THE ASBURY VOICE - JUNE 2020 #10

‌

THE ASBURY VOICE

Journal of the People

You are not voiceless but are often unheard

We can change that together

June 2020 # 10

Keep

an eye out

for Kokopelli's

message

In This Issue:

Introduction and Purpose

Experiencing Homelessness in Asbury Park during COVID-19

*Kokopelli - Charles Trott

Protecting Residents Against Gentrification - Felicia Simmons

Opinion - Murder of Ahmaud Arbery - Brother Ty

Barrack O'Bama's Tweet

The Knee by Lorraine Stone

Note from "Rev Gil"

Asian and Pacific Islander History Month - Charles Trout

Introduction and Purpose of The Asbury Voice

CLICK HERE

Experiencing Homelessness in Asbury Park During COVID-19 (5)

I met JK at Trinity Church on a recent Saturday morning where he was helping with the distribution of food to those experiencing homelessness during the COVID -19 pandemic. I discovered JT has been experiencing homelessness himself for the past 8 months for the first time in his life. And on top of that the trucking company he works for needed to close its doors during the shutdown due to their work being considered nonessential.

JK is fortunate to be a trucker. One of the few times he listened to his father and grandfather, who were both truckers, was when they encouraged him to follow in their footsteps. He is under contract with this company and can only lose his job if he quits or they go out of business. He knows he has a job waiting for him when things change. That gives him a huge advantage during this crisis.

Eight months ago, he left his apartment in the morning and in the evening on returning from work, he found a note on the door, “Mr. K you no longer live here.” No warning. No notice. Nothing. When he knocked on the landlord’s door, the landlord saw him - and pulled the shade down. JK stayed at the Mission that night and the next day went to the police and saw his lawyer. A Judge gave him 30 days to find a place - saying a landlord must give you notice.

The story JK shared with me about his life demonstrates very clearly how one’s life can change at the drop of a hat through no fault of one’s own. One minute everything is fine and the next moment you are putting your stuff in storage for $300/month and trying to find a way to survive. One moment you have a place to sleep and shower and watch sports on your TV and movies you enjoy and then nothing. You negotiate with a store to clean up in the morning in their bathroom before they open, find another person who will allow you to sleep in their storage area at night if you promise to be out of there by 5 am, not eat or drink or leave anything behind. You do what you have to do. You don’t tell your kids because you don’t want them to worry. They don’t need to know. You keep trying to find a place. Where you live is not important. It doesn’t matter. It just has to be affordable. A place big enough to get your stuff out of storage.

In the same breath, JK speaks about how God has been good to him in so many ways. Each morning he wakes he has so much gratitude. His grandmother often reminded him that people don’t give credit where credit is due. He clearly believes that God has a plan for him. He knows he is struggling now, but also knows food is not an issue. There are so many nice people in the world. They help keep him going. There were times he was really discouraged when nothing was going right but something always happened and he knows God’s hand was there. It lifts his spirit and he has the strength to take the next step. His former neighbors reached out to him, churches offer food, and out of the blue people slip money into his hand at the most desperate times. So he hangs in there. And tries to keep positive that something will pop up for him.

People often hear the word homeless and place a person in a category. Maybe it helps them deal with the reality. During this pandemic it appears that many more people will find themselves in JK's shoes. The gap between the haves and have nots is getting so much larger.

But I will end this article on a positive note.Do you remember Bobby G? Click Here I recently called him just to check up on him during the pandemic. It is hard to find good news these days, but he made my day, A month ago he signed a lease with Beacon Hill Apartments at Fort Monmouth. His voucher went through and he was accepted. He went through a struggle to get furniture [finding a table and some chairs recently by a dumpster] but is now settled in and finding a respite. After six years of experiencing homelessness his prayers were answered. I spoke with Bobby G on the boardwalk in March before the shutdown and he was so excited at the time. He told me that on going home the previous day, when he got to his hotel room, he noticed a group of people not far from the front door. It was a Puerto Rican family with two beautiful young boys, who were looking for money to travel to PA where there was a possibility for them. Bobby G knew immediately in his heart that all the money he had received that day was meant for them. And he gave it to them, clearly knowing God was asking him to do that. He knew deep in his heart that God would repay him one hundred fold.

