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Mr. President, This is a call for help [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-06-08

Mr. President,

I am writing this letter with an urgency that you, the VP, and the Whitehouse staff should take seriously. You have a good chance of losing many voters, including the Black vote that supported you so gallantly.

I will not describe in detail the disappointing lack of effort you have made in law enforcement’s role in the [Black] community in this country. You hired more (300,000?) without requiring training to improve their methods. The implication is that they do not need improvement. They received more money for everything except the training needed to stop killing unarmed people and start protecting them, criminal or not. They are human beings first, Americans, then criminals. They are not to be whipped, kicked, or insulted while handcuffed. They are not to be shot 80+ times accidentally. They are someone’s son, brother, sister, father, and husband who made a mistake, or we made a mistake offering a solution out of reach for several complicated reasons that have a confusing effect on the lives of so many Americans. Our American mores are an imperfect model for some Americans to understand when they fail because of ignorance, health, or historical facts that support the lack of belief in this system of laws and the promise of the preamble of our constitution.

There are no innocents, Mr. President, there are the accused and those not accused that live their lives as if they never wronged another human being. We all have come short of perfection, and that admission is the first step in correcting the ill-fitting suit of inequality.

But Your lack of challenging the word “Woke,”; a word used to defame Black people and every program directed towards promoting diversity or equality for all minorities, is telling. This is a quiet spring that is destined to be large as the derogatory flood of racial, gender, et al. hurtful expressions protected by an antiquated First Amendment that protects the liar but punishes those that respond too quickly without a sane re-thinking of what is required; the use of the legal system that does not always work.

It is a huge hill you must climb before election season, and quickly marshal the forces necessary to start action to attack this ingrained infection in American history. Your lack of understanding, because politicians think town halls and polling -safe areas- reflect any opinion that really matters to street-level voters, again, is telling and will not be forgotten by any voter on any side of the political continuum.

“Woke” is anti-Black people, anti-Black culture, Black history, equality, and anti-Black mores, that many of other races do not understand, and that is understandable with the separation we allow in almost all social sectors of the country.

The users of the word ‘woke’ know what they are saying, and you are not so insensitive or so political or too busy not to realize this fact.

Do you know what woke means in the community that has used it for so long?

Woke is awareness of your surroundings versus “Asleep” in your surroundings and unaware of the opportunities and dangers surrounding your group, community, and family. It was used in sports by my coaches in football when I missed a block, in basketball when I made an errant pass–– “You ain’t woke out there.” When a dancer could really dance and knew all the latest dances, that dancer was up to date, Woke, and people watched and imitated the best dancer so that they may be up to date on the dance floor. So that they could be “woke.”

Woke people keep up with politics while working two jobs. It was when discussing the state of the universe was easier than knowing the complete version of American History and why we were left out. The undereducated realized that American Civics in our schools were separate but equally sleep. How about allowing the truth to reign in teaching the future of the country? Lessons learned. Preached by preachers to ensure we know the way forward, that hope would remain in the worst of situations because we understood what was right versus the act so painful it threatens sanity. This awareness kept us alive in the direst circumstances.

Woke people (businesspeople and ministers) were the ones that sought answers to the legal, racial, and political machinations of this country. The everyday worker with bills, family responsibilities, and community to take care of. That is all woke has ever meant to the Black community decades before it became a pejorative rebranded in white conservative politics. Woke was used by several “Woke Criers” in the present movement to give so-called white Christians a reason to combine religion with governance. But every religion practiced in America is not represented in the attempted change. What happens when the religions conflict? What religion commands authority? That was one thing the Constitution got absolutely correct that no sane logical man may deny: The separation of church and state.

Mr. President, your advisors were too ‘James Carville’ or not the average voter. Many Americans did not know what ‘being Woke’ was until Carville said, “… and stop saying woke! What is that anyway?” Carville immediately sided with that level of politics that brands people for movements, “It’s the XXXX economy stupid!!!” was thought to be a message to Republicans that really was a message to all voters, but especially democrats that did not catch the subtlety in the desperate exhortation to encourage the vote.

This noun woke is used as a pejorative. ‘Woke' is a state of consciousness (tinged with some paranoia) and fear of failing since failing could cost you your livelihood and life. Determined to reveal that unknown piece of information and unravel the mystery of why I do not belong when the written values of this country, writ large, say I do.

The meaning of the word woke was deeper than the extent of the present-day users’ experiences. The conservatives, the young Black people, many white people, and those that chose to deny the use of the old language in their presence and teach “Proper English” were denied that experience by parents and other respected people of the community that thought our old language was too crass.

