Time To Talk About Mental Health in The Black Community; 12 Books By Black Authors Follow

Black mental health is not taken seriously enough; it is very discouraging and very frustrating but I am hoping the more the community discusses it, the more people will realize that;

1) no, mental health doesn’t make you crazy
2) no, mental illnesss(es) are not for white people only
3) sadly, the denial to talk about emotions & the lack of discussing mental health in the community among Black adults and especially children, is continuing to let suicide run rampant -especially among those whom are not adults.

All Black lives matter, regardless of age, but when we have children as young as 5 and older attempting -succeeding- in taking their lives due to the trauma of racism in America, and bullying at school more often than not. Here is but one story, that of a beautiful 9 year old Black little girl.

Or what about all the missing Black women and girls? Why is there no outrage over that?

It is hard to talk about, but we have legal killings by capital punishment killing the Black community, or stealing fathers from families, much of the time due to self defense, drugs (which the white community is not absent of, so no one has any right to look down on anyone) -drug offenders do not need prison but that is another article- and a multitude of other ‘crimes’ later -far too often too much later- found to be innocent of said crime by DNA testing, but it’s took late because they’ve already been executed by the government. Or released after 60 years of serving a sentence they were innocent for.

And it is as though it’s become so common place everyone just looks the other way. FUCK THAT!

Or the police, who are here to not serve and protect, who are feared by most and how can anyone question why? They do not just murder, I would like to add. The beatings and other cases I have worked on in the past, that I want to update regarding both the victim and the killer(s) or abuser(s), are far more sick than I think anyone understands. Working nationally over 10 years as legal aid and as a counselor to victims I have a lot of confidential incidents I cannot share but there are also no shortage of ones I can share, sadly.

We have gang crime, which, I believe in just another form of suicide, and will go into those details at another time. But it’s taken kids lives, along with the drugs implemented by the government, as they admit or you can dig deep enough yourself to find these truths, if you are willing…

Suicide and self destructive of any sort, be it drugs, alcohol, knives, guns, wreckless behaviors that would get most white teens therapy are ending the lives of those in the Black community.

I focus on the children a lot; but we need the adults to step up initially, I believe, and show these children it is okay to speak about their emotions; show them it is okay to be upset and hurt. We need to educate them more and prepare them… We also need to ensure Black women and men know that they can call on a friend or a family member and reach out when feeling depressed, suicidal or just “off” and know they won’t be judged.

Below are from BlackMentalHealth.com which I hope you will check out as well. For now, here are a few, 12 to be exact… I’ve read many of them, especially Black Pain, number 12 on the list, and highly suggest it…

It’s gonna take Black men and women to first accept mental illness, especially understand how NORMAL it is for the trauma that the American government, school systems and society has caused for hundreds of years! Racism is trauma; and children are being more and more traumatized with Black children under the age of 11 and suicide still steadily rising since the early 1990s.

Black children aren’t going to talk about their problems if they see the adults can’t talk about theirs or if no one tells them it’s okay. Suicide is preventable; mental health is vital and it also impacts the physical but that’s for another article.

Please, consider reading and learning for yourself, for your loved ones and for the kids… For the COMMUNITY. There are far too many methods of legal murder in this country; taking a life by ones own hand should be the easiest one to put an end to as much as possible, if only we are open about it…

Link to books HERE.

Part 1 and 2: 72 Year Old Black Woman Found Hanging- Then She Vanishes…

This woman has virtually been removed from any and all methods people, including myself, are using to try and find and understand who did this vicious crime…and why the cops are covering it up.

I initially made this video of information about the case

Then I waited. I heard back from people who know people or are in the area. None of them knew about this. This (above) is where she was found.

So I did my first live stream; one of many to come. I will have a more professional setup in the future but until then, here is the updated information I have since that first video, discussion on what happened, and just as I begin to go into the deeper evidence… my pc froze and my internet -just on that pc- died. Here is that stream:

I will be back with the information, more organized and with my professional mic either Saturday or Monday, depending on when it arrives. I may be on before that with gaming headset to talk or I may do a study stream…but we will be back on this topic of lynchings in modern America and also, we will be acting to find out who this woman is and what else they can tell us.

Please, subscribe…

One Of My Favourite Tupac Speeches to Remind Us…We Have To Stop Looking Away!

This is one of my favourite Tupac speeches… Sadly, all he says still holds true…

And if not for Tupac’s words, lyrics and interviews, I would have been dead or in jail before I was 14, and that is REAL… He became a sort of mentor for me via his words in whatever form they came.

All children, more and more, as we are losing more and more, or traumatizing more and more children. Kids today need families; communities; we need unity and we need to think about what Tupac says… Instead of ending the video and moving on to something else, despite hearing some of the hellish obstacles ahead, too many people turn it off and push it to the back of their minds….

Makaveli Trained; RGB 4 life… peoples army….

Black 72 yr Old Woman Found Hanging; Then Swept Under Rug… Please See Video(s)!!!!

I am outraged that this woman has been murdered; that they say there was no foul play, that they pretend a 72 year old woman would do something like this! And yes, elderly people do take their lives, too, sadly. But statistically speaking:

There is research showing PUBLIC suicides are a very extreme rarity and almost always the suicide is committed by jumping off of a tall building or such. The most common method of suicide for women in the over 50 age range is overdose, shooting themselves is second but overdose has a drastically higher number.

They now are stating she died due to ‘unattended death.’ In the video I explain what that means and how they can say it is that, despite right after they state this, they express a situation that doesn’t meet the criteria of an unattended death.

There is racism going on in even deeper and more sinister ways; this is proof, the two men in the video that follows is proof, statistics are proof…

Please share…

Black Suicide Is Hard To Talk About, But WE MUST! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2774107

And this is not just in Maryland, and it is not just due to COVID related issues!

I will post more soon; but this is urgent.

Black, Missing, Ignored- The Current Situation

For anyone wanting to help in any way the Black women and children missing in America, going unnoticed by the media and government, there is an organization called Black & Missing. You can find this site by clicking here. It has profiles of the missing women, as well as a place to donate, offer anonymous tips, report a missing persons, get updates and more…

Additionally, coming up May 22, 2022 is a run/walk fundraiser to help this extremely important organisation. That website is here.

Please see below for links and details…

The ‘Hope Without Boundaries’ 5K Run/Walk is a fundraiser for the Black & Missing Foundation, Inc whose mission is to bring awareness to missing persons of color, provide vital resources and tools to missing person’s families and friends and to educate the minority community on personal safety. Proceeds from the event will go towards: funding for families of the missing, flyer distribution, financial support, victim recovery, and burial service assistance.

“The number of persons of color missing here in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area and around the country is alarming. We are holding this inspiring, family-friendly 5K to bring more attention to the countless number of missing children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and friends who might otherwise be overlooked.”  – Co-Founders, Natalie Wilson & Derrica Wilson

Senate bill 825 in Wisconsin courts there is a proposed bill regarding these missing women. That we are just now seeing a bill come out for this issue is atrocious. That it isn’t even a federal bill,…. leaves me so enraged I am speechless. You can read the proposed bill here from the Wisconsin government website.

There is another organization that actively tweets missing Black men, women and children. Please follow them at https://twitter.com/Black_Missing

Anyone with other resources please comment and I’ll approve it, and add to this list… Thank you guys.

I also hope my video made sense. I am trying to make them more focused and not let my emotions get the best of me. I hope I am doing that.

!TODAY Black Leaders & Liberators Virtual Children Workshop on MALCOLM X

Children’s Online Workshops

Black Power: Great Black Leaders & Liberators (1) Virtual Children Workshops

Starting Sunday 9 January 2022

Today!!!

What a wonderful man Malcolm X is; and in this time when kids are being so brain washed truth and knowledge are even more powerful.

I hope this will be packed; and I hope the content good, it should be as it is with no other than x

As noted on the above link:

Make History come to life with these Sankofa Sunday ‘Black Power: Great Black Leaders & Liberators’ children workshops led by Charmaine Simpson of Black History Studies.

With its emphasis on Black racial identity, pride and self-determination, Black Power influenced everything from popular culture to education to politics. These workshops will inspire young people to learn about great leaders and liberators who contributed to world history.

Each workshop will last 1.5 hours from 12:00 to 13:30 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

The workshops are aimed at young people aged 8 – 16 years old.

These workshops will be online using Zoom webinar. Please ensure that your device can support Zoom.

We like to keep the workshops interactive so ask if you can put your camera on.

The Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Tickets for each workshop cost £5.00.

The zoom link will be sent to you for each session.

To book via bank transfer, please contact us on info@blackhistorystudies.com

All workshops are non-refundable and non-transferable. Non attendance does not entitle you to a refund.

Spaces are limited. Book today, don’t delay.

