Who and what I am today has been molded by who and what my Father was. While he was a first generation college graduate, I am a second generation college grad from the same university. Following in his footsteps, I have led a committed and dedicated life as an educator. Thanks to My Father, I can have a pretty good discussion on All Things Sports! And his love for track and field has been genetically passed to my oldest daughter who competes in the exact same events.
Today, had he lived, my Father would have been 79 years old. Inspite and despite all the challenges and issues that arose between my Father and I before he passed away, I loved my Daddy very much. My Father passed on Christmas Eve in 1983, and even after 24 years, I still miss him. And so, on this day, I say to "the Leaper", Happy Birthday!
Holla Back!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner's Place ain't got nothing more to say.
> > >SjP's truth continues
This is a good theme for this week. The Philly sound is so smooth! I mean when you put Teddy and the Blue Notes (didn't forget about Harold...but you know), Spinners, Patti, Jerry, Leon, and so many others, how can anyone go wrong!
I had to go with my all time favorite Philly group and my all time favorite song by them. So I bring to you the Sylistics and urge you to "Hurry Back This Way Again" and Again! Enjoy! Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner's Place ain't got nothing more to say.
> > >SjP's truth continues
You got to hear this one for yourself. Geraldine Ferraro is right back at it with her racial over and undertones. Now she says that what's happening is "racial resentment" not "racism" that is keeping those "working, hard working, white, hard working white Americans" from voting for Obama! Somebody please tell me WHAT THE HELL IS RACIAL RESENTMENT AND HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM RACISM? An inquiring mind wants to know!
Just listen to this Greta interview with Geraldine Ferraro from last night. Have these folks been covering the same campaign I've been watching or what?
Here's another Geraldineism you gotta read: Geraldine Ferraro, calling Barack Obama "sexist," may not back him
Holla Back! Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner's Place ain't got nothing more to say.
> > >SjP's truth continues
Just in case you were wondering, this is Sojourner's Place and it represents my sometimes alter ego (thought those who know me in the real world would probably disagree) where my thoughts, opinions, rants, rumblings, and ramblings are freely expressed. I have never been at a lost for words and therefore, I represent only me and no other individuals, institutions, or organizations with whom I may be acquainted or affiliated.
Please feel free to use material copyrighted by me in this blog. But don't get on my wrong side by not giving me credit as required by the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike License.
Now, I am an AAAW (Alpha African American Woman) which basically translates that I am generally never at a lost for words or opinions. But there may very well be times when others may "hit the nail on the head with the head of the hammer" or posts something that is just so unbelievably strange or stupid that it may appear here at SjP's. When that happens, have no fear that I will always give credit to and/or link to both brilliant and inane sources. Don't worry, I won't copyright your stuff as the law says that copyrights are owned by the original authors and I try to be a law abiding blogger. But in those rare cases when my Alzheimer's kicks in and I forget to give you your props, just let me know and I'll correct my error. Just be nice!
Some of the links at SjP's may take you away and that's for your convenience. But, if you land somewhere that you don't like you can let me know - but remember, I ain't got no control over any other site but this one. In other words: I am not responsible for the content of any website outside this blog.
Any tips, tricks or any information you find here is like a stuff you buy at a yard sale that is sold as is. So you can't come back and sue me! Got to hold me harmless!
Finally, I already told you that I was an AAAW. What that means is that I reserve the right to change my mind. Hey! I might hear or see something that makes some sense. So what you read and see here is what I'm feeling on that day at that time. Remember, some days are better than others!
Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothing more to say.
> > >SjP's truth continues
A case of mistaken identity?
Is it just me and my best half, or is The Fonz really a young John McCain or is John McCain really an old Fonz? AAAYYY! What do you think?
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
Ahmad Harun is currently Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs of Sudan. From 2003 to 2005 he was Minister of State for the Interior. In this capacity he was in charge of the management of the “Darfur Security desk” and coordinated the different bodies of the government involved in the counter-insurgency, including the police, the armed forces, the National Security and Intelligence Service.
