Two Forward, One Back

 

In less than four years, President Trump has successfully unmasked every racist and white supremacist hidden in plain sight. 

"His bigotry on full display at the 2020 presidential debate was appalling and repulsive, to say the least, for any U.S. president. It’s an utterly disgraceful chapter in American history." 

For all the advances this country has made through the civil rights movement, and the countless lives lost fighting racism and discrimination, to have Trump lead us all down a dark and divisive path is shameful. As Americans who love this country and the multitude of diversity that we all bring, enriching our lives for the better, we must learn to starve our fears about what divides us as a people, while taking great aim at distinguishing racism, no matter the president’s repugnant comments or tweets.

By William J. Booker, as printed by New York Daily News, Oct 06, 2020

Protecting the Homeless from Covid-19 Pandemic

As published by Crain Chicago Business, by William J. Booker, July 17, 2020. 

In the wake of the coronavirus, the homeless are caught in the crosshairs of a pandemic with nowhere to turn. Although the covid-19 pandemic is a public health crisis, killing hundreds of thousands of people, homelessness in America has been a public health crisis for centuries. 

People living on the streets are more susceptible to covid-19 because of their weakened immune systems. This may be one reason why America is unable to bring the number of infected cases down. 

"All over the country staff in homeless shelters are testing positive for covid-19, and as more people become homeless due to job closures the number of infected cases will go up. Universal testing in shelters is crucial, as well as the right to housing during the covid-19 pandemic."

  

The government must simply do more to protect the homeless. Lucky, some states are starting to allocate millions to help mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the homeless and preventing people from losing their homes. Although Republican lawmakers want to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars on fighting covid-19, nothing in their package will be included for helping the homeless population who are on the frontline and have nowhere to go. 

President Trump's denial of science, and the expert advice from his own health officials is literally killing Americans. If protecting hospital's from lawsuits is more important than protecting the homeless from the coronavirus, where does any of us stand a chance in surviving this crisis, or any of the back-deals being made in Washington? 

It's obvious to me the swamp still needs to be drained. In short, "We the People" stands for all the people no matter who they are--or where they live.

Moving Forward Together Against Racism

As published by the Chicago Tribune, July 24, 2020 by William J. Booker

Racism has hurt America in many ways, from policing our citizens, to housing and voting, to someone simply taking a jog. And although we appear to be moving backwards as a nation, in many ways, we are also moving forward towards racial tolerance. 

"If Trump was not president, the conversations we have about race and racism, infecting this country like a virus of its own, might be a mute talking-point."

It is because the majority of Americans agree that racism is a horrible thing, and that something needs to be done to root it out of institutions and expose people who perpetuate racism, and promote hate; that better days are ahead of us. 

"In the wake of the death of Civil Rights leader, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, America is moving forward together, and against symbols of hate." 

Gone are the days of honoring Confederate generals, or taking pride in the flag of the Confederacy for no good reasons. We no longer value racist opinions, or views no matter who it's coming from, whether the name of a football team, the views of a well-known celebrity, or the name brand of maple syrup; times are changing and history will judge us on how we respond to this moment. 

We are a nation of people who will no longer stand for the killing of unarmed people of color by the police under any circumstances. And it would appear that the whole world is in agreement with us. As crazy as it may sound, America is going through a metamorphosis and a purge at the same time, and will become a much better place despite the president's divisive, and shameful attempts to stoke the flames of hatred and cultural divide.

Single Parents Struggle Financially Amid Pandemic

As Published by the Chicago Sun-Times July 9, 2020

As the staggering number of unemployed Americans continues to rise due to business closures, the financial struggles for single parents have been hit the hardest, though most Americans are experiencing some form of financial hardship because of the covid-19 pandemic. 

"Single mothers and fathers are having a particularly difficult time providing even the basic necessities for their children beyond just daily meals due to many non-custodial parents being out of work." 

From diapers to pull-ups, and washing detergent, to over-the-counter medications and hygiene products, the financial challenges single parents are facing today are tremendous, and without some kind of support from friends, love ones, or neighbors, many single parents are in despair and having to cope with a great deal of emotional stress as a result. 

Parking tickets, an expired driver's license or even a badly needed car repair can devastate a very low income single-parent household these days. And while the troubling effects of this new norm will undoubtedly take some navigating to overcome, it has put an extra burden on mothers who are typically the caregivers for their children, and see a second round of stimulus to be the only hope for surviving the fallout from COVID-19.

Black Lives Matter Powerful Reckoning

As Published by the Chicago Sun-Times, July 7, 2020

I was watching a discussion about Black Lives Matter on the TV program “The View” and it dawned on me that some people really believe the BLM movement will someday end. Allow me to clear up a few false assumptions. Black Lives Matter won’t ever end. Public support for the movement has increased steadily over the years, since the fatal shootings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown to the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

"As long as racism and racists exist, threatening the lives and livelihood of Black people, the BLM movement, which has transcended globally, will continue to thrive."

BLM is not a fad political statement. It is not some bill waiting to be passed by Congress. BLM is a proclamation, made by the emergence of liberated, socially conscious and economically empowered group of people who refuse to allow this country to further systematically kill, imprison, terrorize, marginalize or oppress Black people. BLM is unequivocally the beginning of a modern-day Renaissance. 

It will define the future of this country for generations to come — for all people.

As crazy as it may sound, America is going through a metamorphosis and purge at the same time. History will be rewritten, and America will become a much better place despite the president’s divisive and shameful attempts to stoke the flames of hatred and cultural divide.

