#blackcommunitiesmatter

[rightsideofhistory1946]

Richard Headen, says that the State of Ohio Auditor described the Village of Lincoln Height's budget as "tighter than two coats of paint." Richard, a lifelong resident of Lincoln Heights, devoted 16 years of public service to the Village. His roles included Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and a member of City Council. But, Richard loves his community; he willingly served it with pride and in hopes to restoring it, to what it once was, back to "city status".

Richard, a Vietnam War Veteran, described Lincoln Heights as a "true city" before he left for the war. "We had stores and businesses". However, upon his return home from the war, the community had declined. Richard attributes the crippled growth in Lincoln Heights to implementation of urban renewal plans. He makes it very clear that, in his opinion, Hamilton County, did not want a “black community to prosper”.

However, this is nothing new to this community, governmental agencies have been stunting their expansion and growth since the 1940s. Lincoln Heights sought out incorporation from "railroad track to railroad track", according to Richard. "Black people were residing in those areas” (what is now Lincoln Heights, Lockland, and Evendale). When Lincoln Heights tried to incorporate all of it, since it was already part of their already community,  they were stalled on numerous occasion by the county.

The county knew of plans for a large aviation plant to be built on part of that land, now known as the General Electric site. One of the largest tax revenue producing locations in the State. Therefore, the county quickly incorporated Evandale and Lockland, which left Lincoln Heights out in the cold. It also, rationed their community down to less than one square mile. Richard speaks frankly on this subject and states, "the county didn't want black people to have that much power".  Meaning, all that revenue for their primarily black self-governed community, would give them the means to become successful and prosperous.  

In Richard's opinion, systemic racism has played a role in the communities' economic decline. He said, "when we would take two steps forward, it seemed that Hamilton County and the surrounding communities would knock us back two steps...they didn't want economical growth for the black Village."

But, Richard’s opinions, are backed up with facts. Lincoln Heights sits right along Interstate 75; however over the years their access to and from the interstate keeps getting more limited. Richard recalls, at one point the State of Ohio promising that their access would not be cut off.  But after discussions and demands made by surrounding white neighborhoods, Wyoming and Lockland, Lincoln Heights’ exit was removed, but theirs remained.  He said they (State) looked at the poor black community and decided it wouldn’t make the cut.

At one point, Richard was concerned about the safety of the residents, indicating that an ambulance would have to go out of its way to access the interstate and take a resident to local Bethesda North Hospital.

The limitation of access to the interstate has caused businesses to leave the village. Lincoln Heights Tech View Drive is the Village's 'business district', but without adequate access to a thoroughbred highway, it leaves employers looking for other business locations. This area is where most of the tax revenue to operate the Village is generated. So, it begs the question, why would one cut off accessibility for economic growth to an already weakened community?!?!

And there's even more facts to Richard’s opinion. For over 70 years the City of Cincinnati Police Department's shooting range has been located in the backyard of Lincoln Heights’ residents. Richard says, that when the Village was trying to develop the last bit of land within MLK Estates, the gun range detoured many homeowners from buying homes and moving into the community.

According to a Fox 19, news article, dated December 19, 2019, “...The facility is used 300 days a year and provides nearly 50,000 hours of training for officers annually.”

Richard says that as a Vietnam vet the sound of gunshots do not affect him. However, he said "they don't phase anyone in Lincoln Heights either", because his community has been conditioned to the sounds of gunshots on a daily basis.

He paints a picture of a picnic being had by residents and gunshots ring out from the range. He says, "you know who is from Lincoln Heights because they don't even notice it, but outsiders are down on the ground". Richard says, there is no doubt, in his mind that the reoccurrence of gunshots, on an almost  daily basis, has caused PTSD and other behavioral issues in the kids within the community.  "But no one wants to talk about that", Richard says.

Lincoln Heights has had its own set of problems, said Richard.  There were lawsuits filed against the former Village police department.  Corruption within the walls of the municipal building.  All of which about bankrupted the Village and crippled growth.  Lots of services offered by the Village were halted and disbanded, including the police department.

