Habari Gani? Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility

To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

While preparing to write today’s reflection on Ujima, my eyes zoned in on the word “problems” in the description of this sacred value. I began to ask myself, “What are our problems that need our collective support?” One of the first things that came to mind revolved around “our children”…and more specifically our children (meaning Afrikan children) who are under the jurisdiction of the courts or are wards of the state in some way. To be clear, our children are not the problem, but they experienced problems that negatively impacted their healthy development. Now, government municipalities and their various agencies have charge over their lives with the stated goal to work in their “best interest.”

Many of these children are in foster care or tied up in some adoptive agency, group home, or department of social services and many of them are Black youth. Without even looking at the research, I know that if I walk into the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, that Black youth will be disproportionately represented. I would not be surprised if the same was true at Baltimore’s Woodbourne Center and the Baltimore office of Arrow Child & Family Ministries. Another layer of interesting dynamic is that at the latter two agencies I mentioned, while the youth population is probably majority Afrikan; the Board and Staff members of those agencies are probably overwhelmingly White. This dynamic is likely to show up no matter where you’re reading this from.

Why does that matter?

Well, I can’t argue that these “White” nonprofit agencies and government agencies don’t do some good to protect and care for youth no matter their racial or economic background. Having a wife who was a social worker and being in regular contact with those who still labor in this field, I’ve been witness to some of the horrifying scenes in which these professionals have to enter for the protection and benefit of a young person. Many of them deserve great credit and its a powerful ministry in which they are engaged.

However, these nonprofits and government agencies cannot be expected and should not be expected to support the youth in their journey toward a greater understanding and embrace of their ethnic identity. While there no doubt are exceptions among individual professionals in this field, the knowledge base of many of these organizations is completely ignorant of African culture and its import for Black youth. I agree with Dr. Henry H. Mitchell who echoes in his book, Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art, a sentiment that is a foregone conclusion among the Afrikan “conscious” community. He says that culture is like a survival kit that speaks to the “wisdom and methods of a given cultural group, for the purpose of ensuring its survival.” He tells Black preachers (and it sure enough applies to many others) to work within the culture of a setting to communicate good news. I contend that among the many other things that youth in these systems need; they also need a firm founding in their Afrikan culture. It will help them in innumerable ways.

Well, how can these largely “White” nonprofits and government agencies support youth from within that young person’s own culture when they don’t know it – and thereby can’t value and uphold it!

That’s where we as the Black community have opportunity to engage. If I had my druthers, there would be no Black children – or children period – as wards of the state. But that ideal is not our reality at this moment. So what can we – the Black Community – do in the meantime? I raise 5 ideas for your consideration:

1. Survey those within your circle of connection who have some knowledge of the local foster care, adoptive agency, and group home scene in your town – listening especially for potential opportunities for support. These may be social workers, adoption caseworkers, group home directors, etc.

5. In addition to being a cultural advocate, talk to your church members, frat brothers or sorors, about serving as legal advocates for these youth so they don’t have to go into the American court system alone. The courts have been a place where deep injustices have been committed against Afrikan people – don’t let that tradition continue upon Black youth and you not be there to stand with them. The National Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) can assist you in getting started.

What’s the point of being “conscious” if we don’t have a “conscience” toward our own children in these systems! We can rail against racism/white supremacy, white privilege, and legal and economic discrimination which leads to the disproportionate presence of Black youth in these agencies all day. (and rightly so!) But the fact of the matter is that our children – no matter the reasons – are in there and they need the support, love, and care of the Black Village. Their problems should be our problems and we have the opportunity to work with them to find solutions that will benefit them and us.

Ashe.

Habari Gani? Kujichagulia! which means Self Determination – To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Self-Determination is such a beautiful principle which speaks to the freedom that all individuals and people-groups should be able to rightly exercise. Though not always using the term, I have been writing about “kujichagulia” on this site for a long time.

In early 2008, I was blessed to be a part of the Park Heights Community “Dry Out” campaign that sought to expel liquor stores and predatory businesses from the 5100 block of Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore. It’s beyond shameful that there are 4 liquor stores in that one block! It’s also telling that in this overwhelmingly Black community; all of those liquor stores are owned by non-Black people. Under the leadership of Derrick Compton and with the support of others like now-councilman Brandon Scott, Al Watson, and Pastor Kevin Brooks; we put weekly pressure on these establishments to let them know they were being monitored for infractions and targeted for eventual expulsion.

