Story Archives

by Jasmine Hain, Youth Poverty Scholar/PNN

"I am my father's daughter", said Georgia Congressperson Cynthia McKinney to a standing room only crowd on a warm Sunday in August. She was at the theatre below POOR Magazine's offices in the Redstone building to speak as part of a benefit tour organized by POCC Block report radio in support of the Bay View Newspaper. She spoke on a wide range of topics from Hurricane Katrina, the murder of Oscar Grant and her struggles with the Israeli government in support of Palestine to her early life as the daughter of a another Georgia politician who spoke the truth, her father, and how he inspired her to begin her political journey.

There were many parts of her speech that evoked strong feelings of agreement and understanding in me.

When the interviewer Marcel Diallo, from Black New World asked her what or who had inspired her to venture into the world of Public Policy and Social Justice through Politics, she said that her father, ex-Georgia House member, was her driving force. When she mentioned this I couldn't help but make the connection between my mother and I. I have fought along side my mother in the political field around Welfare reform and social justice for welfare families and children. She mentioned that her many attempts to reach out to white farmers communities in Georgia were difficult if not impossible to get through due to racial tension, Cynthia McKinney being of African decent. This reminded me of when my mother and I spoke in legislative meetings in the state capitol where republican legislatures would try to avoid our topic or try to control how many representatives spoke on welfare policy from the non-profit organizations that came to speak. It reminded me of the struggles of trying to get through to another party of people who are on the other side of the spectrum and how at times both my mother and I felt very outnumbered. Later in her speech as I was thinking this, she said, "Politics changing Public Policy changes those statistics," By this point in the speech she had fully captured my attention.

She also spoke on the struggles she had faced in Gaza and the controversy and opposition she has faced with the Israeli Government. Her thoughts on the bombing ordered by George Herbert Walker Bush in Gaza are "For me this was just another example of the U.S. bombing another country where the people look like me," She had addressed the fear of conflict the government possesses pertaining to the Israeli Government and how ultimately this fear is costing peoples' lives. She stated, "Many congressmen live by fear. They are afraid of the pro Israel lobby and wait for the people to counteract them," She was able to speak from the perspective of a person who was formerly incarcerated in Gaza due to the Israeli influence and negative impact in Gaza. Her opinion on the government's neglect to change was it's impossible to turn a blind eye to murder and genocide that we are paying for and the Government is responsible for. She had, in my opinion, addressed a problem that isn't just international, but local. This is one of the main problems with public policy we deal with nationally, as well as internationally. People in office are afraid of change and conflict and sacrifice the well-being of the people in order to preserve this peace among the higher-ups.

This idea also played into the section of her interview that touched on the subject of Hurricane Katrina. She was asked what she thinks the people should do to address the neglect in New Orleans. Her response was to let the people tell their stories and struggles from their own mouths and to expose the hardship for what it really is. She said we can tell the story of what happened and we can recommend policy. This idea comes from the so-called radical idea that the people that are directly affected by public policy should be the ones creating that policy, for who would be a better representative in this case, then the victims of the hurricane. I thought that she had put a very new and revolutionary idea across to people, especially people in the political field.

Cynthia McKinney was asked about her opinion on the Murder of Oscar Grant and what her feelings were on how it was being handled by the youth, who are the primary leaders of the movement against police brutality. She said, "I can't thank the youth enough for bringing to life the murder of Oscar Grant." She spoke about how important it is for youth to rise up and take a stand up and create social change.

The most effective way to change policy is to become an elected official and create policy. When Cynthia McKinney made this comment, I felt it hit very close to home. As a youth activist, I find that it is integral for youth to create positions within the government and within the community that can create change. We need to bring back the roots of our communities as youth and create more grass roots originated policy and change. "We have to find a point of commonality", Cynthia said when the topic of non-native organizations out numbering native-run organizations in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area is addressed. I feel that the youth movement and the efforts to generate more of a community effort can be combined. Cynthia's words on her struggle with creating political change with her father, and her opinions on what is wrong with policy change today and how the youth can change those problems struck me profoundly and I hope that she continues being a revolutionary thinker in the political field.

by Joe B.

