Welcome! This free speech community journal was created so the Maple Heights African American community could share videos, photos, events, articles, posts, ideas, thoughts, and information. We're now exclusively on Facebook, so don't forget to also check out our Facebook page. Have a fantastic day!
Showing posts with label WHITE SUPREMACY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WHITE SUPREMACY. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
ARE YOU A VICTIM OF "COLOR OF LAW" ABUSES?
On August 23, 2013, I sent an email to the Maple Heights council president, and in that email I made the following statement "Considering that I had to take out a loan to pay my
current property taxes, I want to know where every penny is going, and
how it's being used. This is more than a hint on how I'm going to vote
on the levy in November.". [Full text] *see my other comments at the bottom of this post
Well I didn't get a response to that email or an email of concern and wanting to help in some way to ease my tax burdens. What did happen after the 2013 tax levy was defeated ... I received a letter (dated 12/3/2013) from my mortgage company stating "A recent review of tax records has revealed delinquent taxes on the property securing the above referenced loan." It referenced $221.05, and a threat was made that if "I don't pay the $221.05, my mortgage company may exercise the option to pay those taxes, and the amount of the payment will be deducted from my escrow account and if I don't have an escrow account, one will be set up for me." Well folks, months ago, I set up payment arrangements with "Cuyahoga County" and presently only owe $37 which will be deducted from my checking account per that agreement. I also have monies deducted from my checking account to pay for taxes due in January.
Note: Actually I may have been eligible for hardship assistance (due to excessive medical bills, etc); but chose a payment plan for the entire amount instead.
Additional Note: Around the same time, I also got a letter from the IRS saying I owed them $149.17. A simple misunderstanding and luckily that problem was solved quickly.
Now I'm not sure if my email caused someone in Maple Heights government to inquire about my tax affairs to cause problems for me, but the letters and their timing sure seemed damn suspicious. See, I'm a senior citizen who criticizes Maple Heights government and asks questions ... questions that from responses I've received or lack of response, indicate to me that the leadership in Maple Heights is not happy with my criticisms or questions or requests.
What I had uncovered previously was that the company mentioned in the letter I received, a company called Corelogic (2), I've seen in public records dealing with Maple Heights government, and whose tentacles in the mortgage (property) business, etc are spread throughout Ohio and across the United States.
More troubling:
In 2012, I asked for public records related to salaries, benefits, ethnic code, etc of Maple Heights public employees. I was completely ignored until I started posting my "public records request" emails on this blog.
***I must have rattled some cages with those requests and other questions and concerns because one day in July 2012 while I was in the drive-thru line at Wendy's, several cop cars pulled into the Wendy's parking lot. The officers parked their cars, got out and approached my car and hung around my car until I picked up my cell phone and called my mother (to tell her about those officers) .. the officers then got back into their patrol cars and drove out of that parking lot. I jotted down the tag on one of the police cars, and when I got home I called and emailed a number of people to let them know what had happened, and gave them the number on the tag.
This year:
At the end of June, Channel 3 did a story about a former Maple Heights officer accused of excessive force. I had a link to that story posted on this blog around July 3rd or 4th. On July 5th, within minutes of putting out my trash, my video relay camera on my home captured a white male in (what appeared to be) a bullet proof vest walking up my drive way, past my side door. In that person's hand looked like a gun. It was raised while he walked up my driveway, and then pointed in front of him (toward the ground) when he walked by my side door.
I sent the video and photo to a number of people to get their opinion because I didn't want to overreact. I even called the electric, gas, water companies to see if they were in the area reading meters (they said no). Most of the people I sent the video and photo to said the white male was holding a gun.
Days later I called my attorney and Channel 3 because I wanted to know what this person (who appeared to be law enforcement) was doing on my property. It was a deadly serious issue, because aside from questions related to my safety, I actually could have been shot because I was behind my home dealing with the trash for 10 minutes or so (before the incident), and if you saw how he moved past my side door into my back yard, it would have been very likely that I could have been killed/murdered.
