Tag: baltimore

Nah They Ain’t Ready!!

Posted on by JonathanT.

Moors of Northern Africa:

Moors-in-Spain

Y’all act like you want to talk about it

But y’all aint ready for the truth

The reason we are hated and hunted

Devalued and misled from youth

Mankind’s forsaken children

God’s chosen few

Still searching for the land of Milk n Honey

Trying to escape Babylon’s noose

The history has been hidden

From Jerusalem to the Egyptian Sphinx

The creators of the greatest civilizations

Ancient Romans, Italians, and Greeks

All marveled and mirrored the images

Until envy and greed reached its peak

See We were once called Moors and

Held in the highest regards

Feared and respected for intellect and war

Descendants of true survivors

Because American Slavery was like none other before

Yet we rise above the bullshit

Only to be mired in it

By our own ignorance and

This is the root of our downfall

Forgetting we have always been destined for greatness

May Be our biggest mistake of all

Wallowing in self-pity and

Blaming mankind for every misfortune to come

Time to realize the power we actually hold

And begin to grow again as one

Self-suffiency is key to survival

We must improve ourselves

If we expect change to come

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Posted on by JonathanT.

How can you call yourself a Christian and not speak out on or even recognize the inequalities and discrimination still present In this country that stem  from the privileged and unaccountable attitude of mainstream America. I understand all Americans do not share this same ailment but many if not most do. To attribute the circumstances of today’s black Americans as simply an unwillingness to conform and the makings of their own work ethic, character, education, or lack of, is a grave injustice and one that any logical human being with after or foresight would deem as ignorant if not simply just abhorrently evil, unless they lack the capability of comprehending and viewing the history of America without veiled shades on. The idea of such ignorance or the guise of, infuriates me to point of disgust with my fellow Americans. The occurrence of a black president did not end all racial problems in this country. If anything, it made them worse. Now Americans have more, whether valid or not, reasons to ridicule, criticize, and discriminate against black Americans even more. The disrespect that has been shown to this president is unprecedented. Nixon never received as much criticism and he was impeached. Acts of treason by congress and senate all occurred simply because of the unwillingness of the Good ole boys club to appear to be taking orders from a black man, or anyone who is not a  Anglo male for that matter. Loretta Lynch, the first African American female Attorney General has had the longest confirmation period from the senate ever recorded. 166 days total. I read a blog article about the two faced Christian a few days ago. The message was received instantly.

For the sake of humanity we must learn to understand and accept each other. There is a cycle of poverty that is perpetuated by the practices of systemic racism in America that  Some don’t know exists or either refuse to acknowledge it. It starts in our school systems.

Schools are the socialization agent that was put in place well before the inception of this country. Our children learn their roles in society, and are educated or given the tools to succeed, in an ideal educational environment. In low income, high minority populated areas, this Is not the case. Schools are poorly funded, teachers poorly trained, paid and evaluated on job performance, and students are not afforded the same learning experiences as more affluent communities have. Often minority children are placed in special ed, or non-college preparatory classes and just pushed through the systems. College is rarely an option so the chance for a career and getting out of that cycle of poverty is slim.

We all know it is a fact that minorities and especially young black and Latino men are more likely to be convicted of the same crimes that their majority(white) counterparts but given a harsher sentence. I have personally seen how second chances from the court system are given to non-minority offenders more often than anyone of a minority race. 0 of 11 residents in a rehab center in a county where over 50 percent of the drug arrest are minorities but the prison population of minorities soar to over 70%. Mostly simple possession cases. All in a system where prisons are privately owned and earn profit when they stay full. You tell me if the discrimination or unfair treatment is obvious.

After having a record getting a job isn’t that easy, especially for convicted felons. Most have to take low level jobs or resort to crime again. Yet we judge those who have to survive by any means necessary. By no means do I condone criminal activity or violence against anyone for any reason other than defense of self and others. But not understanding why someone would act out in such a way is just as barbaric as the act itself because it is a conscious decision to ignore the wrongs and injustices being committed, have been committed, and the effects of those acts, to mankind by mankind. So again I ask, Am I My Brothers Keeper? Are You?

“What makes your error of man more righteous than mine?”

Posted on by JonathanT.

Riots and Gangs, that’s comical compared to the birth of a nation. Our Nation. Meet the Originators of riots and Gangsters.

Friday, May 1, 2015

7:32 AM

I can be so random at times. I was scrolling through my movies on Netflix and saw this. Something just clicked.

Gangs of New York (1) Gangs of New York Gangs Of New York Images _ 1 2 [Next __] the hands that built america gangs of new york önümüzdeki ay ___

The original gangs of America before the bloods and crips. I know all you have seen or either heard of this movie, Gangs of New York. If you follow history you know this is a pretty accurate account of how things happened and why. Gangs formed for power and control of the resources in a particular, or should I say group of particular neighborhoods. Sound Familiar. Even the colors should trigger something. No, nothing yet? Ok, I’ll spell it out. It’s the same thing as what goes on in the inner cities but just on a larger scale and the Gangs of New York introduces us to the violence of the streets and RIOTS with an added in political agenda. Today’s gangs are calling a truce to come together for the equal treatment of a people. The original gangs did it to gain control of a people and a city, or Burroughs as they say in New York. Are we seeing the parallels yet? No? These gangs eventually developed into political parties which sought and eventually fought for control of the country. Back then it was done in the streets. Elections were decided by gang wars and riots that were accompanied by looting and mass outbreaks of crimes of opportunity. The X-factor in all of this is the American Media. Today’s gangs are villainized, while their predecessors run the country.

