parents by 80 percent. 

There are now 2.7 million minor children (under age 18) with a parent behind bars (The Pew Charitable Trusts). The vast majority of these parents are African American and Latino fathers. In state prisons, 42% of fathers are African American.  1 in 9 African-American children (11.4 percent), 1 in 28 Hispanic children (3.5 percent) and 1 in 57 White children (1.8 percent) has an incarcerated parent (John Jay Center for Criminal Justice). 

Mass incarceration cripples families and communities, perpetuates poverty, recreates conditions for crime, waste trillions of taxpayers’ dollars, and has underlying racial bias implications. The tremendous increase in the prison population has changed much of the debates on just about every social and economic issue you can think of from the war on drugs to parental rights. The battle between the rights of custodial parents and non-custodial parents, (particularly concerning incarcerated fathers) are a mute subject due to mandatory minimum sentencing.   

Moreover, indigent fathers, who are incarcerated, leave prison with an average of $20,000 in back debt, according to the Federal Agency for Child Support Enforcement, and 70 percent of all back child support is owed by men earning less than $10,000 a year, landing the majority of men of color back in prison--without being provided an attorney.

"Many incarcerated fathers have become trapped in a system that has failed to recognize that African Americans and Hispanics men earn less than white men, even when both have comparable incarceration and criminal offense records, making it almost impossible for them to pay back their child support." 

This modern day debtors prison system is destroying the relationship fathers have with their children and makes it difficult for fathers to reconnect with their children once they are finally released.  It is no doubt that people of color have been incarcerated disproportionately, but it’s children that hurt the most when their parents are behind bars and absent in their lives. Children of incarcerated parents often suffer from poor health, behavior problems, emotional difficulties and poverty. 

In light of this, courts and policymakers must understand and consider all of the challenges children of incarcerated parents face when making decisions about sentencing that affects the lives of millions of children, and legislators need to recognize how critical comprehensive criminal justice reform is to reducing state and federal prison populations. Reducing mandatory minimums, support for ‘Ban the Box’ bills, and state supported transportation for children to visit their incarcerated parent, are great efforts towards reform, but more needs to be done.  Funding is needed for programs and services that directly address issues that impact the day-to-day lives of children of incarcerated parents.

Fortunately, some states are starting to implement a wide array of reforms in their own prison systems to reduce incarceration rates and offer some optimism for incarcerated fathers which are being recognized as models for the entire nation. In Illinois for example, the Turner bill is being vote on sponsored by Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, if passed, the bill would wipe out arrest records for ex-offenders that don't end in a conviction — because charges are dismissed, or because a judge grants a conditional discharge, meaning no conviction is recorded if the defendant stays out of trouble for a specified period.

In New Jersey, voters and lawmakers gave judges more power to release low-risk defendants who can’t afford bail, letting them go home rather than sit in jail while they await trial. In Idaho, a new law created 24-hour crisis centers to help keep people with mental health issues from being locked up unnecessarily. Georgia and Louisiana established courts for military veterans accused of crimes, and Hawaii is funding programs to help reunify children with parents who are behind bars. 

These are just a few examples of criminal justice reform that states around the country have put in place over the last two years, according to a new report by the Vera Institute of Justice. 

"Mass incarceration has destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, but a prison sentence for a father shouldn’t result in a life sentence for a child." 

This Father’s Day, let’s hope that all incarcerated fathers can find a way to spend more time with their children--and less time in prison.

"The hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that no government can fill." -President Barack Obama

Repost from the Chicago Defender: 06/22/16
https://issuu.com/chidefender/docs/06222016_chicagodefender/6

Joining Military Could Save Lives

As Published by the Washington Times, 7/23/15

There is a lot to be said about the mass incarceration of thousands of black men in America--not to be upstaged by the rash of killings of unarmed black men and women at the hands of law enforcement officers as well. But are there any real solutions to stopping the bloodshed, and helping black families’ deal with all of the issues that stem from fatherless households?

Joining the Union Army (the North) was an option for thousands of enslaved black men during the Civil War in 1861. Nearly 200,000 black men enlisted with the promise of freedom, through the Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862.  Although nearly 40,000 black soldiers died, they served with distinction facing racial discrimination and other brutal travesties inflicted by the Confederate Army.

"The Civil War helped to emancipate and empower black soldiers.It also affirmed the leadership and courage that black men had in times ofgreat conflict, disparity and unrest."   

     

Joining the U.S. military may not be the best option for men of color today, who have to avoid confrontations with raciest police officers on a daily basis in order to stay alive, or not be sent to prison for possible life--but it is the safest. There is an old saying; If you can’t beat them join them. We are living in a country whereby “join them” hasn’t always been an option for black men, or any man of color for that matter.  But at the current rate of imprisonment of black men, it is a decision that could very well restore black families where children of incarcerated parents are often faced with emotional, psychological, physical, and economic traumas and possibly keep many young black men alive.    

Maybe the Confederate flag coming down at the South Carolina Capitol is a sign of institutionalized racism being defeated--and our challenges’ as we look ahead as black men and women to finally begin to deal with the social and economic scars left behind.  

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship."  -Frederick Douglass

By William J. Booker, As Published in the Washington Times, 07/23/15:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/23/letter-to-the-editor-joining-military-could-save-l/

:: Objectification of Black Women ::

As Published in the Atlanta Voice, 1/13/18 by: William J. Booker 

The objectification of black women must end. As African-Americans, we must stop contributing to and allowing others to shamelessly profit from the demoralization of black women. The negative and salacious images of black women portrayed in rap videos and magazines today have a profound effect on all women of color, and has no doubt contributed to the emotional, physical and verbal abuse many black women are subjected to in abusive and destructive relationships.

"When we buy into television shows, music and publications that dishonor black women--we devalue ourselves, our mothers, our daughters and our community, and help to substantiate the reasons why black women are often portrayed negatively in mainstream media."

We must stop buying into negative propaganda that destroys our identity and untimely our future, and the future of our children and the women we care about.

In solidarity,

‪#‎BlackWomenMatter!                                                                                            www.facebook.com/BlkWomenMatter

"Celebrities Helping Make Black Lives Matter"

Say what you want about the 'Black Lives Matter' movement but in the wake of Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's newly released movie "Straight Outta Compton", 'Black Live Matter' has fueled a new awakening among black entertainers and athletes who have been advocating for equal justice, and lending their financial support and advice to black youths striving to make a difference in their communities.

"Hands up don't shoot" was the call to action that gave black entertainers and athletes who were outraged by the killings of unarmed black men and women, an opportunity to get involved and demonstrate their support for Michael Brown and the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Though entertainers have always been a part of the civil rights movement, the trend is no different today than it was when civil rights leader MLK led the march on Washington to help end segregation in the 60's.

"Many entertainers who identify with having grown up in impoverished and economically distressed communities are becoming more socially conscience about the growing number of unarmed black youths being killed by police officers and are starting to do something about it."

Celebrities like Nelly, Common, Janelle Monae, Lebron James, Nas, John Legend, Kendrick Lamar, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are using their platforms to speak out against these atrocities by condemning the actions of racist law enforcement officers, but also helping to make a difference in other ways by encouraging youths to stay in school and offering scholarships to help combat racial disparities and injustice.

"Good Parents Don't Need No Stinking Xbox"

Parenting can be one of the most difficult yet rewarding jobs in the world. It requires great Patience, Appreciation, Sacrifice and Time (PAST). Children represent our future; but they are also indelible reflections of our past. 

The life skills your parents gave you, you will pass on to your kids and with any luck they will do the same to theirs. It is one of those jobs that are an absolute; you either get it right the first time or you fail miserably.

Let me be clear, it is not necessarily your fault or anyone else’s for that matter if your child closely resembles Satan. If every child came with a Triple A Road Map and explicit instructions on how to use correctly, most people I know would be in jail already for failing to follow directions, affluenza defense not included. 

"Children rise to the expectations they are given. If your biggest expectation for your child is to do well in school--you may already have failed. Children look for guidance as well as love, though many parents with little parenting experience; or a good foundation to extract from, can unintentionally lead a child to hell in a wind basket." 

Dysfunctional parents often rear dysfunctional children. A parent who thinks that they are doing the best job they can do because little Johnny has a place to stay, three square meals and an Xbox is a dysfunctional parent; minus the Xbox your child can get the same thing in prison. You have given your child nothing to help him or her reach their full potential outside of their academics. 

If you think talking down to your child, swearing or beating your child down the road to righteousness will free them or you from their bad behavior at school or anywhere else think again. Children need 'emotional equity' more than anything you can give them. And parents who can afford to treat their kids to a listening-party at the end of a grueling work day, will have no problem endorsing the checks that will eventually get their kids through college, and make them proud to be called a mother or a father. With that said, I’d like to thank my parents for doing the best job that they could possibly do--minus the Xbox.

 ‪#‎Parenting‬ ‪#‎Xbox‬ ‪#‎PAST‬ ‪#‎Children‬ ‪#‎Affluenza‬ ‪#‎Dysfubctional‬ ‪#‎Love‬

"Increase the Peace for Mothers"

As Published in the Chicago Tribune, 5/10/15 by William J. Booker

Every day, mothers sacrifice their dreams to provide a better living for their children. They don't eat, when their children need to, they don't rest, when their children can't sleep, and they get up every day and go to work because sometimes they don't have a choice in the matter, and when things get really bad, they get up in the middle of the night to protect us from the monsters hidden away in our closets and under our beds.

"The everyday sacrifices that mothers make, no matter how big or small, are like small investments that earn big dividends once their children grow up to be successful and have loving families of their own." 

 The last thing any mother expects is to have her number one investment stolen from her by senseless gun violence or at the hands of police officers whose jobs are to serve and protect all of its citizens."

Mothers make great sacrifices for their children--which is why being a mother is so special. This Mother's Day, around the country, increase the peace for mothers, who have dedicated their lives to their number one investment--their children.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

As Published by the Chicago Tribune, 05/10/15: www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-letters-st-0510-20150508-story.html 

#‎MothersDay