Story Archives 2007

by Joseph Bolden

Spoiled In America

It’s Memorial Day.God, Honor, and Country, and Family.

The latter gets the fuzzy stick.

Warriors who’ve fought, are wounded, return, or die are the ones that can with intelligence reason, emotion, can tell those of us that have had no experience of war how terrible it is.

War is obsolete. Yes, there are times when its needed how-ever we may not need war as much a new kind of para- military option that’s less public.

A United Nations UMF= Ultimate Military Force, a systematic offence/defense system where men women from young to elder with innate or genetic/ nanoteched abilities could work in groups or individually of when enough is enough they will leave because that’s what folks tend to do after awhile.

That’s one of many scenario’s may work as war ends forever.

Now the topic. Spoiled in America.

I mean when the poorest in America can gain weight because of all the soup kitchen, churches, and inexpensive eateries all over America.

We’re so blessed except for widening digital divide most of us aren’t sick, diseased, but were so into movies, tv, plays, or trivia actually forgetting what real suffering is.

Some guy has a private war, his buds are oil biz folk doing every –thing they can to keep their dying monopoly.

We’ve stumbled, lost our way but all is about to change.

I won’t waste time on it we’ve lost much of our luster but I do khow this country will come out stronger maybe with all the pent up frustrations over the years we’ll remerge wiser too and maybe just may be a little less spoiled Americans in America.

by Tiny aka Lisa Gray-Garcia/PoorNewsNetwork

"Without you, Mom, your work, your struggle, your help--I wouldnt have made it through high school." Jamil Gant, a young African Descendent man was speaking softly, barely looking up, reading from a letter he wrote to his mom. The letter and the moment, a moment between a mother and son, a child and his family, a youth and an elder, was private and beautiful, touching and quiet. And then the room exploded in applause. The occasion was a pre-graduation fundraiser, and this letter was read in front of over 75 people at June Jordan School For Equity (JJSE).

I had the privilege of being introduced to the innovative, community-based teaching practices of the June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco through a study conducted by Stanford University's School Redesign Network and Justice Matters, a non-profit research and policy institute where I work as the communications director. My position includes communications support for several campaigns focused on changing the educational inequities present for low-income students of color in California. One of these campaigns has exposed me extreme inequities happening in West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD)

While I was inspired by the educational innovation at June Jordan, I was simultaneously increasingly angered by the experiences of low-income parents and students of color who I am working with as part of Justice Matters Real Schools Now campaign located in WCCUSD. The current situation of endless tests and scripted curricula does not work for our children,” said Lee Lemons, a parent of two children who attend schools in Richmond and San Pablo.

The two parallel worlds of June Jordan and WCCUSD came together last week in a field trip organized by parent leaders in West Contra Costa who decided it was urgent to bring a model of teaching and learning back to district leaders in WCCUSD. A model that focused on real teaching, not endless testing, a school that really provided its students with meaningful curricula,a school that included parents in its core activities and a school that understood social and racial justice and youth leadership.

Lunch Session with students, teachers and founders of June Jordan School for Equity

"I had homeroom in middle school. I barely went and my teachers didnt even know me," said Monica G., a senior at June Jordan who spoke to the group of us on the on the May 4th field trip from Richmond to June Jordan which included WCCUSD parents, youth, a high school principal, and Superintendent Bruce Harter. Monica continued, "My advisor at June Jordan was in my business from the beginning. He called me at home, he checked on me all along and then he even came to my kitchen. He didnt give up on me." Monica was describing the extensive work and commitment of all the teachers, advisors and parents at June Jordan and how that kept her not only in school but interested in achieving at school.

"I was so focused on seeing this vision become a reality because of my work in other school settings where I witnessed so many low-income kids of color fall through the cracks." June Jordan co-founder, Shane Safir described her commitment to the idea of June Jordan.

In 2000, struck with the flagrant educational inequities she was seeing Shane collaborated with three other young teachers (Kate Goka, Matt Alexander, and Emmanuel Medina) and started Small Schools for Equity (SSE) to advocate for new educational models for San Francisco youth. Teachers, parents, students and community organizations worked together for two years to study successful small urban schools across the country. These model schools have created high academic results for urban youth.Yet there were no schools like them in San Francisco.

In 2003, SSE won a competitive proposal process in the San Francisco Unified School District. As a result, in August 2003, SSE opened June Jordan School for Equity, a new model small high school. The school's mission is to prepare a diverse group of San Francisco youth to achieve the highest academic standards so that they give voice to their dreams and grow into healthy, productive adults. It nurtures this mission by helping the students "to discover and explore their passions, to grow into independent, reflective thinkers, and to build connected, socially just communities."

The Portfolio Presentation at June Jordan School For Equity

"My first question to you all is, how far would you go to protect your families?" Seata, a 15 year old sophomore at June Jordan stood at the front of a class of advisors, teachers, family members and our group from WCCUSD posing a question to us all as she launched into her "portfolio presentation."