To book all six workshops, click on the button below:

Video-Black Mental Health Matters- Black Male Speaks Out & Talks About Mental Illness Project

This is a VERY IMPORTANT video…. I hope you will watch it; this Black man tells his story, he was diagnosed with Major Depression, Trauma, …. please, please help stop the stigma in the Black community…and please listen to this man who is so brave to get up and share his story…

There is no shame in mental illness. It usually stems from trauma, and it can lead to physical illnesses that can and do kill like heart disease, high blood pressure and more.

For now, please listen… Or check out his program, HERE, where he is teaching barbers to be mental health advocates as well as helping them to connect with therapists to assist these Black men who need some help, even further, he is seeking and working to help Black children and women; the family system, in the Black community… His projects and ideas are so on point; I hope you will listen…

And there is nothing but PRIDE in that.

Please, check him out.

Short Video Regarding a Racist White Woman & White Privilege

I am absolutely enraged…. I made this video for twitter, it is what I think will be the intro to a longer video in the very near future, given I don’t think anyone is going to learn from what I say, but let’s hope I am wrong.

If you are a white person and truly are trying to understand, respect to you. If you are a white person who doesn’t understand because you aren’t racist (which by default, um, means, yeah.. you are) then I hope you will open you’re mind and try to better yourself, so you can help stop this horror.

New Video Up – Systematic Racism, Trauma, Children and APA Makes A Promise

The past few years I’ve been doing noting but studying, however, to convey and share that with anyone via blog or video was somehow too much. I am in a position in life that has left me lost, but I won’t go on about that. I have decided it’s time I do what I know I am here to do, and so…

There will be some changes to my YouTube page, and in the following video I cover that, I also talk about the American Psychiatric Association and their admission to systematic racism that cost us research which could have potentially helped saved Black children under the age of 10 who are attempting and also succeeding suicide.

They have made a pledge; the link is in the description in the video.

Thank you guys for staying, I hopefully am going to do better this time. YOUR FEED BACK HELPS; good or bad… Please feel free to message me, email me or comment. My email is noctem_aeternamx@yahoo.com

Here is to a new beginning…

The Tragic Disappearance & Murder Gabby Petito Is An Opportunity To Improve Lives…

First, to those who will try to contact me disputing this, for one send me factual evidence that is reliable and I’ll look at it and share that I did not know what was going on in regards to racism in America. I’m serious; if you think you got something, I’d love to disprove you.

But before I begin, let me hopefully deter a few of the defensive white people, victims are only us, crowd, with disclaimer:
In no way am I sayiNG the murder of Gabby Petito is acceptable or that she doesn’t matter. No one deserves what she received. HOWEVER, it does piss me off GREATLY to know if she were not white, blonde and blue eyed, she would not have gotten the attention her case is receiving. No. She would have received at best local media attention.

Fact. Don’t agree? Let’s move on from her case and focus on stats real fast, then I’ll be posting a video that is 4 years old which I made on this very same topic.

What’s distressing is it sounds like I could have very easily recorded this video today, based on the meaning of the video -which is- why is nothing being done about Black women, girls, CHILDREN who are going missing at alarming rates? And, nothing of real change has happened despite empty promises. ?

Four years later, here I am…still. And now, here is the video which sadly, is still applicable today.

Video Link

Four years later, I post that video to see before the post continues, as she all of this is critical…, especially with evidence to support lack of … any racism or treatment, that I’m aware of.

If you are saying what I have to say is untrue, think about this….This was a first to me; they speak on this issue and it’s a recent video of the racism involved.

When was the last time you have seen on national television, especially for months let alone years, a Black missing persons case; male or female; adult or child?

To try and make this even more clear. Think about the very sad and horrific murder of Laci Peterson. It took over a year to find her body and after that Scott Peterson went on trial in 2004; still just as big of in the media and news. Hell, recently I saw an article regarding him and his legal status.

I learned about the current woman found murdered from someone I know talking about it . Suddenly, I began seeing it everywhere; and it upset me, no, upsets me. All women deserve equality but it’s clearly not given when they bring on television these cases… common sense speaks as to why.

Any missing persons case is tragic to read, it has to be, as does the murder and rape reports that conclude too many cases. Those that are found; and that sounds so heartless to word it like that, I’m choking on tears as I type, but I am wording it that way because it DOES hurt to hear, THAT is reality.

As of this writing, 64,000-75,000 Black women and girls are missing. Do you think they all are getting the same help that we see in other cases? Numbers and women, men, families also confirm, that no; that is absurd thinking.

Being even more real, you may think I’m cold, I’m not; again, I do feel sad for anyone in these situations… ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE SILENCED AND UNSEEN. If that makes me cold, if hating the abuse of white privilege that exists even in missing persons cases, murders, rapes, etc… Then I’m proud to be ANYTHING other than who the people are that read this & don’t care.

It is even more outrageous that race is such a decisive factor in who it is that gets a national podium for loved ones to speak on and for citizens to try and assist in locating and helping bring these women home, one way or another.

Disagree? Please comment and show me where these cases are if these women are getting equal treatment by anyone; the media, police, the COMMUNITY, civil rights activists I am sure do speak on it but that poses another question; why haven’t people made this a national problem?

I know I’ll get a white person commenting to tell me that thousands of white women don’t get the same attention.

So, let me answer the questions I have heard over and over again when I am comparing the privileges of white people with the horrific reality of people who do not have white skin ( it seriously makes my blood race; no one should have any privileges, until we ALL DO!!😡 not to mention the STUPIDITY in skin color being a determining factor in treatment of daily life, treatment all kinds!

Even the simple equal treatment towards, help and attention to, that whites get is ignored!? These people … if that is what they are, truly cause a disgustingly sick energy of hate; they are the bane to society & equality, among much more.

These advantages should be a a basic human right, to all, not a privilege!

BUT IT IS NOT FOR ALL and denying this sick fact makes it’s existence grow. Sadly it seems most of white people not only deny this privilege to be real but abuse it. I’ll move on or I’ll never have this finished, perhaps a post for another time.

So again: white people are going to say to me:

I’m being racist or crazy to say this especially when the case is going on because white people are treated badly and losing ‘their rights’ *eyes roll* so the main comment I’m going to hear about this is:

Well, thousands of white women don’t get the same attention, either, so how can it be racist? Durrrr.

I normally reply with a “no shit,” and shake my head, then proceed to answer in the following way.

You are right, yes, that is true. Most women AS A GROUP do not get the attention like the ones that have and are right now or in the past.

There are many ways we could go with the answer as to why racism is at hand here, but to keep it simple for now….

When you look at total population of women in America, then, look at how many of these women are of the skin tone “Black” and how many women in America are white…

Statistically, this is astounding. Look at (image) the numbers for Black and “non Hispanic white”.

How can racism be denied at all in this, especially given the numbers make no sense. The number of how many missing are white, and how many missing are Black matched with each groups overall percentage in America, it’s so obvious I am not sure why it hasn’t changed…. No, I do know why. Sadly I am sure most of you do too.

Keeping those numbers for what they are, not letting people try and twist it around and say it only looks this way, but do the math and…

If white people currently were missing at the rate Black women are missing it would be national news itself. But it’s not the white people being ignored. I also don’t get the “white people must be victim” bs I get from white people on serious issues and sometimes even on NOT big issues. WTF?

But yes, most likely the vast majority if not all missing will not grant any one of them the same attention through sheer volume in the numbers of missing persons, for one.

Oh, I must add, however. IF hypothetically they did start doing this for more women… It’d be white women. And I have done too much research into American history, I have far more research that is evidence which would prove this tragic fact to be true than anyone needs. I have yet to see a shred for those who are against what I say.

Before I end this this, let me break this down in to bullet points & the latest statistics available.

1. 1) Missing, white women do not always or even close to always get the media, nation or etc attention as we have seen with just the 2 examples, those being Laci Peterson & Gabby Peti.
   
2. As it is put, “people of color” represent 45% of missing persons cases as of 2019, according to government stats.
   
3. Black women, as of 2021, represent 12.9% of women in America. Hispanic women are 18.0% of the women in America. White women are at 60% of women in America. ALL TOGETHER as of 2019 women of color represented 20.3% total, of American women.
   
4. I’d like to know how almost half of non-white missing women or girls makes up almost half, 45%, of women in America despite women of color in this country only account for 20.3% of America’s women….
   as opposed to the 60% population of women with white, “non Hispanic” skin.

Please keep your eyes and ears open; these numbers will get twisted by racists, as they twist them and try to confuse people regarding why Black and Hispanic men represent such a high prison population, despite Black men making up only 14% of the U.S. population as of 2021.

Tony Soto’s Story’s Horrible; Love & Respect To Him, Everyone Should Know What He Was Put Through

First, I wonder how many know or remember of Tony Soto, secondly, in case you don’t know, his story is one that must be told, he is well, so he has a lot more to do y is an amazing activist, locked up without any legal reason as to why on almost a $900,000.00 bail for two years. I’ve been asked to update people on his story and I have wanted to; he’s ready.

