Black Lives Matter. Love and Equality Is The Message.

Snapped these images quickly today from my iPhone 6.9.20 – finally able to get out to check on my Mom in person – with social distance and mask.

We are still in the midst of the protests there’s still a pandemic, and those with elderly parents can understand what that’s like. Judging by the volume of people out with so many out and about, seems as they many feel the pandemic is over.

I remain cautious and shelter in place only going out for essential errands. Along the way driving to my mothers house seeing so many businesses boarded up was a bit surreal and apocalyptic while other businesses, restaurants are open and unscathed – very much a dichotomy.

The signs reflect an atmosphere we’ve never seen – and more diversity than we’ve ever seen against police excessive force, brutality and racism. The murder of George Floyd, the visual of the cruelty 8:46 minutes as he plead for his life and mother impacted the global consciousness. These signs are in my neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Hollywood and West Hollywood where the population is primarily white and Jewish who now see what Blacks have been saying for decades about systemic racism and a need for police reform and accountability. That’s what makes what’s happening now even more powerful. It’s not just blacks who understand what “Black Lives Matter” is all about in this moment in society in the human race of which we all matter but it is the important issue of actual change with regard to racism and being anti-racist.

Everyone needs to continue pushing for change beyond this moment, younger generation all races together. This is not a political issue – it’s a human issue.

It was important for me to stop along the way and capture these before they are removed – the fight must continue beyond these sentiments and signs – from these businesses and those who have been guilty or complicit in acts of systemic racism, discrimination and brutality. In the midst of everything going on the killings continue as well as small steps of change such as Breonna’s Law putting an end to no knock warrants in Louisville https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/11/875466130/no-knock-warrants-banned-in-louisville-in-law-named-for-breonna-taylor


Stay healthy and safe- wear a mask, be considerate of others. Keep your head up.

Morning Walk. Choosing Love.

 

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This is a post I shared on my Facebook and Instagram pages a couple of weeks ago. I intended to share it here with you that follow my blog posts – so here it is.

So..on my morning run I had the unfortunate moment where out of no where I was yelled at by a Caucasian woman “Dirty N—er, Fukin C–t” (not my first experience..that came when I was 9 first time I was called that) I stopped in my tracks laughed at her but then turned to run up to her as she kept walking – I almost caught a case lol – in that next moment I chose to keep it moving and continued myjog – it’s not what people call you, it’s what you answer to, that quote crossed my mind – I’ve lived in this area for over 15 years jogging in morning only encounters are occasional TMZ and paparazzi looking for “celebrities” most people say good morning or nothing at all– I came upon these beautiful vibrant flowers and stopped to take a photo. Being alive is a blessing no matter the troubles of the world and people. I still believe in love and beauty in this world in fact I’d just been thinking about “Affairs of the heart” and recorded a short message of inspiration to post –most humans are good and we have more similarities than differences a lot of the time — though there are bad apples of all kind -in the midst of so much hatred and some vile people..and also people dealing with mental health issues – stay focused. It’s real out here –people are also being empowered in this negative political environment … 🙏🏽 #JodyWatley#ialmostcaughtacase #chooselove – ready to watch some NBA and college hoops now and enjoy the rest of my day – love to all

Just a Thought. Neighborhood Watch.

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Heavy on my mind..and every time no matter where I am, I know I’ll view these signs differently.

Most neighborhoods have “Neighborhood Watch” – never told to pursue, become a vigilante, follow, stalk, confront and so forth. Call the police and wait for them to arrive if you see something truly suspicious or threatening. If ignoring what you’re told, wouldn’t you let a person know “I’m neighborhood watch, my name is…” but it should never get to that point. My son has always loved to walk and go out in the rain. To even consider such a simple act could be considered suspicious shakes me to the core. This Zimmerman trial – any case with senseless violence and someone loses their life is tragic-but this case highlights many underlying troubling issues. I remember learning growing up as well, if you go looking for trouble – you will probably find it. Zimmerman should have stayed in his car – it’s my opinion – and waited for police, but he chose not to do that.

Preconceived notions are never good. There’s nothing suspect about a kid walking home from the store, in the rain at 7 PM on the phone talking to a friend in a “nice” neighborhood where it may be assumed one doesn’t ‘belong’ — or elsewhere for that matter.

I am praying for justice for Trayvon Martin and his family, although nothing will change the fact that he was shot dead – in the heart, while walking home in the rain from the store on an early Sunday evening.

Just a thought..

Just a Thought. A Week of Politics and Emotion.

This week has been quite memorable in terms of the news. One minute we seem to be moving forward (electing-reelecting a President who happens to be black) backwards (Supreme Court striking down a major portion of The Voting Rights Act from 1965), forward (Supreme Court ruling on Defense of Marriage Act, allowing same sex adult couples to marry who they choose). I learned as well via my Twitter feed that the President had declined meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus for over 700 days (read here); which definitely thought provoking. I’m still perplexed by his signing of the Monsanto Protection Act protecting from lawsuits or any judicial action (read here).

Add historic abortion rights filibuster in Texas by Wendy Davis lasting 11 hours, and subsequent vow by Governor Rick Perry for another session to see the bill through that would close the majority of planned parenthood and abortion clinics in the state – another potential blow for women’s rights, which are under attack.  Then you have a Congress, approving the bill to double student loans (read here) – rather they approving to keep the loans low. This act of course will send children and families seeking higher learning in hopes of a better life – into debt. Currently, student loan debt has out-paced credit card debt in this country. The rich get richer, while the rest seem to get challenged more each day. Of course – these elected officials can write a full check for their children to attend universities of their choice. Once again, the poor and middle class are being pushed further into a cycle of debt, simply for wanting to go to college in the first place – when did college education become a privilege? Are everyday working class people and young people being penalized by striving for a better life? Then vilified when nor educated enough?  Public schools are closing in urban areas at record numbers, more prisons are being built … “I IS who I Is”, Paula Deen..I never saw any tears just a contorted crying ‘face’ from the snippet I saw of her mea culpa interview. Own your behavior – grow, change and evolve. Create a better work environment – respectful, just and fair. Apples and oranges, however, I’m just as appalled by commercial use of the ‘n’ and other offensive language and behavior in rap music.

It’s going to take me a minute to give my thoughts on Rachael Jeantel in the Zimmerman case, however it did make me think of our responsibility as parents to make certain our children learn to speak clearly (and I can recall the ‘you sound like you have a mouth full of marbles – speak up”) with my own children when they were young; however I grew up with parents who were conscious of diction. Additionally, looking people in the eye and all of that. As a Mom, and not to place myself on a pedestal of parenting, but it is the most important role and job we have as parents; to be teachers and role models. However, I will say that simply because a person doesn’t fit the box of ‘polished’ doesn’t reflect a lack of character, truth – especially with many of today’s youth, many of whom don’t have teachers in life when being raised. Some can’t teach or pass along what they don’t know themselves. I felt for Rachel Jeantel from some of the moments I saw. Admittedly, I was agitated and wanted her to pull it together as well, however Jeantel was authentic – no filter. It also crossed my mind that as a society we don’t need to mock, rather uplift, mentor, reach out – whatever one can do. Watching how she was dissected it almost felt like now there were two black victims in this case. She was a teen girl (and still a teen) on the phone with a friend just before he was murdered as the last person to hear his voice. Being on that witness stand under those circumstances, being picked apart couldn’t have been easy – no matter whose side you’re on. I was agitated with the defense as well for the way in which she was cross examined from what I saw – though understanding they have a job to do as well. I wept when I heard the screams for “help.”

Life and the internet is a harsh place at times.