June Jordan's portfolio presentations are one of the compelling ways that the educational experience at the school is markedly different from the testing-only nightmare of children trying to learn in most public schools suffering under the No Child Left Behind Act climate of high stakes testing and scripted curricula. Rather than only barrage children with tests to supposedly prove their understanding of a subject or subjects through bubbling in answers to multiple choice questions, the portfolio presentations require that the students create a whole demonstration that includes a multi-page report, research and analysis on the subject they are presenting.

Seata was presenting a complex report on a book she had read that included an analysis of family connectedness, global and local trade implications for poor migrant workers and her own critique of this society's' anti-immigration policies. Not to mention a complicated math and science presentation as well.

As the afternoon sun began to glow , the WCCUSD families gathered in the JJSE parking lot to de-brief the powerful day "I would like to go to school here," said Rachel Chinn, 15, a Richmond resident who was on the field trip from WCCUSD with her mother. "I wish they would allow us to do things like that in our school." "This was very inspiring, now we just need to make the district (WCCUSD) understand how important real teaching is," added her mother.

As all of the parent and student leaders from WCCUSD stepped onto the van to return home, visibly changed by the innovation they had witnessed at JJSE my mind wandered to the letter i had heard Jamil read to his mama. I began to construct another letter and this time it was co-written by all the low-income students of color in WCCUSD and it was addressed to School Districts and District leaders in WCCUSD and all across the country, this time it stated, "without art, science, less testing, real teaching, and all of our parent's leadership, students like us won't make it through school."

by Sam Drew/PNN

"Politics as usual ,",I said to myself as I disgustedly glanced at The San Francisco Examiner. The article stated that in a 9-2 vote, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution allowing the city to proceed with the planning on the massive project at the Hunters Point Shipyard. A project run by Lennar Corporation rife with asbestos poisoning

Asbestos is a disease that is close to me and my family. My father spent 20 years in the Merchant Marines working in the boiler rooms that were filled with asbestos dust. This was during the 50's when medical science wasn't aware of the dangers of asbestosis. I watched him transform from a robust fun loving man on the town to an old man who couldn't walk a city block because of severe breathing problems.

This project includes 6,500 units of housing at Candlestick Point, 2,000 units of housing at the HuntersPoint Shipyard site, retail and office space, park, and a new stadium for the San Francisco 49'ers. Supervisors Chris Daly and Ed Jew voted against the resolution
Supervisor Ed Jew said "This is the most enormous redevelopment project ever undertaken by The City." He also said The City should not" ignore" the 30,000 residents who signed a petition to put this plan on the ballot.

I recently had the privilege to listen to some of the 30,000 residents when I attended the townhall meeting on environmental racism just a strong cool breeze away from the Hunters Point Shipyard at the bustling Grace Tabernacle Community Church

As I strolled into the stately Grace Tabernacle Community Church in the historic BayView district for the town hall meeting . I couldn't help but notice all the beautiful children seated on the back pews. Rows and rows of neatly dressed children doing what little folks do best. Laughing, smiling, giggling, wiggling and bubbling over with life. The joyful noise would be momentarily abated when an adult would quietly but sternly say shhhhh! Silence descended for a few minutes, but merriment would slowly resurface behind stifled snickers as the young ones cut each other sly glances
.

The reason for the townhall meeting was to alert the BayView Hunters Point community that it is being poisoned to death by breathing asbestos laced toxic dust everyday. The cause of this virulent vapor is the redevelopment project going on at the Hunters Point Shipyard. The company in charge of this toxic cleanup and redevelopment is the Lennar Corporation. A Miami based firm that is the third largest home builder in the country, Lennar is throwing its hat into urban redevelopment with the blessing and support of the mayor and The City.

The packed church had the feeling of an old time revival meeting as three fervent firebrand figures implored the galvanized gathering to rise up and tell the city they're mad as hell and won't take it anymore. Minister Christopher Muhammad, Archbishop King and host Pastor Ernest Jackson each took turns letting the audience know that the community will not place jobs or redevelopment over the health and the well being of its citizens."We need uncompromising leadership that will not watch our babies, mothers and our fathers be destroyed for economic purposes!" declared King.

Next Minister Muhammad explained the root meaning of the word conspiracy,"It's from the Latin word that means to breathe together.We are breathing death as we speak!" The type of death being inhaled was explained in exacting detail."Asbestos dust when it gets in your lungs it never leaves." Stated Muhammad. As the congregation gasped at this revelation they were further shocked by the genesis of this plague.Muhammad said ,"Lennar was supposed to have monitors on site to check the levels of acceptable dust particlues you can breathe.But for four months from April to August there were no monitors.' Muhammad told of children wiping their faces with towels and the towels would be brown from dust. Also of dust clouds so thick children complained of breathing problems.