Bill Stevens

THOSE SYMBOLS THAT KOKOPELLI POINT TO ARE ADINKRA SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE

CLICK HERE and Click Here

CHARLES TROTT

Protecting Residents

Against Gentrification

Greetings friends,

I hope all is well with you and your family. To all who know me advocacy is a cornerstone of my life -making sure my beloved city of Asbury Park stays a place where all are welcome. This three year task with my dedicated team of fellow AP activists and professionals of the Asbury Park Affordable Housing coalition and Fair Share Housing was a labor of love and heart break. This is an example of how "We the People" has real meaning ...

FELICIA SIMMONS

CLICK HERE for an excellent opinion piece written by Felicia in the Asbury Park Press this past week.

Click Here for a statement made by the Asbury Park City Council

Click Here for a release by the Asbury Park Housing Coalition (APHAC), an independent, grass roots directly democratic community group of residents working with the city to create a affordable housing ordinances for the entire city, wishes to respond to some of the comments and questions made in the last council meeting on 4/23/20

‌

OPINION

Murder of Ahmaud Arbery

by Brother Ty

In my opinion.....

Isn't it interesting that laws exist to protect the lives of animals; there are severe fines for killing one out of season. Jail sentences for abusing them, campaigns against anyone that harms an animal. Marchers proclaim the right to each life. There are also spiritual conflicts when we recognize we are living in a society that decries the abuse or death of animals: whether done by kids that wantonly violently abuse cats or laboratory rat or monkeys. Those that successfully protect those rights celebrate the compassionate discharge of judicial decisions to liberate the victims: they post triumphant videos of their release from the horrible conditions into freedom at last. This news receives front page coverage or a million hits on social media. The fact remains that animals have an intrinsic right to life.

This is a clear and overwhelming reminder that life is indeed sacred. It is surely sacred until, it comes to African People identified as Black people in this country. We see that there is never the same societal outcry, protest or collective marches leading to compassionate discharge of judicial decisions to liberate the victims and provide justice and enact protective law going forward.

Unfortunately we can be killed at any time, under any circumstance in this country without consequence. We are always in season, and we are always vulnerable to dying as a result of an opinion of us. Death has a different albeit tainted opinion regarding our communities, it has been found to be acceptable, socially palatable when it is our community dying: when it is our community members being killed. The power of opinion is tainted and has been since we were defined by others as a color in this country. We were defined and opined as colored by a society that sees us as a color and not a human being.

Opinions of us are imbued with the denial of our humanity. America is now and always has been a white supremacist nation. Racial orientation is a recent human characteristic imposed and imprinted upon us; yes all of us. Point of fact if we review the first arrivals to this land and search the ships manifest we will see that all passengers were listed by country of origin not color. The lists do not have white or negro passengers at all. I specifically refer to actual documents from that time not doctored or interpreted contemporary scholarly works.

There can be no other opinion of all people which can exist until white supremacy is abolished: if only in the minds of the people: our thinking must change. Color designation is loaded with symbolic inference and the implicit and absolute denial of our humanity.

There have been 400+ years of dehumanization and disenfranchisement all based on an opinion of us as a people.The result of this devaluation of our worth as humans based on white supremacy: has created the opinion that perpetrators of crimes against our people’s humanity are immune to prosecution almost with impunity. The list is long, longer than we may imagine, it is codified into law and vigilantly enforced by defenders of the sacred right of supremacist to defend the sacredness of whiteness at all cost.

This nation is poised at the precipice a major conflict based on the false notion that white supremacy is being threatened by an imagined foe. This leads to the events that caused the defenders of white supremacist notion of racial entitlement to apply the right to secure the safety and protection of their community: resulting in the needless death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was summarily executed while jogging while black not human but black. Still no action by law enforcement or by those responsible for judicial oversight. Killed because of their opinion....ignored by their opinion....not prosecuted invariably by their opinion

The list of victims is too long and goes back way, way, way back. It is time for a change….

Brother Ty.

President Obama's tweet

My Statement on the death of

George Floyd

Click Here

12 year old Keenan Bryant's Powerful Song

I Wanna Live

Click Here

Lyrics

Click Here

The Knee

by Lorraine Stone

A knee in the collective neck of Black Amerikka again and again

until we gasp we can not breathe.

We can't speak, move, walk, talk, live because you are killing me. Softly.

No gun, no hands, no taser, no violently swinging nightstick, no words.

Just a knee pressing firmly, steadily, calmly. Killing me softly. With a knee.

Note from "Rev. Gil"

Langston Hughes in his poem about America, writes, “America was never America to/for me.” As long as America is for some people, and not for All people, it will not be America for any people.