Ali Kushayb was an important leader of the Janjawid militia and a member of the Popular Defence Force. He was the aqid al-uqada (“colonel of colonels”) in the Wadi Salih locality of West Darfur. By mid-2003 he allegedly commanded thousands of Janjawid militia.
After 20 months of investigation, the International Criminal Court formally charged Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for crimes against humanity and war crimes. In the February 2007 indictment, the Prosecution concluded that reasonable grounds to believe that Ahmad Muhammad HARUN and Ali Muhammad Ali ABD-AL-RAHMAN (better-known as Ali KUSHAYB) bear criminal responsibility in relation to 51 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes.
In reaching this decision, the Prosecution conducted interviews with Darfurian victims and witnesses. For their protection, victim and witness interviews were conducted outside of Darfur in 17 countries resulting in nearly 100 statements. The Prosecution stated: It is interesting to remark that many findings were consistent with findings by the UN Commission of Inquiry. We reviewed a report by the Minister of Defence of the Sudan and obtained information from high Sudanese officials.
The ICC evidence concludes that Harun and Kushayb acted together, and with others, with the common purpose of attacking the civilian populations of the village of Kodoom, and the towns of Bindisi, Mukjar, and Arawala in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004.
Our evidence shows that they committed crimes against humanity and war crimes including: Rape and other form of sexual violence; murder; persecution; torture; forcible transfer; destruction of property; pillaging; inhumane acts; outrage upon personal dignity; and severe deprivation of liberty.
Although the 2005 Rome Statute, UN Security Council Resolution 1593, requires Sudan to cooperate fully with the Court and provide any necessary assistance to the ICC and its Prosecutor the Sudanese Government has refused publicly to surrender either Ali Kushayb or Ahmad Harun to the Court.
THE CALL TO ACT:
Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb are wanted for trial at the ICC to establish their guilt or innocence concerning multiple counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Please write to the United Nations Security Council, urging it to:
- condemn Sudan’s refusal to arrest and surrender Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb to the ICC;
- call on Sudan to enforce all ICC arrest warrants immediately;
if the men travel outside Sudan, call on those states to arrest and surrender them to the ICC; - take other effective measures to ensure that the two men are arrested and surrendered to the ICC
References & Resources
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP> > >SjP's truth continues
"We can not be outraged and then DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...If you are SERIOUS about expressing your rage as a collective, then please, by all means, let it rip! Rather than spewing highly emotional rants, let each of us pour out a serious warning that is constructive and will be taken seriously."
Lisa graciously provided the contact information below. Email, Fax, Call, or Mail your message to Mr. Lewis. I'm hoping that he does not offend my by not firing this woman yesterday!
Brian Lewis
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications
FOX News
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-301-3000
Fax: 212-301-8588
E-Mail: brian.lewis@foxnews.com
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
I promised myself that I would not do another post on HRC or Fox! But, then, I stop by Electronic Village to hear his most recent drumbeats. What do I see but another "call" for the most despicable act one can imagine. And, once again, JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT I GET PULLED BACK IN!
You'll just have to listen this short clip of Liz Trotta, former New York Bureau Chief of the right-wing newspaper The Washington Times for yourself, cause you'll have to hear for yourself the words that came out of her mouth.
Now that you've seen it, DO SOMETHING! CALL FOX RIGHT NOW! LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! TROTTA SHOULD BE FIRED AND FOX SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE AIR!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
The day began like any other day. People navigating the snow-filled streets going about their daily business buying and selling goods, doing working, discussing politics, the future, and the presence of an unwanted military regime.
But as late afternoon approached, a Private standing watch over the governmental seat, found himself being surrounded by a group of about 100 insurgents. Realizing he needed assistance, the Private called for and received assistance from nine other Soldiers being led by their Captain. Yet, the reinforcements did not phase the group of insurgents as they continued harassing and insulting the soldiers. Then, using the only weapons immediately at hand, the insurgents fashioned balls from the snow and began throwing them at the symbols of an unwanted military evasion of a foreign government.