Muhammad decried those in responsible positions who have been negligent in responding to this health crisis,."The Health Department is supposes to watch out on behalf of the community. And the Redevelopment Agency is to make sure the company is in compliance with the laws. The city has the power to shut it (Lennar) down if they do not follow the rules."

Special concern was given to so-called community leaders who know about the problem but succumb to the safety in silence syndrome,"The day of giving passes is over!!! So called leaders have sold their souls for crumbs off the table .In the name of development they have left the community exposed to toxic waste. Supervisor Sophie Maxwell never said a word. Her silence is deafening. She was elected to represent the people."

Shouts of amen reverberated off the multicolored stained glass windows as the faithful were told of lawsuits against Lennar by three of its highest level Black employees for concealing evidence of toxic elevations of asbestos. Special commendations were given to Chris Carpenter the worker who was fired by Lennar for blowing the whistle on their toxic malfeasance. Carpenter was more concerned about the health hazards to the community was being exposed to than holding on to his good job. Carpenter said,"When we were working on the hill digging on the side of the dirt. We had to use water to suppress the dirt from being airborne. The dust became so thick I couldn't see my fellow workers! I received a call from someone downtown telling me to stay away from the issue because things can get bad!" But that kind of talk didn't scare Carpenter away from the truth. He laughed and said with a smile,"I grew up in the BayView Hunters Point."

No one seemed scared of the truth at this town hall meeting. No one apologized for possible injured feelings that might arise in this crusade for environmental justice. "Feelings can be healed, but lung disease can't be healed. The poisoning of our community continues. Last week a reading was over 21,000 particulates. 16,000 is an acceptable amount of dust you can breathe "spoke Muhammad

The assembled were told that a doctor was flow out to take tests on the asbestos toxicity in the community. But Dr. Katz of the Health Department said'"That's not good science maybe in 100 years I might be proven wrong." Asbestos has a incubation period of 20 years. It can remain in the lungs for long periods of time before you suffer from asbestosis. Asbestosis causes scarring of the lungs. When the lungs become scarred the passage ways begin to close making it difficult to breathe.

Plans of community involvement and empowerment was delineated by Muhammad,"We're going apartment to apartment to let them know what they have been exposed to and who exposed them. We are going door to door to educate our people.' By our people he meant the entire community as represented by the energized and envolved church filled with African Americans, Caucasians, Latinos and Samoans who were standing and cheering. Those who entered this hallowed building were being educated, motivated, organized and mobilized. Also in the works is a class action lawsuit on behalf of every man, woman, boy and girl in the BayView HuntersPoint district

Muhammad lowered his voice as he told of efforts to reach people downtown. All we asked them is to shut it down and come and test.That isn't unreasonable is it? Olive branches were offered to politicians and community leaders to listen with open minds to the citizens. Truth was being told but there is plenty room on the bandwagon for those who want to jump on board

In a question and answer period several locals told of recurring nose bleeds and of sore throats ,colds and coughing that they and their children suffered through during the digging period of the redevelopment program. One excited citizen jumped up to exclaim that people were trying to redo the siding on homes again. Another person told him "you know why, so they can hide the evidence."

As I slowly left the church still reviewing all the important information that had been passed on, one of the young children on the back pews jumped in front of me to go outside with his playmates. He was lovingly reminded that he should say excuse me to one of his elders. I looked at his smiling angelic face as he slowly repeated the words, excuse me. I though how can anyone say excuse me to this young one if they had the chance to protect his health and said or did nothing about the situation. The day of excuses is over. It was overmy father a long time ago -I hope its not overfor this community. A line has been drawn and everyone has to decide what side they're on. Either the side for life or the side for death.

Sam Drew is a poverty and race scholar who graduated with honors from POOR Magazine's Race, Poverty and Media Justice Institute

For more information, contact.

Carole Midgen's office @ 415-557-1300 to register complainants.

Hotline for complaints/issues 1.866.475.6907

Every Thursday a meeting will be held at Grace Tabernacle Community Church. 1121 Oakdale Ave.

by Anna Kirsch/PNN

Come to Barnes & Noble in Tanforan Mall 1150 El Camino Real in San Bruno Friday September 14 @ 7p.m. to hear Vet read from Purposes!

Vet Williamson has kept a diary for as long as she can remember; a sacred journal describing her most personal experiences and life struggles. Most of which would have been easier for her to forget than re-write, re-tell and share with the world.

But, unlike most, Vet, a race and poverty scholar and former Bayview resident, decided to unearth her painful past and share it in her recently published book, Purposes! A Real Love Story. To do so, years ago Vet began the heart wrenching process of digging back through her old journal entries to create her compelling memoir.