The four policemen who killed George Floyd, did not view him as a “Family Member”. They could not imagine him being their American brother. His race for them, made of him an alien, a less-than-equal, one who did not deserve respect for his humanity. Their wearing of blue, for a few policemen in blue, blue uniforms make them superior to any man whom God has draped in black skin. “Driving while Black in New Jersey” often has meant something “less-than-positive.” I am a witness!

I still believe Asbury Park can be a “Model City by the Sea”, that is “Woke” to what an authentic justice City means. May its Justice Reputation become as well known as the Stone Pony and Bruce Springsteen!

“Rev. Gil”/Gil Caldwell

New Brunswick

Asian and Pacific Islander History Month

The Small Take It All

by Charles Trott

As you may or may not know, May was Asian and Pacific Islander History Month. When most of us think of Asia, we think CHINA or perhaps, INDIA. But what about Oceania, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia or VietNam. They comprise about 10% or so, of the countries on the Asian mainland. And, those Islands in Micro-, Poly- and Mela-nesia are as related to Asia, as we in the Americas, are to the Caribbean.

The continent’s total population is about 4 billion, plus another 2 million on the islands; excluding Africa’s 1.3 billion. That brings it to a total of almost 6 Billion People, when Africa’s included. There are only approximately 7.5 billion people on Our Planet. All of these people have a common and recognizable ancestor, the African. If, All are Human.

Rather than be-labor that issue, I point you to authors like VanSertima, Clarke and Johachanan or Diouf , as a good place to begin your studies. Like many in Africa, the Islanders, in particular, are facing imminent Climate Refugee status. This is Unspoken of, by the American Corporate Media. All Shore residents, in the Americas will find ourselves in the same category at some point, in the not too distant Future.

Realtors are still selling Shore community residences. And, people are settling into these coastal communities. Well, that’s America, for ya’. Rather that’s Capitalism, for Ya’ Hmmm. There is also Political refugee -ism. But, let’s turn our attention to a small island nation In the Pacific, Kiribati.

These People can weigh-in under both banners.( Political and Climate ) Their President made impassioned pleas to the UN and other International organizations, for assistance. Finally having to purchase a parcel of land in New Zealand, a much larger island itself, as the Only viable means of saving his people. I urge you to see ANOTE’S ARK film on YouTube Click Here

Consider that Eastern Asia and the islands of the Pacific, along with the West coast of North and South America form the “ Ring of Fire .” This is the largest Seismically active region on this Planet. Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis rotate their seasonal havoc here. This region has been like this for millions of years. But, within our lifetimes, the duration of these Climatic occurrences, and their intensity and devastation have increased, tremendously. We on the Atlantic, only remember Sandy, and that was a one-time event. Imagine several of those in every season.

So, what are we, in the West but, specifically the U.S. going to do about these refugees and the causes of this phenomenon? Walls? These Islanders are the world’s “canary in the coal mine”. We are All traveling on a train taking us through Time and Space. Each of us will get off inevitably. But since we’re All riding together now, whether we like it or not, we can at least make it as comfortable a ride for all as possible; leave the train in a condition where others will enjoy being on it. We are All in or on this together. And like it or not, we will All have to be, our brothers keepers.

Charles Trott – Arts Educator/Visual Artist

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLATFORMS OF CONSTANT CONTACT OR MAIL CHIMP TO HELP OUT WITH PUBLICATION OF THE ASBURY VOICE - CONTACT US AT "theasburyvoice@gmail.com" Come Aboard. Thanks

Did You Know

... That the War on Drugs turns 50 this year - a trillion dollars and thirty million arrests later.

... About the destruction of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oaklahoma in 1921? Click Here

...That Governor Murphy announced Short-Term-Rental Assistance Program to help Residents affected by COVID-19 Pandemic?

Click Here

... That the Asbury Book Cooperative is re-opening on Saturday and Sundays for Curbside Pickup and Contactless browsing Click Here

... That you can get a live view of the Beach now on the Beach Cam and the Boardwalk as well. CLICK HERE

Tell your covid story in THE ASBURY VOICE. The staff of The Asbury Voice hope that you are receiving and enjoying our email Journal. We try to tell stories about “us” that are not normally published. We would like to print some of your pandemic experiences in a future issue. So tell us in, approximately 200 words, “what’s your story.” We’d like funny, sad, sweet, hard, simple or convoluted stories to share. Please send them to theasburyvoice@gmail.com

If you would like to start receiving our news journal let us know at that same email address. Stay safe everyone.