Back when we were negroes ... Thanks Sarah!

Subject: 'Back when we were Negroes'


Good Morning,


‘Back when we were Negroes’

By Charles E. Richardson

Posted on Sun, Jul. 31, 2011 in the Macon . (GA) Telegraph

There was a time until the early 1960s when the terms to describe those of African descent, like me -- African-American or Black or Afro-American -- were almost unheard of.

I remember a distinct conversation with a friend discussing descriptive terms for ourselves in 1963 or ’64. The term “black” was just coming into vogue and he didn’t like it one bit. “Call me a Negro,” he said, “but don’t call me black.”

Now, the word “Negro” (publications used a lower case “n”) has almost become a pejorative, so I was a little surprised when my pastor, the Rev. Willie Reid, used it during Thursday’s revival. “Back when we wereNegroes,” he said, and listed severalthings that were different about black life in America back then.

That got me to thinking. Back when we were Negroes in the 1950s, “only 9 percent of black families with children were headed by a single parent,” according to “The Black Family: 40 Years of Lies” by KayHymowitz. “Black children had a 52 percent chance of living with both their biological parents until age 17. In 1959, “only 2 percent of black children were reared in households in which the mother never married.”But now that we’re African-Americans, according to Hymowitz, those odds of living with both parents had “dwindled to a mere 6 percent” by the mid-1980s. And check this, in Bibb County (GA) , more than 70 percent of the births in the African-American community aretosingle mothers.

Back when we were Negroes and still fighting in many parts of the country for the right to vote, we couldn’t wait for the polls to open. We knew our friends, family and acquaintances had died getting us the ballot.Dogs and fire hoses were used tokeep us away and still we came.

But now that we’re African-Americans, in a city of 47,000 registered -- predominately black voters -- more than 30,000 didn’t show up at the polls in the latest election.

Back when we were Negroes, we had names like Joshua, Aaron, Paul, Esther, Melba, Cynthia and Ida.Now that we are African Americans, our names are bastardized versions of alcohol from Chivas to Tequila to C(S)hardonney. And chances are the names have an unusual spelling.

Back when we were Negroes, according to the Trust For America ’s Health’s “F as in Fat,” report, “only four states had diabetes rates above 6 percent. ... The hypertension rates in 37 states about 20 years ago were more than 20 percent.”

Now that we’re African-Americans, that report shows, “every state has a hypertension rate of more than 20 percent, with nine more than 30 percent. Forty-three states have diabetes rates of more than 7 percent, and 32 have rates above 8 percent. Adult obesity rates for blacks topped 40 percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states and 30 percent in 42 states and Washington , D.C.

Back when we were Negroes, the one-room church was the community center that everyone used. Now that we’re African-Americans, our churches have lavish -- compared to back-in-the-day churches -- community centers that usually sit empty because the last thing the new church wants to do is invite the community in.

Back when we were Negroes, we didn’t have to be convinced that education was the key that opened the lock of success,but now that we’re African-Americans, more than 50 percent of our children fail to graduate high school. In Bibb County (GA) last year, the system had a dropout rate of 53.4 percent.

Back when we were Negroes, the last thing a young woman wanted to look like was a harlot and a young man a thug,but now that we’re African-Americans, many of our young girls dress like hootchie mamas and our young boys imitate penitentiary custom and wear their pants below the butt line.

If I could reverse all of the above by trading the term “African-American” for “Negro,” what do you think I'd do?

Charles E. Richardson is The Macon Telegraph’s editorial page editor in Macon, Georgia.


Let's Pray for God to Restore Our Nation, and all the people of this land, before it is to Late.

Highway Patrol Sergant speaks - Google alert about Portsmouth

My brother, George's, grandson, Michael Erwin, patrols route 23 above Portsmouth now.  I found this interesting and I hope you do.

Sam

Serving the Northwest Ohio Communities of Edon ~ Blakeslee ~ Montpelier ~ Holiday City ~ Pioneer ~ West Unity ~ Fayette ~ Stryker & Surrounding Areas


Montpelier Rotary Hears From Ohio State Highway Patrol 2011-09-28 / 2011-10-04 / Community



By: Jennifer Johnson

GUEST SPEAKER ... Pat Weber is pictured with Sergeant George Jutze, who personally knocked on her door a year ago to inform of her husband’s accident. She wanted him to come share what his job entailsMontpelier Rotary inducted another member, Rachel Sostoi, to their chapter on September 19th, 2011. She was sponsored by her father, Marty Sostoi, and joins millions of Americans as a member of this club. Barb Fisher announced that 20/20 Plastics have donated $1000 towards the shelter house project at Montpelier’s Main Street Park.