“It was pretty difficult to relive certain circumstances and remembering those feelings, passion and anger, was hard,” says Vet, “but I wanted to offer encouragement and hope to those who may go through some of things I experienced in my life.”

Written as a love letter to Jesus, who Vet wholly credits for her existence and survival, Purposes takes the reader on Vet’s moving journey through life. From drug abuse, racism and homelessness to poverty, welfare and motherhood, Vet writes in a simple, brutally honest manner that the reader can easily empathize with and relate to.

The story begins with Vet’s birth and the extremely close bond she shared with her mother through childhood. “I slept with my mother every night and would pull her arm over me to feel safe,” she writes. We then feel her grief when she loses her mother as a teenager and must support her family while struggling with her father’s alcoholism.

From this moment on the reader connects to Vet and becomes extremely engaged in her words and story.

We learn about the racism she suffered, even within her own race, living as a dark-skinned woman in Cincinnati, Ohio. We read on, as she becomes a teenaged mother in an abusive relationship. We see her life almost completely unravel, as she struggles with an addiction to crack, becomes houseless and survives rape.

Her story is interwoven with biblical passages, quotes and poems, each telling of how she managed to survive and overcome. While Vet credits much of the strength she found to her own community church, she also boldly points out that many churches today don’t operate in love and truth, which she believes are “the only means to set us free.”

Although rooted in Vet’s religious beliefs, Purposes doesn’t preach but openly demonstrates the healing and strength that can be found for many struggling with issues of racism and poverty through Jesus and prayer.

As Vet eloquently stated, “I was able to overcome because of the fact that I had a relationship with God…it was the way he built me, I just don’t know how to give up.”

Vet’s is a story of love and forgiveness and by the end of the book, her strength and courage are undeniable. Her life is a true tale of survival, thrival and resistance.

Purposes! A Real Love Story can be purchased online at amazon.com, as well as at Barnes and Nobles.

by Vivian Hain

May 8, 2007 was the 10th Annual Hunger Action Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Many advocates and low-income people from the California Hunger Action Coalition (C.H.A.C.) were in attendance to urge state legislators to support several state senate and assembly bills that would enable food security to many who need it in California. The event, consisting of mostly St. Anthony participants from throughout California, started out early with a morning rally at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

My twelve-year old daughter, Jasmine and I, both of us poverty scholars representing POOR Magazine, got the audience pumped up and energized, along with advocate Frank Tamborello and his group from L.A. singing their own rendition of ‘California Dreaming’ with the lyrics:

We're black and white and brown

Yellow, red and gray

We're going for a walk

To the Capitol today

We came from the Central Valley

Oakland, San Diego, L.A.

From all over California

For Hunger Action Day

Had to stop into a church

Just to get a meal today

Food stamp office wants my prints

Why they need that anyway?

Gonna tell the Terminator

What we're here to say

California Feedin

On Hunger Action Day

Need breakfast for the kids

So they can learn and play

No sanctions on the families

And a C.O.L.A.

Gonna tell the Terminator,

What we're here to say

California Feedin

On Hunger Action Day

The morning rally at the church ended with a procession of over 100 strong, banging big metal pots and carrying large signs demanding food security to the west steps of the State Capitol where another rally followed with awards given to two California state legislators for their work in helping to get food security to low-income families in the Central Valley during the recent crop freeze.

After lunch, Jasmine and I led a group of low-income participants, like ourselves, from the Alameda County Community Food Bank and St. Mary's Center in Oakland to meet with Senator President Don Perata (D-Oakland) to discuss several legislative bills and seek his support on bills requiring more support for low and no income families, such as a bill requiring breakfast programs for low-income students in California schools (AB-92) and another bill that makes it easier for those on MediCal to apply and get food stamps in a simplified process (AB-433). In addition to many other bills eliminating current bans and requirements to receive food stamps.

Currently, there are a multitude of obstacles that prevent many people in California from having food security. With the Schwarzenegger Administration continuing to target California's poor, it is imperative that these bills are supported by state legislators, especially when it concerns food stamps, which are a federally funded program. In addition, it is important that there is less USDA food in food bank bags each year, as this food has low nutritional value, especially for the elderly and children.

Next we headed to Senator Perata's office, located on the second floor in the historical part of the State Capitol building, where amongst the fancy wood and marble architecture the voice and noises of visiting children moving about in groups could be heard. Upon opening the large, wooden double doors, I entered a lavish office adorned with large paintings, chandeliers and wooden furnishings. We were then lead into a conference room by one of Perata's aides.

As we sat down around a big wooden table surrounded by plush burgundy velour chairs, Senator Perata entered the room, placing himself at the end of the table, and welcoming our group. I sat about three feet away from him, introducing our group as part of C.H.A.C. and telling him the reason we were there to see him.

Each member of the group took on a bill issue and asked Senator Perata for his support on each bill. Senator Perata said that he supported all of the bills and said that Governor Schwarzenegger would probably not support most of them due to his inexperience and lack of knowledge about low-income issues in California.