But, Richard is still hopeful for the Village of Lincoln Heights.  He says that there is a great sense of community pride within the residents.  He says, we have to offer something for people to come back to, too many kids leave the community and don’t return.  “Growth opportunity is the keyword”, Richard said, “for our community to prosper.”

Richard can see a bright future for Lincoln Heights, the location, itself is beyond attractive for growth and residents.   “The community needs to continue to pull together,” he says and there are “a lot of young people getting involved and they have a great vision.”  He also said returning to “city status” could be integral for Lincoln Heights’ growth, because with that comes more funding and opportunity.  

There’s hope, pride, resiliency,  promise, and perseverance in the one square mile corporation limits of Lincoln Heights and that means a lot.

Photo cred:  1takebake

[voiceofactivist]

Supporting black own business #blackownedbusiness #blackcommunity #blackcommunitiesmatter #blacklivesmatter #newyork #queens #friendzofculture #sdwjr https://www.instagram.com/p/CCvOZV8n-qp/?igshid=14hr6mosfzada

[chexawe]

Part 1: Reposted from @chinedu_anyiam Prime example of why you need to STOP eating and feeding your family at these trash fast food death shacks posing as restaurants. This is part of the reason we are so sickly as a people because we keep our mouths in the devils kitchen! But you won’t ever be able to say I didn’t try and tell you!

#BrotherKingCam

#blackcommunities #blackcommunitiesmatter #blackcommunitynews #newblackatlanta #blackconciousness #wefollowfarrakhan #brotherbenx #brotherben #blackmedia #blackmediamatters

[violet-grace]

I hate it here, why the comparison?

THIS is why I’m for MY community.

Black people are never supported by other POC. This post really could���ve educated some of us, instead yet again the downplay of the Black struggle, and overtone of racism overtook it. It’s really fucking sad, because you think a little reblog of #BLM constitutes you putting in work for another POC community. This post makes everything BLM related on your page a sham.

#blackcommunitiesmatter

#fakewokepoc

Why Asians Should Have the Final Word Over Asian Representation

Okay, here's the scenario now. Remember Arrows' pie chart on why racebending characters of colour is bad because poc already lack representation in media? Yeah, this one is similar to that, but with representation and who gets a say in it.

Warning for grossly oversimplified racial groupings ahead, because otherwise things would be overly complicated.

For example, Asian people get 50% of the say on how to represent Asian characters in the Equity Model. (Specifically I'm talking about East Asians here but that's not the main point, otherwise it would get super complicated, and this post is not meant to be complicated.) Black, Latine, white, and indigenous people each get 12.5% of the say. Ultimately, Asians have the largest say on Asian characters because it's their representation.

Now, people start diminishing Asians' voices such that everyone has “equal say”, i.e. everyone gets 20% say, thus forming the Equality Model.

With this form of “equal say”, Asian voices about their own representation (50% in Equity, 20% in Equality) are diminished and people of other races are more likely to ignore Asian opinions (praise or criticism) on Asian characters, because ultimately they're just 20% of the say in the Equality Model, while everyone else takes up 80% of the say.

You can just switch out the colours for any minority group. For example, black people, you know, so in the Equity Model, black people get 50% say, but they only have 20% say about their own characters in the Equality Model. People would cry foul if the voices of black people about black representation gets ignored. And yet Asians cry foul and not only do you ignore their voices, but try to force the Equality Model on them for trying to, daring to push for the Equity Model where they would have the power over characters that represent them. Double standard much? We might be more likely to be light-skinned, but it doesn't make us lesser people of colour.

Other PoC have had their turn being the dominant say in matters of their own races. Let us Asians do the same to Asian characters.

And white people? Sit back and listen up, because you're not oppressed for your race.