In November 2009, I critiqued the Emerging Christian Movement in the spirit of self-determination, for its exclusion of non-white voices as it presented theological dynamics and features as if they created them while all the while People of Color of other Faith traditions and denominations have been practicing different “emerging” principles for generations.

I wrote about “kujichagulia” back in August 2010 when I proclaimed that “Black People Should Control The Baltimore City Public School System” on the grounds that Afrikan youth make up about 98% of the student population and the city is somewhere around 65% Afrikan. This notwithstanding, Black folks are regularly begging and pleading to have substantive say in the education of their own youth.

Self-determination pushed me back in April 2011 when I talked about the general “whiteness” of the Urban Farming/Healthy Food Movement and the need for people of color to be at the lead of the food revolution just as we are in most cases the ones suffering under the brunt of America’s food deserts.

And of course, my involvement in the struggle against Governor O’Malley’s plan to build a new youth jail in East Baltimore has been fueled by my firm belief that the Black Community should decide what institutions we want or don’t want in our community just like White people and Jewish people decide what will or won’t come in their communities. If White people don’t want a business or even a church to come into their community; chances are it won’t come. If Jewish people don’t want a business to come in their community; chances are it doesn’t come. Why should it be any different for Afrikan people? We don’t want O’Malley’s multi-million dollar youth jail and many of us have committed ourselves to organize, agitate, and protest – even if it means physically impeding the path of construction trucks – until O’Malley bends to our wishes.

This, my friends, is self-determination and in different ways it’s happening all over the world.

I pray that the flames of “Kujichagulia” burn even brighter in the new year for the Global Afrikan Family. As Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. reminded us – “No one can ride your back unless its bent.” No more hunched-backness in the Black community! May we stand up straight like righteous women and men and commit to “define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves” without timidity or apology.

Ashe.

SOURCE: David Shankbone

If all goes as planned. Today – October, 4, 2011 – will be a day that is remembered and perhaps even recorded in the “People’s History of Baltimore City.”

For the past couple of years a committed group of activists have been challenging Maryland state plans to build a multi-million dollar youth jail in East Baltimore – in a community that is already saturated with prisons and jails. While initial activism around the issue was met with strong resistance from political and agency leaders; some of them are beginning to become more vocal opponents of the youth jail citing stats that reveal that crime among youth in Baltimore is decreasing (following a national trend related to crime in general) and fiscal restraints are forcing political power brokers to consider other options.

Last year, this month, community leaders and grassroots activists hosted Youth Justice Sunday which brought a crowd of a few hundred to the neighborhood and site of where the construction of the youth jail is planned in East Baltimore. Today, youth leaders are joined by nonprofit professionals and their allies to once again march and raise awareness about the community’s continued disagreement with this youth jail project – demanding instead that dedicated operating and capital monies be redirected to schools, recreation centers, jobs, and other critical services that residents desire.

Today also marks the start of #OccupyBaltimore – an outgrowth of the #OccupyWallStreet effort that’s been going on for two weeks now in New York. The New York effort – which is a logistically impressive and passionate protest – has gained much attention in people-owned media and communication media, but just recently began grabbing the attention of corporation-owned media after NY police officers pepper-sprayed female protesters. (Wouldn’t be surprised if someone in the #OccupyWallstreet camp knew that crying White females on television in America gets the national TV cameras there quick!)  The #OccupyWallStreet narrative continued to develop with what protestors call the “Battle of the Brooklyn Bridge.”

200 people show up for inaugural meeting of #OccupyBaltimore

#OccupyBaltimore, which was started by the actions of those inspired by the NY-action, organized rapidly – largely on social networking sites and google. Remarkably, approximately 200 people attended the first meeting of the group (Sunday at 9PM!), more than 400 people have joined the Google group, and nearly 1,000 people have said on Facebook that they will join the group as they will begin “occupying” (that word has heavy negative baggage, but I get it.) downtown Baltimore at the corner of Pratt and Light Street – in the heart of Baltimore’s corporate and tourist district. Interestingly enough, the Baltimore police have already begun “monitoring” and likely infiltrating #OccupyBaltimore according to the Baltimore Sun:

“Baltimore police were monitoring social media and news reports for updates on the Inner Harbor protest, said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.”