Guest speaker of Rotarian Pat Weber was Sergeant George Jutze from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Defiance post. Jutze is originally from Cincinnati Ohio and graduated from the academy in 1984. His first assignment was in Portsmouth, Ohio fresh out of college. He patrolled on US 23 at that time, the highway known as “The road to Ohio.” In December of 1990 he was named the sergeant in Defiance and he’s been there ever since.

Jutze spoke of the 1948 communication technology when he started on the force. He said a lot of times troopers would have to stop at someone’s house to use the telephone to call the office. Now he says communication has made leaps and bounds to improve. Ohio State Highway Patrol along with many other state and local law enforcement agencies use the Marcs System of communication. The Multi-area Regional Communication System is designed for inner operability so that all law enforcement can share information between departments. The system was upgraded in 2001 and has changed procedures and the way things are handled on the road. It allows for more timely responses and updated information on criminals, law breakers, and vehicle accidents.





The big thing now in Ohio is the new casinos going up. The problem is who should be enforcing law at these casinos? It is currently between the Ohio Patrol and BCI, who at this time assist local, county, and state investigations and matters. These kinds of new assignments are changing the face of the Highway Patrol. They handle more than traffic stops. There are currently some 4100 Ohio troopers who deal with computer crime, prison crime, and state location crime, such as parks, rest stops and the like. In all, there are 9 districts of the Highway Patrol in Ohio, plus district 10 dedicated to the Ohio Turnpike. There are 3 patrol posts that cover 70 miles of Turnpike each. These posts make more drug stops on the Turnpike than all other posts in Ohio.





Jutze estimates the cost of a patrol car with all the equipment at $57,000. These cars are loaded with top of the line equipment to assist a trooper in doing the job efficiently. There are capabilities in the car to map every traffic stop and crash, making statistics more accurate and giving troopers a better idea of where to patrol. This also allows troopers to be proactive instead of reactive. Overall Jutze has been through a lot of changes in his career from technology to procedure but loves every minute of it.



Jennifer Johnson may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com

My omission of comment replies- I apologize

There have been 272 comments to my posts and I have not replied due only to my negligence.  I appreciate those who take time to comment, pro or con.  I just do not go to the comments section as I should out of my ignorance.

SamKat aka Sam Kegley

Snopes fan's rebuttal to "principal'sSpeech" authenticity

May each reader interpret as they see fit.

I don't know you Jo Ann, but I appreciate your taking time to educate me. I don't accept Snopes as an authoritarian arbitrator of the internet as you obviously do. George Soros, the billionaire leftist backs Snopes and that is enough to destroy their 'objective' approach to anything. Nonetheless, I will add your message and this reply to my SamKat blog and also forward it to my email audience.




The speech was a great thing to read if only by a right-leaning person like myself. I believe we are both Americans who want the best for our great country. At least I hope for that!



Sam







From: Jo Ann Aeh

Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 10:01

To: Sam Kegley

Subject: High School Principal Speech





I thought you might find the following article from snopes.Com interesting:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/principal.asp

Fear of the Lord ... Dr. Jeff Gordon Xenos Cafe'

I have meant to write this all week, but procrastination has always been a vice of mine, among a few others. 

Sunday the Cafe' congregation of Xenos listened to just one more excellent teaching session by Dr. Jeff Gordon.  The sermon was on Proverbs, Chapter one.  The first verse goes like- Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge and wisdom.  Dr. Gordon told us that the 'Fear of
the lord' was repeated eighteen times in the book of Proverbs.  In the teaching, Dr. Gordon read from several other verses with similar remarks.

Far be it for this layman to attempt to explain of all of this excellent sermon in a few words on this blog, but I must try to.  Fear implies 'being afraid of ', but more importantly other things like 'awe', 'wonder', 'deep respect' and such.

I sometimes pray at an 'altar' at the head of our stairs with Awe to the Highest!

But I also pray regularly as I lay down to sleep and I am so distraught that, in my prayers, my mind slips into 'reverie' in which I think of so many other things.  I don't feel that I show sufficient 'awe' of the Lord in doing this.  I  slip back into the prayer asking God's forgiveness for my reverie.  I know He understands and He forgives.

The Creator of the Universe deserves all of the respect we humans can muster at all times. 

How awesome is it that Jesus proclaimed that the greatest of His commandments were to:  Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.  That kind of expressing of 'love to all' requires a lot of strength.

"How Great Thou Art" rings in song from the worshippers of this Almighty God!  I expect it to be wonderfully so in the hereafter.

Sam

You're the one ... Thanks Clay Vice!

You don't know how right you are on this one, Clay.  I am not a golfer and I do order a sandwich first, but otherwise ...

Sam

One day I had lunch with some friends. Jim , a short, balding golfer type about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Jim who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate.

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie," Jim added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time.. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off Jim as his pie a-la-mode went down. The other guys couldn't believe it. They ate their lunches silently and grinned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Jim . I lunched on white meat tuna. He ordered a parfait.

I smiled. He asked if he amused me

I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.

How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible? He laughed and said "I'm tasting all that is Possible.

I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was. (He grinned) I haven't been this old before."

"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.

I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many trout streams I haven't fished. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.

There are too many golf courses I haven't played. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of sporting events and potato chips and cokes.

I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.

I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind on my face. I want to be in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired.."

With that, I called the waitress over.. "I've changed my mind, " I said. "I want what he is having, only add some more whipped cream!"

This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends Day! If you get this twice, then you have more than one friend. Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.

SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS including me if I'm lucky enough to be counted among them.

Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we like and respect. Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SINGS!

Pics from "You Know You Are From Portsmouth IF"

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1812425250335&set=o.215323841852332&type=1&mid=4#!/media/set/?set=o.215323841852332&type=1

I hope this posts successfully.  Frank Hunter (PHS 55), whom I call Portsmouth's Illustrious Illuminator 'photoshopped' the Roy Rogers' Esplanade sign atop the National Bank and the old Lyric and Kodak building in downtown Portsmouth Ohio.  You must visit the site in some way, find the 'back to album' to click on, and enjoy true Portsmouth nostalgia.

SamKat aka Sam Kegley

High School Principal's speech ... Thanks Doug Brooke!

We watched high school principal Dennis Prager of Colorado, along with Sara Palin and Tom Brokaw on TV a couple of weeks ago....what a dynamic, down to earth speaker. Even though Palin and Brokaw were also guest speakers they did little but nod and agree with him.. This is the guy that should be running for President in 2012!



A Speech Every American High School Principal Should Give.

By Dennis Prager.



To the students and faculty of our high school:



I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people..



I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against your teachers and against our country.



First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, Asian or European, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on slave ships. The only identity I care about, the only one this school will recognize, is your individual identity -- your character, your scholarship, your humanity. And the only national identity this school will care about is American.



This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race and non-American

nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America , one of its three central values -- e pluribus Unum, "from many, one."

And this school will be guided by America 's values. This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students

based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a

society divided by political correctness.



Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic, racial or other physically defined ties.. Those clubs just cultivate narcissism -- an unhealthy preoccupation with the self -- while the purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So we will have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music, astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interested in are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that little outside of yourself really interests you.

Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English language has united America 's citizens for over 200 years, and it will unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here -- it is deplorable that most Americans only speak English --but if you want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this is not your school.



Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in this school will reflect learning's elevated status. This means, among other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly.. Many people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for church or school. These people have their priorities backward. Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school.



Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school's property -- whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If you can't speak without using the f-word, you can't speak. By obscene language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications Commission, plus epithets such as "Nigger," even when used by one black student to address another black, or "bitch," even when addressed by a girl to a girlfriend. It is my intent that by the time you leave this school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene.



Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem will be attained in only one way -- the way people attained it until decided otherwise a generation ago -- by earning it. One immediate consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight.



Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away from politics and propaganda. No more time will be devoted to scaring you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately lucky -- to be alive and to be an American.



Now, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country. As many of you do not know the words, your teachers will hand them out to you.



Pass this along if you agree. . . . If not delete.