Jasmine advocated for AB-92, a bill sponsored by Republican Assembly member Bonnie Garcia that will require breakfast programs for low-income students in California schools. Senator Perata listened carefully as Jasmine articulated her own personal experience of being a houseless, hungry child with such eloquence that the Senator complimented her brilliance and asked when she was running for office.

Jasmine also stated that: “A school breakfast program is brain food, which helps us students get better test scores.” Senator Perata listened intently and took notes, along with his Finance Director as several low-income people, including myself gave our personal testimonial to why these legislative bills should be supported.

After our meeting ended, I felt a sense of hope. Then I remembered the grim forecast of Governor Schwarzenegger’s May Revision proposal with its draconian legislation that wants to permanently abolish cost of living adjustments for welfare and freeze them for the disabled and elderly, while paying back bond loans to Wall Street bankers a year in advance. Although it looks like the poor will most likely be targeted another year by this administration, we will continue to protest to get our voices heard on these issues facing all low and no income families.

Vivian and Jasmine Hain have recently co-authored a book, My Life x 4, sharing their experience as a houseless family in America. For more information on this and other POOR Press publications, please call 415-8636306.

by Joseph Bolden

Here,My Core Belief's Boiled to 1 essential mental constuct.

The core of my being have limits to what I'll do to live.

1)Be myself. If it means losing bedmates or a few friends.

2) If I'm beaten up defending a woman unless she says "no." Must keep up martial arts, stay healthy and in shape for life.

3) Never beat women,children,walk-run, leave those potential situation(s).

4)What's told privately stays private unless a lives are at state.

5) My capacity for love,huge marriage may not be for me then its love the ones who like me for me.

My one real addiction is enjoying life as is and improving it over time.

A better bod',brain, other powers, I woudn't mind, why not.

As for women, men both come/go we're both replacible.

As long as I know this no fem can drive me crazy. Great song that cuts both ways.

Boiled down to its essence my basic core belief is...

(1)Be myself-true to my core and adapt, evolve when needed.

by Joseph Bolden

Life’s Pit Falls And Promise,

Recently I emailed a dear friend not seen in months a few words Live Long,Be Happy,Gain Knowledge, Know Wisdom.

Not profound really its just that people aren’t really living for themselves.

I sure wasn't,since my birthday will be here shortly I've pondered a little.

Yes there’s work, small businesses,or multi national corporate structures,family groups, or even the first shy steps of two people [chose sexual orientation folks].

But most of us are not living our lives to their full potential or as the late Raymond Massy said in the 1936 film "Things To Come"From H.G,Wells 1933’s–The Shape Of Things To Come Science Fiction Classic.

Don’t know which character the great actor Raymond Massy played John or Oswald Cabal but one of them spoke of living life to "Its or "The Best Effect."

That they eliminated war because if needlessly maimed and killed people."

That wasn’t living life to Its Best Effect.

We still have people who if they’ve not been in war.

Want war to prove their own mettle using, spending innocent peoples lives, wasting our best resource Human lives!

In places other folks need to work out their own issues without numerous parties horning in.

Thing is I know my own false starts,ducking, avoiding has taken years until recently to finally do what I always wanted but self loathing and fear kept me away from.

Just sent a shout out to a friend because I too will be moving in other directions testing, surprising, myself in ways not thought of before.

I’ve gone through a few psychological changes I cannot even see yet (it isn’t going political) still apolitical however more grabs at life, collecting thoughts,seeing what I went through was minor to what so many folks have lived to survive through.

Let go of certain heart felt,soulful feelings freeing the self of past losses making room for current gains.

Don’t know where all this leads but it’s a better place to feel more lively.

It like living in thick fog which blocked the brightness of opportunity.

Now,a searing brilliance has cut through this fog and I can never let it cover me inside again.

Difficult explaining any of this if it hasn’t been experienced unless its an ongoing peak experience of illuminated insight permanently burned onto my psychic retina!

A great and good friend may not see me after a while because it may become years long a-questing I’ll be going.

I’ll not be the same either.

Its been difficult (so have I) but one lives, learns,discovers,cast aside certain truisms knowing that some astounding revelations arrive too late or early to have been known.

Such is life and the living of it.

Time to live life to Its Best Effect.

by Sam Drew/PNN

“Security officers protect million dollar buildings, yet they can’t afford to live in the city they work in,” Teresita Cruz, the energetic vice president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 24/7, said loudly to the gathering crowd of security officers and janitors. I am one of those security workers protesting, but this time I was also reporting and sup-porting for POOR. We were marching late Thursday afternoon to loudly protest low wages and the rising cost of health care for workers.