I eventually obtained police service records (which, by the way, took a call from the NAACP to obtain) for the day in July (2012), and July 5, 2013. Both times the police were in the vicinity on a call, but it appeared to me that both times they decided to take a side trip (if you know what I mean) that had nothing to do with the business at hand, but may have been an attempt to intimidate or worse.
What you may not know is the leadership in Maple Heights is predominantly white and the police force (at that time) had only one African American officer (I believe we now have 2). The city of Maple Heights is suffering financially, and over 68% of the population is African American; and if you know the history of blacks in this country, especially the history surrounding white law enforcement and the criminal justice system (see below), you know that for many black folk, to have to deal with people who can and have murdered blacks with impunity is especially daunting and sickening; and the fact most of their (predominantly white [male] Maple Heights police) salary is paid by the predominantly African American community (and we only have 1 or 2 blacks on the force) is insulting and offensive.
So why did I tell you my story? Because I want to (with a new year approaching) still let people know what's going on in Maple Heights; and because it is a story told by thousands of African American and Hispanic individuals, and nothing is done. The police force remains predominantly white in predominantly African American communities, and they continue to intimidate, harass and murder African Americans and Hispanics with impunity. If you want to change these things, you have to change the leadership in your community, and you must file a federal complaint (and/or call the NAACP) if you think you're the target of a "color of law abuse" or a government employee is trying to intimidate/frighten you. Make sure you back up everything you do and keep good records and keep copies of everything related to the incident. Also tell friends and family about suspicious incidents, etc., give them copies of things related to the incident, and watch out for each other. Finally, be very careful and obey the law, because the "color of law" abuser will probably try to deflect (and/or cover up) his/her/their behavior and try to embarrass or discredit or create problems for the complainant or whistle blower (that's why, if you're an African American, you need to get the NAACP involved and if necessary the "ColorofChange"). If you're a senior citizen, there are additional laws to protect you against various kinds of abuse and you may want to include filing a complaint on that level too.
I also think the African American community needs to see if there is a pattern of abuse and intimidation against African Americans who run for public office or serve in a public office, and a pattern of abuse and intimidation against African Americans who speak out and ask questions, complain, or request information that they are entitled to receive.
We also need (more money going to) community/neighborhood (paid) policing by people who actually live in our communities, and there should be regular public meetings with those who "protect and serve" and residents.
Do try to remember:
It's your community ... you can design whatever kind of police/security presence you want (public or private), with advisory boards (under federal purview), and policies that protect you from abuse and protect your constitutional rights.
Deprivation of Rights
Retired Police Officer Gets Choked Up Reflecting On The Injustices
The Year the Prison System Changed?
[BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLER] Jonathan Ferrell: Supposed to Die?
Black Codes
Black Holocaust in America
Black Skin, White Justice: Race Matters in the Criminal Justice System by Gary Highsmith
Police addicted to drug money: Column
Save the Dream Ohio Programs
*After you read the full text of the email I sent the council president ...... I want you to guess who swore the council president in at the "swearing in ceremony" in January. Yes, ... the law director (who answers to the mayor, who also serves as safety director - see Maple Heights City Charter,
The Department of Safety shall be under the direct charge of the Mayor, who shall be the Director of Safety.
The Department of Safety shall consist of a Division of Police and a Division of Fire. The Safety Director shall make all necessary rules and regulations for the government of these Divisions and shall be charged with the duty of enforcing within the limits of the City all police, sanitary and safety regulations that are prescribed by ordinance or by the general laws of the State. Each division shall be composed of such officers and employees as may be provided by ordinance or resolution of the Council, unless otherwise provided for in this Charter. The Safety Director shall keep a detailed and complete record of all activities of these Divisions, and shall cause each employee of the Department to make report of his or her activities.
The Director of Safety shall have the authority to suspend any employee of this Department for incompetency, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, failure to obey orders given by the proper authorities, or for any just and reasonable cause. Any employee may appeal from such decision to the Civil Service Commission. In such event the Mayor shall forthwith transmit a copy of the charges and proceedings and the Commission shall hear such appeal and may affirm, disaffirm or modify the judgment, and its judgment in the matter shall be final.)."