The correlation between the Gangs and the rioting of then to now triggered something in my head. It actually shows you the evil of man. How can someone commit an act and deem it as a necessary evil, but then condemn someone else for committing the same act. Time and place in history should not matter. The reason for the rioting should.

Can you seriously question why the people of Baltimore are or were rioting. Better yet, can you tell me why that’s the  only question we have? Are you serious? For oppressed people, sometime the only way to be heard is to make a little noise. Considering the history of this country, I’m sure we can all agree that Americans have a tendency to protest with violence after peace and liberty has been taken. Don’t criticize and ask,” Why are they destroying their own city?” Ask what kind of pain can a human be experiencing if their cry for help is that loud and violent? If people don’t have the resources to pull themselves out of poverty do you really expect the ability to suppress rage, from existing every day in that desolate and unpromising existence to be present? The disease of hypocrisy is growing and shows in the words and post I see on Social media. People often forget. I think it’s time to remember all of our history! All I’m saying is we all need to own the truths of our duality in this reality. There are good and evil in all forms and we all have a duty to protect each other from the evil at all costs if any of us wish to survive, if our children and their children wish to survive.

We can’t just talk about the problem and point out the flaws of man throughout time. We must offer solutions as well. How do we overcome this horrible tendency to overlook the reasons behind a group of individuals acts of violence and deviance? It must start at an early age. I work with children of all ages and one thing I have noticed is that no child is born with any inherited prejudices toward their fellow human being. By counter acting the negative influences from environmental factors in school, by teaching even the worst parts of history in school would be a great start. The History books in today’s classrooms are watered down. Well, since common core I guess there really aren’t books anymore but only worksheets, according to my children’s curriculum. That is a conversation I will save for a later date. Apologies, I digressed. Conversation on What is needed to overcome the effect of years of systemic and institutional racism. The same schools we just spoke of need to be equipped with adequate equipment and equally qualified teachers comparable to those in more affluent areas. Just a few ideas on a larger scale. Looking at it from the individual standpoint and speaking as a black man, we must focus on reestablishing our power as a community and as a people. We must value our own lives and the lives of our black people as much as we want law enforcement and the rest of the world to value us. We will not be taken seriously by anyone if we continue to kill each other for any reason. I understand that all the reasons for our circumstances are not in our control. I also understand that we CAN control our reactions to those circumstances and the path we choose to escape it, when given viable options.

Authors Note: Simply my ideas and opinions based on facts and self-evident truths. I am always open to others opinions and suggestions. How else can we stop the problem if we don’t communicate? So feel free to leave comments and add positive suggestion and ideas.

“Riot is The Language of The Unheard”

Posted on by JonathanT.

When will we learn?

People seem more concerned about the burning cars and the rioting in the streets and a very well insured CVS may I add, than they do about the violence from police and the death of so many. SMH Unite in all we do!! You dont have to condone the acts to understand why its being done. Not being able to understand why it is happening and empathize with those reasons, is the real issue. Shaming our own because many are letting out frustrations? Really. Find a way to reach out and explain anger is not the key my people. Talking down on people is that crab in a barrel mentality kicking in. Thugs, idiots, hoodlums, is the language of the oppressors might as well blast off with NIGGERS…with the ER on the end (skin cringes). Uplift and teach the misguided…anything else is part of the reason why we at this point now.

Who are we to judge. Are you there? Do you live there? Do you deal with the injustices and systemic racism that happens more frequently in highly minority populated areas like Baltimore. Have you ever been pulled over and told you fit the description with your son in the car and searched while he watched because you “fit the description”. Have you ever been arrested and beaten? Have you ever had to mourn the loss of a loved one to police violence? Have you ever had to wake up and realize that you have to better 10 times better and try twice as hard because you were born with a different skin? Have you ever been harassed while standing on your street corner talking to your friends by police because it’s laws that permit the gathering of too many black youth in certain areas because it is considered as a threat. Does that not sound like the tactics of slave owners keeping their slaves separated in fear of a revolt?

I am by no means saying that those individuals who rob stores for personal profit and gain are justified but I am saying I understand the frustration of those who are protesting and rioting without the intention of looting for personal gain. What I find more disgusting than the looting is the lack of empathy from the black community and others about the reasons why this happening in the first place. A Pastor in Baltimore is encouraging those same youth to join him in finding ways to make change without violence. Question is, can change be made without the threat of violence. Is that not how America and our fore fathers fought the oppression from the British? You can look at the petty issues that the media decides to publicize or focus on the real issues. Why do the lives of the average American citizen especially African American citizens and any others of color or socio-ecnomic disadvantages matter less than anyone else.