Suddenly someone - no one knows who - yelled FIRE! Shots rang out hitting 11 insurgents, of which 3 died at the site and 2 others later.
This insurgent activity, more commonly known as the Boston Massacre, took place on March 5, 1770. It is said that the Boston Massacre served as a galvanizing agent for the colonies to seek independence from Britain. The first to die is known the first hero of the American Revolution.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP > > >SjP's truth continues
One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realising what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely.
The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing some thing amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbours. Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
And finally, the donkey gave the farmer who tried to bury him a good kicking. Which brings me to another moral for this story - When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back and gets you.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
Sunday Inspirations Rules:
> > >SjP's truth continues
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it." HRC
I intended my post entitled "Hillary It Ain't About You No More" to be the last one that I would ever write about HRC and her vie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I was doing really well even though I did one of my OSF picks especially for her (Luther Vandross's "It's All Over Now"). I told myself that didn't count because of the kicking bass. But, when my Best Half told me about that RFK statement and I surfed the blogsphere to read the rumblings, I soon realized that on this I had to comment. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!
Thank you Villager for your post. I encourage anyone who has not had the opportunity to read it to rush on over to Electronic Village and read Electronic Village: Hillary Clinton Stays In Race Because Obama Might Be Assassinated Like Robert Kennedy well as to view the Keith Olbermann response.
As I commented over at Electronic Village:
Ah Mrs. G and Ms. Marvalus ya'll pick a good theme for this week! I'm liking this and I hope you'll like my picks!
My first place pick goes to Stanley Clark! My brother is a pretty good bass player in his own right and he says Stanley is the Best! So this one is for my Bro! And who better to pair him with but George Duke! So if you here any noise, its just me over here getting it on!
Pick number 2 is in for Ronald Isley whose birthday was earlier this week. We may have to wait a while for Ronald to return from his 3 hots and a cot...but in the meantime we can still enjoy the Isley Brothers and Ernie burning up those strings with Who's that Lady?
I have a third pick -but you have to go to YouTube to listen to it. Still can't embed Luther's music. This cut has been in my head since Tuesday, so I'm really happy that it fit in this week's theme. Given the events of this week- I think this one is certainly worth a listen! I'd really like to "contribute" this cut to Hillary Clinton dot com :>)! Oh yeah! The bass REALLY KICKS, too!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
Mrs. Grapevine and MarvalusOne are the creators of this bloggie meme
Here’s how to play: THE RULES:
1. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE
2. OLD SCHOOL IS DEFINED AS MUSIC CREATED BEFORE 1993
3. NO OFFENSIVE WORDS ALLOWED, PLEASE USE EDITED RADIO VERSION
4. POST A VIDEO OF YOUR FAVORITE OLD SCHOOL SONG TO TAKE US BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE
5. ADD YOUR NAME TO THE MEME LIST SO THAT OTHERS CAN CHECK YOU OUT
6. HAVE FUN & DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT
> > >SjP's truth continues
Still Missing: Lenoria JonesObliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
The statistics indicate that one in five of us will develop breast cancer is pretty scary! What's even scarier is that I personally know 11 women (1 maternal aunt, 1 2nd cousin, 5 co-workers, 3 close friends) who have battled this terrible disease. I am joyful that 9 of these brave women are still kicking this deceased in the butt - while 2 others sadly succumbed to its deadly invasion.
I hope you will take some time to read this post and most importantly encourage your mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, nieces, and friends to get checked yearly. Yeah, I know...I don't like being squished, and squashed, flopped and flipped either - but that little bit of discomfort is a small price to pay for my life and the lives of my daughters.
So, I offer you this post in recognition of Women's History Month and the Fight Against Breast Cancer! Hope you will be inspired to join the Fight!