As I prepare to start being a consistent writer & YouTuber, I am also updating my YouTube page; removing older, irrelevant; especially ones I can do better.

I found these videos as I sort through YouTube getting prepared for my “return”- and Tony Soto’s story is one that should never be forgotten. Tony Soto is a man all should aspire to be like, in my opinion.

No matter what, the story of this educated Black man from Philly tells what we already know about racism & police. But Tony’s story is a bit different.

We have full evidence that Tony was harassed by the cops for the work he does, peacefully. He was harassed because his evidence lead to a cop being fired and having more knowledge than the ones who are “superior” due to their little “badge” was obviously just too much. This law abiding citizen who protested with the people, who fought for the people & who could out smart them- virtually always recorded- is the familiar tale that

The videos and blog posts are all in order… For the interested.

https://truthfultragedy.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/theyre-trying-to-silence-this-very-brilliant-black-male-from-speaking-part-1/

If you go to the above link, I believe it is the first in a series of posts I wrote regarding Tony Soto. I am also unsure of the links will work, I am going to redesign that site and remove the broken, add new stuff, and more than likely will document racism with the police brutality and American legal system, education system, etc. SO if you want that content please do feel free to follow or have an email sent to you when I have the site updated and am posting again; finally! 🙂

Thank you guys ❤

Purpose Of This Page

I have to begin this by saying this will be a page for people to reference anytime they desire, simply by clicking “purpose of this page” which is located at the top right and also in the left side panel. I am posting it as a blog because I began this page in 2018 and after too many traumatic events happened, I had to withdraw from almost all aspects of the internet, in consistency anyway.

Now I am back and confident I am ready to begin what I’ve spent so many years working on. Below is the ‘mission’ of this page… Thank all of you who have stayed and been patient as I got lost and found myself once again.

There are so many issues to address I’ve decided to make separate websites for each main topic… The purpose of  this page is to, hopefully, alert people to the urgency of mental illness and mental health in the Black community, speak on different types of trauma, including why racism is trauma and what  poor mental health does to the body physically.

It is not anyone’s fault if they are struggling with mental illness. Racism in the Black community is a cause of a lot of other severe mental health and physical health related issues, too many of them fatal.

There is a great importance in not only accepting mental health but understanding it, and the genuine risk in increasing numbers of suicides, for example… And I want to make this clear, suicide at any age is horrific, but the number of Black children between the ages of 4-12 that are taking their own lives and/or attempting to take their own lives is unprecedented.

It’s no surprise medical research doesn’t have much on this growing problem. This is something I really want to focus on and expose. This number has been increasing over the past two decades silently. Children in this age group are usually not ones to consider suicide let alone act out on it. But they are.

We need to make it a priority to learn about mental illnesses, what causes it, what is sparking these children and what sparks adults, what role does racism play when you have additional stressors such as poverty or abuse or other in ones life and most importantly; what can we do about it.

The point of these posts is to share facts and stories of what is going on right now among adults and children as young as 5 years old. It is to take the worst situations going on with mental health, that which is scarcely spoken on. I hope it will open dialogue among people, help parents, teachers and other caregivers notice signs and symptoms in children and adolescents, but also in grown men and women, too.

Mental health is just as real as any physical ailment, and in too many situations it is proving to be just as fatal. In fact, mental illnesses have physical symptoms more often than not; sadly, most of them lead to dying to early.

The risk is real and the reality of lose of loved ones by their own hand is real. This is another reason  I believe the community needs to get that village mentality as well as we need to see more Black men and women rising up as professional psychologists and psychiatrists. Even if it is just someone in the community who is willing to be open about their struggle; someone for others to go to, someone people know they won’t be judged by…

I have was verbally ‘attacked’ by a white man when I previously said we need more Black therapists. He accused me of separatism. I am not a separatist at all, but as a survivor of many forms of abuse, I do not want a male therapist. It only makes sense to hear people within the community speak of not feeling comfortable with a white therapist.

If you cannot understand this that is your problem; and so let me state it again. The reasons many in the Black community don’t feel comfortable going to a more than likely white psychologist is understandable. One of these reasons;  white people do not typically understand, especially on a personal level, what it is to be Black in America. We need more Black psychologists and psychiatrists. I will be compiling a list for people to access of Black professionals to look into and/or contact. 

Finally, because this topic is very heavy with sadness, obviously, I want to make sure to balance it out with fact and real history. This will be posted originally on another blog which I will post a link to *here* when it is up and running, and I will reblog from it from time to time.

Learning and remembering true history outside of the negative is vital, especially for children. As a warning I will share the horrors of the past and the hidden glory of the past on my other page, for both need to be known. However, I will only be posting positive stories in history here, as I said, this is a very heavy topic.

MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF; IT DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON CRAZY OR STUPID. Mental health has nothing to do with intelligence, just for the record.

I truly hope this website will serve to help even one person. Coming up soon I will have many resources and information I hope to aid in this current, silent crisis.

And because it is silent, let’s work at changing that and make it off the charts until self love and self acceptance has been achieved, along with the reality of Mental Health.

Where’s The Attention For Beautiful Black 8 Yr Old Girl Killed By Police 6 Days Ago?!

[THERE IS A COMMUNITY MEETING BEING HELP SEPT 9TH, 2021, SEE THE END OF POST FOR DETAILS]

The silence surrounding the fatal police shooting of an 8 year old Black girl on the 3rd of this month reminds me of how hopeless I used to feel before social media. *Stops to inhale.* With that, I’m going to delete the rant I typed up. Let’s get this tragic information shared…That which we know of it so far.

Last Friday, on the 3rd of September in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia, a beautiful little Black girl by the name of Fanta Bility, pictured above, was at a local football game with her mom and her 12 year old sister.

Apparently gun shots came out of no where, followed by the police blindly shooting back in the direction I assume they assumed the gun fire came from. In the process of this, little 8 year old Fanta Bility was shot in the chest; her sister wounded. Tragically, at the hospital beautiful Fanta Bility passed away.

Immediately the cops tried to say it was a drive by and those responsible were in custody. They had taken people into custody, but there were no charges pressed upon them. The District Attorney began investigating and very quickly after came back to report that there was a “high probability” it was indeed police bullets that killed her little girl and injured another (at least 4 were injured).

State Senator Anthony Williams and State Representative Regina Young, both residing over the districts in Philadelphia and Delaware counties, had planned a community meeting but to my understanding Hurricane Ida has caused them to rescheduled it.

As of right now, the public is invited to the school THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2021. Below is the information on the community meeting, I hope any and all of you in this area or who can get to the area will attend and demand answers. Here is the information on the upcoming meeting for FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, STARTING AT 6PM!

If you go, please feel free to message or email me, I would love to hear from any and everyone that attends and wants to discuss what this meeting is like.

From 6-8 p.m. Friday, the public is invited to the Academy Park High School at 300 Calcon Hook Road in Sharon Hill for a community meeting. U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5, of Swarthmore, the Southeast Delco Superintendent Dr. Brenda Wynder and members of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, the Sharon Hill Police Department and Sharon Hill municipal leaders are expected to attend.

Enraged By Sugar Coated History Book & My Hidden Review

I am not sure how many of you guys use GoodReads but if you like to read, I highly suggest it. I also highly suggest adding me 🙂

One of the things you are able to do is write book reviews (it is a lot more interesting of a site than it sounds; check it out you won’t be sorry 😀 ) and not long ago, I wrote my most recent review regarding a book called Slave Labor in the Capitol. Thankfully this POS was on Kindle Unlimited because I was expecting knowledge, raw knowledge like I have come accustom to in other pieces of literature on this topic (in fact, I will suggest two of my favorites after the review; please feel free to leave related book suggestions in the comments!)

The reason I have decided to make my “come back” with a book review is because of all the books I’ve reviewed, I’ve never had one be made ‘private’- I didn’t even know this to be possible. But, this review was private “somehow” and so to ensure it doesn’t get, “lost”, so to speak, I thought I’d repost it here.

Please be warned I may call this a book review, but upon adding it to this page and looking over it, I realize it is more of a book rant; still, I figure people will get the idea of what this book really is.

