Roll Tide!

The police closed a whole street in Miami when Alabama's football team left the Intercontinental Hotel last week. I just so happened to be walking down the street and snapped this picture.

Bus convoy of Tide rolling in Miami.

Pic of the Day: New Hope AME Church baptizes four children on Sunday morning

This was the scene of family and friends enveloping four children who were baptized in New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church in Buckhead, Ga. (Atlanta). The church will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2019.

Microsoft partners with tech firms and user groups for holiday gathering

Microsoft Community Holiday Party and Job Fair was held tonight at The Avalon Complex in Alpharetta, Ga. and was a technology networking event.

Attendees were asked to bring unwrapped toys to be given to Toys for Tots.

Partners were VMware, Ultimate Software, intellinet (digital transformation), QGenda, TEKsystems, and @DELTATANGOMIKE.

Director James Bara represented Ultimate Software, a human capital management company.

Chris Woodbury (r) is pursuing opportunities as a dot net developer and was seated next to Mike Smith from InComm. Many attendees use LinkedIn profiles to keep in touch.

Artist Dan Flores of @DELTATANGOMIKE who designed the event badges, drew Santa Claus on a Surface TV. 

Flores said one of his goals is to help artists monetize their talents. 

Several user groups were present, including Atlanta.net User Group, Atlanta Intelligent Devices User Group, and Georgia Developers Association.

John Garland with Wintellect, a consulting and training company, won a firetv. Several prizes were raffled away.

  

Brad Allen, a technical architect, is a University of Georgia Class of '98 alumni with a degree in Microbiology. He works creating animals and objects with 3D printers which cost between $1,000 and $3,000 and gave participants a demonstration.

 

Happy Holidays!

News Flash: Mansell Rd in Roswell, Ga. blocked by accident

Fireman says no injuries at this two car accident. Drive extra safe during the holidays.

Target hit with protest against closing South Side, Chicago stores

Congressman Bobby L. Rush (c) supporting community members efforts to keep 
Target locations open in South Side, Chicago

The following information was forwarded from the Betty Shabazz International Charter School in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Target recently announced that the company would be closing two of its stores in South Side, Chicago. One of the store locations is in the Greater Chatham community. This is also the community that our Betty Shabazz Academy (BSA) campus serves.

It is no secret that many neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago are known as “food deserts,” or places with little to no access to larger grocery stores and fresh produce. The Target in Chatham provided a grocery section that addressed the food desert issue for the community, so when Target announced that this location would no longer be serving the residents of the Greater Chatham area, BSA staff and parents decided to attend community meetings organized by Congressman Bobby Rush to get an understanding of the issues and have an opportunity to voice their concerns. 

A letter was drafted by Congressman Rush to the CEO of Target addressing the community concerns and petitioning the company to rethink their decision. As a result, the CEO agreed to meet with community members and listen to why closing the store would be detrimental to the community. We are so proud of the BSA Parent Council and others in the community who are leading by example by being civically engaged within the community.

NOTE: According to Wikipedia, "The South Side is an area of the city of Chicago. It is the largest of the three Sides of the city that radiate from downtown."

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Today's featured photo from 
Bangkok, Thailand...
inside Wat Pho Temple
Reclining or Sleeping Buddha

©2018 - photo credit Ayron D. Johnson

Pic of the day: Josef Martinez

Atlanta United Star Player Josef Martinez with Kurk Johnson, Ayron Johnson, and Ilea Johnson.
CONGRATULATIONS team!

Photo credit: ©2018 Wilibaldo Gil, Neto. June 2018.

War: the truth about what Afghanistan is costing US

After revisiting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech against the War in Vietnam, "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam",  I decided to fast forward to the present situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, wondering how these wars would be viewed by MLK. The information I gleaned from my initial research makes me want to spend time as an anti-war advocate!

I decided to start with the War in Afghanistan, on the economic and human toll this war is having on the US, and more specifically on people of color. In my opinion, this is not a "holy" war that should be continually waged, and it appears that the present situation was exacerbated, unfortunately, by my much beloved 1st Black President, Barack Hussein Obama, and Congress which approves military expenditures in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is an ancient land that we have been warring against for decades, not just since September 11, 2001. It is far from being a popular tourist destination we may never visit and is populated by people we may never personally interact with unless we are in the military or a government contractor. I personally have never met a person from Afghanistan, except for two recovering Afghan soldiers who had amputated legs that I met in a Huntsville, Ala. hospital in the early 1990s.

Afghanistan lies in a strategic geographic location and is the home of poppies, a plant that opium comes from. According to Wikipedia, Afghanistan is "the world's leading illicit opium producer since 1992...and harvest produces more than 90% of illicit heroin globally, and more than 95% of the European supply. More land is used for opium in Afghanistan than is used for coca cultivation in Latin America." 