Stay tuned for up to the minute details regarding Baltimore’s Day of Protest. We’ll have pictures, video, and livestream of protestors and reactions.

Of course I’m expecting this to be one of the chapters in D. Brent Laytham’s next series of books….right after the chapter entitled, “God Is Not A ‘He” and before the chapter “God Is Not A Christian.”

Enjoy:

Click this link to read their full letter of response [link opens pdf file]

Photo by Rich Dennison/The Daily Record

That’s the question I would ask Donald Fry (pictured), head of the influential Greater Baltimore Committee and Governor-appointed Chair of the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission.

The Baltimore Business Journal reported last week that the 7 member commission voted to “ease” [read: ignore] state requirements which would call for 25% of the casino construction project to go to MBE (minority-business enterprise) or WBE (women-business enterprise) certified firms. Likewise, successful licensees won’t have to bother with the Baltimore City requirement that calls for 37% minority-owned or woman-owned business participation either.

Apparently, it’s just that easy to make a state and city requirement – “optional.”

The interim-Mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, didn’t seem to know that the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission “eased” the MBE/WBE requirement on the city slots construction project when she was asked about it on the Marc Steiner Show on the evening of Thursday, August 18th – the day after the controversial vote. However, she did say that she takes the MBE/WBE goals very seriously and that many bidding firms are disqualified if their proposals don’t meet them.

Despite her proclaimed convictions related to including minorities and women in state contracts, it’s doubtful that she’ll challenge the ruling of the slots commission given that she’s in the midst of a contentious election and the head of the commission was chosen by her political ally, Governor Martin O’Malley.

She’ll take one for the team on this one.

However, The Baltimore City branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) isn’t laying down so quietly. In the following open letter, Rev. C.D. Witherspoon, President of the Baltimore Branch of the SCLC, challenged Mr. Fry to explain why the state MBE/WBE requirements were removed from the city casino construction project:

Rev. Cortly “C.D.” Witherspoon, Sr.
President,
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Baltimore City Chapter

As a clergy activist, I’ve been invited to share with these students for the past two years and have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with them. This year as I prepared to speak to them, I thought I would offer up something different during my presentation that I hoped would provoke and challenge them to deep self-reflection as it relates to the topic of White Privilege and racial prejudices. To this group of White students who primarily came from affluent backgrounds and were preparing to serve in Baltimore’s Black community I said the following:

PHOTO CREDIT: www.rtusp.lv

It is my honor to be here sharing with all of you at-risk youth today. You can be assured that this is a cherished opportunity for me as I have for the past 10 years committed myself to working in underprivileged communities such as this one. And though you are disadvantaged youth – with many of you probably coming from broken families – I want you to know that you can grow up and be anything you want to be. You don’t have to be a statistic. 

Though the temptation is real; you don’t have to grow up and be “white collar criminals”. You can be better than that.

Though you come from politically violent communities; you don’t have to grow up get elected to public office and perpetuate political violence by gentrifying communities of color. You can be better than that.

Thank you.

From L to R: Senator Catherine Pugh, Delegate Barbara Robinson, Delegate Shawn Tarrant, Delegate Frank Conaway, Jr., City Councilman Carl Stokes

The fight for the destiny of Black Children in Baltimore has intensified as hundreds of city residents, including high school students, college students, clergy, community activists, and many others, are voicing their firm opposition to Governor Martin O’Malley’s plan to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail at 600 E. Monument Street in a community already saturated with “correctional” facilities.

In overwhelming fashion, community members agree that this is not the best use of state tax dollars and there are more productive ways to engage issues surrounding youth offenders specifically and public safety generally. The truth of the matter is that 40% of all prison and correctional facilities in the state of Maryland are found in Baltimore City. Given that, outside observers might be led to conclude that Baltimore City has to be one of the safest places in the state given the mountain of resources that have been thrown into building barns with bars for all the “bad guys”. Those closer to the situation know differently and even without the statistical data or the political polish, most Black Baltimoreans especially know instinctively that building more jails does not mean increasing public safety. We also know that if resources are invested on the front-end of life; then the need for these types of facilities diminishes greatly.