To all Editor’s, Publisher’s, Literary Agents, and hard working industry people. I, Joseph Bolden, a POOR Magazine’s columnist appreciate comments on on PM’s-website. If time permits read and respond by email or snail me.
Please Do At.

askjoe@poormagazine.org or snail

P.O. Box #645 1230 Market St.

San Francisco, CA. 94102-4801
I’ve no phone but working on it.

Whatever help you can to a struggling scribbler is priceless.

Thank You for reading past and present works.

On an early Thursday, March, 20, 2002. After a thorough wash, teeth brushing, clothed and half ready for the day.

A free oatmeal breakfast before work.

I heard about a KRON 4 telvisised event based on that homeless special report except the very people talked about were not informed so they can have their input stated too since they live “the problem“ everyday.

Its currious that the big hubbub buzz about Newsome and friends are getting yet its not about them but homeless and working poor.

Three servings later I’m walking towards my worksite.

The food is filling, nutritious, and as its liquidy contents slides through me I pick up the pace to be at work where a bathroom is waiting to empty the excess of oatmeal, raisin, and honey cereal.

Inside my workspace,upstairs so if I sensed the internal movement release an hour later before working on my column.

While sitting on the white oval porcelain bowl feeling waste empty out of me the face of Sup. Gavin Newsome pops into my mind and the Arthurian legend.

I haven’t read much about it except Arthur, hidden son of dead king Uthr as a child pulls the Excaliber Sword from a stone becoming a young boy-king, there’s Merlin, the magician and Arthur’s teacher/friend, Morgan Le Fay, Evil half sister and witch or wizardress, Knights of the round table, a sacret quest for the Holy Grail and more lessons before a last fatefull battle and a promice of King Arthur’s return.

Heady stuff, why it happened while taking a dump is a mystery to me.

I also think of the late John F. Kennedy, scion of a powerful Catholic family giving their blood, resources, before, during and after World War II.

Groomed for a future in politics, Joe Kennedy and his crew died while airborne delivering an unstable explosive compound.

Younger brother John Kennedy by proxy is next in line, His PT Boat Patrol Torpedo Boat 109 when his boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety. Further information can be found on www.pt-309.org
Ok, discount wars, most people statistically don’t go.

I think of Excaliber as Mr. Gavin’s 23 or 30 odd New York's Model homeless plan, Newsome’s Kennedyesque/Arthur role to help the hapless, poor, downtrodden folk. Mayor Former Sup. Amos Brown and W. Brown as Co-wizards in the cast of Merlin as wise teachers of lofty politics.

A new character introduced is Paublo Stuart a paid Psychiatrist as spellbinder Warlock Morgan Le Fay, using his arcane knowlege of human psychology, using hynotic tell-u-vision to lull both live and unseen audiance into believing Arthur and his followers are the hope of working poor and homeless folks using incarceration, spy camera’s, and centralized systems from a differnt city as an ultimate self help plan.

Paul Boden, a Knight of shining truth hopefully with his own paid Psychiatrist or volunteered on what working poor, homeless folk both need and what’s not.
I thought a bit after wiping my butt a few times. “Nah, He dosen’t think he’s has the mantle of Kennedy.

But like Authur he could go amongst the people disguised as a homeless person or working poor, over hear conversations, talk to folks for a week or 3 months and learn what really going on. His plan might change because of realities he see’s first hand not from some house on a mythical hill.
Camelot is no more though many people await its rebirth.

Time for me to work not imagine human alchemy for a changed heart with knowledge newly found. A dream maybe, but who knows...

Reincarnation could be possible, Arthur, the fallen Kennedy’s, and other hero, heroin’s may return in different guises but for now we frail mortals must do the job with souls, saints, and Gods watching from above... Bye.

by Joseph Bolden

What A Time! I may learn late but I do learn.

I have not written much traveled a bit and through my not hearing or really listening managed to wound myself, frighten, hurt, cause distrust of someone dear.

Its been a month in a half since the self infliction.

Still don’t know if bonds can be retied to made stronger so as to never be strained to near breakage ever again.

One makes an error in judgment and pays consequence or instant karma.

That’s one good aspect of instant karma; you need not wait for another life time for retribution I’ve received mine thought a true end of the outcome has yet to be determined.