Slave Labor in the Capital: Building Washington’s Iconic Federal Landmarks (Kindle Edition)

I began reading this book with hope of enlightenment on the truth of what happened during this horrific time. The author seemed to be fair enough by opening his book with quotes from eye witnesses, but the deeper in you venture it becomes clear as crystal what his true goal was. I have suggested two highly respectable books on the history of Black men who were both forced and the few hired on Twitter (account @lady_makaveli71) but this book I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who can’t tell truth from fiction. Much to my disappointment, however, I quickly saw this book was written to tell a sugar coated version of what slaves and hired Black men had to endure, he goes out of his way to go defy what every other source I’ve read or seen states by trying to convince the reader Blacks may have been treated differently than whites….but not THAT bad. It’s written so white people can look back and say ‘it was bad but we were not THAT bad!’ It’s almost a spit in the face, with the above being noted, because the truth is of course right in front of the authors face. Instead of telling it as it is, 100%, he drizzles or saturates key things with sugar to an extent that makes them vanish, as if they were never there in the first place… Probably because he never did write the full truths. He was too busy comparing how decent living conditions were…….. This book left me sick at my stomach. Only white people who can’t bare reality and true history would read and applaud this book.

Another opportunity to be careful of the sources u read from. The former book I quoted from was written to make whites not “feel so guilty” – the two books below are excellent books&resources to start if interested in #BlackHistory pic.twitter.com/6kArjqSLe8

— Miss Kamaat Makaveli (@Lady_Makaveli71) August 16, 2021

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Disrupting the Miseducation of African American Youth

“Teach them about their marvelous history and watch what happens… Teach them and tell them, I tell them, your people have done wonderful things and that you too can do wonderful things. The moment they realize that their people have done something is the moment they realize that they can do something.”

This is a powerful, strong talk on the a tragic truth that can change the future. . . That can change and help the mental health of the children… Everyone needs to see this video. It’s amazing how obvious so much of what he says is yet, the lack of how often this happens is heart breaking.

Be part of the change. This is not “by chance” that these children can barely read, let alone want to learn… We need Black pride; we need a revolution even in the educational system…

We can all change the world, if we all try. The level of deprivation of knowledge, the lack of funding given to predominately Black communities school. This isn’t equality. It’s time to change; it’s time to make Black children proud of where they come from, just as they should be, and children of all color should be learning this as well because learning lies is brainwashing and heartbreaking.

We can all do something. What are you doing?

Intervention is Key to Brain Development; So Why Are the Immensely Traumatized Not Receiving It?

While this may not be a large reason Black children are seen taking their lives at such a high rate, it is impacting their mental health and it is time someone says something.

As neurobiological research shows, children’s very brain development can be altered by violence. This is why intervention is so vital; but what happens when intervention isn’t received, be it due to lack of access or due to disbelief in mental health; or perhaps it is so on going it isn’t even an after thought?

Do not get me wrong, the shootings at columbine and other school shooting are sad. But what about the kids who live in fear, day by day, because of shootings? I have been angry that no light has been shed on these children for a long time, and as I do my research regarding why Black children are taking their lives so early, it enrages me even more.

While I do agree that more Black therapists and psychologists are needed -because these children face what no white or any other ‘color’ can comprehend on a personal level- someone needs to be doing something. It’s not fair these kids are being alienated and shoved aside while these predominately white schools are making headlines.

And receiving the help they need. No matter the color trauma impacts the brain and the brains development which impacts children unless intervention is created be it with therapy or some other form of counseling.

It also needs to be known that expressing your emotions is not weak, and that mental health is real. Another common factor vital to helping children, teens and adults heal is removal of the tragedy that traumatized the child. In communities faced with immense fear, who can’t even trust the police which so many white people take for granted and then have the nerve to say there is no white privilege; I think this short but factual post gives a little insight into what, I believe, was planned.

The government wants to keep the community in disarray and they are doing it with neglect and internal conflict. Something needs to be done, for suicide, homicide and for the unification of us all. They cannot be allowed to win- we MUST stop buying into their twisted game.

On that note, I will have a video and written post up sometime today or tomorrow as this all keeps taking turns in every direction given the immense problems faced due to denial, ignoring and degrading; all of which are wrong and damaging youth and children, the future, alike.

*Against All Odds…* “The Black Experience in Business”- Things They Didn’t Teach in School- Documentary

As I prepare for my first release of heartbreaking information, hidden information it would seem, regarding health care and the Black community; children, to make it even worse, I figured I need to maintain a balance on my page for within the community, be it historical or present day, there is something amazing and empowering about what can be done when the community unites…

I feel it is just as important to highlight the tragedies going on, as well as acknowledge the buried history of Black men and women in America (as well as outside of America, but I’m trying to stay on topic.) I’ll be posting random positive posts such as this on and off as we go through the mental health crisis and more, for it is important never to forget…In fact, to KNOW or REMEMBER… They didn’t teach this in school for a reason, and as KRS-One asked, “WHY IS THAT?”

Click Here to go the PBS website and view the documentary for free. For some reason, it isn’t letting me embed it on my page 😐

Learn about the untold story of African American entrepreneurship, where skill, industriousness, ingenuity and sheer courage in the face of overwhelming odds provide the backbone of this nation’s economic and social growth.

Introduction Post- Mental Health Series- What Is Coming-

I felt a need to write this introduction and give anyone who may be reading my upcoming posts an idea of what will be discussed… This post doesn’t hold the details I want to share but gives a small overview of what I will be sharing over the upcoming months.  I hope the introduction makes sense, if anyone has anything to add,  or any questions please, leave a comment or message me. P
lease note I will be covering the topic of Mental Health in the Black community in every aspect I’ve yet to come up with, but if you feel there is anything missing again, I please share.

It is important to know as a trigger warning that the upcoming posts will speak of topics such as suicide and mental health among all ages, including very young children. I will be sharing a few stories in detail and will put warnings on them also because I don’t want anyone triggered; on the contrary, -and I am sure you will- I hope everyone feels the disgust at this racist country and just how low it goes, I hope you will fell the sickness in the pit of your stomach and the rage in your veins as facts and information on mental health that has been ignored for far too long -especially suicide, and suicidal behaviors.

I will be discussing the current tragedy with the little children, children being 5- 12 years of age, first due to its intensity and rarity. Also I hope it will give reason for anyone who otherwise would not consider the very real concrete fact of mental illness, and be able to learn to embrace it, the mind is power… Just because a physical ailment isn’t held doesn’t lessen the severity or risk of death by any means.

My plan on doing this in sum is:

Posting this as a very brief introduction to let you guys know I haven’t backe dout, I just have been frustrated with compressing a topic that needs the opposite of compression. Splitting it into different posts should help with that. And these upcoming posts will consist of more detailed essays in relation to mental health, mental illness,  what it means and why it is not something to shun or be ashamed of.

Open dialogue is past due and I hope these posts can assist in finding a place of understanding or acceptance, for this has been shrugged off for far too long. It truly, truly is becoming an urgent epidemic and lives that could be saved if they only could speak out, are being lost for the inability, the “shame” and “embarrassment” – the “unmanly behavior” of speaking up and most importantly, speaking out, when you are struggling mentally.

Speaking from a psychological stand point, I will be discussing different types of trauma, what it does to the development of the human brain and the lasting impact it has when not addressed and that child worked with until they are able to move on. Kids, especially young, have an amazing resilience in them. Especially during the developmental stages. If trauma is stopped and proper care given -and the big one, the situation changed as well, a child can go on, more like than not, to live their lives without the trauma following them into adulthood and manifesting into a mental health crisis of any form.

With that, I will share what has been proven to work, but it will take the community to unify and for that we have to get this violence to stop. It is all the same source, just as Ta-Nehisi Coates talks about in Between the World and Me, I know it seems impossible; most of my loved ones think it a hopeless fight; but it isn’t. After this series, I will be posting facts, laws and policies formed on racism and still fueled by that same sick racist mentality. Knowledge is the key; the ancestors tell us that! Evil cannot last or win forever; it’s time is coming to an end = but we have to be aware, we must also take action… I admit I don’t know how to stop the violence, but there has to be a way… There HAS to be, it is not impossible.

And we start to create hope by working on figuring out what that exactly is we need to be doing to stop the insanity on the streets, and in the legal system. They don’t expect anyone to stand up against it; and for that reason it must be done.

A little bit more of things to come is a theory I want to share from a book I recently read. In fact, I last posted a review on that very book, Black Suicide. It’s a psychological theory of suicide by life style, in short, and I hope in some way it will open eyes and help everyone to aid in stopping the readiness to die in far too many young men and women.

I will be discussing the medical history of Black people in America and the cruel, unacceptable “treatments” forced upon innocent men, women and children- of course, this has an impact on how things are perceived today.

.What is really frustrating me is the repeated, “and we don’t know what the cause of this rise in suicide is”- it doesn’t take much brilliance to easily see the reasons in my opinion, which I will discuss in upcoming posts. And I truly beg  each and every reader to add their words to increase awareness, open communication and most importantly, help educate people on what sources there are for this relatively new research. [Research showed Black children and suicide to be a higher risk in the early 1990s. Not that it matters when it comes down to the facts, for those who want a stamp of validity on this topic, you have it now as finally, this research has been once again conducted, reviewed and confirmed as truth by JAMA and many other related American Medical Association (AMA) research journals.

