Thursday
Nov292007
Dunbar Village and Where Does Our Commitment Begin and End?
Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 9:22AM Gina, The Blogmother
By: Symphony, WAOD Contributor
Dunbar Village
As we know Jakaris Taylor, who early on felt they had nothing on him, agreed to a 20-year sentence pleading guilty to burglary and two counts of armed sexual battery while wearing a mask. His 35-year-old victim was consulted and "was satisfied with the terms of the deal before it was signed."I highly expect Avion Lawson (HAWK) to speak as well but it may not be necesary considering Taylor has already struck a deal. So why did he get a deal in the first place?
All the defendants have been offered deals with different prison terms. The next to last paragraph of the article was the most telling for me.
I mean really. This is where I will unjustly (apparently) blame women and poor people. We spend a lot of time talking about kids (especially male children) not having a father in the home but truth be told, a lot of kids don't have a mother either.
There is more to being a parent than putting food on the table and a roof over a kid's head. Instilling values is something many people forget, don't have time for, don't realize (add your endless but futile reasons here). And its not just poor parents, its a lot of parents regardless of socioeconomic situations.
I will never poo-poo the absence of a father; I know it takes a man to teach a boy to be a man. But does it take a man to teach a child how to be respectful, kind, and proud? I am a single mother and I work to instill those basic human (not male) qualities in my son everyday.
Many times I have to check myself when I admonish people for not doing better because I'm one of those people who "shouldn't be where they are" and I'm quick to say "if I could do it then so can anyone else" and "stop allowing yourself to be victimized particularly when you're a grown behind woman".
Why do I think people can better themselves? Because I was the product of a single mother (see the cycle), I was a latchkey kid at SIX YEARS OLD, I wasn't raised in the church, my mother couldn't tell you my grades let alone what classes I was taking in high school, I didn't grow up with my father, he was in and out of my life like clockwork (6, 12, and haven't seen him since 18), no one in my family graduated from college, it goes on and on.
But I took responsibility for my education when I was a little kid and I took responsibility for my life as a self-respecting woman and successful person somewhere around 21. After high school I served in the military, I will graduate with honors in May with a degree in International Relations, I'm applying to law schools and as far as I'm concerned the sky is the limit.
But I dont just expect people to better their lives just because I don't want them using my tax dollars blah, blah, blah. I believe it because I believe in peopole and truly think they can. I expect them to succeed because I WANT them to succeed. We can't sit around on the sidelines waiting for livable wages, the end of racism, sexism, and discrimination, etc. before we jump in the fight. You have to strive in spite of.
And yes, some of you hate hearing it (*shrugs* but so) but some people do have a defeatist attitude. You can't help someone who isn't willing to help themselves. And if you give them all the support, resources, and information in the world and they still don't take the first step is it still everyone else's fault?
Jakaris Taylor (apparent daddy to be) may be out of jail "likely in his early to mid-30s" and we wonder what that means. Its punishment but it won't be rehabilitation. Is it right to say he's a lost cause at 16?
So here we are. The subsidizing of those given up on begins. Unfortunately its on the wrong end. People say, "Why should my tax dollars pay for after school programs and other programs for other people's kids?" (Enlighten me. Are there no programs that receive some type of tax dollars either federally, state, or locally that benefits middle class and more wealthy children? Story for another day.)
You're going to pay for their parent's sin of not caring about them one way or the other. We can pay for it on the front end when they are young and more open to change (which can end generational poverty and social ills) or we can pay for them on the back end (after commiting our own sin of ignoring the weakest most helpless in our society--children--regardless of whether they are ours by birth) when they are in jail. And then we will pay for the kids they brought into this world and so on. So, you're going to pay. Its just when and how do you want to do it.
I just talked to Shane, Shecodes and Citoya this week. The planning for the Dunbar Village Townhall meeting, if you will, is going quite nicely. If anyone is interested in taking a trip to West Palm Beach and doing some hands-on activism in mid-January Dunbar Village 2008 will have all the up-to-date information on the itinerary.You can also contact me (not through the comments section) at symphonyep[at]gmail[dot]com
So let me ask this. Gina is a self-described town crier. Now, if you aren't a blogger (or spread the word whatever your medium) who are letting the masses know about the problems and you aren't doing anything in the community are you part of the problem? Or do you believe the best way for society to be great is for you to concentrate on making something of yourself and being successful?