I can be really dense as a stainless steel/cobalt -diamond metal block sometimes however lessons learned this summer past will stand me in good stead all matter of strictly personal relationships.

Many people will benefit from lessons that should have been learned long ago – better lessons are learned late than never at all is my humble opinion.

With that said another less valuable lesson has taught me not to ever -volunteer monies to any organization, fraternity, or clubs sent by mail.

The National Police & Trooper Association for instance.

Yes, brave men, women, of the highway patrol keep our freeways safe and sadly loss of life does happen and donations to families of fallen officers suffer horribly in these tragic circumstances.

Most officers are fair, decent, law abiding workers protecting us every day.

I decided to send what little money I could between $35 & $45 because I was able to at the time but being one of ‘Po folk living on 6th Street dead in the middle of the Tenderloin District of San Francisco I cannot pony up that little bit of cash each month.

It begins with a phone call by an officer quickly detailing the urgent need of dollars sent.

I did heed the call saying money will be sent.

So when I sent it first to one association or organization it made me feel proud that what little sent helps a family or individual who’ve suffered a devastating, psychological, and heart wrenching loss.

Then, a month later another urgent call and I may send cash if I have it.

But then its California State Firefighters Association.

By this time there isn’t money for then between rent, food, (free and bought), dating, and travel in-around-or out of the city there’s little money left to send but the phone calls keep coming and are insistent on getting what I said I can give but circumstances no allow me able to do.

The letters come, pile up, phone messages also pile up.

I’m glad I don’t have a car because I feel a patrol car would stop me for that purpose which may or may not have happened to a few people.

My solution besides ignoring the pleads is writing this column because being as poor I should not have sent that first money order.

I wonder if wealthier city folks have tax lawyer's, accountants, or by other means have an automatic give-so-much-to policy so they’re not bothered by near harassing phone calls?

However this has taught me that whatever desire I have as a very poor though tax paying citizen only when I’m in a position to really do an annual give-to-policy only then will I then give what I can when I can.

As for other organizations I’d like to join but cannot due to my economic status they are few but when I do finally join I hope to my money’s worth because those orgs, clubs, associations, fraternities, societies, and such will loom ever more prominent as time goes on.

Which? Well, if you’ve read my past columns you’d know or have an inkling.

For now, I can only check the web, read articles, or books on the subjects that have my interests at heart.

Any comments or questions please email poormagazine.org or jsph_bldn@yahoo.com or deeandtiny@gmail
telljoe@poormagazine.org

by Marlon Crump/PNNFriday, October 3, 2008;

From the literature given out by the FCC

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET READY FOR THE DTV TRANSITION:

1. GET YOUR COUPON! GET IT NOW

2. TELL OTHERS! KEEP YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY & NEIGHBORS CONNECTED.

3. SPREAD THE WORD! BE A RESOURCE TO YOUR COMMUNITY......................"

In response and interruption to that ad that was posted on www.civilrights.org/DTV, regarding the upcoming television transition;

POOR Magazine/POOR News Network has this to say:

"DIGITAL RESISTANCE AGAINST DIGITAL DIVIDE!"

Technology has arrived to a new age: The age of DTV. DTV stands for "digital television" and/or the broadcasting of digital television by local TV broadcasters. These signals are sent from local transmitters, over the air, to homes, by modern digital techniques, rather than the use of older "analog" methods, which are deemed as ineffective.

Since the mother and daughter team of the late great "Mama" Dee Gray, and her daughter, "Tiny" Lisa Gray-Garcia formed POOR Magazine/POOR News Network, in 1996; one of POOR's ultra-primary mission(s) is DIGITAL RESISTANCE against local, global, and media oppression who target people prone to poverty, every single day.

On February 17th, 2009, anyone in possession of a T.V set nationwide will be forced to watch all of their television broadcasting shows, by means of a digital converter box, as is the edict by U.S Congress. Without a DTV converter box, people will be unable to watch T.V, at all.