As I have noted I will be sharing my research on how racism impacts the development and growth of Black children and youth. This research has taken me far beyond any realm I had before imagined I am sad to say. I want to share it with anyone willing to listen because racism, lack of family and denial of mental health care all are feeding a vicious, racist cycle.

I also believe it is important to explore the reasons, history, culture and other behind the taboo views of mental health within a great deal of the community. What can be done to stop, or help as much as possible, this tragic epidemic is my ultimate question and ideas will be shared however mine nor yours are any good unless first we can get across and grasp the fact that yes, mental illness is real and it does inflict its torment on people, all people are at risk for mental illness; be it something common as depression or more severe such as PTSD or personality disorders. There is no shame in this.

There is only shame in not being able to talk about it. In allowing trauma and illness to manifest in a people and expect them to deal with it, not speak on it, that is where the shame lies. That is where too many unwarranted deaths lie. That is where behavioral problems stem. Of all racial groups, I believe the Black community has an overwhelming amount of trauma to deal with daily that others don’t understand or know about.

The trauma of being targeted by those who are supposed to protect, by the government period and many other afflictions needs to be talked about. The place I believe we should start is with the children. It is here, with precious young, Black children research shows a peak in suicide, one that is only increasing. I’m talking about 4, 5 year olds taking their own life. This should be a national emergency, but it is not and that makes it even more important the people make sure to end the stigma, and open up about their own emotions, as well as learn how to help others; especially the children. 

 

 

Book Review: Between the World & Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those rare books that grab you by the core of your soul, refusing to let go. So I will start our with…

Wow. Simply wow.

This book was so powerful I had to put it down at times, to let this reality sink in. This book is eloquently written in the fashion of a letter; preparing him for life as a Black man in the country his ancestors built, the slavery and racism still felt today, the history and culture denied, along with justice in the legal system. What is it like to live your life in fear?

I challenge everyone to read this book; but above all I call on anyone who is not Black to read and let the reality so foreign come over you. Walk in his shoes through his childhood and his lessons, his fears, his love and pains. But this book doesn’t stop with racism against Blacks by non-Blacks, but being also part memoir, he delves into his childhood. Gangs, fear, thick fear, trying to act fearless; looking back and seeing who was the most afraid of all. He takes us to Howard University, where he for the first time gets to experience what he calls, “Black Mecca” for all the different nationalities and cultures among the beautiful Black men and women he saw around him. Police brutality hits him personally, and the tone is felt through out all of the book. Fatherless and/or broken homes, drug dealers and those lurking with guns -be it the local gangs or the police- the death and trauma he had experienced he doesn’t want for his son. That much is clear and no good father would; so he speaks of all different memories, and the moments behind each where, despite the good and joy, the weight of “his body” was ever present.

By that same note, however, he also doesn’t want to give his son false hope or false comfort. So, like his grandparents did to him, during more recent and actually televised police brutalities and murders, he describes what it feels like to be a father that cannot make the world safe for his son, and his son, indeed will grow up in, and already lives in, a dangerous world where he has to consider things, at times life or death choices, simple choices; choices he is only being tested on due to the color of his skin… These burdens fall down upon the Black youth as well as Mr. Coates son, and though cynical with the world he wants so painfully badly to believe things will be okay; so painfully it made me cry.

At times his pain, the pain he felt for his child, the realities they both face -along with my loved ones and friends, along with countless people alive right now I don’t know and never will, they all have the same fear… And it’s not one that spreads itself equally among the people. This is a fear that has locked on, for damn well good reasons, to so many.

This heartbreaking reality of being at a ‘privilege’ was never something I didn’t both see and hate growing up; but hearing a man speak out on how it is to live the side my friends and others live, cuts me deep and the guilt I feel for having pigmentation I don’t even want is very painful. But what would be worse would be to turn away; to pretend it isn’t there. To not fight it but abuse it.

I do not believe a white person who has compassion and wants to understand can ever again deny the fact of double standards- I saw these growing up and hated it then as I do now. It hurts realizing because you have light skin you’re likely not to be shot, beat, harassed, have the cops called on you for your dog playfully runs up to a white woman (that was in the news today)- Blacks and whites have different social worries; I’m not sure what whites have to fear nor why they are in denial of white privilege; especially after reading this book. 

HIGHLY recommended!

All I can say is beyond mind blowing. Everyone needs to be required to read this.. I will write a better review later, I must go now, but please, GO GET THIS BOOK!

View all my reviews

Random page with random knowledge on it. He

 

!Black Suicide-Book Review!

This book is full of information and stories from the suicides survivors; families, friends, etc. It is FREE TO READ on Amazon Unlimited, but this is one I had to go ahead and buy. Too much knowledge packed in.
Highly Suggested!
Black Suicide: The Tragic Reality of America’s Deadliest Secret by Alton R. Kirk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are a few books that I believe need to be mandatory reading for anyone who is simply concerned for humanity, for the children, for mental health awareness. This book also will benefit anyone who is engaged in helping bring awareness to mental illness, for those who want and actively work to end the stigma towards mental illness and breaking the stigma there is towards it; especially within the Black community.

One thing Mr. Kirk speaks on is the different needs between the Black and white communities. This is no empty statement; he goes on to explain why this indication is true and afterwards, as sad as it is to me, he is right. I wish we lived in a world where color doesn’t matter in any community, but of course white people can’t understand the struggles, fears and worries Black people go through on a day to day basis; how, then, could the majority of white psychologists help other than show compassion and sorrow?

He goes out of his way to make a point that this is no mere book; and he proves that point with a break from the facts and information on what’s going on, and gives the floor to survivors of those who have taken their own lives. These people are brave, some of their family still so stuck in the stigmatism associated with mental health they don’t want others to know. Still, these people spoke out and it is there stories that turn this already tragic book into a reality; a reality that makes you want to take action, expose lies and help everyone realize there is nothing shaming, demeaning or anything else that would make a person less than a man due to struggling with mental health problems. It has nothing to do with manhood, strength or anything like that.

I also must add really quickly… I am so grateful he mentions that there is more than one type of suicide, and that is so very important to me for personal reasons. The different types of suicide he speaks out on include more than just the “conventional” (for lack of better phrasing) but also recklessness, dangerous behavior some people develop knowing they want to die. Putting oneself on the front line, so to speak, waiting for someone else to take their life. Instead of this we should be reaching out for one another, not taking another life.

It has to do with saving lives; and I hope if you are reading this review, no matter who you are, you will read this book and feel the same fire to help in any way possible to expose, remind and help make changes so the suicide rates will drop.

This is a necessary read for anyone concerned with the betterment and empowerment of humanity.

View all my reviews

Obama Speaks on Being a Real Man-Mental Health & Pride In Self

As I continue to work on my current project regarding racism and mental health, among Black men in particular, this, I believe, is a great piece. I agree with what he had to say as it is true…

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Former President Barack Obama spoke Tuesday about how to “be a man” and the need to combat stereotypes of masculinity that “trap” young men, specifically young men of color.

“All of us have to recognize that being a man is first and foremost being a good human. That means being responsible, working hard, being kind, respectful, compassionate,” Obama said at a conference for his My Brother’s Keeper initiative in Oakland.

“The notion that somehow defining yourself as a man is dependent on, are you able to put somebody else down… able to dominate… that is an old view,” the former president added.

In conversation with NBA star Steph Curry, Obama spoke about the need to create spaces “where young men of color, and young men generally, don’t feel as if to be respected they have to act a certain way.”

“If you’re confident about your strength, you don’t need to show me by putting somebody else down,” Obama said. “Show me by lifting somebody else up.”

“I’ve just been mentored right there,” Curry responded.

At the start of his panel, Obama had introduced himself as “Michelle’s husband” and the Golden State Warriors player as “Ayesha’s husband.”

The men sat on a stage surrounded by two dozen young men of color. In the front rows of the amphitheater near Lake Merritt in Oakland, dozens more young adults, mostly boys and men of color, faced them, having traveled from places like Los Angeles; Yonkers, New York; and Nashville to be there.

The two-day gathering in Oakland was meant to mark five years since Obama started the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. The former president has described the group’s mission as “working to break down barriers that too often leave boys and young men of color at a disadvantage.”

At Tuesday’s event, Obama also spoke about how racism plays a role in perpetuating toxic masculinity.

“Racism historically in this society sends a message that you are ‘less than,’” Obama said. “We feel we have to compensate by exaggerating stereotypical ways men are supposed to act. And that’s a trap.”

He added that much of the “violence and pain” communities suffer comes from men seeking respect, including through gun violence. “And that is a self-defeating model for being a man.”

Obama noted how cultural influences, like music, specifically hip-hop and rap, are often built around “talking about how I have more money than you, I can disrespect you.”

