Story Archives

by Leroy Moore/PNN & Krip Hop

I like when things come together! I can�t ask for anything better. November 1st 2009 wrapped family, disabled musicians, traveling and my forty-second birthday all into one big present to myself.

After two years of researching about paraplegic street musicians, Staff Benda Bilili (Staff for short), who live around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo; I found out that they released their album and was invited to perform at the annual WOMEX Festival, World Music Expo, who have moved their world music festival to Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen, Denmark is also home to my sister, Pamela Juhl and her lovely two children. I had no excuse not to go and visit with my sister, nephews and at the same time meet and interview the members of Staff Benda Bilili with Copenhagen Voice that my sister started. Yes, both my sister and I are journalists for the people!

WOMEX, an international event that brings together professionals from the worlds of folk, roots, ethnic and traditional music and also includes concerts, conferences and documentary films. It contributes to networking as an effective means of promoting music and culture of all kinds across frontiers. This year WOMEX announced their 2009 awardees, which was Staff Benda Bilili.

After more than eight years, I finally had a chance to see my sister Pamela Juhl. As Pamela�s brother, I was so happy to create media content with her at the WOMEX Festival right in her office located in the center of Copenhagen the day before my fortieth-second birthday November 1st 2009.

CPHVoice agreed to have me on their media crew at the WOMEX Festival covering one of the most incredible bands I ever researched and wrote about - Staff Benda Bilili of the Congo. I had a chance to connect last year with the filmmaker, Florent de La Tullaye, who is shooting a documentary of the band who translated my first online interview with the group when Florent traveled to the Congo to continue shooting the film that will be out early 2010. Florent emailed me the band's replies, pictures and sent a copy of their CD almost a year ago which I am so grateful for. There are many reasons why Staff Benda Bilili caught my attention; one of them was, seeing an all disabled band really singing about real issues of their lives - like poverty, homelessness, disability and street kids � it just blew me away as a Black disabled activist, journalist, poet and lover of music.

So, now the day after meeting and interviewing the members of Staff Benda Bilili, November 2nd (My birthday) I�m still thrilled about the opportunity I had and writing what I have experienced and the interview below. Read on.

I almost didn�t make the WOMEX Festival! I was in Augsburg, Germany doing some Krip-Hop/Mcees With Disabilities, MWD business with Binki Woi when I found out that my credit card was denied after trying to buy an airplane ticket to Copenhagen, Denmark
but my sister, Pamela came to my rescue and bought me a ticket for November 1st to see Staff Benda Bilili's last CPH performance. Although I missed the award ceremony earlier that day where they received the 2009 WOMEX Artist Award. However, I was shocked when I asked my sister what did the group talk about during the award ceremony. Come to found out, the members of Staff Benda Bilili didn�t say anything after winning the award � each member kisses the Award and passed it to the next. The manager of Staff Benda Bilili, Michel Winter of Belgium, spoke to the Womex audience at Bella Center.

The night of November 1st was freezing; walking the dark cold streets of Copenhagen with the crew of CPHVoice and a friend of my sister, Line Mompremier, who is a Haitian-American living in Denmark and thank God she knew French and was down to be our translator on a last minute basis. We were heading over to Global club, where Staff Benda Bilili was about to perform and where the interview was going to take place backstage prior to their concert.

After reading other interviews online by different reporters, I noticed that there was very little written about the political views and the strong activism of the members of Staff, so I chose that to be my interviewer angle. The CPHVoice, Line and I stepped into a dark hall where two middle age people greeted us with some questions. They knew we were there for the interview thanks to CPHVoice prep for it. We were led to the stage that had a portable unstable ramp that pointed us to the backstage. Walking in, I first noticed that the group members of Staff were in regular wheelchairs not in their customize handmade tricycles that they travel the streets of Kinshasa in. You must go online and check out their handmade tricycles! Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZUk7qy_sbA&feature=channel�

The members of Staff Benda Bilili are Ricky Likabu, the bandleader, Coco Ngambali, who sings, plays the guitar and composed many of the band�s songs, Theo Nsituvuidi, the soprano singer, Roger Landu, a 17-year-old young man who was adapted by Ricky many years ago. Roger created his own instrument that is called Satonge: a one-string guitar and sings, Djunana Tanga-Suele is a singer, Zadis Mbulu Nzungu is a singer, Kabamba Kabose Kasungo also sings, Paulin �Cavalier� Kiara-Maigi plays the bass, Cubain Kabeya plays the drums and sings and finally Randy Buda plays percussion. Read more about Roger�s instrument at: http://www.myspace.com/staffbendabilili.

