The time has arrived for black women to speak truth to power. The door has been opened, and we MUST walk through it.
Below is an article about the Black Women's Movement from the Florida Sun-Sentinal, which has avidly covered the details of the Dunbar Village case:
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Al Sharpton and the local chapter of the NAACP have gotten themselves into trouble with black women for trying to turn the Dunbar Village rape case into a showpiece of racial injustice.
During the past three weeks, a network of about 30 black women bloggers have been blistering Sharpton and the local NAACP for coddling the black teenagers accused taking a neighborhood woman at gunpoint into her West Palm Beach home, raping her and forcing her to have sex with her own pre-teen son.
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Earlier this month, Sharpton stood in front of the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office with local NAACP officials and relatives of the accused Dunbar Village rapists to complain that these teenage boys are victims of racial discrimination.
"Sharpton bills himself as a spokesman for the voiceless," wrote Tonyaa Weathersbee in BlackAmericaWeb.com "Too bad this time he decided to lend his voice to the ones who needed it the least - and guarantee that more raped black women will continue to suffer in silence."
Weathersbee and other politically active black women bloggers say Sharpton has ignored the indisputable victims in the Dunbar case - a 35-year-old black woman and her 12-year-old son.
Maude Ford Lee, the president of the West Palm Beach NAACP chapter, spoke alongside Sharpton while the assembled media were handed a flier showing the photos of three of the accused Dunbar Village rapists with the words, "Voiceless, Vulnerable, Victims!!" next to them.
"These children are being unjustly persecuted because of corrupt politics, racism and economics," the flier said. "The State Attorney's Office has grossly overcharged these children."
Sharpton had the victims wrong
The gist of the racial discrimination complaint was that the Dunbar teenagers were being held without bond while a group of white teenagers from suburban Boca Raton charged with rape earlier this year were free on bond.
In the suburban Boca Raton case, the teens were accused of getting two neighborhood friends drunk and then raping them while they were too drunk to resist.
"Am I the only one that sees some GLARING DISTINCTIONS in these two cases that have absolutely nothing to do with the race of the defendants or am I missing something?" wrote blogger Arlene Fenton.
Fenton organized a letter-writing campaign against the local NAACP, Sharpton and his National Action Network for using the west Boca case to make victims of the Dunbar Village teenagers.
"It is breathtaking that the National Action Network brain trust can't seem to comprehend the difference between a home invasion by masked gunmen who torture, rape, sodomize, cut, burn, and beat their victims for THREE HOURS and culminate the event with crime against nature committed against a 12-year-old child ... and a case involving NONE of those facts," Fenton wrote.
Bloggers see victory
The outrage of black women like Fenton has made its mark.
Lee, in a letter this week to the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, left out any mention of the Dunbar Village attack suspects as voiceless victims who should be given the same bond as the suburban Boca Raton teenagers.
She recast her involvement to say it was only to "call for fair and just treatment in all phases of the criminal justice system" for the Dunbar Village defendants.
Sharpton, who spoke with Fenton and Weathersbee on his radio show this week, now claims he never wanted the Dunbar rape suspects to be free pending trial.
The women bloggers take all this backpedaling as a victory.
"Let this be the alarm for any man, woman or organization that decides to align itself with those who harm Black women and children - today is a new day," blogged Tanisha Mathis. "Today is the day you realize we are an omnipresent force to be reckoned with and respected."
I am glad that this article was written, but I would like to clarify what the definition of 'victory' is in this situation. To me, victory in this case would mean:
1. All of the rapists/torturers (not just the four in custody) are apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
2. The victims, both mother and son, receive genuine comfort and support from the black community. They should live in a very safe place, receive all of the medical and psychological care that is possible.
3. Steps should be taken to make sure that the growing phenomenon of this kind of behavior is immediately stopped, dead in it's tracks. The most vile elements in our society have enjoyed open season on Black women, because almost no one stands up for us -- unless there is some other, unrelated political point to score by doing so.
A victory in the grander sense would mean:
1. All organizations, politicians, and public servants would mentally raise the value of black female life and act accordingly. No more lip service toward black female victims of violent crime, no more allocation of black female dollars and man hours to shield rapists, batterers, or murderers of black women from prosecution.
2. The collective psyche, self esteem, and mental wellness of black women and girls will stop taking a beating from both the black and white communities.