Dunbar Village
As we know Jakaris Taylor, who early on felt they had nothing on him, agreed to a 20-year sentence pleading guilty to burglary and two counts of armed sexual battery while wearing a mask. His 35-year-old victim was consulted and "was satisfied with the terms of the deal before it was signed."I highly expect Avion Lawson (HAWK) to speak as well but it may not be necesary considering Taylor has already struck a deal. So why did he get a deal in the first place?
Belohlavek said prosecutors considered Taylor's age of 15 at the time of attack,
the lack of DNA evidence against him and his relatively limited role in the
assault. His fingerprint was found inside the victim's apartment, while DNA
linked other defendants to the home, Belohlavek said.
All the defendants have been offered deals with different prison terms. The next to last paragraph of the article was the most telling for me.
Taylor's mother could not be reached to talk about her son's fate because she is
in the Palm Beach County Jail. Jacqueline Minor, 34, has been incarcerated since
Nov. 15 in lieu of $6,000 bail on charges of vehicle theft and driving on a
suspended license.
I mean really. This is where I will unjustly (apparently) blame women and poor people. We spend a lot of time talking about kids (especially male children) not having a father in the home but truth be told, a lot of kids don't have a mother either.
There is more to being a parent than putting food on the table and a roof over a kid's head. Instilling values is something many people forget, don't have time for, don't realize (add your endless but futile reasons here). And its not just poor parents, its a lot of parents regardless of socioeconomic situations.
I will never poo-poo the absence of a father; I know it takes a man to teach a boy to be a man. But does it take a man to teach a child how to be respectful, kind, and proud? I am a single mother and I work to instill those basic human (not male) qualities in my son everyday.
Many times I have to check myself when I admonish people for not doing better because I'm one of those people who "shouldn't be where they are" and I'm quick to say "if I could do it then so can anyone else" and "stop allowing yourself to be victimized particularly when you're a grown behind woman".
Why do I think people can better themselves? Because I was the product of a single mother (see the cycle), I was a latchkey kid at SIX YEARS OLD, I wasn't raised in the church, my mother couldn't tell you my grades let alone what classes I was taking in high school, I didn't grow up with my father, he was in and out of my life like clockwork (6, 12, and haven't seen him since 18), no one in my family graduated from college, it goes on and on.
But I took responsibility for my education when I was a little kid and I took responsibility for my life as a self-respecting woman and successful person somewhere around 21. After high school I served in the military, I will graduate with honors in May with a degree in International Relations, I'm applying to law schools and as far as I'm concerned the sky is the limit.
But I dont just expect people to better their lives just because I don't want them using my tax dollars blah, blah, blah. I believe it because I believe in peopole and truly think they can. I expect them to succeed because I WANT them to succeed. We can't sit around on the sidelines waiting for livable wages, the end of racism, sexism, and discrimination, etc. before we jump in the fight. You have to strive in spite of.
And yes, some of you hate hearing it (*shrugs* but so) but some people do have a defeatist attitude. You can't help someone who isn't willing to help themselves. And if you give them all the support, resources, and information in the world and they still don't take the first step is it still everyone else's fault?
Jakaris Taylor (apparent daddy to be) may be out of jail "likely in his early to mid-30s" and we wonder what that means. Its punishment but it won't be rehabilitation. Is it right to say he's a lost cause at 16?
So here we are. The subsidizing of those given up on begins. Unfortunately its on the wrong end. People say, "Why should my tax dollars pay for after school programs and other programs for other people's kids?" (Enlighten me. Are there no programs that receive some type of tax dollars either federally, state, or locally that benefits middle class and more wealthy children? Story for another day.)
You're going to pay for their parent's sin of not caring about them one way or the other. We can pay for it on the front end when they are young and more open to change (which can end generational poverty and social ills) or we can pay for them on the back end (after commiting our own sin of ignoring the weakest most helpless in our society--children--regardless of whether they are ours by birth) when they are in jail. And then we will pay for the kids they brought into this world and so on. So, you're going to pay. Its just when and how do you want to do it.
I just talked to Shane, Shecodes and Citoya this week. The planning for the Dunbar Village Townhall meeting, if you will, is going quite nicely. If anyone is interested in taking a trip to West Palm Beach and doing some hands-on activism in mid-January Dunbar Village 2008 will have all the up-to-date information on the itinerary.You can also contact me (not through the comments section) at symphonyep[at]gmail[dot]com
So let me ask this. Gina is a self-described town crier. Now, if you aren't a blogger (or spread the word whatever your medium) who are letting the masses know about the problems and you aren't doing anything in the community are you part of the problem? Or do you believe the best way for society to be great is for you to concentrate on making something of yourself and being successful?
tagged Essential Presence in Dunbar Village
Essential Presence in Dunbar Village
Reader Comments (15)
Everybody's not you. The reality is most people can't get themselves out of that mess without some serious help.
Otherwise - point taken.
There needs to be better parenting. Parenting however is like much else in this world: If what you saw/how you were raised was horrible the likely hood is you'll suck as a parent as well.
People succumb to their environment. People don't like to here it but it's true.
Great post. The question you ask at the end is very difficult to answer and really requires a lot of thought. I would have to say that ultimately you are part of the problem if you don't choose to become part of the solution. I say this because I think about the neighbors in Dunbar Village who heard the woman's cries but offered no help. They committed no crime but they reinforced the idea that it's okay to criminalize that community by essentially telling the criminals, "We won't say a word - we didn't see a thing."
It doesn't always take a huge committment to help improve a situation. For example you can tutor, volunteer at the boys/girls club, participate in church activities that support these communities, report criminal activity, etc. I understand that not everyone has the skills to be a rally organizer or community activist, but if we all did a small part we could make a huge difference.
Yes everyone isnt me which is why I said I check myself. Im the first to acknowledge environment.
I was thinking this morning I wonder if we would be better off donating our time to communities instead of our money to organizations meant to improve them.
Is there a fund for Dunbar Village?
- Joy (Rashawn's wife)
Symphony, May I ask: what was your motivation? What was your drive and how did it get instilled?
"If what you saw/how you were raised was horrible the likely hood is you'll suck as a parent as well."
I will respectfully disagree with that. I grew up in the most horrible of environments, and unfortunately, my family members suffer from the defeatist attitude that Symphony talked about, so they're still living in the same horrible conditions.
I made a VOW that if I am ever blessed to have children, I will do my best to be the best parent, and not "suck as a parent" just because that's what I grew up around. I will let my life and my successes be their example.
Check out my blog on this subject. www.epiphanyblog.wordpress.com! Where do we really stand on the issues that plague black women???
There isn't a fund for Dunbar Village other than the millions the West Palm Beach Housing Authority gets to run its housing complexes.
As far as Dunbar my motivation is that I'm a single mother of a 9-year old and that could have been me.
I work with Upward Bound teaching Japanese to low-income (hopefully) first generation college kids a couple of Saturdays a month.
Man, how I love listening to kids who people think can't learn speaking Japanese!
I do that because I just want to motivate them so they know they can do it and they are defined by the bad they've seen.
Interesting that this post was done. This falls right in with a comment I posted here on juneteenthincamden.blogspot.com.
I agree with what you are saying about making decisions for yourself on your life and how you choose or not chooose to rear your children and touch other people as well.
I too am a single mothere three daughters and a son newborn. Everything that I say and do I watch since I know that children can grow up to be like the environment they come from.
Notice I said CAN,.. but in my situation as well others here I am sure we came from single mother homes where daddy or daddies were not around but still I chose to go another route.
I think in some instances you must make that decision to do something different. But here is the catch we talk about it here but are we going back to get someone if you will? I was exposed to another life and culture by being placed in a foster home of very educated african americans, my siblings were not. I was taught culture and exposed to travel and community service at a very young age. My siblings were not.
They were exposed to the opposite. Drugs, men in and out of my mother's home, dirty surroundings, alchol abuse, physical and emotional abuse.
I tried my best to "Get my siblings" They refused and hated me calling me someone who thought they were white because of how I chose to live my life. To this day we still live worlds apart.
There is still a piece of me that is rooted in the environment in which I was born and I am GOING to break that in my children. That is what I say lets catch someone by the hand and as we go to better places, better jobs and the like lets teach someone how to fish along with us.
If one has not been exposed to it most times you do not know there is anything else out there for you. You believe that you are not powerful and "the white folks " control your life.