Despite this common wisdom that permeates many Black communities in Baltimore; there seems to be a disconnect between the will of Black Baltimoreans and the actions of Black politicians. While community members and grassroots activists have been vocal in stating and demonstrating their opposition to Governor Martin O’Malley’s $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail; far too many Black Politicians in Baltimore have offered up only muted support or worse. The majority of Black elected officials in Baltimore City have been virtually silent on this issue causing many to believe that they have made a pact with the devil (so to speak) to gain political favor in exchange for their betrayal of their own community. (Delegate Jill Carter from District 41 being the notable and laudable exception. Thank you, Del. Carter!)

In the throes of a contentious gubernatorial election, rumors abound that Governor Martin O’Malley’s campaign team has been contacting youth-serving organizations, advocacy groups, and politicians in the city requesting their silence on the issue of the youth jail scheduled to be built in East Baltimore. While these claims have yet to be fully substantiated; one wonders how else it can be explained that persons who are accustomed to being “in the know” and on top of the latest and largest things going on in the city have yet to say much at all about a $100 million dollar-plus project coming to East Baltimore. It is almost as if the project doesn’t exist.

Of particular interest are the elected officials who represent the district where this Youth Jail is slated to be built. While the area is represented by Congressman Elijah Cummings and Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin on the federal level; it’s the state and local elected officials who are of particular concern. These are the individuals whom one would think have a greater finger on the pulse of the community and a greater readiness to respond to the will of those they were elected to serve. These are the ones who meet the neighbors, attend community meetings, get to know families, receive calls from those in need, and are invited to community events, pushed to the microphone and applauded. Surely, one would assume that they are in lock-step with the souls of Black Folks in District 40 (councilmanic district 12) – knowing their yearnings, their unmet needs, and being in tune with the community desire for itself. However, this does not seem to be the case.

SENATOR CATHERINE PUGH

The State Senator for District 40, Senator Catherine Pugh, is in the position of traditional legislative leadership for that district and there is no published comment anywhere that she offers up in relation to the $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail. She’s not publicly spoken on the project either way. This is particularly unsettling because she is also the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland which is holding its Annual Conference beginning two days after next week’s mid-term election. One of the primary objectives of the caucus is to “act as a legislative body on behalf of the Black community” and advocate policies that serve the best interest of the Black community. One wonders if she thinks that building this Youth Jail serve the interest of the Black community. Her deafening silence belies her complicity in O’Malley’s dastardly plot to yet again secure political advantage and curry corporate favor on the backs of Black children. Pugh’s lack of leadership on this issue not only undermines the destiny of her district, but also gives heads up as to what we can expect from the Black Caucus in the coming years.

DELEGATE BARBARA ROBINSON

Much of the same can be said for Delegate Barbara Robinson who also “represents” District 40 and “serves” as the 2nd Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland along with Pugh. After repeated attempts to contact her for comment on the issue of the youth jail being built in her district, she offers no comment.

DELEGATE SHAWN TARRANT

To the credit of Delegate Shawn Tarrant, he was interviewed on the Marc Steiner show on WEAA 88.9FM over the summer and came out against the project, however, since that time has not publicly demonstrated his opposition to O’Malley’s Youth Jail. While his verbal support is appreciated and is much more than his colleagues have offered up; what you say on the radio only takes us so far. With all the talk radio shows in Baltimore, thousands of people have the opportunity everyday to pick up the phone and voice their opinion. But in this town “radio revolutionaries” come a dime a dozen. We need more people who hang up the phone, get off the radio, and get in the streets.

DELEGATE FRANK CONAWAY, JR.

Delegate Frank Conaway, Jr. is puzzling in terms of his lack of attention to this issue. Though he comes from a political family known for speaking out on controversial issues,he too has been publicly silent. His father in particular, Frank Conaway, Sr. who is Clerk of City Courts, is remembered for his public clashes and critique of Martin O’Malley when he was Mayor of Baltimore. Frank “The Son”, however, has not followed in Dad’s footsteps on this point.

CITY COUNCILMAN CARL STOKES

Finally, City Councilman and former Baltimore Mayoral Candidate, Carl Stokes who represents the same neighborhood as his state-level colleagues listed above, has not publicly spoken out either. Private emails convey his disagreement with the project, but one would think that he would seize the opportunity to publicly demonstrate his commitment to the community particularly given the speculation around town that he’s considering a run for Mayor next year.

