The sometimes complex life of a single mom navigating through life...PARENTING, LOVE, NATURAL HAIRCARE, LIVING, DREAMING, HAVING FAITH, and all the while I'm MAKING MY WAY
Saturday marks the anniversary of my little brother's (brother-in-law) untimely death, murdered on June 19, 2008. Senseless murder by a 16 year old kid who chose to join a gang, making an innocent person his gang-initiation sacrifice. How ironic, he left NY for the safer and slower outskirts of Orlando to join his parents in the horse capital of the U.S.... but unfortunately just as he did others from "Up North" move down and continue the trouble. He thought he was safe there. He was attending school, working, turning his life around, and rebuilding a relationship with his twin daughters that was strained due to issues between himself and their mom.
Your brothers still haven't recovered. Your parents are destroyed and never will be the same. Your nephew misses you and still speaks of you. I always think of you. You used to look out for me even when my own family didn't care to. We could always count on you to come through, take care of your nephew, and visit often while your older brother was away at school. Ever since I've known you I always told you about yourself when you acted up, and you always respected that. I remember first meeting you when you were 11, shy and quiet... never imagined you'd lose your life at 24. You faced an internal battle that was inherited...all the while being extremely sensitive and emotional...then irrational and hysterical. For these reasons you battled with a persistent emotional struggle... you're not struggling with that anymore. We miss you bro...I know you are still watching over us. We live for you, with you in mind... because you weren't able to live your full life.
It took about a year for them to catch all 5 whom were involved, but this summer there will finally be justice. Shame..... 6 lives lost.. your gone... they will serve life in jail if they never actually execute them.
And oh yeah...... Happy Father's Day in Heaven.
His twin daughters at my son's birthday party ... 3 weeks after his death
Accomplishments of DR. DOROTHY I. HEIGHT (taken from NCNW.org)
Chair and President Emerita-National Council of Negro Women
For nearly half a century, Dorothy Irene Height has given leadership to the struggle for equality and human rights for all people.
Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia March 24, 1912, and educated in public schools in Rankin, Pa, a borough of Pittsburgh.
Height established herself early as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical skills. After winning a $1,000 scholarship in a national oratorical contest on the United States Constitution, sponsored by the Elks, and a record of scholastic excellence, she attended New York University and earned her bachelor and master's degrees in four years. She did postgraduate work at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work.
In 1933, Height became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America in the New Deal era. It was during this period that Height's career as a civil rights advocate began to unfold, as she worked to prevent lynching, desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and for free access to public accommodations.
Height was named to deal with the outcome of the Harlem riot of 1935.
Height was an organizer and served as Vice President of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America. Later she became a representative of the YWCA to the World Conference of Christian Youth in Amsterdam Holland.
1937 was the turning point in the life of Dorothy Height. She was serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Harlem YWCA when Mary McLeod Bethune, founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women, noticed young Height who was escorting Eleanor Roosevelt into the NCNW meeting. Mrs. Bethune invited Height to join NCNW in her quest for women's rights to full and equal employment, pay and education.
In 1938, Height was one of 10 American youth invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to spend a weekend at her Hyde Park NY home to plan and prepare for the World Youth Conference to be held at Vassar College.
Height served in her dual role as YWCA Staff member and NCNW volunteer, integrating her training as a social worker and her commitment to rise above the limitations of race and sex. She rose quickly through the ranks of the YWCA, from the Emma Ransom House in Harlem to the Executive Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Association in Washington D.C. and to the National Staff.
For thirty-three years - (1944 - 1977), Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA of the USA and held several leadership positions in Public Affairs and Leadership Training and as Director of the National YWCA School for Professional Workers. In 1965, she was inaugurated and became Director of the Center for Racial Justice, a position she held until her retirement.
In l952, Height served as visiting professor at the University of Delhi, India, in the Delhi School of Social Work.
Height made a study of the training of women's organizations of Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria under the Committee of Correspondence.
Height was elected National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1947 - and served until l956. She carried the Sorority to a new level of organizational development, initiation eligibility and social action throughout her term.
In l957, Height was elected fourth National President of NCNW and served until l998 when she became Chair and President Emerita.
In 1960, Height was the woman team member leader in the United Civil Rights Leadership along with Martin Luther King, Whitney H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis.
In 1961, while Height was participating in major Civil Rights leadership, she led NCNW to deal with unmet needs among women and their families to combat hunger, develop cooperative pig banks, provided families with community freezers and showers, etc....