[colefromboston]

#Repost @complexionmagazine with @repostapp ・・・ "One of the prices that we pay for integration was the disintegration of the black community." --Ed Smith Model: @raejon08 Photographer: @colefromboston #strength #February #history #gentrification #Boston #blackheritagetrail #complexion #complexionmag #black #blackcommunity #community #freedomtrail #visuals #1964 #family #generations #blackphotographer #blackphotography #bostonphotography #bostonphotographer #blackart #blackcommunitiesmatter #blacklivesmatter #statehouse #massachusettsstatehouse #blackpanthers #heritage #ancestry #blackheritage #blackancestry #fromcolewithlove

[rightsideofhistory1946]

“When hate is loud, LOVE must NOT be SILENT” 📷 1takebake

[uniquiccoutureboutique-blog]

Have you ever watched this show Alfred Hitchcock presents as a child and was scared then watched as an adult and said this show is not even scary its wack. Lol #scaryshow #alfredhitchcockpresents #movie #blackpeople #blackinstagramer #iger #tvtime #decades #hdtv #moviebuffs #showtime #movietime #blackwomen #blackmen #blackcommunitiesmatter (at Saint Paul, Minnesota)

[blackcommunitesmatter-blog]

How to Get Organized

[chexawe]

Part 2: Reposted from @chinedu_anyiam Prime example of why you need to STOP eating and feeding your family at these trash fast food death shacks posing as restaurants. This is part of the reason we are so sickly as a people because we keep our mouths in the devils kitchen! But you won’t ever be able to say I didn’t try and tell you!

#BrotherKingCam

#blackcommunities #blackcommunitiesmatter #blackcommunitynews #newblackatlanta #blackconciousness #wefollowfarrakhan #brotherbenx #brotherben #blackmedia #blackmediamatters

[bondvagabond]

#ThrowbackThursday - we were #shooting #TheLastPoets in #Deptford #London at The Birds Nest Pub for our #documentary #HarlemsLastPoet and inside the Birds Nest was a banner that said #BlackCommunitiesMatter so @babatunde_baba_d, James (the owner) #AbiodunOyewole & @vgbnd had took this photo... This is what #solidarity looks like... #BlackLivesMatter #AudioVisualTerrorism #AVT #RedEpic #4K #filmmaking (at The Birds Nest)

[campuslately]

"To the #StudentsOfColor at #Mizzou, we, students of color at #Yale stand with you." #InSolidarityWithMizzou #istandwithmizzou #supportmizzou #prayformizzou #blackLIVESmatter #blackstudentsmatter #blackcommunitiesmatter #antiracism #fightracism #JusticeOrElse #justiciaoverás #orandopormizzou #racialopression #racialinjustice #racisminamerica #ameriKKKa #racism via @hustlevision

[tori-galori]

#brixton protest signs raising important issues about hyper-#gentrification, the evictions of low income residents & local businesses, to racism& deaths in custody. Nice atmosphere (despite the overwhelming whiteness), before a coward smashed up Foxtons. It's not just about yuppies or pompous foodies, it's about the collusion between developers & the council. #London #reclaimbrixton #savebrixtonarches #blackcommunitiesmatter 25.4.15

[rightsideofhistory1946]

Chris Gillam, has a 16 year-old son and he describes the discussion a parent must have, when raising a black son, as “protocol.”  According to Gillam, every time his son goes out of the house, he has certain “protocol” reminders.  “Do you have your license?”  “Do not reach for you license.”  “Keep your hands on the steering wheel at ALL times.”  “Do not give the officer any reason.”   You continually train your son to act and talk a certain way, when interacting with law enforcement.  And it’s your hope that when they do have a police encounter that their training will kick in, as second nature.  

“I don’t know if that’s how white parents talk to their children about being pulled over.  But, that is how you have to coach and train your children, as a black parent”, said Gillam.  It’s ever-present in the black community and “if black parents are not having these conversations, shame on them.”  He said, “you have to be as non-threatening as you possibly can, in that environment and as compliant, as possible.”  When asked, if this was something you must be cognizant of on a daily basis, as a black man.  Gillam responded, “if you wanna live.”  

Gillam, grew up in Woodlawn, part of the Zone 15 community and has quite the resume.  He is the Owner of The Grind Shop:  Sports Performance Training; the Defensive Coordinator, College Recruiting Coordinator, and Director of Strength and Conditioning at Princeton High School; the Co-Founder of Redeemed Xposure; and Co-Owner of a flag football league.  But, Gillam is much more than his accolades; he is a mentor, an educator, an advocate, a mediator, a motivator, a helper, and someone who leads by example.