I have done security work for 15 years. I’ve protected million dollar properties for multi- millionaire owners and been shorted on my checks time and time again because they have gone with the lowest bidder for security services. I’ve complained with other guards because we get write-ups for calling off for illnesses while security companies slash health benefits. I’ve seen owners spend $20,000 on lobby doors then forget to pay officers. This is why I’m pissed off and protesting with a large group of my fellow officers for justice, respect and fair wages.

The boisterous protest took place smack dab in the middle of the financial district in San Francisco underneath the huge skyscrapers racing each other to touch the late evening clouds. The crowd represented the diversity that the Bay Area is famous for. All colors, hues, shapes, sizes, ages and attitudes were represented in a purple ocean of agitated humanity. The large crowd clad in purple shirts started to hand out pots, pans, drums, whistles and anything else that could be used to make loud noise.

Protesters started marching and chanting: “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” as women in business attire stepped aside. Men hugging their expensive leather briefcases gave quizzical stares as the rambunctious crowd made its way to the first destination, ABM Security. Teresita informed the energized throng, “Health care is what this is about. This is about taking care of our families.” Screams of approval mixed in with whistles and drumbeats greeted her statement.

Suddenly, a short wiry man wearing law enforcement like sunglasses jumped into the middle of the multitude. “Would you mind not doing this in front of my building,” he sternly lectured the crowd. His teeth were clenched tight while veins bulged in his neck as he slowly surveyed the situation. The way he folded his arms around his chest reminded me of an Old West cowboy protecting a homestead from bloodthirsty marauders.

The show of unity and empowerment must have rubbed him the wrong way. But peacekeepers quickly interceded, explaining that their purpose was to deliver a letter to ABM Security and leave, not to steal his cattle.

As the selected delegation descended down into the belly of the massive building, the crowd began chanting and clapping without stop until their representatives returned. “ABM, shame on you,” we repeated, to remind all that security officers are ready to fight for higher wages and access to affordable health care.

The purple brigade began to roll towards its next destination, Allied Barton, which is one of the largest security companies around and has just cut its Kaiser healthcare plan. “Do security officers and janitors in the Bay Area deserve quality health care?” the organizers asked loudly as we approached the building. “Yes!” was the crowd’s unanimous reply. A new delegation of security workers and janitors delivered our demands for fair treatment to the recalcitrant security company.

While waiting for their comrades to return, leaflets were handed out to workers dashing by to catch the BART or MUNI. The leaflet details the plight of William, a security officer who protects prestigious properties and the lives of hundreds, but goes home to his impoverished neighborhood because his wages and benefits aren’t similar to other service workers. He looks like he could fit in with any Fortune 500 company. His suit is immaculate, his tie impeccable. But because of unaffordable health care, if William ever gets sick, it’ll cost him a fortune. Cheers greeted the return of the vice president and the other diplomats.

“We received very nice smiles. They were very company-like.” But the response to the demands wasn’t what the masses wanted. Everybody wanted to hear the companies agree to change for the better. According to SEIU: “Experts estimate the turnover among security officers to be up to 400 percent. That is far higher than even the fast food industry.” This high turnover rate has a negative impact on public safety. Keeping qualified security officers on the job is essential for protection of lives and property.

The final stop for the purple bus is Securitas, the largest company in the world. Organizer Eric Lerner shouts to the assembly, “Securitas is the biggest security company in the whole world and the first to slash health benefits.” The last delegation goes in to confront the security giant with three undaunted representatives.

As I watch security officers and janitors fighting side by side for justice, equality and respect, I’m reminded of the sad saga of Frank Wills, the Watergate building guard who discovered the office break-in that helped kick President Nixon out of the White House. Soon after the furor of Watergate had died down, Wills had trouble finding work and was soon penniless. Wills died a broke and disillusioned man while many of the Watergate crooks got book deals, radio shows, TV appearances and speaking engagements. But the real hero was beat down by an uncaring system and left to suffer alone.

“We’ll be back,” I chanted with the crowd when the passionate purple posse returns. We will keep fighting for better benefits, wages and health care. As the protest dwindles down, I remember a quote I read in an SEIU pamphlet about why unions fight: “Unions are not officers, offices or grievances. Unions are workers that agitate for a better life.” I’m sure Frank Wills would endorse that goal. I know I do.

Sam is a poverty scholar and reporter for POOR. He just graduated with honors from POOR Magazine’s Race, Poverty and Media Justice Institute.

by Angel Garcia/PNN Race, Poverty and Immigrant Scholar

Para espanol mire hacia bajo

As a gang member and a teenager growing up in the Mission, drugs were rampant. I, myself, have had many experiences in the barrio and calles dealing with my own addiction. I have been addicted to drugs and lived on the streets, sleeping under the freeway, cold and hungry. I have been clean for over a year now but many times drugs helped me to survive homelessness and poverty.

Like all businesses functioning in the underground economy there is more risk than money. The money you make is barely enough to survive on.