During the interview Ricky and Michel, the manager, answered almost all the questions. Staff Benda Bilili made a song in 2007 which successfully increased voter turnout by 70% in the Congo. This was a collaboration work with UNDP (distributors) and produced by UN Mission (Monuc) in DR Congo 2007. Although, the song was a hit before their album came out with a showering of international fame, they were denied their legal copyright �inalienable rights� for their song and no contracts were offered to secure their rights. They pretty much got stiffed in royalty earnings and a meager one time payment of 50 dollars each per band member. (See BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6612749.stm) Even though they had a lawyer during the time, it was unclear how this issue panned out. Today, the band replied, that with so much time elapsed, since the initial legal dispute with the UN, they had decided to let go of pursuing the case and wanted to simply move forward with more positive music partnerships.

Before this interview, what really made me love Staff was more than their music, it was their political views about life in the Congo as people living in poverty and being disabled. So, when I asked them about their political views and a quote about considering themselves as the real journalist of Kinshasa I was shocked when their manager spoke up, saying, �there was a misunderstanding and some journalist made the quote that Staff Benda Bilili were the real journalists but the group never said that.� - However, this is the quote from my online interview with them in 2008: �Staff Benda Bilili: Coco: We the SBB are like journalist; in our songs we are the true press. We talk about street life, the street kids and their dreams of happiness, we talk about corruption. The press here is a slave to the power. I consider myself as a journalist, my duty as a member of the SBB, is to say things as they are.�

I thought that was strange because if you read the insert of Staff�s CD, it says it right there. I also realized that members Staff were very tired and were dealing with a whole new way of tour living in Europe. The cold weather of Denmark, their new wheelchairs, clothes, getting used to the food, traveling and being managed must be a total new way of life for them now, and I bet they want to make sure that they can live off their music could be why that they may be cautious on what gets out and what should stay in the past. I wonder if I met them on their turf of the Kinshasa�s Zoo in the Congo, would Staff tell me some political stories that my questions were fishing for?

Getting into Staff�s songs and their lyrics that tell the life of poor people in the Congo one of the eleven songs on the CD is the song, Tonkara, track number 8, is a song talking about street kids who sleep on cardboard outside. Ricky said, they live & sing on the streets. The first track of Staff�s CD is entitled Moto Moindo that translate to Black Man. It�s a song warning Black men what is happening in Africa and how their food, the Earth, and nature is being corrupt so they, Black Men, should stand up, come together and take action. On that same theme, Staff used to have a center where they taught street kids how to build instruments, wheelchairs and play music. However, the center was completely destroyed in 2005 by a fire. Currently, local business people in the Congo, some private organizations and others from the US are in the process of building the center back up again.

Staff Benda Bilili is still looking for a US sponsor to facilitate their tour in the USA. Their music manager told me it is hard to get a US sponsor compared to Europe where they have been touring since last month (October). In the US, people with disabilities have held disabilities as a civil rights issue but in recent years, it has now become a cultural lens of insight; where we have our own history, art, music and ifestyle. Disabilities are not something you overcome, it is a part of the person. But I�m surprised when I travel abroad and even sometimes in the US of peoples perspectives of persons with disabilities. I hear a similar reply also heard by Ricky of Staff Benda Bilili, when I asked him to give some advice to Poor and disabled people around the world. The advice Ricky gave was, �disability is all in the head and you, people with disabilities, have to be independent.� I scratched my head and thought at that point, �was that advice too simple, too pull yourself up from your boot stripes kind of advice?� Ummmm!

The members of Staff Benda Bilili are hoping that after the tour and the release of their film documentary that they can afford to buy their own house. Noticing that Staff Benda Bilili is an all men group, of course, my last question was have they sung with disabled women? Coco, once again, answered �Yes, they do.�

After the interview was the concert. To see Black talented disabled musicians singing about their lives with my sister the day before my birthday was a dream come true. It truly doesn�t get any better than this!

Thanks for the friendship of Florent da Tullays who helped me connect with Staff Benda Bilili almost a year ago and last but not least thanks to the members of Staff Benda Bilili for being you, your political lyrics and reppin' people who live in poverty and who are disabled!

