Faith in Action

As you know, I’ve locked arms with activists in Baltimore’s Park Heights community in an effort to shut down the liquor stores there. As Betty noted in my previous post on this issue, this community is inundated with liquor establishments. And as Common Sense alluded to in that same comment section - a community that is inTOXICated will never rise up and demand better for themselves and/or their children.

The sheer volume of liquor establishments in Park Heights borders on a criminal offense and if I was Sharon Green Middleton - Baltimore City Councilwoman for that community - strategically removing these parasites from Park Heights would be one of my top priorities.

Interestingly enough, I have obtained a letter written by Jean Yahudah, president of the Woodlands Nguzo Saba Neighborhood Association addressed to Councilwoman Middleton and the Baltimore City Liquor Board dated December 1, 2007.

Honestly, I had to read the letter about three times. I could hardly believe Yahudah’s position on this issue.

How in God’s name does a neighborhood association named after the seven principles of Kwanzaa come to the defense of a liquor store that fuels violence and drug activity in this Black neighborhood!? Which principle of Kwanzaa justifies your position Ms. Yahudah?

Yahudah even goes so far as to express concern about how the elderly owners of the liquor store will make a living if not allowed to continue selling alcohol in the Black community!

I believe this letter is indicative of self-hatred and the self-destructive practice of protecting the interests of other ethnic groups at the expense of your own community’s dignity, prosperity, and basic humanity.

I don’t know family. Obviously, our efforts in Park Heights need to be two-fold. On one front we need to target the liquor stores and political systems. On the other front, we need to work to liberate the minds of “mis-educated negroes.”

Check out the letter and let me know what you think.