Yo creci (I grew up) in a rough barrio and saw many cosas going on all the time. When I started selling drugs in my neighborhood I began mixing with junkies, drug dealers, and working people. En mi barrio everything was brown, la gente and las drogas.

When we talk about the criminalization of drogas in our barrios we have to remember prohibition. From 1920 to 1933 the sale and consumption of alcohol in the U.S. was illegal and it was sold on the black market. Many people do not consider alcohol a droga, but alcohol does the same damage as other drugs. It breaks our communidades apart. Alcohol was my first droga, soon after I became addicted to drugs, the ones I would be criminalized for.

In the 1990’s when I was just a teenager, only 14, many of the vatos and the regular gente raza got addicted to coca. I was a patojito (a little kid) with the junkies all around me smoking coca and Cristina (crystal meth). I saw this everyday and then it became my life.

I used to see some vatos in the hood doing crazy things when they were locos (high) like talking to Satan. When I saw someone itching and scratching I knew they were high on some good heroine.

La gente que estaban addictas (for people who are addicted) your purpose is always the same, to find where you are going to get your next high. The question in my mind when I was addicted was how am I going to survive another day and not feel sick with the malias (the cravings). No one wants to wake up feeling sick with the cravings for your drugs.

I started smoking marijuana when I was 14. When I started selling drugs I had never tried any harder drugs. I did not know how it was to be addicted to heroine, cocaine, or crystal. When I was selling I used to have women offer sex in exchange for drogas, it killed me to see the power that the drugs had over these women and how the criminalization of the drugs forced them to use their bodies this way. I used to give many of my women friends on the streets free drugs because I hated seeing them use their bodies in this way. At that time I did not understand the effects of addiction.

Then I got addicted to the drogas and knew the feelings of addiction that the vatos (guys) and jainas (girls) from the barrio went through when they used to ask me for drogas. Then everything changed because I lost my friends and I had to keep on selling drogas para mantener my own addiction. Yo sabia (I knew) that I was matando (killing) my own gente (people) in the barrio of la mission by selling and using drugs and I wanted to stop. So sometimes instead of drogas I would buy them food or even ropa (clothes). But I was still on my own, fighting against the drogas.

I became homeless sleeping at the bottom of the freeway; it was my casa pobre. I was sleeping in a space muy pequeno. It was like a jail cell, solamente (only) 2 feet by 4 feet and filled with the smell of dirty socks. Mi unico amigo was the grey hard slab that covered my head. For a long time the nights were lonely. Fria and dark, se sentia like a refrigerator full of hielo.

Selling and using drogas was just another way to survive the long winters. Drogas helped me keep warm and to ward off hunger. My drug use and addiction was another way to survive the system in the U.S.

After much struggle I got myself into a rehabilitation program in Oakland. I have been clean now for a year and a half. I am currently writing a book about my life in the barrio de la Mission called, “Gangs, Drugs, and Denial.”

Angel Garcia is a student in POOR Magazine’s Race, Poverty and Media Justice Institute and will be releasing his memoir, Gangs, Drugs and Denial in the summer of 2007.

Como un miembro de pandillas y adolecente creciendo en la mission las drogas estaban ala orden del dia yo tube muchas experiencias en el barrio con mi addiccion yo estube durmiendo en los puentes con frio y hambre tengo limpio un ano pero por mucho tiempo las drogas me ayudaron a sobrevivir el no tener casa y la pobresa

Como muchos negocios bajo la economia hay mas riesgo que dinero el dinero que haces solo te ayuda para medio vivir

Yo creci en un barrio dificil muchas cosas pasaban ala vez cuando yo enpese a vender drogas en el barrio me juntaba con los drogadictos y vendedores y personas normales en el barrio todo era cafe la gente y las drogas cuando nosotros hablamos de la criminalizacion de las drogas en nuestra comunidad tenemos que recordar la prohibicion del ano 1920 al 1933 la venta y consumo de alcohol en los estados unidos era ilegal y se vendia en el mercado negro muchas personas no consideran el alcohol una droga pero el alcohol hace el mismo dano que las otras drogas

Quiebra a nuestras comunidades aparte el alcohol fue mi primera droga despues
me hice addicto a las drogas por las cual yo iba ser criminalizado

En los 90's cuando yo era un adolecente de solo 14 anos muchos vatos y Raza regular se addictaron ala coca yo era un patojito con los drogadictos ala par mia fumando coca y cristal yo miraba esto todos los dias se volvio mi vida

Yo miraba los vatos en el barrio haciendo cosas a normales cuando estaban bajo la influencia como que hablaban con el diablo cuando yo miraba alguien rascandose yo sabia que estaban locos en una buena heroina

Para la gente que es addicta el proposito es el mismo encontrar una manera para ponerse locos al siguiente dia