Here is a link to my first interview with Staff Benda Bilili http://www.poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&category=2&story=2003

Question for the reader. What happens to people who goes from living on the streets, poor but speaking their minds about their situation to people who are managed by others who have the means to bring wealth and fame? What happens when people from outside your world can take you out of your struggle but at the same time you hold back your politics aka voice so you can make a living? These are the questions I have after reading both interviews of Staff Benda Bilili and meeting them live.

by Leroy Moore, Darla Lennox, Maria Palacios, Zilwood, Tiny

Silent Night

like every night

lonesome halls

empty walls

no one to talk to

that would really care

to know the sadness

that breathes in the air.

There's no heavenly peace.

There

is no

heavenly peace.

Silent Night

Lonesome Night

Nursing Homes

are not homes

Let us remember

the ones we forget

Let us remember the ones who were left.

There's no heavenly peace.

There is

no

heavenly

peace.

(Maria R. Palacios -Christmas 2009)

by Staff Writer

Carmi Johnson's second book with POOR Press is written from the point of view of abandoned children addressing their mothers.

INTRODUCTION by Carmi Johnson

You Have To Learn To Follow…Before You Can Lead

Mothers come under the most criticism for abandoning their Children. Others complain that having children does not come with a "Set of Instructions". Fears caused by a parent leaving or abandoning the Child(ren) with one parent, can have a mental or physical effect on a child(ren) advancing in daily life. The primary concern for the Child(ren) are at risk. The importance of having a Mother in their lives is as vital as water is to our bodies. As mothers, we should focus more on preparing our child for College, Graduating from High School, Finance (Saving money in particular), Love, Relationships, and Survival itself. Why some Mothers leave their Child(ren) in Cars, with Strangers, Neighbors, in Malls, Hospitals, on Door Steps, in Dumpsters, in Garbage Bags, under the Direction of Child Protective Services (CPS), Orphanages, or with Relatives is yet to be determined. There is a "Series of Steps" a Mother can achieve in order to have "Custody" of their child(ren) if Drugs are a factor in the Mother’s life. By many accounts, the Child(ren) have been deliberately overlooked. If writing this book is helpful in anyway to a Child(ren) or Young Adult in communicating with their parent, I am grateful. Whatever what we are experiencing in life as adults, nothing prepares us for having children. Hear what is being said.

by Staff Writer

As a result of Peltier's recent parole denial, Ben Carnes, Choctaw Nation, and a Sun Dance Chief, states he will go to Washington, D.C. to stand and fast in front of the White House between September 5th - 12th, in hopes of securing a meeting with President Obama.

Earlier this year, the LP-DOC sent a letter to President Obama to discuss the case of Leonard Peltier, but the reply from the White House declined to invite members of the committee for a meeting.

Leonard Peltier has been an international symbol of American injustice based upon critical questions surrounding his conviction in 1977 in the deaths of two FBI agents. Amnesty International has designated Peltier as a political prisoner and a U.S. prosecutor has admitted in court during an appeal hearing that he did not know who killed the agents and cannot prove who did. A federal judge who heard this statement was unable to afford any relief wrote a letter to Sen. Inouye to ask the president to grant clemency.

Carnes is a recipient of the 1987 Oklahoma Human Rights Award for his stand against forced hair cutting of Native prisoners. He has been asked to speak before congressional committees and has served with numerous human rights, interfaith and Native organizations. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of Peltier for over 28 years, and first became a national spokesperson in 1991. He is also national support group coordinator and advisory board member for the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee.

"The basis of Peltier's denial by the parole commission is one of hypocrisy. It is also beyond belief that the chair of the US Parole Commission, Issac Fullwood, who is lectures on ethics in law enforcement, would turn a blind eye to the FBI's abuse of the investigative process. And Ms. Patricia Cushwa, commission member, and Chair of the Maryland parole commission recently supported a pardon for a man who had been executed, because there were questions about the case." said Carnes. He said that there are questions about Peltier case that remains unanswered, and with this denial, the parole commission have made Peltiers life sentence a sentence of death as he won't be eligible for parole for 15 years when he is 79 years old. Peltier will observe his next birthday on September 12 when he will turn 65. He has already served 33 years in prison.

Supporters are calling for a world wide 24 vigils on September 11th - 12th to begin at 8:45 AM.

by Isabel Estrada/PoorNewsNetwork Youth in the MEdia intern

They didn't even Pretend to have Court then.

