December 6, 2023
Stevie Wonder's Request To Speak With President Biden Remains Unanswered
Picture Source: Stevie Wonder's Facebook Page
The multitalented, Black elder and activist Stevie Wonder requested a special audience with President Joe Biden. American news reporter April Ryan of the Grio brought the suggestion to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, but Jean-Pierre's feedback on Ryan's request was not fully answered. Historically, Black celebrity's influence helped aid and uplift Black issues. As of today, Black citizens are still overwhelmingly:
Harassed by police
Mass incarcerated over petty fines and misdemeanors
Refused loans for businesses and mortgages
Blocked from quality job opportunities systematically
While still owed their reparations from the past. Stevie Wonder, along with a multitude of Black citizens, are concerned at the state of racial discrimination, among other barriers that push Black issues to the corner to fester. Per a Pew Research Study titled "On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart" on June 27, 2016, plus a 2019 study. The 2016 study found that "The survey finds that Black and White adults have widely different perceptions about what life is like for Blacks in the U.S." This could possibly correlate to why some of the press in attendance at the conference giggled at the suggestion that the president of these United States should have a sit-down discussion with Wonder. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2016/06/27/on-views-of-race-and-inequality-blacks-and-whites-are-worlds-apart/
Despite the cold shoulder President Joe Biden is showing to the 73-year-old Soul and R&B singer, Wonders' request remains valid despite critics' perspectives or opinions. An additional challenge for Wonder is that a portion of Americans, including non-white minorities, have a real problem with acknowledging that African Americans who survived chattel slavery plus First Nation genocide need and are owed reparations to be made whole as a group. Nevertheless, the Black agenda outlined to President Biden as a condition of obtaining the Black vote did reference the need for reparatory justice for Black citizens, period. Restorative financial compensation is the missing element that blocks Black citizens as a whole (not a few.) To advance productively while having equal access to protections and privileges as full-fledged citizens. In short, it's the right thing to do. And I'm with Stevie!
Per a study by the Harvard Kennedy School titled "HKS Faculty Members Cornell William Brooks And Linda Bilmes Explore Why The Extensive U.S. System of Restorative Justice Is So Disconnected From The Multi-Faceted, Intergenerational Harms Suffered By Black Americans." authored by LiBilmes and Cornell William Brooks Feb 3, 2022, clearly clarify how Black Americans are purposely skipped over when addressing reparatory justice.
Study shares:
"Farmers. Fishermen. People who’ve lost bank accounts or pensions. People who’ve had a bad reaction to a COVID vaccine. People who’ve had a reaction to any other vaccine. Indigenous people. Veterans. Descendants of veterans. People who get hurt on the job. People who built nuclear bombs. People exposed to pesticides. Coal miners who get black lung disease. People who lose paychecks or homes from floods, droughts, or other natural disasters. People who are impacted by trade agreements.
That’s a long list. But it's still a fraction of the many people and groups who receive compensation either from or through the government for the harms they have suffered. Every day, someone somewhere in America is being compensated under the concept of what is known as restorative justice, a type of justice that instead of meting out punishment to a wrongdoer, seeks to make the victims or their families whole—or at least repair them as much as possible. Restorative justice is also known as reparative justice, or, in the context of the experience of Black Americans from the first slave ships in the 1600s through to today, simply reparations."
Wonder's concerns are legitimate, and as Black Americans, we should support his efforts fully because Mr. Wonder has stepped up unashamedly to advocate on behalf of his people without compromise or shame. While not putting what mainstream White America or pop culture deems as important. Moreover, the reality is that Wonder has successfully addressed past issues with much success.
Question
In your opinion, should President Biden meet with Stevie Wonder? And do you think that Stevie Wonder can help push through reparations for his people within his lifetime?
The Beloved Reverend Robert Perkins of Emmanuel Baptist Church Has Passed
Rev Robert Perkins Picture Source Buckland Funeral Home December 2023
Sunrise: Nov 16, 1941 Sunset: Nov 21, 2023
To many, Rev Robert Perkins of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, has been a mighty prayer warrior with whom young and old have sought direction and advice. Rev Perkins was born on November 16, 1941, when the Civil Rights Movement emerged. Rev Perkins served his country faithfully during periods of war. Later, Perkins would serve his community as one of Middletown, New Jersey's first Black Police Officers, along with his brother, Mr. Kenneth Perkins, who passed away in the Spring of 2009, which was not an easy job. For the Black community, Perkins was a steadfast spiritual leader who didn't have a problem telling people exactly how he felt, whether they liked it or not. His beautiful wife, Mrs. Judy Perkins, had a voice that could make an angel cry. And his two beautiful daughters, Missy and Jennifer, were wise beyond their years. The Black community will show up in numbers to show respect to Rev Perkins and his family this Saturday at the church where he pastored and groomed many young scholars who grew up and attended Emmanuel Baptist Church Sunday School, Bible Bowl, Count Baise Red Bank Westside Track and Field Team, and Debator Club. All while leading many to Christ and strongly advocating for preserving the Black family in the love of Christ, Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Viewing will be on Friday, December 8, 2023, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Emmanuel Baptist Church 61A Cherry Street, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., followed by funeral services at Emmanuel Baptist Church 61A Cherry Street Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.
Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day December 4, 2023
Special thanks to"Brother Larry Scott Blackmon, Brother Damarcus Adisa, and Brother Ramon Peralta" Picture location One World Trade Center. Picture Source Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Facebook Page.
Alpha Phi Alpha celebrated its 117th Anniversary on December 4, 2023. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by seven Black men in the United States in 1906. The seven visionary founders referred to as the "Jewels" of this historic Black fraternity are:
Henry Arthur Callis
Charles Henry Chapman
Eugene Kinckle Jones
George Biddle Kelly
Nathaniel Allison Murray
Robert Harold Ogle and
Vertner Woodson Tandy
In the tradition of the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, establishing the brotherhood brought forth like-minded Black men of influence, fame, integrity, and strength who changed the world with their talent, passion, and conviction of heart. A few of those men were Paul Robeson, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Duke Ellington, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., to name a few. In recognition of this auspicious occasion, One World Trade Center, 151 West 42nd Street, and One Bryant Park were lit in Black and Gold. Congratulations to Alpha Phi Alpha for its 117th Anniversary. To learn more about the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, click here:
https://apa1906.net/our-history/#:~:text=Alpha%20Phi%20Alpha%E2%84%A2%2C%20the,African%20descendants%20in%20this%20country.
Ding Dong George Santos Is Gone!
On Friday, December 1, 2023, the G.O.P. House of Representatives voted 311 to 114 to favor George Santos's dismissal from Congress. Santos, a Hispanic politician who claimed to be Jewish, a college graduate, a Wall Street mogul, plus that several of his staff members were slain at the Pulse Night Club, even though they were not in attendance when the Orlando nightclub shooting occurred. Just like Santos's family members were not in attendance when the holocaust happened, was ousted from his office for telling one too many fibs. The former Republican congressman stated so many lies that both Democratic and Republican House Representatives, in a decisive bipartisan vote, stood together for the New York Republican Congressman's removal. Santos joins a short list of lawmakers expelled from the House for reasons uniquely of his own making. Three previous expulsions in the House were for siding with the Confederacy during the Civil War, which is treason. After his expulsion on Friday, Santos swiftly fled the Capitol building, telling a parade of reporters, "To hell with this place!" As he jumped on his broom and flew away.
On A Side Note
Beyonce has a new movie, and Sean Combs is experiencing female trouble again.
Thanks for reading the Echo, New Jersey's oldest Black-owned newspaper since 1904.