3. The full implementation of the Black Women's Agenda.
There is no movement for black women until we become our sister's keepers. Every black woman has a right to live free from violence, from sexual and racial ridicule, from social oppression, and from financial bondage.
We have used our enormous strength to help everyone except ourselves. That is over in 2008. Yes, Tanisha, it is a new day in America.
The NAACP has not expressed regret from the statements that they made concerning the Dunbar Village tragedy. They are hoping that we will go away and that this will die down. Whew, are they sadly mistaken. They haven't felt NUTHIN' yet. It's time to expose this agency for what it really is... stay tuned.
23 comments:
The tides are turning but we must brace ourselves for the waves' crashing.
People may want to know "how long" will we stand. Are we matches or everlasting flames?? (We already know this answer, but you know- the naysayers/spectators).
I glady would mark this as the first move into the opposition's territory- this is my only "chess" speak I could conjure. ;-)
One royal pawn reporting for continued duty & awaiting further orders!
The people united...will never be defeated. *Smile*
Peace.
That's a very good article. Thanks for making the definition of "victory" clear. A lot of people want to make this about something else: black women vs black men, old civil rights vs new, when it is about standing up for black women.
We have gotten to the place where the standard response to a situation that puts black women in focus is to believe that it "must be about something else more important."
We need to be very clear on what this is about (black women) whenever we get the chance.
I am very glad that this reporter wrote this article, and I think that he is potentially a knight in the bqo. After all
a) He doesn't look anything like us
b) He can go places that we can not
c) He is separating our enemies from their allies
d) He is in the middle of the fray
Think about it. Did I go too far with the analogy?
I just sent Mr. Cerabino my thanks letter.
PVW
@privychairlady:
Salient point. People want to know how long our attention spans are going to be concerning the pain of any black woman, because it has been historically quite short.
@khadija:
Loving the chant! LOL
@blackwomenblowthetrumpet:
Thank you for the idea to express thanks. Frank Cerabino has definitely been a voice of reason, when many of our own people remained silent of the issue. He is one of the good guys.
@Miss:
Very interesting interpretation! I would say that the first item to check is a commitment to the Black Women's Agenda. That would determine if the man is a Rook within the army or an ally.
@PWV:
People are still emailing me about the post that highlighted your comment concerning activism and black women. It struck a chord. Thank you.
@PWV:
People are still emailing me about the post that highlighted your comment concerning activism and black women. It struck a chord. Thank you.
My reply:
Wow...I had no idea that it resonated with so many! You're quite welcome...Just telling it as I have seen it, and in light of what seemed to be going on in your story...
FOLKS THIS STORY HAS BLOWN UP ON THE INTERNET BIG TIME.
Web-based activists, old-guard leadership not seeing eye to eye on Florida assaults
See what a handful of determined black women can do? This story is on the wires has already been picked up by quite a few reputable newspapers.
@blackwomenblowthetrumpet:
YAY!! We have another chess player in our midst!
I'm thinking about making video lessons for black women. It trains the mind to be proactive vs reactionary.
I must preface this by saying that I have many traits that seperate me from you. I am white. I am not voting for barack, maybe not hillary. but I am a WOMAN and I respect you. I've read your blog and I RESPECT you and your cause.
That said, I called a talk show and emailed several others and leaked this all over.
Today, it was discussed on WABC at great length. They support you.
And more importantly, this woman and young man who went through an unspeakable horror. I am yet unable to read the entire account, it moves me to tears.
So, my hats off and my donation to your group is mailed tonight.
much love and blessings.
Mary Christensen
New Jersey
Black Women Blowing the Trumpet:
@ PVW Your words three weeks ago cut me in such a deep place!! I was cut where I needed to be, though. I love God and will give anything to Him but I hear you saying that people take advantage of people who give ALL for God. I realize that I must find a way to feed the flock good nourishment without lining the bulging pockets of those who are already multi-millionaires. The celebrity I “helped” for owns four mansions and has a full-time chauffeur and an entourage! Thank you for your teachings! Rich blessings and grateful hugs to you, my sister!
And to all my comrades…. keep the revival!
In Solidarity,
My reply:
Greetings! I'm glad too that you found the words useful--you were over at Rev. Weems, I think?