In recognition of Women's Health Month, Black America Web honored three women who have dedicated their lives to closing the health gap for the black community. According to BAW: This dynamic trio of great strength has something else in common. Each of these women knows what it’s like to learn that her sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
As Program Director, Dr. Browne manages the breast cancer prevention research portfolio that is focused on the development of chemo prevention agents for breast cancer. She is a 2007 Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars where her research focused on estrogen receptor negative breast cancer health disparities.
Ms. Lipscomb serves as the director of the State Office of Minority Health as an advocate for effective health services for Alabama’s underserved, and diverse ethnic and racial populations. As the Director of Minority Health, Ms. Lipscomb reviews and consults on health policies to assess their cultural competence, reducing disparities, and increasing accessibility to health care systems.
Since 1996, Ms. Sheats has led the NBLIC, a national program aimed at reducing cancer health disparities among African Americans, consisting of four regions including 33 volunteer community coalitions in 30 states. Understanding that advances made through cancer research will be of no benefit to the African American community unless the information is readily available, the NBLIC disseminates information on cancer incidence, treatment, and prevention to the African American community in ways that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women aged 35-74 whose sister had breast cancer. It is a national study to learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. A total of 50,000 women will join the effort to find the causes of breast cancer.
The risk for breast cancer increases as you get older. It is the most common cancer (excluding skin cancer) and the most common cause of cancer death in women over the age of 65. Research shows that breast cancer rates rise as women age, with a notable increase among women between the ages of 50 and 75.
The Sister Study is the first study of its kind to look only at sisters of women with breast cancer. Sisters share certain genes and risk factors and sisters of women with breast cancer have a higher risk of getting the disease themselves. More of them will have exposures or genes that may be important for breast cancer. This will make it easier for researchers to identify risk factors for breast cancer.
You can Join the Sister Study if:
- Your sister, related to you by blood, had breast cancer.
- You are between the ages of 35 and 74.
- You have never had breast cancer yourself.
- You are a woman living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
You can help the Sister Study by spreading the word and volunteering.
Sister Study Walking and Talking Points for Volunteers
To help future generations possibly avoid facing this disease, they joined the effort to find the CAUSES of breast cancer. Please consider joining these champions and the thousands of other African American women participating in the Sister Study.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) REALLY ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP > > >SjP's truth continues
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (aka) Malcolm X
May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965
Remembering You on the 83nd Anniversary of Your Birth!
In his own words...
To date (and time) there remains 227 unpledged Superdelegates. Obama leads in pledged delegates with a total of 1904 to Hillary's 1717. This means that Obama needs only 121 more delegates to reach the 2025 total required not counting Florida and Michigan. Even in looking at this using the Queen of Hearts's number of 2209, Obama would need 305 more delegates while she would need d*mn near 500 to secure the nomination and that just ain't gonna happen!
Despite some Superdelegate's appeal to fellow Congressional men and women to overturn the democratic process whereby we have a government For the People and By the People, there is simply no what that most of these folks will not endorse Hillary now for fear of political suicide. I can see clearly now - but the signers of this appeal obviously do not! Check to see if any of your Representatives signed this letter...one of mine did!
Having said that, its now all about McCain! We've got to turn our sights on him and his campaign to ensure that he is defeated by the Democratic Nominee, Senator Barack Obama! So, I'm sharing this video I received from Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films highlighting The Real McCain. I encourage you to watch it and if you are so inclined post it or provide a link.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
A story of unconditional love...
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses... from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this.
Author Unknown
On this day, be inspired to love those nearest and dearest to you, unconditionally.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
This week's Old School Friday's Theme is Remakes. I had much fun combing YouTube for just the right song and I certainly think I hit the jack-pot with this week's selections.
The Remake I selected, was first recorded by Brenda Hollaway in 1965 by - you guessed it - Motown. It was the jam back in the day! Although re-recorded by Alicia Keyes after 1999, hope this still qualifies for OSF- because this cut, by both of these soulful songbirds, still packs a punch right at your heart!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
Mrs. Grapevine and MarvelousOne are the creators of this bloggie meme.