This digital "divide and conquer" quest is literally just around the corner. Every T.V station in the U.S is expected to switch their transmissions from analog T.V signals to digital signals. Wilmington, North Carolina became one of the first cities in the U.S to establish this digital transition, on September 8th, 2008,

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the nation's most foremost regulating authority on broadcast channels, and media toured three major neighborhood districts here in San Francisco, CA on September 11th, 2008: Chinatown, Mission, and Bayview District.

I attended the two of the hearings, starting with the one in the Mission District, since it was literally right up my alley of where I currently reside, on 16th/ Folsom St. As a digital resistor, I had a duty to "digitally resist" this action, by re-porting this news of a tremendous universal change to those who would be the most impacted!

I awoke in the very early morning of 4:45 a.m, and realized it was September 11th. (National Patriots Day) Many people here in the U.S. were going to be mourning the loss, and hold memorial services for the loss of the many casualties and loved ones of the tragic 9/11 Terror Attacks, back in 2001. As my heart went out to all of those families, back then, I got ready to re-port and su-pport in my usual POOR fashion..............right now.

The F.C.C/ DTV presentation in the Mission District, took place at the Mission Neighborhood Centers, at 3:00 p.m. The DTV reps were Jonathan Adelstein, a commissioner of F.C.C, Roger Goldblatt, also from F.C.C, Rachelle Chong, from the California Public Utilities Commission, Marcella Medina, Johnnie Giles of Comcast (cable television company), and San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, of District 11.

Among the near-large capacity of people in attendance, were primarily Latino families, community members of the Mission, numerous media broadcasters, Eloise Lee and Tracy Rosenberg from Media Alliance, and myself from POOR Magazine. The DTV presentation was opened up by Maria Bermudez, Director of Operations for Mission Neighborhood Centers, welcoming everyone for their attendance.

"We are trying to spread the word of this transition to the communities that are going to be the most impacted." explained Rachelle Chong, of the California Public Utlities Commission. "The minorities, the elderly, and the disabled."

Jonathan Adelstein, of F.C.C presented a detailed summary of the offer of "coupons" by the U.S Government to its citizens for a discount of the DTV Box. (Despite the ailing economy's great financial losses, at the hands of the Bush Administration.)

"To help you with this program, the government is offering two coupons." Adelstein addressed. "However, they will expire in 90 days." He also pointed out that, "The converter boxes are costing from $50-$70 each. With these coupons, you can receive these boxes cheap." (The coupons look just like a credit card, even bearing the same shape.)

.

GET THE COUPON!

.

GET THE RIGHT BOX!

KEEP YOUR TV!

The DTV converter is similarly structured to a cable box. Un-coincidentally, Comcast has advertised for the F.C.C to the public, regarding the DTV transition. Adelstein also hopes that the DTV will allow Spanish language.

As he and the other DTV reps continued their presentation, Sofia Avala of Comcast, translated for the non-English speaking Latino community members, throughout the entire presentation.

The greatest concern(s) by communities struggling in poverty, low-income, and disabled folks at POOR Magazine is how this will ultimately affect them, since many of them barely have access to T.V in the first place?

"DIGITAL RESISTANCE AGAINST DIGITAL DIVIDE!"

"My point of view is that they (U.S Government) want to have control," a concerned community member had argued. "The manufacturers are profiting off of the coupons. The coupons are $40 for everyone in the U.S. The boxes are $48, so the $8 are coming out of pocket."

"The commissioners are basically saying "tough" they're just going to come out of pocket. Its not fair, I work with the community, and they're saying that they shouldn't have to give out of pocket." (The actual price for the DTV converter is $70.)

"I understand that that there will be some hardship, but that is just how its going to be." Adelstein stated, in relation to that concern. "Congress set up these rules, a couple of years ago."

"DIGITAL RESISTANCE AGAINST DIGITAL DIVIDE!"

In a website located online at http://www.ceretailers.org/dtv-flyer2006.pdf, the site informs "consumers" that the digital broadcasts on February 17th, 2009 for the consumers, will be free (or advertiser-supported) to people who receive them via antennas are expected to remain free.

"Come on, let's be realistic. There are some people who still use clothes hangers for an antenna." I explained to them, regarding the affordablity of the DTV converter box, regardless of the offer of any coupons.