“Ironically, that shows the vulnerability you feel,” Obama said. “If you were very confident about your sexuality, you don’t have to have eight women around you twerking… you seem stressed that you gotta be acting that way.”

“I got one woman who I’m very happy with,” he added, as the audience erupted in applause.

Curry, in turn, spoke about the need for men to be “open about their feelings” and have space where they can do that. He said the locker room with his teammates allows him that.

To read the rest, please click here for the original post.

More Money for *Them*; More Injustice For Mentally Ill; Please Read…

“Last year, the work of grassroots organizations and health providers moved the American Public Health Association to recognize that police violence is a public health issue that undermines our communities’ ability to develop non-law enforcement responses to crisis and harm.-” See Below Post

That quote from the petition sums up what I am about to describe; and if anyone cannot handle it or chooses to look the other way, remember, you are only aiding the cruel, injustices going on…

Please share, please care enough to add your name… This is an ongoing battle and crisis, they now are openly wanting to target the mentally ill; please give a moment to hear what this has meant and could mean to any one suffering from extreme mental illnesses in America.  After my words is the petition and a link to the original site. But before you do that, I ask you please keep in mind….

America’s prison industry is all about money. I won’t go into that here for this is regarding mental health and SAVING people from a horrific new proposal; but it is important to note that if you’re not familiar with how twisted, sick and demented the American prison system is, please come back as I will have resources in the future -my internet isn’t working currently or I’d do so now-, it’s frustrating not being able to do so now, but America’s money making prison industry leads the world with the highest prison population in the world despite only representing only 5% of the worlds population. And it is worth noting, over half of whom are in for drug offenses.

Prison is not the answer; it has been proven time and time again that community based rehabilitation and counseling programs have a success rate of close to every 8.5 in 10 offenders not re-offending.  But that won’t bring in money. And in a capitalistic country that won’t do. So, because there is a very high rate of first time offenders becoming repeat offenders, that money keeps rolling in. During the cold war inmates were experimented on, including those in “mental institutions” -jail for the mentally ill. That’s exactly what it sounds like they are wanting to build again.

Not that they don’t have enough places to torture or kill and still gain profit with the current prisons and jails all across America.

They place people in these jail, prison and now “jail for the mentally ill” with no intention of helping rehabilitate them. If that were the case we would have government funded community based rehabs, as noted. And once more; who is to say the torment will not begin once more; not that it has been anything less than torture, which can be proven by too many cases, from letting a man die of dehydration and hunger as guards mocked the man, to the more recent freezing of New York prisoners.

These prisoners could be heard protesting outside the prison in Brooklyn only 5, 6 days ago. You can listen/watch that video here. And once I am back in range of internet I will provide lengthy proof of all things I have stated here.

Additionally, having police sent out to deal with anyone who has mental illness has proven time and time again to be a fatal failure.

Take a 15 year old Black male in Minnesota who had wanted to be a cop but was shot to death by the police before ever having a chance… Because he was having a mental “episode” and his mother, worrying for his safety, called the police. And as they approached the house saw the teen ager outside with a large knife against his face. Threatening NO ONE but himself… They shot him dead. I’ll get my notes and make a more in depth post and ideally video in his memory.

Or consider the intervention of cops in Miami, FL, where a 6 year old little boy was cutting himself in the principals office with broken glass, so the cops came in and “helped” him by tasering him with the 50,000 volts; enough to kill grown men -and has in deed killed grown men and women. He was not tasered once, or twice, but they held the trigger down so it would go past the limited “3 second” shut off.  He did live, but this is not how you treat mentally ill.

This 6 year old child was tasered for his own safety, said the police. If they can’t help a child without violence or excessive force (and this is NOT the only case nor all the information; again, I will have that up asap) they should not be allowed in the situation; why would we want to put another group of people at risk of being abused or killed?

These are but TWO cases I have worked on out of absolutely NUMEROUS cases with utterly no chance of me getting an accurate number of how many mentally ill persons they have hurt or murdered because of … ? some say lack of training, some say fear… I don’t know what goes on in their sick minds. But what I do know is having the police involved in cases with the mentally ill is asking for brutal trouble.

Once again, when I get the internet back up I will post more videos with more information; I am so angry at the moment I am going to get my files and make a video, and attempt to see if my phones network will upload from here, but I am doubtful. Either way, if you don’t believe me and want more evidence, please check back as I have plenty of information and evidence, I am about to get that out right now.

So once more I ask:

Please sign the petition and share the following. Before I repost, I want to add, I have been a volunteer for over a decade, working to expose and fighting against not only America’s biased and racist prison industry, but working towards a solution for the offending crimes.

Please keep these things in mind if you need extra fuel against this…deceptive terrorism. The mentally ill are already treated horrendously in our prisons…We cannot afford to give them a new means of abuse and harassment.

I have not even touched on the racism aspect of this horrendous proposal, below they give the facts on that sickness which plagues all of our prisons due to a system built on racism. Not to mention other issues; over crowding in prisons due to abusive, asinine, admittedly racist (sentencing committees have in the not so distant past indeed admitted targeting the Black community, more on that as well up coming).

But I digress and leave you with the facts from the original post…  

Post beings

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Click here to go to the petition website.

We strongly urge the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to vote, on February 12th, to reject the plan to build new jails.

This plan, which would renovate the Mira Loma facility and build a Consolidated Correctional Treatment Facility downtown, claims to address the mental health needs of those who are incarcerated. As health workers, community members, and families impacted by incarceration, we know that jails are harmful to human health. We strongly urge the Board of Supervisors to immediately reject this $4 billion plan to builds more cages, and pursue public health based alternatives that (1) expand the capacity of medical and mental health care systems, (2) divert people from jail, (3) reduce police contact, and (4) coordinate the county’s current studies, investments, and priorities towards producing outcomes that decarcerate the county jail system.

1) Los Angeles County should be expanding the capacity of its medical and mental health care system through mental health emergency responders, supportive housing, hospital beds, and community-based facilities. The crisis of incarceration is intimately related to the crisis of housing and dangerous deficiencies in mental health and medical care systems for those who have physical and mental health disabilities. For the past 40 years, Los Angeles and the country more generally have used the criminal justice system as a one-size fit all solution to these problems. As health care workers, we have witnessed how this “solution” has caused cycles of suffering and negative health outcomes. The Board of Supervisors can draw on the expertise of health care workers and researchers as well as community leaders who are most impacted by criminalization and incarceration and who intimately understand the needs, to craft upstream solutions and integrated systems of long term care that prevent incarceration.

2) Los Angeles County should divert more people from its jails. The high rates of mental health disability, homelessness and substance use among those incarcerated, as well as the county’s high rates of recidivism, all point to the critical importance of systematically evaluating the potential for diversion to reduce the harms of incarceration. The county has joined other major American cities, such as New York and Chicago, in responding to this need. In 2015, the Board of Supervisors created the Office of Diversion and Re-Entry (ODR), which thus far has diverted 2,800 people from the jails. This volume in such a short period of time indicates the very considerable potential for diversion from the jail system. With such options available, and with other cities such as New York showing marked declines in its population through such efforts, it does not make sense to invest resources in building more jail capacity. Instead, we urge the County to establish a strategic plan for a reduction in the jail population through jail diversion and other treatment and housing-centered alternatives to incarceration.

3) Police contact should not be the means by which communities are connected to housing, medical, and mental health care. The LAPD and the LA County Sheriffs have promoted and added mental health clinicians to newly formed emergency response teams and jail systems have connected incarcerated people to supportive housing and treatment programming upon their release. Yet, law enforcement and incarceration is a source of violence against Black, Brown, poor, disabled, women and/or transgender people. Last year, the work of grassroots organizations and health providers moved the American Public Health Association to recognize that police violence is a public health issue that undermines our communities’ ability to develop non-law enforcement responses to crisis and harm. We are acutely aware of the consequences of these forms of violence in our emergency rooms, hospitals, and community clinics. We believe it is paramount to develop non-police based alternatives and connect community members to services without police contact.

4) Los Angeles should coordinate the current studies, investments, and priorities that it has committed to towards producing outcomes that decarcerate the county jail system. Since the Los Angeles County Supervisors approved the jail in May of 2014, they have significantly increased their commitment to address houselessness by $402 million, allocated $49 million to permanent supportive housing, has called for the diversion of pregnant women from jail to community based alternatives, and is studying the need for mental health hospital beds; these beds are vital to moving our loved ones inside of jail facilities into safer, more effective treatment. In addition, the County’s commitment to bail reform should, as in other jurisdictions, aim towards significant reductions of the jail population. The County should immediately coordinate all of these and other commitments into a countywide effort that dramatically reduces the jail population.

Why is this important?