William J. Booker

Founder of Black Men Matter

Chicago

Calling on Black Fathers

By William J. Booker, as published by the Chicago Sun-Times, June 17, 2020

The guidance and support from black fathers is needed more than ever. Our sons and daughters are on the frontlines in the fight for racial equality and justice in a world where black lives seldom matter. As we enter the 5th week of protests for criminal justice reform, our children need their father's crucial involvement to help set the course for future generations to come.

"They will not get there alone, though their tireless efforts are heroic, if the lives that they fight for don't include the voices of black men and fathers, the struggle may very well be lost."

Many people have lost their lives due to police brutality and excessive force, but it is a call to action, for black men who believe and want to see real change. The whole world may very well be watching, but as fathers it is our solemn duty to love, support, and protect our kids by any means necessary. This Father's day we honor all fathers who want to see a brighter future for their kids, and those who have died trying to make a world of difference.

The Legacy of Slavery Continues

By William J. Booker, as printed by the Chicago Tribune, June 1, 2020.

They did it without any moral conscience for the human lives they were taking, destroying, raping, killing, torturing. There was no game plan when white America enslaved African Americans, and sought to deprive us of our rights. There was no game plan when our culture was taken from us, our dignity stomped out of us, our women and children raped, our civil rights leaders murdered. There was no game plan for what would happen if the people from s---hole countries were suddenly free. There was no game plan because all the cards were on the table. Any and everything America wanted to do to black people, they did. They lynched us and smiled about it.

"Slavery was started more than 400 years ago, and still today we suffer from the abuse from many white Americans who believe that black lives don’t matter, and black votes don’t count. They wave their American flags, and wear their MAGA hats with pride."

When will the violence end? When will the destruction and looting stop? I don’t know, you tell me. When will America own up to over 400 years of injustice? When will we be finally free of the tyranny from racist police officers we face every day in our communities? You want peaceful protest? The day America decides to take its knee off the necks of black and brown Americans, and give us equal justice, is the day we won’t need to loot or burn down buildings to express anger and outrage. You say we’re in this together — then tell me, why the hell are we the only ones dying? 

We must do our part to protect ourselves

As published in the Chicago Sun-Times by William J. Booker 3/19/20 

We can't allow differing political views to keep us from following guidelines for defeating coronavirus

For all the fear and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, it has given

Americans pause to reflect on life, and how they plan to survive during this difficult and
potentially life-threatening time.

The irony is that many of the social ills that separate us as individuals — and as communities — suddenly now confine us all as human beings, as more of us become infected.

"As social distancing becomes the new normal, it doesn’t matter how wealthy or famous you are.

We must do our part to protect ourselves. The risk of catching the virus could be three times higher than the flu. There is no amount of money anyone can throw at this global pandemic to stop it. We must do our part to protect ourselves and ensure that no one else dies or get sick. At a time of social distancing, it is vital that we find new and creative ways to focus our energy.

President Donald Trump has declared the outbreak a national emergency, but he has also
made it clear that true leadership, in his eyes, means not taking responsibility for any
decisions he may or may not make in the weeks ahead.

In any event, we can’t allow our political views or differences to keep us from following the strict guidelines and instructions given to us by the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments. For updated information on the coronavirus visit www.cdc.gov.  

A Better Place

As published in Crain Chicago's Business by William J. Booker 3/6/20  

There are too many guns on the streets, too many cases of senseless violence and too many innocent young people dying. The violence and crime in Chicago has gotten out of hand. Our communities aren't safe anymore, and young people have lost their way. It would seem that most young men in the inner city have given up on trying to do anything positive with their lives.

Quite frankly, they want what they see on television: quick cash, promiscuous women, cars and drugs. It's the American Dream for a generation of kids living in poverty with no future to think of, nothing seems to matter anymore.

Mayor Lightfoot's recent anti-poverty summit was a great first step in opening discussions about helping impoverished neighborhoods and Chicago's youth by putting badly needed resources in neighbors on the South and West side.

"Her new Invest South/West program will hopefully breathe new life in many of the neglected & distressed neighborhoods like Englewood where I grew up."

If communities fail to meet the needs of the people who live in them--we all fail. Chicagoans can not afford to close their eyes to what's not happening in their neighborhood because the reality is crime is getting worse and is taking place all over the city. Our neighbors aren't safe anymore, and there are too many innocent people dying to senseless violence.

To deter crime people need employment opportunities that support a living wage, and programs that help them improve their daily lives. We also need better schools. People don't won't handouts. What they need is simply a hand up. It’s time to stop blaming the poor for being poor. Thankfully, the mayor is committed to delivering on her plan of economic equity for impoverished neighborhoods, and support for families trapped in a generation of poverty. It’s time we work together to make Chicago a better place to live for everyone.

Making History Defeating Trump

As published in the Daily Southtown by William J. Booker 2/14/20

The difference between the 45th president and the 46th is that the next president won't have a free pass to lie to America. He or she won't be motivated by financial gain, or have the innate ability to mobilize, or embolden racists every time he opens his mouth or sends out a tweet. The next president will have the temperament of a true leader and will lead by example. He will understand that words matter, especially during times of uncertainty and unrest. 

He will not abuse his power, or stand in the way of justice because he knows that no one is above the law, not even the president. He or she won't use our adversaries as political pawns in our elections, take sides with Russia, or signify, belittle or take revenge out on his opposers.

"The next president will have my vote, because he believes that this country is great because of our diversity, not in spite of it."

He won't view the free press as an enemy of the people, but rather a voice for the people. He will inspire us through his humanity and moral conscience which will guide every decision that he or she makes. 

I pray that the next president can unite this country, and change things for the betterment for all Americans despite our differences. 

Finally, the next president should be someone all Americans can be proud of because he has integrity, and will defend anyone's right to protest in silence against social injustice. The next president won't have to worry about being on the right side of history, because the next president--will make it.