The Beating of Black Lawyers
[col. writ. 7/5/07] (c) ‘07 Mumia Abu-Jamal

No matter who we are, or where we live, folks in Black America have grown up with the lesson of the importance of education as a tool of social mobility.

That’s why lawyers are generally so highly regarded in many Black communities, as people who have undergone years of legal education.

But that respect doesn’t go far beyond the community. Cops in Brooklyn, New York recently showed what they thought of lawyers by beating them up! Well-known human rights attorney Michael Tarif Warren, and his wife, Evelyn (also a lawyer), were driving down Brooklyn’s Vanderbilt Avenue, when they spotted a Black youth being chased by cops across a McDonald’s parking lot.

The youngster was tackled to the ground and handcuffed, when the Warrens saw a Sgt. Talvy begin kicking him in the head, the ribs, and stomping on his neck.

The 2 attorneys stopped their car, walked within 10 feet of the beating, identified themselves (as lawyers), and told the cops to stop beating the youth, and simply take him to the nearest precinct.

The Sergeant’s response was to shout, “I don’t give a f**k who you are, get the f**k back in your car!” The Warrens returned to the car, where Michael began to write down notes of what he saw, and the license plate numbers of the cop cars present.

Before he could finish his notes Sgt, Talvy walks up to the car, and began to repeatedly punch him through the window, shouting “Get out of the car!”

Warren was then dragged out of his car, his clothes ripped in the process. His wife, obviously upset at these events, demanded to know why he was attacked, and was promptly punched in the face by this same cop! Both Warrens were arrested and driven to the 77th precinct and charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Within hours hundreds of Brooklynites converged on the precinct, demanding the release of the Warrens. People came from all walks of life, for Tarif has a long history, almost 30 years, of representing people who have been victims of police or prosecutorial misconduct in the city. Groups like the December 12th Movement, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, the International Action Center, and many others quickly mobilized support for the Warrens.

In an interview in the New York Daily Challenge, Evelyn Warren spoke for many people when she said, “We are professionals, if they do this to us in broad daylight on a crowded street, what do they do in the dark when no one is around? That’s what I’m concerned about.”

She and others called not only for the removal of Talvy, but of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly as well. When Black lawyers are beaten in the streets, what about average folks?

What about you?

(c) ‘07 maj

[Source: Ajamu, Amadi, “Civil Rights Attorney Assaulted”, Daily Challenge (N.Y.), Mon., June 25, 2007, p.3.}

This is truly unnerving to know that regardless of race, that active professionals who are tax paying residents were treated in an inhumane way by simply being concerned, civilly engaged citizens. My heart raced as I read every line. I can depict a tension in Brooklyn that could give rise to a riot because of the repeated injustice and misconduct by the local government to the residents, particularly those of color. At some point, people will say enough is enough. There must be accountability and balance. The superiority complex must be checked. When the very same institution is to serve and protect begins to violate their mission, an unethical dilemma rises and has to be properly dealt with.

This injustice of a people cannot continue…

A Moderated Discussion with Tavis Smiley

Featured Speaker: Tavis Smiley, Host, Tavis Smiley on PBS and the Tavis Smiley Show from PRI

Moderated by: Melody Barnes, Executive Vice President for Policy, CAPAF

On Thursday, June 28 (today), Tavis Smiley will moderate the All-American Presidential Forum on PBS at Howard University , where the Democratic presidential candidates will address the issues of concern to Black America. This marks the first prime-time presidential candidates’ forum comprised exclusively by journalists of color. The next day, the Center for American Progress Action Fund will host a moderated discussion with Tavis Smiley and give him an opportunity to reflect on the critical issues raised at the previous night’s forum. As the author of The New York Times best-seller, The Covenant with Black America, as well as THE COVENANT In Action, Mr. Smiley will also discuss the ideas put forward in his books, the candidates’ proposals, and the pressing issues before the nation, including health care and well- being, education, economic prosperity, and environmental justice.

The event will begin with welcome and opening remarks from Melody Barnes, Executive Vice President for Policy at CAPAF, followed by questions from the audience.

While reading the Seattle-based online news publication, I was heartbroken to read this article out of Seattle. Several issues rose to the surface while critically reading the article. I titled my commentary ‘Saving Isiah’ because this young boy’s story doesn’t rest in isolation but in my young wisdom and guesstimation mirrors countless unpublished accounts of families who are striving for a better for their children. So I can be quick say the issue Isaiah’s mother is facing is race-based. But frankly my mind like the tactics used on today’s politics are too sophisticated and complex to settle for that variable alone.

Since Hurricane Katrina, I have been inspired to write poetry addressing issues of humanity. In the Washington-based YES Magazine’s unscientific poll, nearly three-quarters of Americans didn’t know their basic human rights.

As our nation reaches a brink of a recession. (Yes we are…the only factor impeding the collapse is called politics…meaning not under my house mentality will we have such a catastrophe…but the damn will break after elections. Read the latest news from Federal Reserve Chairman this week) So as I was saying as we reach a recession, it reflects the continual economic and class divide looming in America.