Having only experienced a very regimented education and indoctrination for the whole of their family life. The purveyors of the everyday memes and culture for people of that age, race did not matter. The dominant group determined what fashionable, homes, hairstyles, cars, and even the way you talked was. In Determining the social mores of the average young American, the group set the bar high with their nurtured lawns, PTA moms, and Dads without a humanist point-of-view that would have ostracized him from others in his group. The one thing those seeking to imitate the dominant mores could not replicate was “privilege.”

From the formative years to young adults straight out of university life with a splash of social invention gleaned from others that were not dominant, the psychological need to belong drove the outcasts further out after realizing they could only mimic the dominant group and celebrate the actions as theirs. From songs, dances, and tales to your manners, European manners mattered not the mannerism gleaned from diving into the customs of your homeland, the homeland of all human life, Africa.

Celebrated as brilliant by the white teens, Rock ‘N’ roll was taboo. Truly unique It was too open, too naked emotionally, too sexually suggestive, not European, and thus not anything worth knowing if you were a white youth trying to make it in the great white way.

Rock “N” Roll prevailed and flourished worldwide, the same with jazz, hip-hop, and rap music practiced worldwide in red communist countries and democratic countries; in rich and poor countries it has brought joy, and pain and it remains because of the subtle humanity of the will to express what is yours. Some art does not require schooling. It is a part of all of us. We just need the passion to create art.

That is what the Black experience has done in this country, to create something from nothing delivered by the USA art community. To see it accepted by all whether you like it, love it, or hate it, it is here and will be written into our history, so stop the denial of our contributions to this country. Being woke in this acceptance will move the country forward. Call it progress.

It is evidence of a subtle dullness in what is considered the unique blindingly white American exceptionalism.

Their society was a mix of white European social traditions, and anything outside that circle was deemed uncouth, uncivilized, and ill-conceived indoctrination, the education of a 24-year-old led to believe all he/she needed to know was written–– Masters Degree.

Some of the newly minted Masters had never had an honest discussion with a minority of any kind. What the woke knew was not worth knowing. So he just talked slang and smoked weed pretending to be part of a that you could not do unless you were around him/her. Knowing that a woke person is about being woke, Just about partying, drinking, and chasing girls. What an education!

There were “Mass Meetings. From the dog catcher to the President, they were discussed and hotly debated (kind words). Later during the sixties when the southern whites continued to terrorize Black people with little to no involvement of law enforcement.

There were “Mass Meetings” and the churches were standing room only when an event such as the march across the Edmond Pettus Bridge occurred, or Bull Connor assaulted Black children and women with dogs and fire hoses. When the four young girls were slaughtered in the 16th Street church bombing.

Sometimes the meeting lasted too long and interfered with the rest the working Black people needed for rest to make a living, but I never witnessed many people leaving early. As the people left there was an eerie quiet as if digesting what was discussed, but more discussions on the way home in the car, or while comfortably walking on the sidewalk feeling safe by the number of people on the streets. Sometimes they would go home and sit on the front porch, those that did not have the early shifts at the yarn mills, pipe shops, et al jobs. Someone would bring out the home-made wine, brandy, pie, sweet breads, and other refreshments and make sure the children were in bed. Sometimes they would trip over the children near the door or in the hallway that fell asleep while trying to listen to “grown folks talk.” it could last long into the night.

These communities worked hard for little pay; it was Alabama in the mid-sixties. But they tried to stay woke. They wanted to know the world that they never knew enough about. What was happening to their community, family, and way of life? They wanted to be “Woke” not asleep. Asleep was the pejorative in our world of education and politics.

Most Black people were surprised at your successes, Mr. President. A great deal voted against Trump, not for you. After you were so understanding during the COVID epidemic a few were slowly changing their minds about you and your past affiliations with the Dixiecrats, which weighed heavily with the riots in the North against busing and integration et al. You see, they believed a harmful person may change their direction, but he can’t change his primary values. He remains that animal. But you give him room, you give him a chance to repent, and watch closely his actions while giving her/him every opportunity to involve him/herself in a positive way in your world and allow you the same opportunity.

It was a disappointment when you did not support VP Harris as Obama supported you. Now those woke minds have doubts. Will she be an asset to your race since few Americans know her capabilities? Will the fear that you become incapacitated, God forbid, and she becomes POTUS override reasoning? That scenario strikes fear in my community because it is little to no polling here, and the idea of another Black POTUS, well, it strikes fear in the white nationalist’s organizations, your unintended nemesis. There is a fear in the Black community that VP Harris does not look ready, and first impressions weigh heavier and last longer than actual facts, initially. That is all she gets from those that discount her because she is a Black woman and a Black Vice President in line to be another Black POTUS. Some voters may stay at home without voting at all. That would be a vote for the Republican candidate.

