WORD ON WEDNESDAY

"Ego Tripping"
Spoken Word Artist: Nikki Giovanni

Banned 500 Years of Chicano History offered free to AZ students by ABQ publisher

MBEV recently featured a post on the ethnic studies ban that has been imposed upon the students of Arizona. The books written by Chicano and Native American authors were removed from the classroom and have been taken to a depository.

The South West Organizing Project in response to the current ban and the overall climate of fear and scapegoating of the people of color in Arizona, is offering the book 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, edited by Elizabeth Martinez at a 50% discount to Arizona residents, and will give it for FREE to any Arizona Student who requests the book by sending a letter describing why they think that the teaching of Chino and Native American history accurately to young people is essential.Many Arizona students have already shown their disapproval of the ban, as hundreds walked out class and marched on the Tuscon Unified School District's headquarters earlier this week. 

You can read the full story on El Grito de Nuevo Mexico.

INDIANA LAWMAKERS PREPARE FOR SUPERBOWL XLVI BY TOUGHENING SEX TRAFFICKING LAWS

Super Bowl Image by NFL

Indiana lawmakers are preparing for Super Bowl XLVI by forwarding legislation to Governor Mitch Daniels to toughen laws associated with sex trafficking in and effort to combat increases in this activity during large sporting events.


Religious leaders and groups have been meeting for several months to work on combating this problem before the game is played next weekend.


Nuns are actively involved in this advocacy effort. Marge Wissman is a nun who belongs to a group that buys stocks in motels and hotels so that it can demand action as stockholders.
"We are always on the lookout for justice issues, and we make sure our companies are doing just practice,” she said (rtv6, 2012).


I find the approach used by the group that Wissman is a member of to be a positive way to make businesses accountable for the type of activity that they support within a community. Being a stockholder allows a sphere of influence that helps to dictate policies and practices. 


As the global effort continues to abolish human trafficking this set of actions is just one of the ways that the problem can be addressed.


You can read the full article on rtv6 ABC.

AM I NOT HUMAN?

This month’s Am I Not Human? post focuses on Gladys and Jamie Scott once again.

 

 

 

Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour granted pardons or clemency to 215 people who were convicted of manslaughter, rape, murder and other crimes. Of these 189 were not in prison; most had been out of prison for years, often many years (ABC News, 2012).

Noticeably absent from that list of former and current prisoners in the state of Mississippi were Gladys and Jamie Scott.

The Scott sisters were sentenced to life imprisonment for an $11 robbery. They served 16 years of the sentence before being granted a release. Although Governor Barbour granted the release it was also done with the stipulation that Gladys had to donate a kidney to Jamie. This decision sparked additional controversy around the case because it was questionable if this condition set by Barbour could actually be met since it was unclear if Gladys would be a suitable donor.

At that time there was an international outcry to have the Scott released because of the harsh sentence imposed upon them for the robbery. The witnesses recanted on their original story about the sister’s involvement. They cited that they had been made a deal which allowed them to go free if they testified on behalf of the state. Even though Barbour ordered the release of Jamie and Gladys Scott he did not grant them clemency (Free the Scott Sisters, 2011).

Haley Barbour stated during a press conference that he was comfortable with pardons and clemency that he granted. He also stated that he believes in forgiveness and second chances. He recognizes the strong feelings of the victims and their families, and respects them, but the state does not carry out vengeance on their behalf (ABC News, 2012).

The Scott sister's release from prison was based on Jamie's health condition and the amount of money it cost the state to provide her with the necessary medical care. At that time former governor Barbour made it clear that if the sisters failed to follow his order regarding the kidney transplant their release would be revoked and they would be returned to serve out their sentences.

Gladys and Jamie Scott deserve to be granted clemency for the robbery that was committed. They were not the individuals who were responsible for stealing the money. The netted sum of $11 is at best petty theft and the initial sentence of double life was a harsh form of punishment for the crime. 

The Scott sisters will have to continue their legal battle to be granted clemency. If former governor Haley Barbour really believes that people deserve second chances in life why Gladys and Jamie were denied that opportunity?