Hello Mary,
Thank you for being willing to stand up and support black women. You will find that this is a non partisan blog; we have Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Progressives, and Independents here, and all are welcome.
You're saying that this issue was discussed on WABC... how can we get more info on that?
Thank you for that warm welcome.
Dennis Prager(spelling?) in his national syndicated show noon to four I believe...discussed it at great length and had a guest, perhaps it was Elders, an african american judge I believe... discussing sharpton on the naacp as it relates to this sitch. He said today was the first he heard of it...and was shocked. He vowed to continue to fight, was almost in tears when he tried to describe the horror of this crime. I had to turn down the volume while he described it...as I still cant read the entire account. A crime maybe only a mother could "feel" to her soul...
anyway, he's on all over the country check listing in your area, perhaps check his website...
Good luck and power on women ! You make me proud.
Mary
I will continue to press this issue and the entire Black Woman agenda. I am grateful for your continued leadership and vigilance on this matter. I will spread the word through my blog and through continued activism in the near future (including the phone calls, letter writing campaigns, and such). Sharpton's National Action Network office was quite stunned with my searing, excoriating phone call the other day. There is much more where that came from. I am staying in tune and at the ready.
Sharpton's National Action Network office was quite stunned with my searing, excoriating phone call the other day.
ROFL!! I would have loved to hear it. I'm sure that they are still in a state of shock... because they have been doing this kind of nonsense for years without so much as someone raising an eyebrow in their direction.
At least both agencies will think twice before doing something this foolhardy again. They might be dumb enough to still do it, but they would have thought twice about it. It's a start.
I hope that everyone sees the need for Rooks now. They are sorely needed in our army.
http://www.townhall.com/TalkRadio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=3&ContentGuid=09f94500-c139-4c92-a73e-b6a2fe576fed
I hope this link works. It's the interview with L. Elders today and near the end of the program they discuss the case. I sent the link to him from Baltimore sun as I did with many reporters, blogs and talk show hosts. Prager is not the best person to advocate for blacks, I understand, I have only heard his show a few times since it's not my "bag"..but I think his voice hits alot of mainstream media and might help the story open up. I will continue to scream aboout this and your heroic role in standing ground for this victimized woman and her son. Peace and blessings once more.
Mary
Thanks for the link Mary... someone sent it to me and I listened to it. I am not feeling Prager or even Larry Elders, but it does show that the story is getting out.
I think that Prager was trying to show a generational divide on this issue, e.g. younger blacks seeing the 'nuance' and older blacks not seeing it... but I have to strongly disagree with that.
The Chicago Tribune hinted at that, and so did Barack Obama's speech. They are all dead wrong.
Everyday older blacks that I know do NOT subscribe to violence against black women, and are just as much or more outraged about this than the Gen Xers I know.
It has to do with which black subgroup you are dealing with, and how much that group has been indoctrinated with the 'poor, black male is endangered and must be protected' gospel.
The turning of petty and violent criminals into political prisoners is fairly new in black civil rights, no matter what Larry Elders says.
Could not have said it better, shecodes. I agree with your assessment of prager/elder.. I just hope this story continues to have legs, anyone who hears it would have to be outraged, especially when sharpton was such a bald face liar on his position and the way he played with the women who were working on justice just makes me ill. Who does he think he is? He needs to step aside !
Well, I'm out here. Good luck and Blessing to all of you fine women.
Thanks Mary,
Come anytime.
SheCodes...words cannot express what your blog means to me. What you have done, and what you continue to do. Thank you so much, from all of my heart.
"In the suburban Boca Raton case, the teens were accused of getting two neighborhood friends drunk and then raping them while they were too drunk to resist."
I find it mind-boggling that The Sharpton Machine is so male-identified that they cannot see what this would do to the VICTIMS of this particular rape. You were incapacitated chemically by a bunch of guys who then proceed to rape you (not just "take advantage") BECAUSE you were physically powerless to resist them. You somehow get up enough nerve to tell someone what happened to you (knowing that everyone and their dog will make it out to be all your fault somehow--"That's what the lil ho gets, out there drinking with a bunch of guys!"), AND go to the cops and actually make a report, PLUS the wonderful indignity that is evidence collection from your own body. After all that, they decide to free these predators BACK into your community! If THAT ain't a damn slap in the face!
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