La pregunta en mi cabeza cuando yo era addicto como iba a sobrevivir otro dia y no estar enfermo con las malias a nadie le gusta sentirse malia por mas drogas

Yo enpese fumando marijuana 14 y cuando vendia drogas nunca trate otras
drogas yo no sabia lo que era estar addicto a heroina o coca y cristal cuando yo vendia muchachas me ofrecian sexo por drogas me mataba ver el poder que la droga tenia sobre ellas y como la criminalizacion de drogas las forzaba a vender su cuerpo yo les daba droga gratis porque no me gustaba lo que hacian en ese tiempo yo no sabia lo que era ser addicto

Despues yo era addicto y supe el problema que los vatos y jainas del barrio tenian cuando ellos me pedian drogas despues todo cambio perdi mis amigos tube que vender mas droga para mantener mi addiccion yo sabia que estaba matando en la mission yo queria parar en vez de drogas les compraba comida pero yo todavia estaba peleando con mi addiccion

Yo dormia bajo puentes eran mi casa pobre el espacio era muy pequeno como una celda 2x4 pies el olor a sucio como un calcetin mi unico amigo la pred gris que cubria mi cabeza por mucho tiempo las noches eran muy solas y frias como una refrigeradora con hielo vendiendo y usando drogas solo era
otra manera de sobre vivir los largos inviernos me quitaban el hambre y frio tambien me ayudaban a sobrevivir el systema de este paiz

Despues de tanto sufrir fue a un programa de reavilitacion en oakland tengo limpio un ano estoy escribiendo mi libro sobre mi historia en la mission que se llama pandillas drogas y negacion ano

by Joseph Bolden

Another Birthday

As readers can see I too think of Death's Loopholes

Find 'em expand 'em and the big sleep also gets further away.

If my words offend any readers, my apologies in my bid to be truthful and honest as I can.

It has gotten me in trouble or been called pornographic. (there was a time I had three women editors overseeing my columns)

The frank topics are changing dating patterns of men and women is part of the problem another was monetary gift from Catholic Charities their rule: No discussing anything on birth control.

Well dating sometimes ends with pregnancies, abortion,or ways women are no able to prevent birth.

I wrote of other topics instead.

Yes,I’m a Mid Boomer child,born 1954(9) years after the end of World War II (10) prior the last of the boomer crop were born.

In the middle of the great B migration swept up, cursed ‘n praised for that generation did in their lives while living, discovering,changing,and dying in the world.

Other than that I, like everyone on this globe look for my niche.

Taking care of myself with Omega 3 fish oil, multivitamins,nutrients, trace elements,exercise to improve any chance living longer healthier life.

Life has been thorns, thickets, and bushes. Yes, complained until ya’ find others who survived worse things than I could ever imagine.

No soldiering,police, only temporary security guard C.N.A./H.H.H. [Certified Nurse Assistant – Home Health Aide]. Construction, lots of side jobs along the way.

Some times we try stuff out before knowing what they want.

Its like kissing frogs (guys/girls) a pointed analogy about finding princes among frogs most women do not find them and these days those that do, let them go looking bad boys/men or girls/women.

My straight orientation on that score I thank my mother,two father’s both given name and step father, and father figures on the blocks of New York City, also to girls some mature beyond their years and women who’ve gave mental/ physical ego boosts good and bad.

Recently I’ve gone through a training again for work I’ve avoided for many years however this type of work helps me in endeavors that may finally get me to my niche wanted.

Educationally speaking school was fun except for testosterone fueled competitive drive.

The fights and injuries that only now can be taken care of.

Love, more difficult than sex in that the physical is easy once two bodies in motion they tend to stay in motion (Hold Up! Isn’t that Brownien physics? oh, well most folks know what its means if not read on) bodies with enough energy, stamina for enjoyment of it.

Sex changed me isn’t it suppose to change everyone? (I feel sorry for those who walk the planet not learning anything from their travels,what sort of life is that?)

Humor helped me more than money,cars, or materials.

Its why my clothes comes off,light on/off,doors locked,lotions,food,are near be relaxed taking slow time enjoying these moments with sacred feminine which I had no idea at
the time but its always seemed like that to me.

A friend said I’m intense didn’t know what she meant ‘til recently.

Don’t know how 5 to 30 minutes or less can satisfy a women’s complex body and mind so I take time they’re happy I’m happy,they’re not I’m not.

Times change,looked at pornographic films in movies with and without girlfriends always better with than alone.

[For an unvarnished, unedited version of this column go to Myspace.com].

Yes, my mug is there photo taken maybe as a joke I believe or her part.

Our brains,biggest sexual organ its has been said.

Bad times,good times, dull,or mundane doesn’t matter life,friends,love, travel,

I need ‘em all.

I'll be a work on my B-day later at some party,that's what I like balance.

I’m hopeful my life will go on a little longer continuing to enjoy its fruits.