--
Now go over to the public records request page on this blog, and you'll understand my growing concern.
Additional background information:
Maple Heights population has been in steady decline since at least 2007 (remember the mortgage crisis). A number of us questioned the salary of the mayor given that decline and looking at other cities and mayors who were facing financial crisis. Anyway, Maple Heights council in 2012 did a brave thing and reduced the mayor's salary (to take effect in 2016 (?) ).
The mayor vetoed the resolution. ***On the day of the police incident at Wendy's restaurant (mentioned above), I emailed the council president and asked if council could override the mayor's veto. The council president answered my email and said "yes". That night at council meeting, they voted and override the mayor's veto. [awesome]
Saturday, December 14, 2013
PROBLEMS WITH OUTSOURCING AND PUBLIC MERGERS
Cities have turned to outsourcing and mergers as a panacea to financial budget constraints [a result of, to some degree, poor government policies and a lack of intelligent, creative urban planning]. Unfortunately, this has led to other problems; specifically, higher unemployment rates among the poor and "people of color".
It's bad enough (even insulting at times) that predominantly African American communities are under-represented in the workforce (public and private), but increasingly devastating are the ongoing threats ... "outsourcing" and "public mergers".
Aside from the issue of a lack of minority contractors, does outsourcing release a city from regulations and laws designed to protect certain groups from being discriminated against in hiring?
Are these private companies [that we've outsourced to] scrutinized for their hiring practices? It shouldn't matter if you are public or private, if you are receiving tax payer dollars, public monies, you should be bound by the same state affirmative action programs, anti-discrimination laws, EEOC regulations, etc. [A word to the wise ... those cities who band together to use the same private company, ... you better make damn sure those regulations and laws are being complied with.]
African Americans need to take a look at the companies their city contracts with.
African Americans (esp. in predominantly Black neighborhoods) also need to take a close look at: who is delivering their mail and packages; who is reading their gas and electric meters; who the cable guy is; who represents them; who teaches their children; ... Where I live, I see a lot of white males in these roles (with the exception of teachers who are mostly white females).
What is most alarming is that more and more Blacks (esp. Black males) are disappearing from the [full-time] workforce. While this is alarming, it is not surprising. The "system" has created problems (social, financial, political, legal, structural) that is unique, offensive, and devastating to African Americans and other "people of color". In the mix [laws that give certain groups (dominated by whites) an advantage, our unjust legal/justice system, overcriminalization, the for-profit prison system, and law enforcement (which is predominantly white and designed to act in one's own best interests) which has the power to completely destroy an individuals life], and you get some understanding why Blacks and other "people of color" have higher unemployment rates than other racial/ethnic groups.
It's high time we address these issues, and also come up with intelligent and creative ways to insure that "people of color" are properly represented in every industry in the workforce.
RELATED:
Top 6 Outsourcing Disadvantages: Outsourcing Disadvantages: Reasons That Outsourcing is Bad for Your Company By James Bucki
How Employers Weed Out Unemployed Job Applicants .. 1/14/2011
Employment Law Outsourcing Checklist (Mar 2006)
What is White Supremacy?
Friday, December 13, 2013
THE STORY OF BLACK SUPREMACY
A friend of mine asked me to tell this story because for some reason, certain people don't fully understand what's happening to African Americans in their own community and all across the United States.
The story is about people of European ancestry who were taken from their land by Blacks, sold into slavery, brought to America, stripped of their religion, identity, history and culture, brutalized, treated as chattel, tortured, murdered, their families torn apart, made to toil in horrible conditions without pay, their women raped and forced to care for Black children and their Black captors. These people of European ancestry helped build a nation where Blacks (their captors) thrived.
Upon their so-called freedom, these Europeans were not allowed to live around Blacks (who had all the money and power). Some Europeans and some European communities thrived, but most were poor and the residents uneducated. What is indisputable, no matter what Europeans tried to do, the Blacks made it their mission to keep the Europeans poor, ignorant, living in fear of their life, and with no real political or economic power.
