Six-Year-Old Girl Arrested; 14-Year-Old Honestie Hodges Dies

 

As I said in my previous post, why was this child arrested?  What could she possibly have done to warrant her being taken out of her classroom and led away in handcuffs?  

Did she kill somebody?  

Links to resources are below.   My work is about solutions, so please do check out the resources below.  

I have now watched the full video - apparently, the child threw a temper tantrum.  A TEMPER TANTRUM, Y'ALL!!!  The teacher thought the appropriate thing to do in this situation was to call the cops.  The cops came and arrested this six-year-old girl, and as far as I can tell, did not even read her her rights or tell her the charges against her.

Another question:  Why did they arrest her before her grandmother arrived?  There are a lot of child protection issues and safeguarding issues here.  Could this really not have waited until her grandmother was able to get there, to talk to the child, to ride with her in the police car, to be there with her when she was arrested?

And another:  what kind of psychological scarring has she been left with?  She is going to make some therapist very wealthy one day.  

I have now learned about another handcuffing incident.  Honestie Hodges, 11 years of age  when she was arrested and handcuffed AT GUNPOINT, has now sadly died of covid-19 at the age of 14.   George Stinney was the same age when he was executed.  

Apparently, the police mistook Honestie for a middle-aged white woman who was a suspect in a stabbing.  

Again, I have questions about the type of psychological damage she will have suffered.  We may never know the answers in Honestie's case.  

The United States incarcerates more children than any other country.  We have a long history of arresting and incarcerating children, including George Stinney, who was executed at the age of 14. 

Also, check out this article about the incarceration of children in the U.S.  The rate of arrest and incarceration of Black children in the U.S. is twice the rate for white children. 

I'm so upset about these incidents, both recent and historic, and I'm sure you are, too.  To see young lives cut short by the criminal injustice system is just heartbreaking. 

Go here for my blog post, How to Escape from the Prison System.

We have so much power.  It's time we started to use it for our benefit.

Go here for How to Get Clear, Precise Answers.  Our minds are incredibly powerful, and we MUST use them to protect our children and protect our communities.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) can help to PREVENT these kinds of incidents from happening.  Go here for some NVC resources and go here for books about NVC.

As I said above, my work is about solutions.   Please share this with your networks and please comment below.

Brilliant Video: You about to Lose Your Job

Brilliant video:  You about to Lose Your Job. 

I saw this on this article from The Root:  White Couple Lose Jobs and Face Eviction.   This white couple decided to verbally abuse a Lyft driver, repeatedly calling him a "sand n-word" because he insisted that they wear face masks while he drove them during the pandemic.  The woman RECORDED THE INCIDENT on her phone. 

As a result, the couple have lost their jobs and are facing eviction from their home.   

I am wondering, how can we get other white people to record their own racist and abusive behaviour? 

My heart is breaking.  My tears are flowing.  No, hang on, wait a minute, those tears are for all the Black people who have lost their jobs, been denied opportunities, been unlawfully detained, been falsely convicted of crimes and been killed in officer-related incidents.  

See also:  Six-Year-Old Girl Arrested.  This child was taken out of the classroom in handcuffs. 

See also:  Injustice:  The Film the Police Tried to Ban.  

The government have told us to wear face masks in order to avoid infecting others with covid-19.  If the covid restrictions are getting you down, check out my Coronavirus Resources. 

Small Axe: The Mangrove at the BBC

The Real Mangrove NIne

Imagine you are sitting in a local Caribbean cafe, enjoying a meal with your friends and loved ones, and the police come in and smash the place up.  I heard about the Mangrove  many years ago.  

 

This is the first of four films which The BBC will be screening on the BBC under the heading of "Small Axe".  

These films by Steve McQueen, who directed Twelve Years a Slave, will explore the experience of Black people in Britain.  

All the proprietor, Frank Crichlow, wanted was to run a Caribbean restaurant which reflected his culture and that of his local community.  But the racism of the police turned it into a battleground.  They are shown brutally trying to close down the Mangrove and even assaulting Frank Crichlow in the courtroom. 

This film, The Mangrove, is still available on iplayer.  This article about the Mangrove and the Mangrove Nine contains footage of the events described.  It also gives background information, including the fact that drugs, which apparently came from a police lab, were found on the premises.  

Black activists, including Darcus Howe, got involved in the struggle around the Mangrove.  This was an education for many people, not least Frank Crichlow.  

If you have not seen this film, you definitely need to see it.  I hope it will be shown internationally.  

Plus journalist Peter Kellner talks about giving evidence at the Old Bailey trial of the Mangrove Nine. 

See also:  Injustice:  The Film the Police Tried to Ban.  

Plus, we discussed television showing films about the Black experience here.  

Please share this with your networks and please comment below.  Thanks.  

 

Success Strategies with Zhana: What's on Your Mind?

Kamala Harris

At the time of recording, the result of the U.S. election had just been announced - a few minutes before we went on air, we found out Joe Biden was the new President, with Kamala Harris his new VP.  Listen below for more. 

What do you think about this?  What prospects does a Biden Presidency hold for our communities? 

Did you listen to our Election Day Roundtable?  Or our Post-Election Roundtable? 

Meanwhile, here in the UK, we are back in lockdown due to the coronavirus covid-19.  How do you feel about this?  Will it work to stem the rise of covid-19?  And what will it do to the economy? 

 

This scientist says the pandemic is over in the UK.  I find this fascinating.  What do you think? 

Our caller from Ghana told us the President of Tanzania had tested a papaya - and it had been found covid-positive.  

Plus:  Before Black History Month in the UK, why was there so much Black programming?  What are your thoughts?  

Go here to listen. 

Please share this with your networks and please leave your comments below.  Thanks.