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.
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! 🙂
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…
—
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 aconference for hisMy 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-daygathering in Oakland was meant to mark five years since Obama started the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. The former president hasdescribed 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.
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
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.
The American Association of Suicidology reports of the 1,992 completed suicides among African-Americans that 371 of those deaths were by females.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following statistics for 2010:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Research and Writings on a Growing Crisis 