The #JusticeLA campaign, a broad coalition made up of local and national stakeholders and community members and born from the work of family members in Los Angeles who have had loved ones harmed and killed by the Los Angeles jail system has been struggling with the Board of Supervisors on their dissonant plan to invest at least $4 billion dollars into jail expansion in Los Angeles County for almost a decade. The #JusticeLA campaign is partnering with health workers from across the spectrum of service and health advocacy to demand the long overdue end to caging as a response to public health issues.

Jails and all forms of incarceration are bad for human health. Achieving humane, high quality and accessible health care for the roughly 170,000 people who are incarcerated every year in Los Angeles, the largest jail system in the world, is an urgent task, specifically because jails and other forms of incarceration are not health care institutions. On the contrary, jails are fundamentally harmful to human health. Understanding people inside primarily as criminals, not patients, jails isolate people from their families and communities, deprive people of control and agency over their bodies, subject people to unsafe environments and cause long-lasting trauma. Recent scholarship has outlined many of these harms on incarcerated people and their communities, showing, for example, how incarceration worsens mental health disabilities (Schnittker 2015) and shortens lives (Nosrati et al 2017).

The previously approved $4 billion jail plan poses a significant and urgent threat to the health of those most criminalized, including Black and Latinx people across Los Angeles. The county is already home to the largest mental health facility in the country, Twin Towers jail. Eighty percent of the current jail system population is either Black or Latinx and an alarming 70% of the current jail population reports having a serious medical, mental health disability, or substance use condition. Over one thousand people per year die in local jails across the country. Half of all deaths of people incarcerated in local jails are the result of some type of illness including heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. As the largest jails system in the world, the Los Angeles County jail system contributes to all of these trends as reported by incarcerated people, their families, and by health workers themselves who provide services in the jails and as loved ones return home. Expansion of the function, scope, geography, or size of the current jail system will continue to result in both the reproduction of these harmful trends and/or the reliance of law enforcement contact and justice system involvement for what has historically proven to be inadequate and harmful “treatment.”

Negative health outcomes in jails disproportionately affect marginalized communities. For example, roughly one out of every three deaths of Black people in local jails is the result of a heart attack which could be prevented in community-based treatment. While Black people make up less than 9% of the Los Angeles County population, Black people constitute 30% of the County jail population and 43% of those incarcerated with a serious mental health disability. Additionally, 75% of incarcerated women in Los Angeles are women of color. In the seven-year period between 2010 and 2016, Black women were sentenced to 5,481 years of jail time for charges that can be solved using public health strategies that build our communities rather than law enforcement which often undermine them. The construction of a women’s jail will exacerbate these trends and other negative health outcomes as incarcerated women of color will be further isolated from their families and communities.

On Febraury 12th, The County has a historic opportunity to break away from the public health crisis of criminalization and incarceration by stopping this jail construction plan and diverting resources towards community-based alternatives that prioritize the dignity and wellbeing of our families and loved ones throughout Los Angeles.

(update) My New #Video RE: Four Black Females Strip Searched At School…!

Shortly I shall be posting some of my research regarding what this kind of harassment, degradation and abuse does to these innocent and targeted youth. Please do stay tuned.

Truth- A Right to Fight For...

As I said, until you show me how
white children, FEMALES, have
been abused and violated as Black
children, FEMALES in this situation,
in this way or any other way without any action or care, until you can show me an epidemic of white children being abused like this or any other way by the school system you have NO reason to even entertain the selfish thought that this is NOT because of the color of these females skin!

Yes, it is sick to say. Yes, it is sick to realize. BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE AND TRUTH NEEDS TO BE SPOKEN

And justice needs to start happening; which I know this video won’t create but it is a reality that needs to be remembered and maybe ONE DAY WE WILL GET THERE!

I have no words to say …for now… other than what I share below.

And,

Please click…

View original post 33 more words

Dare 2 Struggle- Short Vent Session

I write this early on the first of December as I am at a loss. I have not lost hope in the fight against racism, police brutality or other atrocities, but there are moments when I step back and examine all the work I’m doing and what all we are up against…. It all hits me as hard as a wave made of concrete; literally, it takes my breath away.

Thoughts that make no sense and that are not true start to wander in…

Wondering why share things; no one is listening and if they are they don’t care… Why do any of this work, why make videos, why write, why painstakingly do all of this if no one cares… But I am always reminded people do care, and there is a reason.

As I sat here in an anguished mindset, desperately trying to figure out what is the best method(s) to use in approach to sharing this vast information of corruption- exceptionally evil corruption- I have and what it means to do so, a blessing came to me.

I believe in synchronicity; that is, more or less there are no coincidences and everything happens for a reason. I am in the process of moving and in the past I have worked with and done a lot of volunteer work for one of my most positive mentors; a revolutionist and friend, Dr. Mutulu Shakur. This was laying out on a desk in front of me but suddenly became the only focal point in the room.

One of these projects was working on a music album in memory of the man I deem my father, Tupac Shakur… I even have my name in the booklet, I am honored to say… The CD is a tribute to Tupac, and it is called “Dare to Struggle”…

That made me stop.

Think,…..

Now you think on that concept…

Dare to struggle . . . 

If fighting against evil, cruelty and oppressors in this world were easy we’d have a wonderful place to live for everyone would be involved… It is so hard and extremely enraging at times not because there is no hope, not because the war has been lost, not because we can’t win a battle; instead, it is this very reason, because it is hard doing what we do especially 24-7-365, it is a struggle some days to remember it all matters, that the struggle is for something good and until that good comes, that change comes; I could never, ever rest knowing I did nothing about it.

Currently some people in my life seem to think my work is selfish of me because it takes away from them… But to that I can’t help but feel dumbfounded. How can they not see the fragility; the horrific, tragedy being played, still in the same key, by Amerikkka? How can they see and know yet still go on about their lives as though it doesn’t matter? And if it doesn’t matter to them, who are they to try and guilt or bring down those of us who stand and fight?

I am not sure of my point in this post other than to say… No matter what it is you teach, what it is you fight for or against, whenever you feel tired, whenever you feel like you aren’t being heard or whatever the case may be… Remember you are daring to struggle… And in doing so, while yes it complicates life, it only does so because a wrong is being committed and clashing with the truth you and I bring forth.

Dare to struggle. And dare to struggle I have for the cause since 14, and dare to struggle I shall until we get some changes made. A lot, of changes made.

Keep doing what you do. Each voice matters, far more than we probably realize. All of this may seem trivial to you, or so obvious it shouldn’t have been written. That’s fair enough; but sometimes we all need reminders. I sure as hell did.

The Politics of Hate- Documentary Review

And for now, my review on a very crucial documentary, in my opinion…

The Politics of Hate – A documentary review… 

First I must say, the only reason anyone could hate on this documentary is if they are against proven facts, love and compassion. The documentary is very needed all over the world, as we see, but especially in America, where much of their hatefilled lies are first created and then accepted by those afraid to ask questions as well as those who simply, and sadly, don’t care.

This documentary should have been advertised and promoted across the world and shown in a “prime time” manner although it still can be…

Schools need to show this to students; there is not a place in which the people who see it will come away worse off…except in places where the viewers don’t want to hear truth spoken. Those who are active with hate as well as those who support those who do wrong will definitely not like this documentary.

With the exposure of truth regarding hate groups from history up til the present, it is definitely a reality check and an answer to the question of what America is being turned back into. We must not repeat history and this serves as a wonderful but horrifying and tragic visual reminder for those who need it or for those who want to understand more of what is going on in the White House as well as on the streets. Highly recommended!

Racism in Medicine- A Doctor & His Story

First, I need to apologize for my delay in posting. I am still conducting research and gather works for my larger release on the impact of modern day racism (and in history) and how it is impacting innocent Black children. I have decided, however, because this is a topic that is vital, a topic that rages onward sadly outside of childhood and is a huge health problem in the Black community for men and women of all ages.

Last year this tragic, silent killer was reported by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) showing the biggest increase for suicide risk is between the ages of 5 – 11 years of age in Black children… That takes my breath away. It also fuels me for my other posts that will soon come.

The CDC also released information late last year showing an increase in suicide among the above noted ages in this localized area, rising from 1.78 to 3.47 per every 1 million; at the same time, studies revealed suicide among white kids declined from 1.96 to 1.31 per every 1 million The 4 year study conducted by the CDC there was tragic loss of life; leaving 41 Black males and 73 white males (both groups children) dead to suicide.

There are two books I am currently reading and will soon be posting reviews about. One of them you can read for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. After reading, I will post my review and link to the book so others may learn and share.