I even wondered what the boomerang effect would be against Corporate TV and mainstream media.This site also indicated, that it was possible of additional "pay" services might be launched in the future, but these are not expected to replace the free services offered today.

I asked Adelstein an alluded question, regarding DTV and the U.S Government's issue of control to many people here in the U.S: The use of spy devices and wiretapping into U.S American citizen's lives, allegedly for "terrorism purposes."

"My concern, which I'm sure is a concern by some, is that with everything going on nowadays with wiretapping from the U.S since 9/11 into people's phones, do you think that some are wondering what the government's true intention from wanting everyone's T.V to be switched to digital broadcast?"

Adelstein was somewhat evasive of that question, and didn't seem to answer much to the concern, other than an "I understand the concerns by many community members of this transition" speech. I noticed a slight smirk on the right side of his mouth, following my "wire tapping" question.

In the DTV presentation that occurred at the Bayview Opera House, in the Bayview Hunter's Point; I was joined by my fellow POOR comrades, Tony Robles, and POOR co-founder "Tiny" Lisa Gray-Garcia. Upon our arrival, there was a display demonstration taking place in the back, between a portable T.V, and another attached to a DTV converter.

The DTV reps were demonstrating to the Bayview community members just how better the picture quality, and reception would be once this transition comes into effect, on February 17th, 2009. Just like the presentation in the Mission, everyone was urged to register quickly for the DTV Discount Coupons, before the offer expired in 90 days.

Adelstein also mentioned that there was a shortage of these coupons, during the presentation. Malkia A. Cyril, from the Center for Media Justice, in Oakland opened up the presentation. Jonathan Adelstein, and Rachelle Chong were the only two DTV representatives on the panel.

"The government wants everyone to transition its 1950 model into DTV." Rachelle Chong explained to community members of Bayview Hunter's Point. "Wireless companies will have a part in the transition. Beneficial to the transition will be law enforcement and emergency E.M.Ts." ("Beneficial to to law enforcement?")

"DIGITAL RESISTANCE AGAINST DIGITAL DIVIDE!"

Chong infomed everyone the amount of money that Congress would be putting into the DTV program:1.5 Billion Dollars!

Someone raised an important question of "What if people have really old television sets?" Adelstein replied, "You don't have to have a brand new T.V to have a converter box.

The dialogue then took to a heated temperamental turn (for the better) when questions were raised to Adelstein, about F.C.C, and Congress's outreach to the communities (especially those in poverty), nationwide.

Adelstein and Chong suggested to members of the Bayviewcommunity that THEY should be the ones to take up this responsibility. "We hope that everyone who are here on behalf of the community, who have concerns can help."

“This is digital Aparthieid, certain people will get access and thousands won’t,” Tiny aka Lisa Gray-Garcia form POOR Magazine/PNN spoke directly to the small group of commissioners, “there are literally thousands of elders, disabled folks, adults living in Single Room Occupancy Hotels and incarcerated folks who will lose access to a life-line and not be able to go through the hoops of technology, resources and information to get these boxes or afford cable, not to mention thousands of incarcerated folks who aren’t going to get access for years at best.”

Gray-Garcia concluded by turning to the Comcast representatives in the room, “What are you doing here? Why is your literature all over the chairs? Are you going to help the thousands of poor folks cut out of channels of access to get access?”

The mood shifted to a heated 360 degree angle, from both Adelstein and Chong, after Tiny began her near-expletive address to Adelstein, Chong, U.S Congress, and Comcast's"inablity" to outreach more thoroughly into poor communities of color, nationwide.

"DIGITAL RESISTANCE versus The DIGITAL DIVIDE!"

"Outreaching to people with disabilities, seniors, non-English speakers, fixed income households and low-income families is a concern we share with the Federal Communications Commission." said Eloise Lee, of Media Alliance, following the DTV presentation.

Eloise concluded, "But we must also educate communities and each other about what can happen, once the digital transition takes place. A tiered system of communication and access to information is being set up right before our eyes. We must safeguard our airwaves and our right to information from corporations and broadcasters that seek to make a profit out of this transition."