In order to insure that they (Blacks) remained in power, they created laws and designed systems that insured people of European ancestry stayed poor, held menial jobs, were denied business loans, were denied the right to vote (or made it difficult to vote), and had no real voice in their government [even though they paid taxes]. Their tax dollars were used for the benefit of everyone except them.
To maintain the status quo, a large police state was created and Europeans were incarcerated (for profit) and murdered in alarming numbers.
To maintain the status quo, a large police state was created and Europeans were incarcerated (for profit) and murdered in alarming numbers.
Blacks designed a system of institutional racism so that only their group (and not the group with European ancestry) flourished in every positive way imaginable.
Those of European ancestry were largely taught Black/African culture and history, and were brainwashed with stories about Black supremacy. A few stories of what little was known of European history was relegated to one month out of the year.
There was no place a European could go without being hassled/harassed by Black police, patted down and hunted like rabid dogs. They had very little legal rights, and could be murdered with impunity.
The media was owned by Blacks who portrayed people of European ancestry as lazy, shiftless, violent, dishonest and immoral. No one wanted to be around them and Europeans didn't even want to be around other Europeans because their identity, history and culture was negatively shaped by Blacks which caused the Europeans to have low self esteem. The majority of Europeans believed what Blacks said about them so deeply, that they couldn't get along with each other, drank, abused drugs, and played into the negative stereotypes Blacks had created for them.
The Europeans who were able to obtain a good education and earn a good living never looked back either because of the negative images Blacks had created about them, or they felt if they were to reach back and help their own people gain economic and political power, Blacks would murder or incarcerate them.
Now Flip the Switch:
African American History and Culture
Related:
2013: The Year the Prison System Changed?
What is White Supremacy?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
MYTH OF A BLACK PRESIDENT
"the Atlantic" fascinating and deeply insightful article by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a must read. Please read the entire article on "the Atlantic" website.
"As a candidate, Barack Obama said we needed to reckon with race and with America’s original sin, slavery. But as our first black president, he has avoided mention of race almost entirely. In having to be “twice as good” and “half as black,” Obama reveals the false promise and double standard of integration."
"The irony of President Barack Obama is best captured in his comments on the death of Trayvon Martin, and the ensuing fray. Obama has pitched his presidency as a monument to moderation. He peppers his speeches with nods to ideas originally held by conservatives. He routinely cites Ronald Reagan. He effusively praises the enduring wisdom of the American people, and believes that the height of insight lies in the town square. Despite his sloganeering for change and progress, Obama is a conservative revolutionary, and nowhere is his conservative character revealed more than in the very sphere where he holds singular gravity—race.
Part of that conservatism about race has been reflected in his reticence: for most of his term in office, Obama has declined to talk about the ways in which race complicates the American present and, in particular, his own presidency. But then, last February, George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old insurance underwriter, shot and killed a black teenager, Trayvon Martin, in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman, armed with a 9 mm handgun, believed himself to be tracking the movements of a possible intruder. The possible intruder turned out to be a boy in a hoodie, bearing nothing but candy and iced tea. The local authorities at first declined to make an arrest, citing Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense. Protests exploded nationally. Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea assumed totemic power. Celebrities—the actor Jamie Foxx, the former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, members of the Miami Heat—were photographed wearing hoodies. When Representative Bobby Rush of Chicago took to the House floor to denounce racial profiling, he was removed from the chamber after donning a hoodie mid-speech."
"The moment Obama spoke, the case of Trayvon Martin passed out of its national-mourning phase and lapsed into something darker and more familiar—racialized political fodder. The illusion of consensus crumbled. Rush Limbaugh denounced Obama’s claim of empathy. The Daily Caller, a conservative Web site, broadcast all of Martin’s tweets, the most loutish of which revealed him to have committed the unpardonable sin of speaking like a 17-year-old boy. A white-supremacist site called Stormfront produced a photo of Martin with pants sagging, flipping the bird. Business Insider posted the photograph and took it down without apology when it was revealed to be a fake."
Read the entire article, complete with an excellent interview with Ta-Nehesi HERE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)