He takes pride in being from ��Zone 15” and the Woodlawn community.  He has witnessed the economic decline of Lincoln Heights and Woodlawn, over the years; development and growth have been an issue for a long time in these areas.  According to Gillam, this is not just isolated to Zone 15, many predominately black neighborhoods, have experienced shrinking economies and a reduction in affordable housing, due to systemic racism.”  

The disparage between the predominately white community of Wyoming and Zone 15 is a prime example.  Wyoming borders, Lockland and the two communities are separated by railroad tracks.  Gillam, describes crossing the tracks from Wyoming to Lockland, as “heaven and hell.”  “You have thriving businesses on the Wyoming side and on the Lockland side there are dilapidated buildings.  The sad thing is, you see it so much, you become de-sensitized to it.”  Gillam is hopeful that the Zone 15 community can regrow and prosper, as it once did.

Miami, FL, 2017, and Gillam is seated at the table with 50 other gym owners from around the world, in an open forum with CrossFit Champion and owner of NCFIT, Jason Khalipa.  Gillam recalls, Khalipa asking the room full of gym owners, who has “CrossFit” in their gym name.  Most everyone raised their hand, except for Gillam.  Khalipa’s gyms were formerly called NorCal CrossFit and he illustrated the importance of not limiting your gym to the CrossFit brand.  He encouraged the gym owners to remove CrossFit from their names, citing that any negativity geared toward the brand could have an adversarial affect to their personal gyms.

Fast forward to 2020, amidst the murder of George Floyd, the CEO of CrossFit, Greg Glassman, refuses to put out a statement on CrossFit’s behalf in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Glassman, tweets a racially negative remark and the unraveling of the CrossFit brand begins.  As a result, thousands of gyms de-affiliated with the CrossFit brand.  Khalipa’s advice, reverberates in Gillam’s mind.  Gillam arose out of this controversy as a sounding board, advocate, listener, and confidant to other local gym owners.  Gillam says, “I was happy and honored to help others understand the gravity of the situation.  I accepted and welcomed the call.”

Glassman’s comments reflect the whiteness of the CrossFit brand.  Gillam’s gym, The Grind Shop, is quite diverse and that’s one thing he loves about it.  That diversity contributed towards progressive conversations between Gillman and his members.  He said that, after the killing of George Floyd, he had members come to him and ask for his help.  People wanted to be educated and obtain an understanding on the current racial injustice climate.  Gilllam says, “so many people are not racist, they just don’t understand.  They are clueless to the conversations that I have to have with my black son.  They are clueless to the number of people that have been victims to social injustices.  They just don’t know.”  Gillam believes, we have to be willing to aid in everyone’s growth and keep the conversations going about the plight of the black community.

The question was raised, if there was allowable ignorance in this current climate and Gillam gave the golden response.  “Prior to George Floyd’s passing and the unrest that it has generated in our country, you are no longer allowed to be ignorant to racism and social injustice.  People and sports leagues were given a pass.  The NFL didn’t understand why Kap took a knee.  They didn’t see the seriousness of this issue in our society.  But now, they get it.  Now it’s the responsibility of the human race to get involved, to know what is going on in the black community and aid in the progress, toward ending racism.

Follow The Grind Shop on Facebook, Instagram and Coach Gill on Twitter.

Photo credit:  1takebake

[uniquiccoutureboutique-blog]

My daughter is the NEWEST CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER at BLACK TWIN CITIES check her page out http://www.black twincities.com/jessica-jackson #mnmade #saintpaul #twincities #minneapolis #blackgirlbloggers #blackgirlblogger #blackblogger #twincitiesbloggers #twincitiesblogger #blacktwitter #youtuber #blackcommunitiesmatter (at Saint Paul, Minnesota)

[davidstocko-blog]

Resist eviction, Brixton.  Guinness Trust, Loughborough Park Estate, Brixton