"And that no one may buy or sell except he who has the mark or name of the Beast, or the number of his name" (Rev:13:16-17)

by Gloria Esteva--Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia

Scroll down for English

by Ida McCray and Kiilu Nyasha

Warren William Wells was born in San Francisco's Alice Griffith projects (Double Rock) on Nov. 13, 1947. His first struggle in a predominately Black community was to overcome the stigma attached to his green eyes and light skin. Nicknamed "Dub," Warren got his first taste of prison in 1963 when, at the tender age of 16, he was sentenced as an adult to Soledad State Prison. It was there that he met brothers like George Jackson, Eldridge Cleaver, Alprentice Bunchy Carter, Hugo Yogi Pinell, Fleeta Drumgo, James McClain, and others.

Like so many of our young Black men (and more recently our young sisters), Warren got caught up in the revolving-door prison syndrome. As Soledad Brother George L. Jackson noted, "Black men born in the U.S. and fortunate enough to live past the age of 18 are conditioned to accept the inevitability of prison. For most of us, it simply looms as the next phase in a sequence of humiliations. Being born a slave in a captive society and never experiencing any objective basis for expectation had the effect of preparing me for the progressively traumatic misfortunes that lead so many black men to the prison gate. I was prepared for prison."

While out of prison in 1967, Eldridge brought Warren into the Black Panther Party, whereupon he became the Sergeant at Arms, or Captain Wells. He was also dubbed "The San Francisco Kid." Dedicated and fearless, Warren was a powerful functionary of the Party on both sides of the Bay. In 1968, he was shot and wounded, along with Eldridge, during the fire fight between the Panthers and police that martyred Lil Bobby Hutton, murdered in cold blood by Oakland police.

Warren loved his people, his fellow prisoners. But he hated injustice, racism and this rotten system, and knew exactly where to direct his rage. Needless to say, this level of rebellious consciousness made him a threat and a target.

Back in prison at San Quentin at the age of 22, Warren planted the seeds of struggle, sharing all he had learned from the Party with his fellow prisoners, raising political awareness and organizing prisoner solidarity. One of his best friends was James McClain, who was martyred in the Marin Courthouse Slave Rebellion of Aug. 7, 1970. It was McClain, William Christmas, Jonathan Jackson and Warren who planned that guerrilla move to free the Soledad Brothers -- George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clutchette. Their original plan was to use the hostages taken and make it to a radio station to expose the murderous and brutal prison conditions behind the walls of California prisons at that time.

Kumasi, one of the soldiers who spent time with Warren behind the walls, made the following statement on learning of Warren's death:

"Warren Wells was a complicated and often misunderstood comrade whose history of defiance toward authority and revolutionary activity reaches back to the early '60s. He was a key member of the prison movement, a Captain in the BPP, and was at the center of the storm that raged through the California prison system in the 1970s. There may have been cracks in his personality -- we all have them -- but he will not be counted among the broken men. And I'll miss him."

Warren and Kumasi were leaders in the development of a document known as The Folsom Manifesto, which listed prisoner grievances and demands for major changes in prison conditions, sentencing laws and labor rights as well as an end to the death penalty (which actually happened in 1972, although it was later rescinded). They smuggled it out of Folsom lockup to the general population, resulting in the longest prison strike in California history. On Aug. 24-25, 1970, Warren and Kumasi confronted the San Quentin administration after organizing some 400 Black, Chicano and White prisoners who stood together in solidarity behind the Manifesto.

In 1971, Warren was accused of planning bank robberies and other guerrilla actions from his cell. When his lifetime comrade sister Ida McCray Robinson hijacked a plane to Cuba, it was discovered that she had just visited Warren the day before she was accused of air piracy.

Said Ida, "I learned from Warren how important the Black Panther Party was, how love of people could be translated into a political context, how real men treat women, and how to fearlessly soar like an eagle, i.e., take it to the max.

"After 40 years, Warren knew what was important -- that our responsibility was first to our families, to take care of them and to take care of our people, especially our youth. I loved Warren; I loved his spirit. He never became complacent although he had been locked up most of his life."

On June 29, Warren died in the custody of the California Department of Corrections after "minor" surgery at UCSF Hospital and 17 years, this last bid. He is survived by his only son, Warren Wells Jr., his mother, Marguerite Wells, two sisters, Patricia Ann Well-Caracter and Donetta Wells-Ingram, a host of nieces and nephews and friends and comrades he has known a lifetime.

