Black History Months Facts from TOPS

 First Lawyer: John Mercer Langston was the first Black man to become a lawyer when he passed the bar in Ohio in 1854. When he was elected to the post of Town Clerk for Brownhelm, Ohio, in 1855 Langston became one of the first African Americans ever elected to public office in America. John Mercer Langston was also the great-uncle of Langston Hughes, famed poet of the Harlem Renaissance.

Black History Month Facts from TOPS

 

Black History Month is very important due to the fact we as a people have so many that have done so much.  We are the creator of big things such as the 3-signal traffic light, the mailbox as we know it now was first invented and called "Street Letter Box" and the pacemaker just to name a few.  We have created items for everyday living, extended living and post living.  Yet we still are discriminated against.  We are still considered second class citizens although we have invented first class things.  Why is this?  

As we are reminded daily of the discrimination of blacks and the continued struggles we endure. We still have a chance to glorify our accomplishments and hopefully our prior and current success will help us to understand the question of race in today's society.

 

FACT for Today:

Martin Luther King Jr.

No single African American in history is perhaps as famous as Martin Luther King Jr., otherwise known as MLK. There is a federal holiday on the third Monday each January celebrated in his honor, and whole sections of textbooks are devoted to his civil rights activism in the 1950s and 1960s. A Baptist minister in the city of Montgomery by trade and a prominent civil rights activist, Martin Luther King made his mark by preaching nonviolent means of protesting the segregation of whites and blacks in the United States. MLK’s assassination at the hands of a white man in 1968 sparked riots and mourning across the world.

Black History Month

 

“Black History Month: The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.” https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-facts

Welcome to Black History Month everyone.  Another February has come and we have the opportunity to acknowledge our Black Americans that have done great things in history and continue to do great things.  Thank you to ALL our Black achievers.

However, many of other races ask why must we have a Black History Month or Black Entertainment Television?  Looking at my television in my home my cable line-up has approximately 583 channels on which ONE is dedicated to Black art, Black musicians, Black documentaries and Black achievements.  As I look at my calendar located in my home there are 12 months in which ONE is dedicated to Blacks and our History.  Is there something wrong with this picture? 🙋

Racism vs Classism

 While the climate is ripe and changing all over the U.S. since our new administration. I am very proud to say that there’s a glimpse of hope in the air. 

Locally I see that we have groups, mostly white led that are in contact with those inside through our efforts. That are making moves and deals getting people out of prison one by one, using their influence and/or relationships with District Attorneys and Judges. Which is a good thing, please don’t get me wrong. 

However, there are two things that we need to look at. 

One, that these are groups that are being promoted in the media as if they’re doing this work by their own means and merits. When there are truly numerous groups out here such as ours (TOPS who’s at 20 years now) who have gotten out hundreds; but it’s not highlighted as such. So, I question is that because they have more capacity and if so why?  If they are being highlighted in the media as the great one’s with hope and savior potential, then they’re the ones that the Funders are seeing as doing the work which is far from the truth. The second problem I see with that is that it’s not grassroots or people that’s within proximity to the problem. 

I’ve said many times that if women run and lead their movements and the LGBTQ run and lead their movements then who should be the lead and center of the criminal justice movement? Shouldn’t it be someone close to the problem, for those closest to the problem is closest to the solution. 

It falls back on the same old actions that’s always taken place, of other people benefitting off the demise of black people. Whether by organizational funding or our people being imprisoned, falsely charged and so forth. We appreciate the help and we need the help, but that’s just it, the help, not other groups taking over and capitalizing off our work or our demise. 

If we really want to do great work and some real change, then we should REPEAL THE HABITUAL OFFENDERS ACT and release thousands, but then many of us wouldn’t have a job, or would we? A lot of our organizations wouldn’t exist, would they? Clerks in the courtrooms, correctional officers, Executive Directors with their nice salaries, and a whole lot more on both sides of the legal track would suffer, or would they? Less police officers, city municipalities would suffer from lack of funds accumulated by profiling so on and so forth.

Now, is it possible for change to occur and those entities not lose funding?  I believe it is.  I truly believe if we REPEAL the Habitual Offenders ACT and release the thousands that are being held unjustly will not result in any financial lost from any end.  It may cut out the extra spending such as overtime, agency workers to cover over-crowded areas and to help with office work that is behind.  Getting in compliance should not eliminate jobs but to be incompliant is where the problems lie and where the extra exaggerated funds are going.  The prisons were built with a capacity it could hold.  Let's get in compliance with the capacity of each prison for the overworked guards can take vacations, the prisons can save on the overtime because then the staff to inmate ratio should be compliant.  The judicial offices can get back on schedule and get back to due process and handling matters timely and sufficiently without the stress of excessive cases piling up.  Let's get in compliance for the police officers can be due diligent and practice safer practices with less stress and have a chance to take their vacations and hopefully get time for rejuvenation of their mind body and soul.  Let's get in compliance for all those workers that work with the public can now have the time to take trainings such as reducing inequality and bias in the workplace and professionalism for they can help meet the challenges present in a changing and dynamic society.

I don't think they will lose money.  If things are run the right way, fair firm and consistent; same laws for all we should be fine.  If we are focusing on the Bible as some say because we are the bible-belt then love your neighbors as yourself.  Treat people the way you want to be treated and love everyone.  Maybe this will help increase revenues, increase the amount of people that want to work for the government because it is now somewhat fair.  It will give us a chance to rehabilitate our incarcerated for when they are ready to return to society, they can be a part of economy.  Reach one Teach one!  Let's hope this climate catch on and put things right for WE as a people can prosper and US as a country can be productive and safe.

Nationally I think that what Joe Biden did with the Executive Orders are wonderful, and a long time coming.  However, these are Executive Orders and not Laws. So, they will only last while he is in office, and can be easily changed when the next administration comes in. The other adage to that point is, all the EO’s are Federal, so that really has no effect on the southern states where they invented convict leasing during Jim Crow era. So, it leads us to look at what else could have been done and still can, if we want to influence real change. Well like I alluded to earlier. Let’s ask those within proximity, and this is what came back to us from inside the Alabama prison system by our brothers inside.

“If Biden wants to make a sweeping change across both State and Federal prison systems all he has to do is to sign an executive order repealing the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) of 1995 that he helped to draft into law. Under the AEDPA, the writ of habeas corpus became effectively dead and the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) became the demise of prisoners seeking any action through the courts.”

Are we fighting the Prison Industrial Complex to only enforce, enhance, and enlighten the Non-Profit Industrial Complex? Are we merely changing laws and policies to only build another system? 

We all know that our fight with RACISM has always been a true fight against CLASSISM. 

So, are we putting ourselves in a state of delusion? Or are we really making changes?

Can Somebody Say Restore

 CAN SOMEBODY SAY RESTORE!

“Getting our lives back by identifying us”

January 14, 2021

Today, TOPS had an awesome turnout for people in the community needing identification.  Sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State (John H. Merrill) a mobile unit arrived at our Empowerment Center prepared to issue FREE Alabama Photo Voter ID Cards.  The individuals that were serviced today were also able to register to vote and update their voter information if needed.  Many people walked away with smiles on their faces because finally they have a legitimate photo identification.  It was a joy to see and a privilege to help our people get one step closer to the front.

FREE Photo Identifications?  Who does that?  >>>>>>WE DO with the help of the secretary of state.

FREE My PEOPLE!