I agree we need to know when to choose the battle or move on and know when one chooses to no longer want our help. Or find other ways to help.
There are other ways we can help or teach. Dunbar Village was our wake up call. Thats what it was. Now that we are awake and the sleep has been wiped away from our eyes lets look in the mirror and ask ourselves how we can take this and other situations and "TAKE" it own it and change it.
(how?) thats where people like us come in.
And thats all have to say about that.
Great post Symphony. I will say this; we have to have realistic expectations about people and still be willing to help in whatever way we can. Ultimately, whatever work we engage in at Dunbar Village and communities like it, we MUST place some of the burden on the residents who live there. The response has to come from them because it is their community and they have to lead their lives after we've come and gone... no matter how many times we visit.
Simply because someone lives in a state of poverty does not mean that they are devoid of worth. We should not impose a certain set of standards on the poor or make excuses for their criminal behavior solely based on their lack of resources (I know plenty of wealthy and middle class prisoners to-be). It doesn't make any sense. Prior to integration, most black americans were poor, why weren't we killing and raping each other at the same rate as we are now? Ghettos existed prior to the advent of modern socialized welfare systems; why weren't more people abrogating themselves from parental responsibility then? The same social and structural inequities that exist today, existed then; why are we still tripping?
We could give all poor people each a million dollars today and they'd be broke in a year and probably worse off than they were before. Their MINDSET has to change for the better.
I understand that the environment in many public housing projects is depressing and is indeed a factor in how these boys became criminals. However, how much more help can people be willing to extend if nothing ever changes on a macro level?
I work for an agency whose motto is to serve poor people. Everyday I have to ask myself, in what way? I can provide all of the help they need to meet their basic needs, but if I never expect more of them than they expect of themselves, then I might as well not help them at all.
I applaud Citoya for her drive and initiative to better herself and her community. The challenge will be in how we reach out to the people of Dunbar who are chronically needy, apathetic, and in some cases just plain discouraged.
A very moving post,
"Now, if you aren't a blogger (or spread the word whatever your medium) who are letting the masses know about the problems and you aren't doing anything in the community are you part of the problem?"
That is a fair and honest question.
Symphony: Your Post/Commentary expemplified Wisdom and Compassion. If I were to ask those on this message board do they believe in a "Higher Power," I can rest assured that over ninety-five percent would say, "YES--and WITHOUT DOUBT!!" Well, the Bible, a book that many of us utilize every Sunday, clearly states that, "We are MORE than Conquers!" It (the Holy Bible) also states that, "We are not the VICTIM, but the VICTOR." If the Bible is God's word (and most, if not all, believe it is), why are we not prospering? Why are we living "any kind of way?" Why aren't we accountable for our neighborhoods and schools? Furthermore, why are we, as society, allowing 14, 15,16and 17 year-olds take over many neighborhoods around the United States. Moreover, why are they taking over MANY households?
Time is out for this kind of foolishness! We must take over our INDIVIDUAL households..then we can control our neighborhoods, schools and leave something POSITIVE for generations to come.
Let's take a stand and "CLAIM" the BLESSINGS the Creator has given us. It's time to be accountable for not only our lives, but our childrens' as well! It is time to take a STAND!
"People say, "Why should my tax dollars pay for after school programs and other programs for other people's kids?" (Enlighten me. Are there no programs that receive some type of tax dollars either federally, state, or locally that benefits middle class and more wealthy children? Story for another day.)"
"You're going to pay for their parent's sin of not caring about them one way or the other."
Very good points.
"Jakaris Taylor (apparent daddy to be) may be out of jail "likely in his early to mid-30s" and we wonder what that means. Its punishment but it won't be rehabilitation. Is it right to say he's a lost cause at 16?"
He was already seriously damaged and now he will more likely get enhanced training to do more damage when he get's out. I can't wait for the outcomes of the other demons. Also, my mind drifted to the victim son as well. I hope this young boy get some proactive treatment and serious therapy along with his poor mother.
wrlddiva good point. Exposure. Thats why I think its so important for successful Blacks (however we define that success) to engage the youth.
I could not agree more with the comments. But questions for the sistas like myself who have no children and probably will never. Why not donate some of your time to a cause? BBBS(bigbrothers/ bigsisters) are looking for volunteers all the time.
Exposing young girls to positive things and letting them know that someone loves them can do a world of diffference.