“The indeterminate sentencing of so many lifers has to be done away with,” says Ida today. “I really feel in my heart that if there was some hope of their release, it would have made a difference in his days. We must work to make the parole board and governor Davis give lifers a date in their forseeable lives when they can come home and be a part of the family, and not a hindrance, ‘cuz they are simply, very old."

by Staff Writer

The Poverty Hero Project was a literary and visual art project created by artists at POOR Magazine in collaboration with Community Defense Inc. The three lead artists; Lisa Gray-Garcia, Leroy Moore and Dee Gray facilitated a series of 10 eight week workshops on the creation of this new form of literary hero. These workshops culminated in a 55 page full color anthology published by POOR Press and a series of 12 radio narratives broadcast on PNN's KPFA radio show - to get a copy of the book or CD of the radio shows please contact POOR Press (415) 863-6306

Dee Gray's Statement

I developed the notion of Poverty Hero to be realized as a series of workshops in which each workshop participant would re-write the stories of poverty into stories of hope through literary and visual art

I incorporated several literary "devices" such as myth, fantasy, metaphor and story which would transform the stories of poor folks from the tragic to the heroic. I began the series by investigating several myths established in indigenous cultures as they would be appropriate for the majority of the communities who we were writing with (i.e. of color and from poverty) We began with a comprehensive study of The Hero With an African Face - a book by Clyde W. Ford on the Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa. We then studied The Myth of the chupacabra – the chupacabra is a campesino myth created out of a tragedy that occurred simultaneously in several communities across the Southern United States, Central and South America Each workshop participant created their own Chupacabra myth transforming their own 1st person experiences - all in preparation for their final creation of the Myth of Grace Wells - Poverty Hero

To make the transition from Fantasy to myth i.e. to apply the myth to a real person we next integrated a real man – i.e. a "bandit" from India who already had a very mythic, bigger than life quality based on his survival and resistance through extreme poverty and colonization.

We made many transformations of this man – man to animal – animal to man – man to man- man to woman and finally, back to his "real" self.

These early stories acted to "free up" the creative process of the workshop participants to enable the participants to transform the Poverty Hero; Grace Wells, an elder, disabled, African Descendent woman (83) who was facing eviction from her home of 14 years.

Through the rewriting of Grace’s story the participants not only honored Grace’s struggle through poverty and displacement but as well facilitated her resistance to that hopeless end through an alternative literary reality. This happened concurrently with the advocacy work that was done for Grace by the other POOR Magazine media organizers and participants who worked in tandem with Lawyers and community organizers to insure that in fact Grace was not displaced.

Dee Gray, writer, conceptual artist and Licensed Therapist, is the previously houseless, currently at-risk, Co-editor and Co- Director of POOR Magazine

by Staff Writer

Racism goes around�

Racism is all around�

then people were really sad and still is really bad.

and because of racism we are struggling, so many issues.

then the government says racism is gone, come to me, tell me, ask me!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!
 

by Marlon Crump/PNN

“It (the proposed legislation) will impact a lot of consumers, family members, husbands, wives. They (home health care workers) take care of them, and a lot of those people have felonies. If they won’t be able to provide a service to that consumer, then they could get sick and die," said Caesar La Tour of the United Healthcare Workers (West) in a POOR Magazine/PNN interview at San Francisco City Hall on December 14, 2009 outside the Board of Supervisors Chambers. For six years La Tour worked as a home health care provider, but he’s cared for the seniors and his family since he was six years old.
 

A “Felony Exclusion Resolution” was the item agenda for this public hearing before San Francisco Supervisors Chris Daly, John Avalos, Bevin Duffy, David Campos and Sean Elsbernd, all whom apparently opposed this legislation.

Among the various San Francisco Bay Area community groups attending this public meeting that also opposed this law were Senior Action Network and Planning for Elders.

Bruce Allison, Carina Lomeli,
“Tiny” Lisa Gray-Garcia, and myself, all representing POOR/PNN, attended this hearing for an emergency re-porting and sup-porting intervention against this criminalizing legislation.
 