On the 27th of each month a group of independent bloggers post on a variety of Human Rights topics for The Roots of Humanity blog. You can visit the site to learn more about the other issues that are featured this month. You can also obtain information on how you can become a contributor to this effort to education and advocate for Human Rights.

2012 FROM MY BROWN EYED VIEW

Public Radio International (PRI) international news program titled, The World aired a story about the press and Nelson Mandela that has me shaking my head in disbelief.


Nelson Mandela is now 93 year old and in declining health. Media outlets have been staging a death watch in his home town. There are reporters who are literally waiting on Mandela to die so they can be the first ones to report the story. 


The manner in which the media is waiting is unsettling to my sense of decency and respect for any living person. 


Ruters and the Associated Press went as far as to place a camera in the home of a neighbor of Mandela's on the guise that it was going to be used to air the World Cup Games at a fun park. The neighbor did not initially realize that the camera was actually being used to film Mandela's home.


In African culture death is not handled in the same manner as it is in the West children rarely attend funerals and in some cases women do not attend them either. 


The camera has been removed but even the discussion about death is not appropriate within the African culture. The reporters who were interviewed for this story justify their presence and actions as preparation for a major event in the world's story.  


I realize that Mandela is an internationally recognized leader and he is admired by many people. When he passes it will be a major news story. But the level of disrespect that is being shown to him and to the culture of Africa has no real excuse. 


You can listen to the broadcast clip and read the full details on PRI The World.

WORD ON WEDNESDAY

"Education System"
Spoken Word Artist: Aadil Malik

LET ME DOWN EASY : A CULTURAL PERFORMANCE RECOMMENDATION

Great Performances is currently featuring a one woman titled Let Me Down Easy featuring Anna Deavere Smith. 

Smith portrays a group of people from personal interviews who are dealing with health care issues.  It is a stunning live performance that provides a look at how people relate the cycle of life from birth to death. Smith does an amazing job of moving from one character into another with the use of minimal props and great character study.

Here is a video clip of Anna Deavere Smith giving a performance during a TED Talk performing four different characters. 

You can view Let Me Down Easy by clicking on this link.  It is an informative and well executed theatrical work. The website for this performance also provides information on the development of this show. 

THOMAS SANKARA-THE UPRIGHT MAN; A DOCUMENTARY FILM RECOMMENDATION

Thomas Sankara-The Upright Man is a documentary film that is available for viewing on You Tube. 


Sankara was the leader of Burkina Faso formerly known as Upper Volta from 1983 until 1987.  Sankara promoted the ideas of self-reliant on the resources that were available within Burkina Faso.  He championed women's rights, employment for all people, a style of governing that worked for the common good of the people.


I am recommending this film for viewing because it provides a different perspective on how leadership can work in favor of meeting the people's needs.  I found it interesting that Sankara had actual responses to environmental issues as well as the economic and social ills of the nation.


Here is a link to a website that provides background information on Thomas Sankara.  His work is worth noting because it provides a look at what happens when a nation begins the process of developing it's on resources and independence.


Thomas Sanka-The Upright Man.  

2012 FROM MY BROWN EYED VIEW

The Tea Party people in Tennessee want to revise the state's history text to enhance the virtues of the Founding Fathers of this nation.


In order to make the founders of America appear to be untainted there has to be exclusions of facts.  America's status as a participant in the slave trade would need to be excluded to make the story read proper. 


But if you know the national story shouldn't this point of exclusion be pushed further back on the historical time line that marks the birth of this nation.  What about the indigenous people who were already occupants of this territory? Does their story within the history of this nation now become invalid? How is that set of interactions any less genocidal and inhuman than slavery?  The founding fathers knew about the presence of the indigenous people of that era in time. Is that going to be excluded also?


I am making a point about extremist paranoia and what it helps to produce. A simplistic minded approach in the age of global informational access.  Excluding true historical facts in the educational setting makes sense if you support this type of educational propaganda as useful information. 


I find that it is already void of reality about what the proposed revisions will create.