Here’s how to play:
THE RULES:
1. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE
2. OLD SCHOOL IS DEFINED AS MUSIC CREATED BEFORE 1993
3. NO OFFENSIVE WORDS ALLOWED, PLEASE USE EDITED RADIO VERSION
4. POST A VIDEO OF YOUR FAVORITE OLD SCHOOL SONG TO TAKE US BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE
5. ADD YOUR NAME TO THE MEME LIST SO THAT OTHERS CAN CHECK YOU OUT
6. HAVE FUN & DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT
> > >SjP's truth continues
Fearing for their lives, hundreds of thousands of women and children have fled war-torn Darfur only to find themselves victims of sexual assault and rape. The violence against women and children by the warring groups is reaching alarming levels.
The genocide began in Sudan's Darfur in 2003. Now, five years later, women and children have displaced in camps, towns, and rural areas. Yet, it is in these would be safe-haven areas where women and children are extremely vulnerable to sexual violence as a result of either attacks on
The culprits of these heinous acts have no fear of being caught or even i
nvestigated because they know that for them the silence of their victims is golden. Darfur women and girls, out of fear and cultural restraints, often do not seek medical treatment because reporting of sexual assaults is mandatory. The report requires not only the victim's name but the culprit's as well. The lack of confidentiality prevents survivors from seeking available medical and psychological treatments AND allows the culprit to do it again without fear of retribution.
Important links and resources:
Five Years On: No Justice for Sexual Violence in Darfur
Am I Not Human? Roots of Humanity
Original Post: Global Day for Darfur
Bloggers Unite...Blogging for Hope
Amnesty International
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
...Senator Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans is weakening again and how the whites in both states (Indiana and North Carolina) who had not completed college were supporting me... I have a much broader base to build a winning coaltion on. ~~Senator Hillary Clinton, May 2008
> > >SjP's truth continues
O.K, I gotta stop watching Fox, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity! But if I do, how would I ever have clear and convincing evidence that pure unadulterated racist ignorance exists disguised as "fair and balanced" reporting?
Fort Gibson, Okla. Four students wounded as Seth Trickey, 13, opened fire with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at Fort Gibson Middle School.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
The darkest hour may be just before dawn, but the Good Book says: JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!
So Mamma, this meme is dedicated to you! Sunday Inspirations, is the meme to get help get us through the week ahead, the trials we may face, and yes, to say Thank Ya and testify! I hope that you participate and share with us your Sunday Inspirations. Your weekly contribution may very well be the inspiration that someone else may need and has been looking for.
The Rules:
1. Anyone can participate.
2 You may post a video, poem, religious verse, song, story, picture, ANYTHING that has given you inspiration and the motivation to go on. Just make sure not to offend anyone.
3. Add your name to the meme list so others can be inspired.
4. Be and get inspired and be sure to comment.
Happy Mother's Day Mamma (DLW) ! Love you much, b***a!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
My first thought for this week's OSF post was to conclude with another tribute and commemoration of the Kent State Massacre 38 years ago. But, realizing that this has been a "dark" and somewhat depressing blogging week for ole' SjP - still reeling over that 12 hour email conversation with Peggy from American Thinker, I decided to asked my Best Half for his advise. He said, given the content of my previous post, through my uppity negro eyes, I should post this song sung by a truly soulful legend and used in what many consider one of most important movies of our time. This song is fitting and serves as a prophetic message that may no longer be a dream deferred - but a reality within our grasp and our lifetime. Thank you, Baby! This is perfect and right on time.
No introduction needed or required - only a warning that you may need a tissue. Listen, enjoy, and celebrate!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP > > >SjP's truth continues
"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,"... ...Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."