It would appear that countries who are involved in the Afghanistan War may be profiting from the WAR ON DRUGS,  may be the world's biggest DRUG DEALERS, or the biggest combatants of the opium drug trade. Go figure! We also must consider how drug companies are involved in the War.

What is the true cost of the Afghanistan War, and what constructive benefit are average Americans receiving from these engagements? How are these wars affecting people of color in the United States?

According to a BBC war timeline (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253), US-backed mujahideen groups were fighting in Afghanistan since 1978. The Soviet Union gave up and pulled its troops ten years later. Ten years after that, the US launched missile strikes at suspected bases in retaliation for bombing US embassies in Africa. 

Now it's 2018, and between $714B and $841B US dollars have been spent fighting there (https://taskandpurpose.com/war-afghanistan-us-spending-cost/ and https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/21/news/economy/war-costs-afghanistan/index.html).

According to Brown University's Neta Crawford, co- director for the Cost of Wars Project, the War in Afghanistan has "incomprehensible" costs in trillions of dollars allowing for "future cost obligations." This does not include money to finance the war or help veterans as result of injuries, death, and psychological disabilities of survivors and their families.

I emailed Dr. Crawford, asking her to respond to the following: 

1. As it relates to the Afghanistan War, what constructive benefit are average Americans receiving from this military engagement?
2. How is this War affecting people of color in the United States? Do any people of color have contracts related to the war? How could we be better using monies spent on war to help underprivileged communities in the US?
3. Should African Americans be focusing on Afghan War, why or why not?

Here is her response:

"My sense is that resources could be well spent at home, and I think all people should be concerned about the way war robs us of resources and sometimes disproportionately affects people of color. One way war hurts is the loss of jobs that could be created if the money had been spent other ways."

To learn more, go to:

https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2016/Costs%20of%20War%20through%202016%20FINAL%20final%20v2.pdf

Opinion: Why are white people running some organizations for people of color?

Who is really behind the Black Agenda? (Photo of professors marching at commencement ceremonies in 1960's - from A&M College yearbook)

In a conversation with another person of color yesterday, she asked that I contemplate doing an article about white people "running" organizations that are intended to benefit people of color. Most of the following ideas came from her, but I totally agree.

We both agreed that it may be an attempt to dilute or hijack the agenda to advance the black community. 

A lot of people are well meaning, but even Malcolm X said whites were not welcome to enter into the Black Muslim organization. I guess his opinion changed a little bit when he went to Mecca, however, we need to make sure "our" organizations are not suspiciously run by well-meaning conservatives who do not believe in affirmative action and are focused on matters not dealing with major life problems facing the disadvantaged. 

Malcolm stated that whites in Mecca were “so different from American whites.”

Many  organizations, like the NAACP and other quickly organized advocacy groups, have half black/half white members at "invitation only" meetings. Some are led and funded by whites. The black leaders who are possibly "window dressing" are often elderly. 

We need to move together, but often white conservatives under the banner of progressive intention halt recommendations to get behind protests or speak out, blaming it on national committees or organization protocol. Lukewarm topics are focused on, and no constructive change happens. Messages are controlled and are not transparent. 

We should be suspicious of leadership and agendas made by others.
That's how good movements are sabotaged.

We should ask ourselves, "Who Speaks for the Negro??? "
https://whospeaks.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Through it all, we are reminded how we must be strong and how we must remain vigilant.

Cobb County School Board neophytes meet with constituents re: bullying, racism, expectations, and equity

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (Artwork in meeting room at the Center)

Updated - NOTE: At Tre' Hutchins’ request, the information I received from him re: meeting feedback has been deleted because he said it was against his organization's protocol. 

A meeting of the Cobb Schools Advocacy Group was held December 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Family Life Restoration Center, 6105 Mableton Pkwy SW, Mableton, Ga. The group met with two newly elected school board members who have not been sworn in yet: Dr. Jaha Howard, a dentist; and Charisse Davis, assistant branch manager at Atlanta-Fulton Public Library in Atlanta, a former kindergarten teacher and only female on the new board. 

Dr. Howard gave notice that he had to leave early, so he was unable to attend the full meeting. His main question to the group was about board expectations. "Let's act like we are one team," Howard told listeners. He said his main reason for running for the school board was to find solutions to problems.

Gary Pelphrey, a lawyer for the Cobb SCLC, said Cobb County School District has a "code of silence" like the Mafia which needs to be broken.

The following items were on the agenda:

1)District lack of adequate response to parents’ and students’ and community members’ legitimate concerns regarding “bullying” and threats by both students and teachers/administrators, often race based;

2) District lack of response to general concerns related to diversity and improving relations between the diverse components of CCSD;

3) District’s use of bullying tactics to stifle such concerns and any related dissent;

4) District out of touch with and not reflective of the new demographics of Cobb.

The meeting was arranged by Pellegrino.