Vice President Harris may be ready for the oval office. She is certainly capable. Your mistake was not selling her to the American voter who feels you were a solid, honest POTUS, with great political instincts and a comradery with the other party. You could get things done! But who is your backup? A Black VP, C. Harris. A VP that has not had a major win in your administration has not had a successful staff and has changed too many people too many times; may be a bridge too far.

VP Harris is hardly a noticeable force in any part of your policy agenda. The trips abroad were not impressive; no fault of her own. They received sparse coverage and bad objectives. Could I have made better branding for a Black VP abroad? It is a throw-up, rather a toss-up.

Meanwhile, you were soaking up the White House coverage, as is almost always the case for the POTUS. Popular opinion believes you wanted the glory for the great programs you successfully implemented, and you have done well in the infrastructure bill and job creation. Now that inflation is receding, it’s all great news for your first term. What role has VP Harris played in those successes? If I have to ask, and I’m less than moderately adept in politics at your level, you are failing.

Some of the wins could have been shared by VP Harris. I can count on one hand, and one of my fingers is arthritic that I don’t use, the times that she walked out to the press conference and was able to say with an open mike, “That was a big f-ing deal” or just be there clapping, walking away patting you on the shoulder as you would do to POTUS Obama. Reassuring, being the supportive partner, the counselor for the POTUS. You were in the oval office when important decision-making was taking place, “I was the last one to leave the room.” I believe this was your quote. Impressive, a powerful statement.

At the VA Hospital this morning, standing in line, there’s always a line. It compares with voting lines in voting sights in Atlanta. I heard three white vets discussing the VP standing adjacent to the picture of POTUS Biden and VP Harris and one said, “She ain’t worth a sh!#,” I turned quickly and asked, “Are you talking about the VP? With a smile, but they wouldn’t bite on my deceptive smile. Silence.

I walked away, leaving my spot in the line. They moved up. Isn’t that the case too often? You get tired of fighting… just for a little while but the opposition needs no reat. You need encouragement and a friendly ear. You do not quit. You get tired, discouraged, and a little mean. You rest, get mentally awake and morally straight, and start again. You know what the future is if you do not attempt to make a change; and that is Woke, knowing and artfudelivering youunderstandings in a timely and appropriate manner––if possible, Mr. President.

Woke is a word that’s hard to hold in one basket. It has so many applications. It is wide and sometimes inconvenient, but it is a word that has five to six generations of understanding in my community, and unless James Carville was living, (not just hanging around) in Black New Orleans, he knows squat about the word woke and very little about the true feelings of the people in ninth ward. They count, and being woke is not their problem it’s an attribute. Love it or not, it’s here and will not be banished by a short uncouth racist in Florida.

In a neighborhood of about 14,000 people over 99% Black, in the year 2000, the ninth ward was thriving. That means surviving and being happy before Katrina. There were barbershops, fast food stores, churches, entertainment venues. In the past when whites would not allow Blacks to participate in the Mardi Gras downtown proper, they would dress up in costumes, and bands would play and march in a parade that pulled tourists from the main streets to see them.

Today there are just very tall weeds, a house scattered here and there about 700 of the 14,000 people have returned after a decade. Some sold their plots to the state and left Louisiana altogether.

Tired of attempting to stay. Some say it is so depressing they think they made a mistake rebuilding. Con men took monies from homeowners. Federal funds targeted to rebuild their homes. They used toxic materials or just did not show after getting the first payment. They have not recovered since Katrina although their home is standing it is uninhabitable. They would not tell it as I am telling you now, not for lack of effort. There are not many people listening. That’s a fact. Ten years to rebuild, no schools, a beat down community center that serves a a place to be with old friends that lived in ninth ward and have moved on to other places in the city. No leadership.

The probability of you reading this letter, Mr. President, is slim to none, but a citizen may dream of a politician that may be curious enough to arbitrarily pull out a few letters each week to take back to his study to read while nodding off after dinner, or after lunch on a weekend versus just listening to his paid and unpaid advisors. That would be a good start to listening to the voices that voted for you, without all the noise of political party persuasion with something to sell. God knows I have heard enough.

Respectively,

James E Wright

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2023/6/8/2174162/-Mr-President-This-is-a-call-for-help

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