Senator Hillary Clinton, May 8, 2009: USA Today Interview
I have started and restarted this post several times. I didn't know where or how to begin. I find myself saddened, appalled, and angered with this statement made by an individual whom I believed, less than a year ago, was a champion for and of the causes and issues that are important to me as an American - as an African-American. I believed, less than a year ago, that this Senator from New York, did not "knowingly" have a racist bone in her body. I believed that she was a true humanitarian not only fit but, certainly more than capable, to be the Leader of the Free World. I believed that, like her husband, she truly"felt my pain".
Defined by her critics as abrasive, I translated as straightforward. Defined as aggressive, I translated as assertive. Defined as arrogant, I translated as confident. Defined as manipulative, I translated as decisive. Yes, a year ago, I looked forward to supporting "Gentle Lady from New York" as the Democratic nominee for President. And how very proud I was when watching her during the first Nevada debate as she rejected the absurd notion that her opponents were "not after her" because she was a woman but rather because she was ahead. Classic Hillary...You Go Girl!
And then, the veil was lifted... Then came Iowa!
After Obama's win in Iowa, Team Clinton began a campaign, although subtle, to discredit and minimize his impressive and mobilizing win. We began to hear words and phrases that could only be categorized as racial epitaphs and codes to discerning ears. We heard Bill call Barack's stance on Iraq and his candidacy a fairy tale. And let us not forget Clinton's "reminder" that "even" Jesse Jackson won South Carolina. We saw Hillary chastise Barack as if he were a child on mainstream media at the exact time she pleaded for the support of African-Americans at the "State of the Black Union" otherwise known as the Tavis Supports Hillary and You Should, Too Show. We saw Team Clinton jump on, and in my opinion, mastermind the Wright and Ayers Controversies. We heard one of her top supporters relegate Obama's success to the fact that he is an African-American male and not because of his ability or capability. And now we hear Hillary characterizing Obama as elite because he is an educated Black man who has the "audacity", support, platform, and money to become President of the United States!
Her words today tell me as a hard working, college education, middle class, professional African American woman, that I am no more than an expendable pawn in her quest for the nomination and Presidency. Her words today tell me that my role in her political process is likened to a trophy "for display purposes only". Her words today tell me that Senator Hillary Clinton's so-called commitment to human and civil rights has served only as rhetoric to help fill her pockets and political aspirations.
Yet, we are asked by Clinton and the Democratic Party not take these words personally. The most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party has been demoralized, disenfranchised, belittled, marginalized, and minimized. Thanks to Hillary, no longer is education beyond a high school diploma or a GED a viable path to inclusiveness and respectability. No longer - thanks to Senator Clinton - does the ability to think, synthesize information, ask questions, and demand answers the recommended and appropriate process to employ when selecting a presidential candidate.
Why did she do it? As her husband said after the "cigar scandal", he did it "because he could". And so did Hillary. Hillary Clinton considers herself accountable to no one; and no one - not the Democratic Party - not the Democratic National Committee - not the Democratic Superdelegates dare tell her otherwise. Her actions and her words are merely a reflection of how the Party, Committee, and Superdelegates - disguised as our leaders - view the importance of over 20% of its base. They fear no list of demands and no threats of retaliation or exodus - and therefore, our vote and support is taken for granted. We give them no reason to do otherwise - no reason to be accountable - no reason to be held accountable.
The Democratic Leadership has likened African-Americans to the used-woman Norman Connors sang about back in the day: Once I've been there, I can always go back again.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continuesRemembering the Kent State Massacre
Four Dead in Ohio
May 4, 1970
The units that responded were ill-trained and came right from riot duty elsewhere; they hadn't had much sleep. ...the Guard bayonetted two men,... The following day, May 4th, the Guard,...marched down a hill,... Seconds before they would have passed around the corner of a large building,...many of the Guardsmen wheeled and fired directly into the students, hitting thirteen, killing four of them, pulling the trigger over and over, for thirteen seconds. (Count out loud--one Mississippi, two Mississippi, to see how long this is.) Guardsmen--none of whom were later punished, civilly, administratively, or criminally--admitted firing at specific unarmed targets;... The closest student shot was fully sixty feet away; all but one were more than 100 feet away; all but two were more than 200 feet away. One of the dead was 255 feet away; the rest were 300 to 400 feet away. The most distant student shot was more than 700 feet from the Guardsmen.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP > > >SjP's truth continues
Like most of you, I have been glued to CNN all evening. And although, I would have liked for Indiana to give us 2.1% more votes for Obama - this was a very good day given the butt-kicking in North Carolina.