Richard "Rich" Pellegrino said the school board is out of touch, 

non-communicative, and non-responsive to community concerns. 

He said students have had to tolerate the following with no resolutions or follow-ups:

1. Students who are immigrants were told they were going to be thrown over "the Wall".

2. Students of color were told they were going to be hung.

3. Student papers written on Black Lives Matter topic were not accepted.

Pellegrino said there are a lot of coverups going on because of non-disclosure agreements reached by school board being sued by parents.

Sally Riddle talked to Charisse Davis, newly elected board member, after meeting.  Riddle said school board should be policy focused and should update policies when needed. Davis said much change should be authorized to help students with special needs.

Dr. Ben Williams said general expectations for the school board and other people in power should be to reconcile unhealthy relationships. "Racist comments and threatening behavior from school administrators should not be tolerated" and "public comments should be allowed" at school board meetings on topics which negatively affect students. He said the board should manage the Superintendent, not the other way around.

Approximately a dozen people attended.

After the meeting, I asked attendees if they thought the meeting was constructive and beneficial to the community, and "what do you expect from the entire Cobb County Board moving forward relating to bullying, racism, and equity?" Community Activist Monica DeLancy wrote: "I believe the question is what do we expect from ourselves. And how we should hold ourselves accountable. It's embarrassing that parents have to wear 10 hats at multiple schools and community groups. We are not making progress unless we are intentionally including others to step up and encourage them to become leaders. My expectation for ourselves will be that we will do all we can to invite others to lead, train and fill every seat at every meeting. Then we are doing our job."

SIDEBAR:

Educators and cousins, Debra Corbett (l) and Arthena Roper (r).

I called and talked to my cousin, Arthena Sewell Roper, newly elected school board member for Jefferson County Schools in West Virginia. She has served as the diversity officer at the Central Office and has a Masters' Degree.

Q. What about bullying?
A. Bullying is zero tolerance.

"You can't learn when you're afraid." --- Tomi Johnson

Q. What should expectations be for school board members?
A. Those of us who are in leadership who are of color need to give a voice to those initiatives which really hone in and target underserved populations. It's so easy to say that we do for everybody, but no program serves everybody. I see that we in this area say that we want this, but no real effort is made to target and recruit in the areas we say we want to serve. 
A lot of conservatives have made sure that the word doesn't get out to those targeted folks. Those of us in leadership positions need to keep insisting that our efforts are communicated to those targeted audiences who may not read the mainstream newspaper but do interact with social media and use Facebook and Instagram to tell them about opportunities. We should not just be talking, but we should be going the extra mile to deliver.

Q. Equality versus equity issues, some schools have gotten a D here for 15 years on a major school report. Those schools need major improvements. For example, Walton High School has a major building project underway, it almost resembles a small college, but it's in the affluent section of town which has a large tax base. However, we need to make sure that the schools and students who need the most help get it.
A. Right. Exactly.

Q. What is your title?
A. School board member, Jefferson County Schools in West Virginia. We have four Title I schools here.

Q. In some counties, instead of the board running the school's agenda, the Superintendent is running things, not the board which is ass backwards.
A. In my situation here, it was really awkward. I was the only new member, and I used to be the employee. Now she is my employee. She has been mesmerizing and convincing the board for many years, saying we should have her back...She's trying to convince us that hiring her was our most important job, but no, our most important job is holding her accountable. The political position, however, is getting back to "little servant" and the responsibilities we have, from a position of prestige and power just to say that you're in office. Of people doing nothing, of seeing wrong and seeing nothing. Those days are turning around, at least I hope they are.

Q. Newly elected Board Member Davis is younger and seems more in tune with finding solutions. She's gung-ho and wants to run for Vice Chair. I'm hoping she doesn't get burned out early because these SYSTEMS are set up to operate in a certain way. She has good intentions going in. I just hope she's able to maintain that.
A. I feel the same way. I am convinced I will run for President of the Board in two years, not because I want to control the agenda, but I have a Superintendent's license, so I know what is expected to lead an educational organization, and I can help guide the Superintendent. That's really important. Additionally, in work sessions, we need to talk about philosophy, mission, and vision.

FYI - Educators I know who are doing things and could be asked to speak on education issues:
My college roommate, Pat Savage-Williams, President, Board of Education, Evanston, Illinois
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-evanston-township-high-school-board-meeting-tl-0211-20160209-story.html
My friend, Retired Superintendent Nathaniel Jones, IU graduate and Milken Educator Award winner
https://indy.education/2016/07/27/putting-students-first-the-legacy-of-retiring-supt-nathaniel-jones/
My cousin, Debra R. Corbett, Principal of Title I school and Milken Educator Award winner
https://res.jeff.k12.wv.us/our_school/administration/from_the_principal

FYI: I forwarded this article to the Cobb Superintendent for a response, but have not received one yet.