Revising the story to read the way that makes one sector of the population comfortable has been a source of the problem all of the time.  There is that portion of the population that does not rest well on the exclusion within reality.  There have been a continual cycle of upheavals and changes that have improved the quality of American life. This is a matter of reality that encompasses the mass population. It has occurred due to class, ethnic background, women's rights,  child well being, education, housing, health care, working conditions. Whatever the American way is at that moment in time creates a situation that needs to be corrected. 


For the common good has been a series of long term acts of exclusions from within the society.  By any means necessary is an observation that has been enacted right here in this nation.  This is the truth and people who want to act like it has no merit are the ones who are operating out of a rebellious stance. 


Thieves tell lies. Excluding the truth is a form of stolen intellectual property. What honestly occurred is the response that was created from many different systems of belief and perspectives. 


A thief lies to cover over their criminal acts.  This is just one of those groupings in behavioral traits that appear to be consistent. Lying about reality is supposed to help avoid a confrontation with destiny.  If it's not true and the information on hand indicates that fact, it is not difficult to dismantle the falseness of the story. The truth is a force of magnitude and it is not that easy to quench people who have access to information. 


This is a major part of the problem with this idea.  A revised national story would have to go through continual series pf rewrites to make it read the way their plan is stated. Revolts did not start with information on the problem. It is the outcome of unsolved problems. It is the result of not having the sense of being connected to anything connected to a nation.  Asking the descents of groups that know about negative inhuman encounters to get over it, is the equivalent of requesting that we exclude the reality of being.  That is not that easily removed from any society.  The question of who actually made the world's communities of color is not solely in the scripting of a story that only holds up one segment of the population.


This approach towards handling the national story is one that should be challenge vigorously by the people of this nation. What manner of national pride is being forwarded as noteworthy?  A set of carefully crafted images that are supposed to override what is now common knowledge?  The idea in itself is one that makes me cringe with anger. Our collective intelligence is being insulted by this suggestion. This proposed revision is not the earmark of a proud people.  It is the earmark of the poorly informed sector of the society.  The only exposure that they can operate out of is the one that excludes truth, facts and information.  An interesting form of bias about a nation that they feel a great sense of pride about as a world leader.  These people want to have the pride and a total disconnect with reality of life in these United States. 


Related Links:
Tennessee Morphs into Texas With Textbook Censorship of Slavery.

5 Founding Fathers Whose Skepticism About Christianity Would Make Them Unelectable Today.


Texas textbook war:Slavery of Atlantic Triangular Trade

2012 FROM MY BROWN EYED VIEW

Books are an important part of my personal and professional life. I cannot imagine what my life would be like if there was not a supply of books for me to borrow to read. I have spent a nice portion of my personal income to feed my need to read appetite.


It is difficult for me to accept limitations on what type of materials I can select to read.  When I attended public school a lot of the required reading materials were dictated to us by the school board. Those stories were not necessarily poor choices for my generation of students. But there were very few titles that actually had people of color as the main characters of the stories or information.


That began to change for the better during the Black Power Movement.  A literature bomb was unleashed and we were able to acquire books on a variety of subjects that were of interest to Black people. This made reading a lot more interesting and relevant to me as a person.


In Arizona there is a law that has been passed which forbids ethnic studies in the state's public school system.  


A.R.S. § 15-112 which prohibits courses and classes that 'promote the overthrow of the United States government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals,' according to the Arizona State Legislature.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087667/Shakespeares-The-Tempest-banned-Arizona-schools-law-bans-ethnic-studies.html#ixzz1kG2eD9Pm
This ban is supposed to make the Mexican American population feel more connected to this nation's theories about democracy.  


I see it as just another act of cultural theft.  A group of people who are guided by their fear are using their power to remove something that they deem anti their perspectives.


The course of study that is approved does not include any perspectives that are different than the ones the law makers feel comfortable with holding up as sound principles.


How a person interprets what they read is based on a whole lot of factors.  What may seem to anti-the status quo may be the same line of thought that another person has about should change to improve the society.  That depends on your cultural ties, economic factors and how your ideas on a particular subject was developed prior to reading a book.