Facts on Black suicide

1. 1. The Centers for Disease Control reported that between 1999 and 2004, young African-American males had the highest rate of suicide.  This latter finding is consistent with research that males are more likely to complete suicides whereas females are more likely to attempt suicide.
   2. The American Association of Suicidology reports of the 1,992 completed suicides among African-Americans that 371 of those deaths were by females.
   3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following statistics for 2010:
   4. Suicide was the 16th leading cause of death for Blacks of all ages and the 3rd leading cause of death for young Black males ages 15–24.
   5. Althoughl Black suicide rates are lower than the overall U.S. rates, suicide affects Black youth at a much higher rate than Black adults. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Blacks ages 15-24.
   6. Since the Black community in the United States is disproportionately young, the number of deaths among youth may have a particularly strong impact on the Black community.5. Black Americans die by suicide a full decade earlier than White Americans. The average age of Black suicide decedents is 32, and that of White decedents is 44.
   7. Caribbean Blacks had a higher rate of suicide attempts than African American Blacks.  On the other hand, another study found that among adolescent males, African American Blacks were approximately five times more likely than Caribbean Blacks to attempt suicide.
   8. Religion: Orthodox religious beliefs and personal devotion have been identified as protective against suicide among Blacks. Participation in organized religious practices, such as church attendance, is linked to lower suicide risk in African Americans. Among Blacks with psychiatric disorders, religiosity has been found to delay age of onset of ideation as well as decrease the number of psychiatric disorders.
   9. Social and emotional support: Family support, peer support, and community connectedness have been shown to help protect Black adolescents from suicidal behavior. Similarly, positive interactions and social and family support have been shown to significantly reduce risk for suicide attempts among Black adults. Although emotional support from family decreased the risk of suicide attempts for both Caribbean Blacks and African Americans, the impact was stronger for Caribbean Blacks than for African Americans.

Those are but a few facts on suicide within the Black community, but the information is not only available, I believe it is a necessary need for all. I must end this here, but I urge you all to check out the following book by Doctor Damon Tweedy, listen to the short interviews and then go buy the book yourself!  🙂 It looks like a tragedy when people are just trying to escape the unspeakable pain. While stigma towards mental illness(es) may be bad enough regardless of race or what-have-you, it seems they want to break us all down sometimes. And we cannot let that happen. Mental health care is just as save63

With all the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in the communities that struggle to, or refuse to, acknowledge the severity and risk so many men carry daily … it is time for, yet again, action…

There is a ton of information I had to post but I must leave now. I urge you to watch these videos, check out the book and I shall post the free one to as soon as I am able 🙂

Until Next. zoom in and check out the other book I am about to go start reading right now.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

School Children & Innocence Stolen

“Unequal policies such as these have led black girls to feel insecure and humiliated about their physical appearance, and subsequently can affect their ability to learn and feel comfortable in academic environments.” –Teen Vogue

As I spoke of in my first blog post I will be posting essays from a series of research I am collecting regarding numerous ways racism impacts Black children in America. The research came about because 1) I see how children are being treated and am appalled to say the least, 2) I see my family/friends and how their children are impacted, 3) I know this is not an isolated occurrence and yet still is being blatantly ignored. Clearly, the lack of attention concerning Black children and the aspect of racism in daily life being ignored is but one more huge red flag I refuse to ignore and do not understand how others can avoid and neglect. Another one is the removal of true history and any cultural acknowledgment but that is for another post.

Doesn’t how children are being wronged matter? Does the future, matter? No child deserves to have to worry about life and death issues, fear from places deemed safe by others or the perpetrators themselves. America is a place where “to serve and protect”,  is frequently selective in whom they are choosing to serve and protect. Even the simple phrase that would issue comfort in some, such as, “call the cops” or “call 911″ is not something too many can say or hear and feel relief. When good people can’t say those phrases and know a good person will arrive to aid them in whatever their situation, that is absolutely not acceptable. Unacceptable as it may be, it is still reality for far too many Americans and sadly with just cause.

The police and racism serves as a huge source of my anger, so I apologize for that bit of random digression…I am sure it will happen more though… The point was how all of this impacts children…

When children are forced to deal with these issues at early ages, of course it has impact and ignoring the trauma it brings does no good to anyone or the situation. Especially when it is as severe, as continuous and unrelenting as racism. Too often have I heard my friends state a fear they have that never crosses my mind and I hate that; I do not want that ‘privilege;‘ but to deny that it exists makes it worse. 

Of course what children see and hear effects how they develop; that is true with all forms of trauma upon children; racism being an issue that is, at the very least, ever-

imposing upon their lives and the lives of those they need and love.

Be it school related, via the media or government the racism in America has had and does have a massive and significant factor on influencing a kid and their sense of self, safety and so forth.

Below is an email I received this morning and feel it important to share. It is yet again a perfect tragedy to use as an example

Rant: White People, You Are Not Victims

Absolutely heartbreaking truth

My mind is blown; and it angers that I am not surprised but still I remain absolutely stunned that people truly go about their lives not caring for the plight of others, regardless of age, because it does not impact them. What appalls me even more is the claim that they are not racist, that is one of the first things most of these sort are ready to shout. The second and equally detestable remark these sort of people (who sadly seem to be a majority as of right now) deny they have any sort of privilege due to being white. Or better yet, those who claim that “white genocide” is happening and white people are the victims of this racist society.

I don’t know if it is brainwashing -I believe this to be an excuse; think for yourself! Or perhaps it is some form of denial because it is a disgrace, it is very hurtful to know how unjust and cruel people can be; especially when you are not the one being treated bad. The guilt and shame is almost overwhelming; I loathe the treatment of my light skin and am not afraid to call people out on it when I see my friend or family being treated differently; there is no excuse for it! 

I don’t know what in this universe could justify these forms of treatment to other people simply because of skin color; but here we are. Facing it, accepting it and all of its ugly facilities is the first step; speaking out is the next, I believe.

That all being said, in accordance with the research I am doing on how racism impacts Black children in both the short and long run I came across an article a moment ago that has me in a fury. The post began and repeated itself in saying that “researchers are not sure why suicide has risen in Black youth recently” – really? Either they are absolutely disconnected with reality or the media is, as the mainstream media is trying to brainwash white people. I am sad to say it seems like it’s working. Which is why it is so vital we make sure we get the TRUE STORIES, THE TRUE HISTORY AND FACTS out and spread it to as many people as possible. Truth will win in the end, and it’s time we ALL start doing whatever we can to end this extremist government and society.

As for the article I speak of, yes, they did manage to speak reputable research and give true facts, they did what most mainstream media does; find a way, any way to make sure it is not the white person to blame.

It doesn’t take an intelligent person to realize how disgusting this system is. Just a person with a heart/soul and even just an inkling of awareness to the current tragedies.

I will post some of the stories of these tragic young deaths in the upcoming future, I would do so now but I want to be able to write with full attention on the child or adult for that is the least I can do.

Coming up shortly is part 2 in the series about racism and it’s psychological -as well as physical- impact on children and later on, adults. 

*Also I will be posting photos and links to children who have died over racist bullying but were never mentioned -to my knowledge- by anyone other than local media…when lucky.*

Why Is No One Speaking About Racism & Suicide?

” Scientific evidence is now overwhelming that the early years of life are foundational to health and wellbeing, as well as to social, educational and economic success, throughout life. “

This is going to be a series of posts as doing it all in one may be overwhelming… I have been studying neuroscience and the developmental stages of the brain for 10+ years. Currently I am working on a book regarding the development of the brain and the different stages under different circumstances… Racism is one of the worst and most obvious problems facing non-whites, and Black children are suffering for it more than anyone in the media or even activism speak about. Be it out of ignorance or lack of a soul, the problem remains. So I hope to shine a bit of light on it and maybe, hopefully, do some good…

I share this because the developmental stages are crucial,  and the fact very few people in general, let alone in public policy, ever stop and think about what racism is doing to Black children… The first topic I am working on is sadly morbid but also sadly highly ignored by most of America.

From having to worry for their own safety to that of their caregivers and loved ones, the constant stress  -among other things- obviously impacts mental health…but what exactly is it doing? And what can be done to stop it?

Besides having little ones in my life who are “Black”, I also have worked with numerous at risk children, most of whom were also Black. Recently, since some of the police killings have finally made the mainstream news, I was working with one 10 year old little boy whom, after Tamir Rice’s death, refused to leave his home for any reason. He was certain he would be next…

Ten years old and that is what he is thinking about.

I know the topic of mental health in general is a taboo topic… But it is just as real as any physical ailment -if not worse- and if we could manage to get over egos and look at these problems perhaps we wouldn’t have so many people self loathing and at the saddest extreme, dying.

Strictly speaking from a mental health point of view, an alarming number of Black children between the ages of 5 to 12. *It is important to note here that while suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among all children between the ages of 10 and 44 it is not the time people are most at risk. According to research and statistics adults in the age group of 45-65+ have the highest numbers when it comes to suicide.

Among others, JAMA Pediatrics released a study further discussing the rise in suicide among Black children, in part stating: