I do not vote

United States of America. Amendments came AFTER they gained control over everything relevant to the governing of this country. It was 55 racist white men at the constitutional convention who determined how this country would be run, who this country would be run by, and what philosophical foundation this country would stand The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012 Page 1 I Do Not Vote Page 2 Domestic Violence: Reforming A Community Page 3 What is Institutional Racism? Did You Know? Page 4 Black Clergy and Not Voting for Page 5 Reviving Chivalry Rights Violation Obama on. This is why there is no democracy here. This is why it is the Electoral College who determines who the president will be, and NOT the people. White men argued that it would NOT be in the best interest of the country to leave it in the hands of the people to determine who the President as Commander in Chief will be.

By Alphonso McGriff III I do not vote, have not voted, and may never vote. Though, I do appreciate having the right to vote. I do wish those of you who do participate in the political process by voting, much success. The constitution of the United States of America is the single most significant affirmative action document in the brief history of this country. It enabled white men only to enjoy the benefits of having access to all America that has to offer. They had the free run of the country for over 100+ years. Women, Asians, Blacks, and other indigenous occupants of this land had no rights to all that America (as we now call it) had to offer; as a result, today white men mostly control everything of significance in this country. (Im consciousness) The only reason available for me to participate in this political process is for fair opportunity and open access to all that America has to offer. This opportunity is no longer available. All natural, industrial, and agricultural resources are now controlled by white men because of their affirmative action document, the Constitution of the

Mass Incarceration as a Human

Page6 For Unity Appreciation Statement About the Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program and All That it Entails Page 7 Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome

presently working on removing their control over my

For these reasons, I am still at the mercy of how white men govern and control this country based on their goals and

The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012

ambitions, regardless to how I vote (on the national level). I think many of us miss the big picture. Every president in the history of this country has done what is in the best interests of America, including President Barack Obama. America being the code word for Major Corporations, code phrase for white men who control everything. If you need an example, just check out who received the trillions of dollars when the peoples homes were getting foreclosed on. Mr. Obama didnt give the people the help. He gave the banks and corporations the help. My vote will not change the behavior of the president, no matter who it is white or Black, democrat or republican, male or female. The reality of this country is what it is. This country was built on a foundation of attaining power and profit by any violent means necessary and unnecessary, at the expense of everything including air, water, land, natural recourses and human life. My vote will not change this. I see myself in the forest and Ill just deal with what comes as it comes, snakes and all.

encompasses a pattern of control and behavior exercised by one person over another. The abuse can be physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional or cyberspace. Abuse can come in the form of the continuous use of demeaning words like you are slow, stupid, unattractive, or idiotic. It can be total access to and control over bank accounts and finances. It can be threats to injure children or pets. It can be monitoring and limiting friendships, going out, or talking on the phone. Domestic violence impacts the entire family, injuring the children who witness abuse by hearing it or seeing it.

We are not outsiders looking in from a distance. We want only to look upon our families and our communities and call out how beautiful but all is not so beautiful inside our souls. We do not like to talk about what is ugly and painful. We feel shame in revealing our less than perfect family lives. We do not want the outside world to know. We do not want each other to know. So we remain silent. But we are hurting; many are suffering, right in our presence. Others inflict deep pain upon those they claim to love. Some of us know the secrets that dwell with us in our homes. Some of us know that how beautiful is not quite true. The time has come for us to address the problem of domestic violence in our community. Our silence has not saved us yet. We are still hurting; our silence will not help us now. With awareness and with courage we can help to save lives and bring about justice and healing. Our commitment should be to end domestic violence within

Domestic Violence: Reforming a Community

By Dr. Sweets S. Wilson We continue to commit ourselves to reforming our community, to find new meaning in our life and to renew our lives and the lives of our people. Domestic Violence is abuse which occurs within an intimate relationship. The partners might be married or unmarried. Research has shown us that it is most likely that the abuser will be male and the victim the female. However, domestic violence can also occur in the same gender relationships. Domestic violence is not about having a bad temper or being out of control over an intimate partner. Domestic violence

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our community, within our lives. The challenge is not impossible. Here are some suggestions: We can assist victims of domestic violence establish their safety. In order to establish safety we need to establish ourselves as safe. We do this by offering educational programming and developing awareness about our communitys resources. We do this by developing relationships with local shelters and advocates so we can make appropriate referrals. We do this by providing religious material to the shelters for their religious residents. We do this when we listen to a woman and believe her when she says she is being abused. We do this when we speak with kindness and respect for one another, when we refuse to tolerate demeaning speech or behavior in our presence. We do this when we speak out as a community against abuse.

Bullying Harassment Denial of promotions

These are things that create stress, low self-esteem, inner anger and depression. Nervous breakdowns can cause harm such as homicide or suicide. It is very serious. You can also suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of institutional racism, like my son Omar Shariff Thornton. He suffered from all of the above, which ultimately caused him to commit homicide and suicide,

Did You Know?

By Mykal Kafi 60 percent of NBA players are bankrupt after five years. 25 percent of U$ households have no bank account. Three quarter of a million people are bankrupt in the U$ due to hospital costs. U$ has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world, 754 per 100,000 people. The average waiting time in an ER is four hours and seven minutes. 30 percent of hospital costs are for administrative expenses. There are 5 lobbyists for every member of Congress. 66 percent of the Senate and 41 percent of the House of Representatives are millionaires. There are 1.4 ,million gang members nationwide (2012) versus 700,000+ police officers. The Swiss withheld weapon parts from the U$ military due to disagreement on foreign policies in Iraq. Charles Drew, who developed techniques to provide blood to injured patients, was denied

What is Institutional Racism?

By Lillie Holliday

Symptoms of institutional racism: Unfair treatment Being called out of your name Discriminatory hiring practices Targeting

The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012

entry into a whites-only hospital after an accident and subsequently died. At one time, former Olympian Jesse Owens had to race horses for income. Harlem Hell Fighters were on the frontline longer than any other regiment during WWI, and never lost a soldier to capture by an enemy unit.

marijuana charges, more than the number arrested for murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault combined.

Black Clergy and Not Voting for Obama

By Cornell Lewis I read recently in a newspaper how some black clergy are asking African Americans not to vote for President Obama. Their [clergy] rationale is that Obama supports gay

marriage and this is against biblical teaching. It seems In England, the parents of youths who do not attend school could go to jail. Australia has a mandatory voting law, a citizen must have a written excuse for not voting in order to avoid a fine. weird for black people to reject a man of color as president over a religion that many of our black ancestors did not embrace until brought to America as slaves.

From my point of view, not to vote for a person who made history as the FIRST man of color to occupy the White House, in Washington is strange. There are other ethnic groups that supported their candidates when in the White House; even if there were disagreements (within these ethnic groups). Then there is the fact that black clergy have not been

In Japan, and inmate cannot be released from prison without being proficient in mathematics and language skills.

In the U$, if a person is hospitalized for trauma or is unconscious, by law they can be experimented on during their stay.

In some states, food stamp application information was used to check for felony/fugitive status.

strong in denouncing issues where politicians or others disrespected African Americans. President Obama came to an evolution in his thinking about same sex marriage, after all we are talking about adult human beings looking for solace with a significant person -of their choice- to live with. I think blacks need Obama not only for political reasons don't you whoop & holler for points in this article?

According to an FBI report, today, 80 percent of mortgage fraud is caused by bank officials. In the 1980s savings and loans scandal, 1,000 bank officials were investigated, 800 went to jail.

but historical significance as well. Well. Black clergy, why

Currently, a small number of investment banking officials are in jail, while over 5,000 Occupy Wall Street protestors have been arrested.

In 1998, 682,885 Americans were arrested on

The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012

Reviving Chivalry
By Timothy Fraylon As I walked to work one day in the pouring rain, I noticed a young woman wearing white, drenched from head to toe. I also noticed she had no umbrella or anything to directions to the bus stop. I gave them to her and continued my journey to work.

over 40% of those incarcerated. While most people believe that the 13th amendment ended slavery in the US, that is not completely true. It actuality, the 13th amendment reads "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall jurisdiction. Basically, what this means is that exist within the United States, or any place subject to their incarcerated individuals CAN be forced into slave labor. Hence the increase in the numbers of for profit prisons, run prisons, but who also contract prison labor out, and pay inmates little to nothing, which not only receive money from state governments to

cover herself with. She stopped me and kindly asked for

A light bulb went off in my head as my conscience brought me to a halt. I turned around and went back to her and kindly handed her my umbrella. She refused at first but I wouldnt take no for an answer. She thanked me soaked than her. She used it right away and I continued my walk. When I

Mass incarceration has been identified as a new system of slavery, AND as a new form of Jim Crow. According to Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, laws regulating the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals have established a new discriminatory caste system that especially negatively impacts Black males.

and I told her no problem and thought better me getting

got to my job my coworkers asked me why I was drenched and where my umbrella was. I told them the story and got a standing ovation and applause. If chivalry is dead I just revived it!!

Mass Incarceration as a Human Rights Violation

By Joanna Iovino According to Bureau of Justice statistics, the US incarceration rate is over 700 per 100,000 people. The International Centre for Prison Studies says that although There is no doubt that the system of mass incarceration in the US is a serious ongoing human rights violation. The to invite community members to attend a round table discussion regarding this vital issue. Hart Monitor and the Hartford Public Library would like

the US only holds about 5% of the worlds people, it holds 20% of the worlds prisoners. No other nation comes close to the US incarceration rate. Even South Africa during the height of apartheid did not imprison such a high percentage of its population.

MASS INCARCERATION ROUND TABLE October 24, 2012 Hartford Public Library (located in the SAND School) All are welcome! Ropkins Branch 6pm-7:30pm

The number of people in prison in the US has grown over 700% since 1970. Most prisoners are convicted of noncomprise only 12% of the US population, they make up violent drug offenses. And, although African-Americans

The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012

4Unity Appreciation Statement

First off I would like to start off by thanking GOD for so many things thee has allowed us to accomplish. I am writing this article to give gratitude to so many organizations and individuals out there who support For Unity Community Outreach Corporations mission and goals. Thank you so much!

lead in multiple contexts - in their everyday lives,

communities and schools. Small group discussions, large group lectures and team building exercises will provide a rich learning environment for them to develop and enhance their leadership skills. In collaboration with community-based agencies, our developmental disparities in African-American and

partnership seeks to minimize educational, economic and Hispanic/Latino-American males through programs and curriculum designed to enhance and develop leadership and social skills.

Every young male participant will: * Learn ways to enhance leadership skills * Network and fellowship with other young males and leaders of the Greater Hartford community * Understand the importance and value of education * Gain exposure to higher education and college This summer, 4Unity touched so many people through our peace initiative walks, our You Need to Know discussion/film series, and our Walking/Double Dutch sessions. I greatly thank all my 4Unity members for your time, commitment, and dedication thus far this past summer. There is so much more we have to accomplish this fall/winter in the Hartford community. Much appreciation to the Hart Monitor for your support and participation with 4unity! Sincerely, Anthony Maye opportunities Community * Have opportunities to give back to the Greater Hartford

The Facts are Clear:

* Nationally the graduation rates for white students is 78% compared with 55% of African-Americans and 52% of Hispanics * 15% fewer minority males graduate compared to minority females * In 2005-2006 the national drop rate decreased 7%

primarily due to an increase in the incarceration rate * In Hartford the drop-out rate is 28%, the third highest in the state * The number of violent crimes in Hartford is 2.42 times the national average research data) (Statistics are from the CT General Assembly and the FBI

About the Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program

The Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program (GHMYLP) is a highly structured and intense leadership experience designed to increase young mens capacity to

Its time to do more than just read the facts! The Dream Kyle Anderson had a dream. Kyle is an active member of Hartford, Connecticuts Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated (Kappa). His dream was to

develop a leadership program for young men in grades 810. The Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program

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(GHMYLP) is the result of collaboration, determination Man At A Time is GHMYLP's mottoand its goal. The mission of GHMYLP is to increase young mens

and persistence. Changing Our Communities, One Young

of our young men, the GHMYLP emerged. With the help of community and corporate partners, and dedicated volunteers, a dream became reality. Countless hours of planning and preparation produced a core framework and strategy consisting of three one-day modules intended to expose the Alpha Class of GHMYLP to the principles and responsibilities of leadership. (reprinted from www.ghmylp.org)

intellectual curiosity, confidence and ability to successfully direct their lives. GHMYLP teaches young men to be leaders in their communities and schools. Small group discussions with interactive exercises, large group lectures and team building initiatives provide a rich learning leadership skills. environment for the youth to develop and enhance their

Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome and All That it Entails

By Brother Kevin Muhammad The Black Community had better wake up and deal more effectively with our prevailing mental health issues. These issues are not happenstance, neither have they come about overnight. They are a result of centuries of trauma stemming from oppression and enslavement. In the psychiatric and therapeutic worlds, there is a condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. It is described in the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revised) as a persons response to intense fear, helplessness and horror as a result of a traumatic event. Well what was more traumatic than the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade? To this date we have not mentally recovered from this experience. In fact we suffer from a similar condition that many black psychologists refer to as Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. Dr. Joy Degruy Leary conducted qualitative research on this Syndrome and she describes it as A theory that explains the etiology (cause or origin) of the adaptive survival patterns of the African American communities throughout United States and the Diaspora. It is a condition that exists as a consequence of multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel

The founding members of the GHMYLP recognized that opportunities for our young men are reduced and negated by poor choices, negative pressure, low self-esteem, and little or no exposure to positive male influences. So GHMYLP was intentionally designed to provide male youth with access to striving and successful males of color who can teach them the importance of discipline, education, hard-work, integrity, family and community.

The Reality

From an unshakable belief that more could be done to improve, and in some cases interrupt the tenuous journey

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slaveryThis was then followed by institutional racism which continues to perpetuate injury. This may explain why we are afraid to deal with the mental conditioning that continues to lead to our disunity, fear of the oppressor and inferiority complexes. I know these are tough pills to swallow, but this truth shall set us free! We are in denial about our systemic family decline and are willingness to re-enter enslavement on economic, political and educational levels. Yes, we choose to remain modern day slaves rather than work for our own liberation. This is why we are so quick to rely on wealthy whites, while at the same time blame whites instead of taking responsibility as liberated persons should exert and exemplify. There are two solutions for Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. One is to obtain a thorough knowledge of ones self and history. The other is to utilize counseling and therapy to repair our mental health as a people collectively and as individuals. These mental health professionals who assist us to recover from this unique problem should be equipped with understanding of what happened to us through slavery and afterwards through institutional racism. We need help and we are crying out. WE DONT NEED MORE PRISONS!!! PRISONS DONT NECESSARILY REFORM THE MINDS OF PEOPLE!!! This is why there is so much recidivism and repeat offenses. People need mental adjustment, real rehabilitation and treatment or they will never be healed from the mindset that landed them in jail in the first place. WE MUST SAY NO TO MASS INCARCERATION. Why? More jails are being built yet crime is not lessening. Therefore on October 24th at 6pm in Hartford at the Ropkins branch of the Hartford Public Library located at 1750 Main Street (SAND School) there will be a roundtable discussion on alternative methods of reform than Mass Incarceration. Please join us.

Recommended Reading

NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, He who does not know can know from learning 1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

Assata by Assata Shakur

Yurugu by Marimba Ani Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver From the Browder Files by Anthony Browder The Black Holocaust by Del Jones

Join Us!!!
If you are interested in contributing to the Hart Monitor, please email info@thehartmonitor.com or call 860-4612611 Disclaimer: All articles in the Hart Monitor are the

opinion of the writer listed only, not necessarily the Hart Monitor as a whole or of its sponsors. The Hart Monitor is edited by Larry Risby and Joanna Iovino, and sponsored by the CT African American Emancipation Challenge (CAAEC). You can visit us online at www.thehartmonitor.com

The Hart Monitor Issue 8 October 2012