The Vilification of African American Women: Enough Is Enough!

I've been away for a few days, but this... this thing has brought me back!

The Most Dangerous Place For An African American Is In The Womb

I've been very angry lately by what I perceive as a renewed focused assault on African American women in this country by Right Wing Nuts, not to say this assault hasn't been the case since time. But I was so angered by the Pro-Life poster and campaign in New York by the organization, Life Always, that without qualification unflinchingly states, "The Most Dangerous Place For An African American is in the Womb" I couldn't even speak. It was thought-provoking. It was scary. I fantasized going to NewYork as an undercover Graffiti Grandmother with a can of spray paint adding to every sign, ... "Of A Poor Woman In Poverty."

Planned Parenthood

 
Life Always appears to have some humanitarian investment in African American babies. Ain't that nice? Could it be compassion for the conditions government policies and institutional unfairness has placed these African American women in? I don't think so. These right-wingers campaign to appear they care about these poor black unborn, but once these babies take their first breath of life outside the womb, oh well... they're on their own. Repugs attempt to pass laws that walk away from these mothers and their children. Laws that strip school budgets, increase taxes, bust unions, nix lunch programs, food stamps, Medicaid and oh, yeah, Planned Parenthood. Wow. Poor women are served by Planned Parenthood through education, health care, birth control, fetal care and yes, abortions that are not federally funded. I know the Righteous Right are trying to pass anti-abortion laws around the country that affects all women, but the vilification of African American women is truly special.

Catherine Ferguson Academy

When Rachel Maddow reported on the Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit, whose mission is to educate young high school mothers, provide daycare for their children while they're in school, I was truly inspired. DPS was working in at least one school. Then as Maddow further reported, I flew into a rage. Why is Governor Snyder shutting it down? The principal, Asenath Andrews is committed and dedicated to the success of these young women. The efforts at Catherine Ferguson Academy have a track record of success. Ms. Andrews attempts to locate jobs that pay at least $20,000 a year in agricultural gardens and farming in Detroit. Her efforts have positively impacted the outlook these young girls have for their future and the future of their young children. Yet, the images I saw in the feature on Rachel Maddow, angered me to tears. If the footage was in black and white, it would've looked like something from the Civil Rights Era of the 1960's. Very, very, very disturbing images of police handcuffing young girls and teachers, putting them in the back of their cars outside the school. The School? What is going on?

Have We Become a Police State?

I'm very angry. I'm so angry I don't know what to do. All I can do is ask, are you angry too? And, what do we do about it?