The Lynch Mob, Poured out Justice in the Dead of the Night, leaving me,

Hanging from a Limb on a Tree. Swinging gently in the Midnight breezes…

I now get 25 years to Life?

On a Bunk in a 4 Man Cell!

From the Chain Gang to the Rape Gang!

Your Honor! Give me a Rope and I’ll Hang Myself

"I’ve been Working in the Chaingang. All the Live Long Day…"

"I’ve been Working on the Chaingang. Just to Pass the Time Away"

Mommy don’t you cry.

Mommy don’t you cry.

Mommy don’t you cry No More!

-excerpt from The Unjust JUDICIAL SYSTEM,
by A Faye Hicks/Po’ Poets Project

"Hey Lady, I told you to get moving, you can't stop there," the policeman's hostile voice paralyzed me momentarily. My mom had stopped on Mission St. so that I could get out to buy some Valentines Day cards for my third grade class when a police officer began shouting at us to move the car. She ignored him for a moment so that I could get out, but because I was scared of the man in uniform who was screaming at us I refused to move. After being stopped for about a minute with my mom encouraging me to run out quickly and buy the cards, she gave up and we went to go look for a parking space together. That was when we heard a siren behind us. My mom kept driving so that she could get off of Mission and pull over on Bartlett but the cops thought we were trying to get away. When we did pull over the officer rushed up aggressively to the car for no reason. When he tried to immediately give my mom a ticket, even though she had been stopped for less than a minute, they started screaming at each other.

The screaming escalated until the officer pulled my mom out of the car, grabbed her by the arms, pushed her up against the car violently and clamped on the handcuffs. She was then forced into the cop car. My mom was being arrested for refusing to sign the ticket for double parking on a busy street. I had been crying for a while by now. My mom had tried asking if any of the people passing by would be her witness, but they just ignored her, trying to get away from the cops as soon as possible. Two of the officers were trying in broken Spanish to persuade an elderly Mexican woman to be their witness. I was standing on the corner thinking that they were going to leave me there and take my mother until another officer told me to get into the car. I was just glad to be with my mom. When we arrived at the station I remember the officer asking my mother for our address and then turning to me and asking if what she had said was correct. I responded in a whispered voice, "My mommy doesn't lie." The officer snapped back that he wasn't implying that she had. My mom ended up staying in jail overnight and I was picked up by my after school teacher to spend the night at her house. Ever since that time I have had an unreasonable fear of the police.

"The two men were in a run of the mill fistfight," said James Thull, a witness to a crime, a crime between a police officer and a citizen that ended in a murder of the citizen. Last Wednesday, I attended a press conference at 850 Bryant St to hear of what seems like a fist fight that one cop took too personally witnessed by James Thull. Throughout the conference, it’s obvious that James is uncomfortable having a microphone up to his mouth. He is tall and lanky, his arms reach deep down into his pockets while his shoulders hunch forward. I notice with some amusement how he’s wearing a kind of scruffy sweater and skater shoes. Behind Thull there are two signs that read, "SFPD Not Above The Law" and "SFPD Does Not Equal Get Out Of Jail Free Card." I’m amazed that the soft-spoken Thull is willing to challenge the entire Police Department. He sees it as "some sort of justice situation."

On Saturday February 2nd at around 3:40 pm, Thull was on his way to work when he saw that across the street (about two small car lanes away) there were two men in a fist fight. One was a larger African-American man who he would later find out was Jerome Hooper and the other was a smaller Asian man named Steve Lee. He said in his statement to the Office of Citizen’s Complaint, "it didn’t seem as if one man was attacked by another but as if the two had chosen to engage in a fist fight." Apparently Lee was knocked down twice and then kicked in the chest before Hooper "stepped back away from the Asian man about two full steps." It was then that Lee, while on the ground, pulled out a gun and shot four times in rapid succession into Jerome Hooper’s chest. Thull later found out from his coworkers that the Asian man, Steve Lee, was an off duty police officer. But Thull stated that, "He was not in uniform and as far as I heard and saw, he ever identified himself as a police officer or appeared to be acting as a police officer."

On the outside of the Hall there is an engravement in gold lettering "To the faithful and impartial enforcement of the laws with equal justice to all…" And yet, according to Samantha Liapes, director of Bay Area PoliceWatch, "Officer involved shootings are almost never criminally prosecuted and the officers involved rarely even face disciplinary action." In this case it’s been a month and no action has been taken. "Losing a fist fight is not an excuse for killing someone – not for a civilian, not for an officer…It will be a travesty if Mr. Lee is exonerated based solely on the uniform he wasn’t even wearing when he killed Jerome Hooper," stated Liapes.