IN CLOSING

All in all, the entire team receives a failing grade on this issue for their convenient silence and in some cases outright complicity in partnering with Governor Martin O’Malley to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail in their community. Many conclude that the Prison Industrial Complex and the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” represents the 21st Century version of slavery in this country for American Africans and Latinos in particular. If that is true, then a brand new slave ship is being built in East Baltimore and those whom Bro. Malcolm X might characterize as “House Negroes” are standing by and letting it happen.

In addressing the Vietnam War, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “there comes a time when silence is betrayal.” These Black Politicians (and their silent colleagues) are in danger of tarnishing their would-be legacies and becoming known as the ones who were curiously and conveniently asleep at the switch at a time when Black Youth needed them most.

I’ve been involved with youth mentoring for more than a decade in the Baltimore City area and I’ve long concluded that I receive much more than I can ever give the young people that I’ve been blessed to connect with. This is particularly true of youth that I’ve mentored who are incarcerated. There’s a special place in my heart for young men in particular who are in chains and shackles in any one of the state’s “rehabilitation” facilities. When I think of the young men that I’ve been blessed to connect with over the years at the Charles Hickey School in Baltimore County, “Baby Bookings” on Gay Street in the city, and now Eager Street Academy; I think of brilliance behind bars. Without exaggeration I’ve met some of the most creative, intelligent, reflective, caring, giving, and gifted young men throughout my years of mentoring incarcerated youth.

Usually, at some point during one of my first sessions with this population of young men, I end up telling them that they are making people wealthy by being in the situation that they are in. I talk about how there are forces in society that not only celebrate their incarceration, but help create the conditions that make their incarceration more likely in an effort to increase profit margins.

Up until recently, when I would tell incarcerated youth that they are making other people wealthy by getting involved with the penal system, I would always have an amorphous “they” in mind. That is to say that while I knew this group of profiteers were out there, I wasn’t able to point to a specific somebody and say, “Mr. XXX” is getting rich off of you….but now that’s all changed.

Since really devoting myself to joining with others to struggle against Governor Martin O’Malley’s plans to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail in East Baltimore; I’ve uncovered information that helps identify some of the parties that are profiting off of the incarceration of Black Youth in Baltimore. This by no means is an exhaustive list. I’m sure there are other groups/individuals cashing in this modern-day form of slavery and as I uncover them I’ll share them, but I’ll start with the most obvious groups for now.

Let’s start with the Berg Corporation.

According to a December 2007 Maryland Board of Public Works Agenda Summary (Item # 17), the Berg Corporation, and its CEO, David Berg, were paid $2,261,929.00 for the demolition of the existing structure that was located on the site where O’Malley’s Youth Jail is slated to be built. Today, the Berg Corporation’s banner proudly waves on the long fence surrounding the cleared land and they were so excited about their work that they posted this video of the demolition on their company website.

The next corporation that is profiting off of the incarceration of Black youth in Baltimore is the architecture and engineering firm, PSA Dewberry. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, PSA Dewberry was selected by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to design O’Malley’s Youth Jail. In November 2008, they were paid $7,595,347.35 by the Maryland Board of Public Works to design the latest incarceration facility.

Other members of the consulting team who are benefiting financially from the incarceration of Black Youth in Baltimore include Penza Bailey Architecture, Carter Goble Lee, WFT Engineering, EBA Engineering, Sidhu Associates, R&R Design, and Hope Furrer Associates located in Towson, Maryland.

So the next time I visit with my mentees, I’ll be able to show them pictures and give them specific information about those who are profiting off of their incarceration. In addition to showing them pictures of the members of the State Board of Public Works; I’ll be able to show them pictures of the men below. I’ll ask them if they notice anything about these men who serve as Executives at the firms connected to Governor O’Malley’s Youth Jail. Then I’ll ask them to look around the room and describe the picture they see with their own eyes about who makes up the overwhelming majority of inmates. I’ll ask them to read, study, analyze, and reflect on the pictures and the amount of money being thrown around to build these facilities. I’m sure that they’ll draw some brilliant conclusions about who is really profiting off of the incarceration of Black Youth in Baltimore. 

Can you think of any others who profit from the incarceration of Black Youth in Baltimore?