Monday, March 24, 2008

america the divided: dunbar village and why you don't know about it

nowhere is the racial divide in this country more evident than during the evening news. i can't believe that everyone in america doesn't know what happened at dunbar village last june. aside from bet news and other african-american news sources (programs that most americans that aren't of color don't watch, to put it lightly), i have yet to see any national news coverage to discuss or address this issue whatsoever.

this is why so many black people are angry and in a panic. this is why we have our own news sources and radio programs and newspapers. because the resources that are for the common good and that are supposedly for all of us aren't reporting about what's happening in our communities. so we have to do it. we aren't being divisive. they aren't being inclusive. they never have been.

i can certainly tell you all about what's happening in your collective community. why can't you tell me what's happening in mine?

until basic issues like reporting the news are rectified, i will never believe that there is equality or justice here. those are buzzwords used to pitch this country favorably in a global marketplace. it's all a marketing ploy. as always, we're selling the idea of what america is. what's funny is that everyone else in the world can see right through it.

but i digress.

the thing that is so profoundly disturbing about the entire dunbar village issue is that a black woman was assaulted to this extreme -- as many as 10 black youths beat and sexually assaulted her in front of her 12 year old son and forced both of them to do some pretty sick things -- and the nationally recognized so-called leaders of the black community have rushed to defend and protect the accused and not the victims. for a long time, i was fairly convinced that we have been conditioned to denigrate black women. unfortunately, this entire situation proves me right.

now what?

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DEAR READERS:

This mass open letter is a call to action for all black people who care about the safety and welfare of black women and children in America. If you are concerned about the recent developments about Dunbar Village, please copy the post below, and email it to all of your friends and coworkers.

WE WILL NO LONGER BE SILENT ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK WOMEN.

Copy and email below, and title your email: Stop Al Sharpton and the NAACP from endangering Black Women!

Let us know in the comments section if you are supporting the movement to protect black women from black on black violence.

______________________________


Stop Al Sharpton and the NAACP from endangering Black Women!


Right-thinking black people everywhere are stunned by the recent betrayal of Al Sharpton and the NAACP in a situation that is just too outrageous to ignore.

This is a painful story to tell, but it's important for the moral, law-abiding majority of black Americans to understand exactly why Al Sharpton and the NAACP must be immediately stopped.

On June 18, 2007, a black woman was gang raped by 10 youths and forced at gunpoint to have sex with her own 12 year old son in a housing complex called Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach, Florida. The young men not only viciously punched, kicked and sliced this sister and her
son with glass objects, but they also blinded her boy by pouring nail polish remover into his eyes.

The young men forced this sister and son to lay naked in a bathtub together, and attempted to set them on fire (they could not find matches). The youths boldly took cell phone pictures so that they could enjoy their violent, immoral and sadistic acts at a later time. The violence continued for more than three hours, and although this sister's neighbors heard her screams, no one called the police or came to her aid.

This sister and her son had to walk a mile to the hospital, because the assailants stole her car, and threatened to kill her and her family if she told the authorities.

Only four of the young men have been apprehended, while the remaining six are on the loose, doing Lord knows what in our communities. There is no manhunt for the remaining suspects.

As devastating as this story is, what the NAACP and Al Sharpton have done about it will simply take your breath away:

Not only did the NAACP ignore hundreds of requests to assist this woman because it was 'outside the scope of their mission', but they joined forces with Al Sharpton, and sent their lawyers to speak out IN SUPPORT OF THE RAPISTS.

You heard me right.

Even though there is conclusive DNA evidence and signed confessions, the NAACP and Al Sharpton are saying that it is 'unfair' to not offer bail to these four alleged rapists. They even had a press release about it.

IT IS TIME FOR SENSIBLE BLACK PEOPLE TO STOP THIS KIND OF NONSENSE, ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Al Sharpton and the NAACP are banking on the belief that you and I will be just like this black woman's neighbors. Join me by saying NOT THIS TIME. We will not turn a deaf ear to when we hear calls for help from one of our sisters and brothers who are being victimized.

Stop the NAACP and Al Sharpton's National Action Network from committing this disgrace in our community. Just this once, let's stand up and be counted by saying that we demand safe neighborhoods for our women and children.

Here is what you can do:
  1. Spread the word. Forward this email if your conscience and concern have been raised. Send it to every concerned black citizen that you know.
  2. Demand an explanation from your local NAACP chapter about thiscase. Cancel your membership to these organizations, and write a letter explaining that you will return when they prioritize the public safety needs of black women and children.
  3. If you know an African American reporter or a black radio talk show
    host, forward this story them and ask them to follow up on it.
  4. If you do not belong to these organizations, call and write them to tell them of your outrage and displeasure:
NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free: (877) NAACP-98
Local: (410) 580-5777

National Action Network
Rev. Al Sharpton
106 W. 145th Street
Harlem, New York 10039
212-690-3070
877-NAN-HOJ1

Each Friday at 9:00am, visit any of the websites below, which will give you an update on the status of this situation. DO NOT LET THIS GO. Let us start working for safer neighborhoods in black communities.

Read the history of the Dunbar Village problem here:

http://www.dunbarvillage2008.blogspot.com

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Queen Esther for taking the time and dedicating space on your virtual world to talk about the problems we face.

Queen Esther said...

you're more than welcome.

if the national news would give this story half the attention that they still give jon benet ramsay's case whenever there's a new "development," i'd be somewhat satisfied.

i can't believe those other six rapists aren't behind bars right now. where is "america's most wanted" when you really need them?