In 1964, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Height with Polly Cowan, an NCNW Board Member, organized teams of women of different races and faith as "Wednesdays In Mississippi" to assist in the freedom schools and open communication between women of difference races.
In l970, Height directed the series of activities culminating in the YWCA Convention adopting as its "One Imperative" to the elimination of racism.
In 1970, Height established the Women's Center for Education and Career Advancement in New York City to prepare women for entry level jobs. From this experience in 1975, Height in collaboration with Pace College established a first-time Associate Degree for Professional Studies (AAPS) - now incorporated as a regular professional studies degree course at Pace University.
In l975, Height participated in the Tribunal at the International Women's Year Conference of the United Nations in Mexico City. As a result of this experience, NCNW was awarded a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to hold a conference within the conference for women from the United States, African countries, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Under the auspices of the USAID, Height lectured in South Africa after addressing the National Convention of the Black Women's Federation of South Africa near Johannesburg (1977).
Height led a crusade for justice for Black women and since l986 worked to strengthen the Black family.
Established the Bethune Museum and Archives for Black Women, the first institution devoted to black women's history; and established the Bethune Council House as a national historic site.
Established the Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986 to reinforce the historic strengths and traditional values of the Black family.
Dorothy I. Height has received awards and citations including the:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Award
Hadassah Myrtle Wreath of Achievement
Ministerial Interfaith Association Award
Ladies Home Journal - Woman of the Year
Congressional Black Caucus - Decades of Service
President Ronald Reagan - Citizens Medal
Franklin Roosevelt - Freedom Medal
Essence Award
Camille Cosby World of Children Award
Caring Institute - Caring Award
NAACP - Spingarn Medal
National Women's Hall of Fame
President Bill Clinton - Presidential Medal of Freedom
On Height's 92nd birthday March 24, 2004, President George W. Bush presented her the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by the United States Congress.
She has received thirty-six Honorary Doctorate Degrees from universities and colleges such as:
Tuskegee University, Spelman College, Pace University, Bennett College, Lincoln University, Harvard University, Howard University, Princeton University, New York University, Morehouse College, Meharry Medical College, Columbia University.
In one week these two incidents occurred in the NYC Metro area, one even occurred 5 minutes away from me. Whenever I hear of DV incidents I take it very personally. For the past 5 years I have been an advocate and volunteer in the fields of Domestic and Sexual Violence; I spent almost 2 years as a volunteer Rape Crisis Counselor. I have been affected by DV in my own personal life and have lost loved ones to senseless acts of violence. How can a man kill his own child for the sake of getting back at the mother (shown here), how can another (married) man murder the mother of his child, kidnap and abandon his 20 month old baby (shown here) ? I am usually not a supporter for the Death Penalty but in these cases these men deserve to die in the same manner they killed their victims... drop the coward over a bridge and choke and burn the other bastard! I can go on about this forever but I will refrain from doing so, instead I will provide you with a brief synopsis of DV and information on how you may get help. If you need assistance or further information, you may even contact me!
SEXUAL ABUSE:Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact without consent, e.g., marital rape (YES EVEN IF YOU ARE MARRIED IT CAN BE CONSIDERED RAPE!!!), forcing sex after physical beating, attacks on sexual parts of the body or treating another in a sexually demeaning manner; forcing the victim to perform sexual acts on another person, on the Internet, or pose for sexually explicit photographs against her will.
ECONOMIC ABUSE:Making or attempting to make a person financially dependent, e.g., maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, forbidding attendance at school or employment.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Undermining sense of self-worth, e.g., constant criticism, belittling one's abilities, name calling, damaging a partner's relationship with the children.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: intimidation, threatening physical harm to self, partner or children, destruction of pets and property, mind games or forcing isolation from friends, family, school and/or work...this is often the feeling of "walking on eggshells" as to not upset your partner.
SEXUAL COERCION AND REPRODUCTIVE CONTROL: When a partner sabotages your birth control efforts by demanding unprotected sex, lying about "pulling out," hiding or destroying birth control (i.e., flushing pills down the toilet or poking a hole in a condom), preventing you from getting an abortion or forcing you to get an abortion.
There are many organizations available in every community that can provide you with resources and information on how to get assistance. Call your local DV shelter..if you are in immediate danger call 911. You are not alone and never deserve to be mistreated!
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