After the press conference in front of the Hall of Justice, my editor Tiny told Thull that he was a hero. His response was to look away, completely embarassed. But cases of police brutality and abuse of authority occur constantly and the main reason that they go unnoticed is because there aren’t enough people like Thull who are willing to contradict the Police Department and its skewed "half-truths." In the case of my mother, the officer was reprimanded after she took him to court but it was not because of any witness but because we had a good lawyer. But regardless of that reprimand I still had to experience the incredible fear and vulnerability of seeing some man pushing my mother around violently, cursing at her, and then I had to see her in a jail cell, all simply because she had lost her temper with him and hadn’t been willing to sign a ridiculous ticket.

by Barbara Huntley-Smith

Writing the words and preparing Graphics for the Posters we would take to the protest planned for the National Association of Broadcasters to be held at the Mascone Exhibition Center, was a once in a life-time learning experience for me. Having some perception of the importance for the industry of Micro Media to remain a vital thriving source for disseminating the concerns of the voiceless; I would on September 21, 2000, experienced first-hand the reality of Poor’s “Mission Statement.” “Low income people never get heard in the mainstream media.”

With signs in hand, The Poor News Media Contingent left the office hyped for our morning of protest. We boarded the Mission Street Bus and we were off. Our Instructor and Mentor Lisa, had briefed us on the morning’s activities prior to this day, but took us through an impromptu rehearsal. As the bus raced us to our destination, anticipation rose within me. Here I was going to be part of a National event. The implications are staggering in that, until two months ago I was Anonymous. Arriving at our destination before exiting the bus, the performers from Los Cybrids, Members for the Billionaires for Bush and Gore, the people with whom we would join forces were crossing the street. Together we began the theme of the morning’s action, as the Performers took Anna’s slogan for their theme: “National Association of Brainwashing.”

The skits were effective, and all of Poor’s News crew were given access to vent their venom against the NAB. The Presence of Micro Media was outstanding. I was interviewed by two Micro Media organizations, and one of the NAB’s affiliate, the Chronicle.

At the end of the protest our Dynamic Co-Director of Poor would push the envelop. Marshaling her news crew she invaded the eminent domain of the exhibition auditorium of the NAB, our assignment, “get registered.“

As the crew marched behind our Fearless Leader we were given instructions where to obtain the registration identification. After several attempts we were there. As we waited in line, it was brought to my attention that the Poor group was being monitored. Important-looking employees were huddled together trying to determine how to eliminate us from receiving a Pass. As that scene was in progress, Anna was given an assignment to take photographs of any important scenes. One of San Francisco’s Finest would be her Subject. This imposing looking African-American Policeman got irate at having his picture taken. He then began to throw the weight of his office, while trying to intimidate Anna by calling for his supervisor. At that curtail moment, in stepped Civil Rights Attorney and Advocate Martha Bridegam to the rescue. She effectively countered the Police officer’s argument and in the end had him apologizing, and inferring that it was all a misunderstanding. While this drama was unfolding, our Dynamic Leader was embroiled in a process I will call:

“put up or shut up!”

She was forced to prove the validity of Poor Newsnetwork on Line for the NAB Brasses. It was the best piece of irony for one of our news crew, our beloved “Joe.” Very particular person about anonymity, it was his face that was printed off the Internet....Gotcha!...Gotcha! Amid all this action, it was obvious there was a stall for time. Minutes later we would learn the purpose of the stall was to enable the Keynote speaker Colin Powell to deliver his address without interruption. The perception was, since we were demonstrating, we had ulterior motives, which they have decided would be malicious. When it was announced that Mr. Powell’s speech was concluded, the secretary worked tirelessly to get us out of their sight.
One obvious observation I made inside the auditorium was, the absence of “people of color” as viable representative. What was obvious was the presence of African-Americans, manning the service posts. I wonder, could that obvious display be due to the fact that the keynote speaker was a man of color?

I walked away from the Moscone Convention Center with a new admiration for the news media with whom I am affiliated. I am more convinced than before of the need for Community News media, and the importance of it remaining a vibrant, thriving part of the lives of the voiceless.

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."