"At POOR Magazine/PNN we practice ancestor worship and eldership."

~Excerpt from POOR Magazine's mission statement.

As I conducted research on the proposed legislation I was reminded of this statement because our elders are endangered by Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to prevent any In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker to care for an elder if they have a felony background or a “serious misdemeanor” offense.
 

“This particular legislation will ruin and take away choices from elders,” Bruce Allison, POOR comrade of mine and Elder Scholar, said to me with concern. “We’ve had enough stuff taken away from the ‘gentleman’ (Schwarzenegger) in Sacramento. This is one of his plans to shove us all in nursing homes and concentration camps.”

The legislation requires fingerprinting for anyone interested in becoming a service provider, even if his or her offenses range back to 35 years and they’ve had no further discord with the law. This policy will violate the right of consumers to choose who they want to care for them.
 

“The consumers are very upset because of this law that Arnold is trying to push upon us,” Mrs. McArthur, senior and IHSS worker, explained during an interview. “It should be their choice of who they want to work for them.” I asked her if there have ever been any troubles committed from home health care service providers towards the consumers.
 

“They are happy with the providers, but not with what the system is doing,” she replied. “Some of them (consumers) have a relationship with their health provider. Trust is the most important thing in this job.” Mrs. McArthur is deeply concerned with what the measures for fingerprinting will entail, and where the funding will come from to support this process?
 
 

In San Francisco, there are 22,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities who rely on service care to avoid institutionalization. Statewide, over 44% of IHSS recipients receive care from a family member.
 

The legislation contradicts current state law, which only excludes IHSS workers that have had convictions of child abuse, elder abuse, and fraudulent activities against government health programs. The legislation is also inconsistent with a federal law that excludes people from being service providers only for job-related offenses, and makes it illegal to use preventions of employment based on a prior conviction. Furthermore, the proposed legislation contradicts the City and County of San Francisco’s Civil Service employment policies, which do not permit a ban on employment based on conviction history. Rather, a case-by-case evaluation is required depending on the nature of the offense, the time elapsed and the job that the applicant performs.
 

Bruce Allison and I sat in on the hearing to witness the testimonies of those that opposed the Schwarzenegger policy and praised the Felony Exclusion Resolution.
 

S.F. Public Defender Jeff Adachi addressed his concerns to the Board of Supervisors about the kind of impact the law will have on people, predominately those of color, and stated statistical numbers in reference to those concerns.
 

“It behooves you, Board of Supervisors, to say NO to this legislation from Schwarzenegger,” I said during my public comment address to the board. I followed up with a slice of sarcasm stating, “Keep in mind, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a senior himself…with or without the massive muscles.” 
 

Recently, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch halted the state with a temporary restraining order by excluding people with felony records from working as caregivers in California's IHSS program. This order forbids the state from enforcing the proposed law’s restrictions until January 29, 2010, when Roesch will hold a hearing about a possible injunction.
 

Governor Schwarzenegger and his administration continue to attack services vital to the poor, the elderly and the disabled. He has no compassion for the lives of people who can no longer care for themselves without assistance from others. A person’s past determines how they care for the vulnerable in the future.
 
 

“My mom (‘Mama’ Dee Gray) became disabled when I was 11-years-old, and it was necessary that I cared for her. I was her sole care giver,” co-founder of POOR “Tiny” Lisa Gray-Garcia said to me during an interview.
 

Tiny stated that she does have a record for “Crimes of Poverty.” Described in more detail throughout her book, Criminal of Poverty, Tiny underwent a life filled with citation issuances every time she and her mom had to park their car just to get a good night’s sleep in.
 

Regardless of Tiny’s heroic ability to care for her mother at a very young age while managing their survival with no financial security, her record is forever stained with “Crimes of Poverty.” What would it have meant for people in poverty who provided for seniors, sick and disabled if this newly proposed law would have arrived in the past?
 

“This legislation would’ve made sure that we had no source of support,” Tiny said. “When we ended up in homelessness and poverty while my son was born, she (‘Mama’ Dee) became ill. The only money that we had was an in-home support services payment. It allowed us to eat.”
 

“The verdict acquits the raven, but condemns the dove.”

~Juvenal, Roman Poet.