Because race/ethnicity has become such a convenient factor in dividing America by all parties, it’s hard at times for people to consider other variables like economics and class. This inability to discern may be based compounding factors as we say in the research world.

What does that mean? Well when multiple factors interplay in causing the success or a downfall of a person, place or thing, it’s hard to note what made the difference. Take childhood obesity…there are so many campaigns and initiatives to address the issue that at the end of the day who knows what made a key impact. And frankly someone may say ‘who cares?” if we when the battle of the bulge…if that’s really the battle. (I am conspiracy theorist so indulge me )

So back to Isaiah…the article brings about several points:

1. Even if issues are squashed, there is still an aftermath…and the trauma on all parties especially Isaiah as occurred.

2. The social/emotional/cognitive development during childhood is most impressionable than anytime in our lives…so this we have a lasting impact on Isaiah but doesn’t have to remain the case, which the proper support and encouragement which it appears that his mother is providing.

3. The perpetuation of race and class in this article reflects the continued ‘privileged’ mentality that doesn’t support equity in humanity…because of inequality in economics. (Side note: Even if economics were at the same level, race and cultural orientation will most likely lead down a parallel pathway as seen in health disparities among minorities in hospital settings)

4. The diction used in this article also perpetuates certain perceived images in black and white which isn’t conducive to building a better, healthier society…from the description of the families…though there may not have been any harm intended…words are powerful.

5.The tactics used by the financially sound parents on a child…is down right despicable and more traumatic than a physical switch…because it impacts the mind of the child (read the cafeteria scene).

6. Regardless of race, no child should endure the harm and turmoil that could negatively impact his academic, spiritual, emotional and social development. Adults talk to Adults. Kids talk to Kids.

7. Adults don’t necessarily have the competence to handle issues properly because sometimes they never addressed their own issues; so some become dysfunctional role models even for their own children. And it takes years for children to reflect and understand the difference between what’s right and wrong by listening to spirit and seeing action.

Do you know an Isaiah that needs to be saved? We should all play a role in child’s life as a mentor. I hope someone can reach out to Isaiah’s family in the Seattle area…clearly they can’t do this alone.

From this story he has the potential to being marginalized and have his reputation preceded wherever he goes. Unfortunately he wasn’t the model minority for the gala dinners for this school…and sometimes organizations who on paper state their commitment to diversity has put it’s reputation on the line because their actions don’t precede as well.

Given the current state of affairs, we must revisit the movements of the Civil Rights, Black Power and Black Arts. Today the movement will have to be relevant to our times, but it must be down. From the issues of gentrification, leaving children behind, poverty and health care, the movement is among us.

Arts and creativity will be a key role in engaging our communities of color given the rhythm and soul of the people. Combining the trends of the advertising and marketing world with the culture of the people we can revive the souls of the people to engage and empower them to make a difference in the current state of affairs.

To be effective will involve knowing our history of the 1960s and combine that with the tools and knowledge among us. I hope you can take time to learn more and share your knowledge.

The question is with all the intellect among our generation: how will we use that knowledge to serve the larger quest for equity in humanity. After reading the article on Sonia Sanchez, I decided to learn more about the Black Arts Movement, which I have provided a snippet:

The Black Arts movement is also credited with motivating a new generation of poets, writers and artists. In recent years, however, many other writers–Native Americans, Latinos/as, gays and lesbians, and younger generations of African Americans, for instance–have acknowledged their debt to the Black Arts movement.

Poets in the Black Arts Movement inlude: Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ed Bullins, Eldridge Ceaver, Jayne Cortez, Harold Cruse, Mari Evans, Hoyt Fuller, Nikki Giovanni, Lorraine Hansberry, Gil-Scott Heron, Maulana Ron Karenga, Etheridge Knight, Adrienne Kennedy, Haki R. Madhubuti, Larry Neal, Ishmael Reed, Sonia Sanchez, Ntozake Shange, Quincy Troupe, and John Alfred Williams.

The Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School (BART/S) was founded in Harlem by Amiri Baraka with the hopes of bringing music, poetry, art and performance to the streetcorners of the city.

On April 30, 1965 Baraka, (then LeRoi Jones), joined up with Charles and William Patterson, Askia Toure, (then Rolland Snellings), Clarence Reed, Johnny Moore and a number of other Black artists to open the school. The school was later granted funds through the Johnson administration’s Harlem-Youth Act (HARYOU), but despite the source funding, BART/S created, as Larry Neal put it, “plays that shattered the illusions of the American body politic and awakened black people to the meaning of their lives.”

The BART/S self-proclaimed mission stated that it would be, “a repertory theatre in Harlem, as well as a school. As a school it [would] set up and continue to provide instruction, both practical and theoretical, in all new aspects of the dramatic arts.” The hope of the BART/S was to open a channel between the artist and his people, as well as giving the people a chance to experience and create their own art.

The BART/S was short-lived because of lack of funding as well as internal issues, specifically disagreements between the founding members. Yet, its legacy spawned the opening of Black theatre/schools all over the nation including Black House as far west as California and Spirithouse in Newark. These organizations continued the BART/S’ commitment to concerted political, economic, and cultural activity at the service of the black revolution.