I received the email below from the Color of Change.Org. After reading, and if you are in agreement, please let your voice be heard as outlined in the email.
Some leaders in the Democratic Party are playing with fire. They think that they can betray the will of millions of voters and choose Hillary Clinton as the nominee, regardless of whether or not she is the choice of the voters. We can't let this happen. It would be the largest disenfranchisement in modern history, and it would mean the Democratic Party giving their stamp of approval to a clear and consistent pattern of race-baiting by the Clinton campaign.
If we make our voices heard, we can stop it. Please join us in signing an open letter to leaders in the Democratic Party -- DNC Chair Howard Dean, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and all superdelegates -- demanding that they reject an outcome that involves trampling voting rights and legitimizing the politics of division and fear:
http://colorofchange.org/dems/
By the time the last vote is cast on June 3rd under the rules of the Democratic Party, it's unlikely Hillary Clinton will beat Barack Obama among voters. But there's a chance that superdelegates will hand Clinton the nomination anyway. This would be a shocking attack on democracy, and it would destroy the Democratic Party's credibility on protecting the right to vote. Black people have a long history of fighting against voter suppression, and now the Democratic Party will be the enemy in that fight. As bad as that would be, there's another reason that a coup by party insiders would threaten racial progress.
Senator Clinton's plan to have superdelegates hand her the nomination relies on a parallel strategy -- she has to stoke enough division and race-based fear among Democratic voters to convince superdelegates that white voters will not vote for Senator Obama in the general election. One of Clinton's key arguments to superdelegates is that America won't elect a Black man, and therefore she's the better choice for Democrats to beat John McCain. While she makes that argument in private to superdelegates, in public, Clinton's campaign and her surrogates are doing everything they can to damage Barack Obama by ginning up fear and division and playing to the worst instincts of our society. It's an insult to Black people and all Americans, Obama and Clinton supporters alike.
The pattern has been clear and consistent to some party leaders. Last week, according to the Washington Post, James Clyburn -- who as House Majority Whip remains neutral and is the highest ranking Black member of Congress -- accused the Clintons of marginalizing Black voters. Referring to this strategy in another interview, Clyburn said that "Nothing in this campaign has been by accident."
Congressman Clyburn warned that "black people are incensed" over the divisiveness of the Clinton strategy and that it threatens an irreparable breach between Black people and the Democratic Party. He's right. And if superdelegates hand Clinton a victory despite her defeat among voters, they will be condoning and rewarding that strategy.
Some party leaders have expressed strong concern about superdelegates overruling voters. But as a whole, superdelegates have not made it clear that they will respect the will of voters. Today, we want to send a clear, unequivocal message to superdelegates and other party leaders: Reject the idea that the nomination can be won with a strategy that preys on racism, sows division, and disenfranchises millions of voters.
Please join us:
http://colorofchange.org/dems/
-- James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, Mervyn, Andre, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
> > >SjP's truth continues
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Who I Be?
- SjP
One Christian, African-American, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Professional, Sorority Woman just Sojourning for the Truth and not afraid to tell it!
Welcome to Sojourner’s Place!
Created with the professional African-American woman in mind, the scope of Sojourner’s Place evolves every day. So glad you stopped by and I hope you will be inspired, informed, motivated, and energized!
Once again, welcome and much obliged for stopping by. Come back soon!
SjP
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