One of the objections about the type of books that were used is the perspectives that they present.  

This is one of the books that has been banned.  The problem is this book teaches Latino youth that they are still oppressed by a Caucasian majority.  


This book was also banned.

These rules are supposed to make things feel more comfortable among the students. By banning the idea that ethnic groups should not promote solidarity as a part of their coursework.


This is a list of the books that were removed:

• Suzan Shown Harjo's "We Have No Reason to Celebrate"
• Buffy Sainte-Marie's "My Country, 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying"
• Joseph Bruchac's "A Friend of the Indians"
• Cornel Pewewardy's "A Barbie-Doll Pocahontas"
• N. Scott Momaday's "The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee"
• Michael Dorris's "Why I'm Not Thankful for Thanksgiving"
• Leslie Marmon's "Ceremony"
• Wendy Rose's "Three Thousand Dollar Death Song"
• Winona LaDuke's "To the Women of the World: Our Future, Our Responsibility"s (Narcosphere, 2012)

It must be noted that James Baldwin's classic The Fire the 


Next Time  and works by Howard Zinn have also been 


removed from the schools. 


In order to be in full compliance with this ban teachers


must also turn in their books. Remove posters and any 


materials that do not align with the new policies.  In other 


words if it does not reflect the views of the mainstream 


culture then it has no place in the classroom.




I cannot support the banning or burning of books. It is an


act that denotes fear is winning over the need for truth 


and information. 


I am sure that there are people who will put up the 


argument that we cannot be Americans with this type of 


information being exposed to the people who need to 


understand what has happened from a historical 


perspective.  Without presenting the wider scope of facts 


the reasons why we are connected make no sense.  We 


should want to celebrate the reasons for our ancestors 


pain and suffering? That does not make sense from our 


perspective.  Not to know what role racism has played in


the relationships between different people is a form of 


denial that is not acceptable. It is the insistence that only


one side be presented that is the problem.


Censored News and Consortium News have articles on their


sites that provides information on what has happened to 


the children since this ban has become educational policy. 






This situation is not a done deal. Efforts are currently 


underway to oppose the banning of the books.  


The group of banned books are truly powerful in their 


content.  This struggle to open up education and allow the


truth to be a part of the curriculum is not solely confined 


to Arizona. As efforts continue to revise the national story 


and exclude individuals or actions that do not reflect the 


real nature of nation building will be re-written in the 


manner that makes the story one that reads in the 


tradition of half truths and no honest admissions of 


actions. 




The very actions forwarded by the Arizona legislature may 


be the start of the very situation that they think is being 


contained.  Books hold ideas and information. It is the 


person who uses those ideas that their real target.  If no 


information is supplied then those ideas don't develop.  But 


this is historically inaccurate as well. Revolts have


happened because people grow tired of being pressed


down in circumstances and situations. That is when the


oral story of what happened begins to circulate within 


groups and communities. 


If you think that the issues people of color deal with are


going to be tamped out without any recognition of their 


existence then you need to do some research on the topic 


of why we feel like we do about being American. It is not 


all negative but we also know how to provide some of the


needed healing and perspectives that the mainstream 


wants us to avoid using. 

2012, FROM MY BROWN EYED VIEW

Natalie and Derrica Wilson: Image from Ebony Magazine online

Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson have established a non-profit organization that specializes in search for missing Black people. 


Black and Missing grew out of their recognition that a large number of people of color were missing. According to the article featured on Ebony Magazine on line; these two DC mothers began a simple website that featured pictures and information about missing people.  After being featured in an article in May of 2011, they received enough high profile support to move their organization to the next level (Pickens, 2012). 


The website provides information by state on missing persons. Information is available on how to report missing people. There is also statistical information on the number of people of color that are missing as well as a break down on the number of children that are reported missing. 


These two women have been funding the project out of their own pockets. They are currently looking for sponsorship to help establish the support that is needed to reunite families. 


Please take time to visit Black and Missing. Let's help in the effort to find people who are missing. 


You can read the entire article about Black and Missing on Ebony Magazine online.