Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Do we understand?

Article 25.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth!

Celebrations began over the weekend and will certainly continue today here in Dallas, across Texas and, now, around the world!

It was on June 19, 1865, that General Gordan Granger and 2,000 federal soldiers arrived at Galveston Island as part of the plan to take possession of the state of Texas, previously under the control of the Confederate, rebel government.

Upon his arrival, Granger announced his enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln almost three years earlier on September 22, 1862. Unknown to the slave population of Galveston, Lincoln's executive order went into effect on January 1, 1863.

Standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the federal directive, “General Order No. 3”:

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Former slaves rejoiced in the streets of Galveston. The next yearJuneteenth celebrations began across Texas. All over the state freed African Americans pooled their funds to purchase land to accommodate the annual celebrations. Today the celebrations continue as a community tribute to the arrival of both the news of freedom and the actual beginnings of liberation.

But, freedom was hardly won in 1865. Even the language of the "General Order" bespeaks the continuation of limitations and hedges against complete liberation for African Americans in the United States. One hundred years later black Americans were still struggling for that liberation in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Today the celebrations continue. These times of rejoicing, memory and pride are invaluable not only for the African American community, but for all of us who cherish freedom, liberty and human equality.

The struggle, the sacrifice and the joy of African Americans provides a continuing vision for and appreciation of the best in our national life and memory.

Remember freedom today. Find your own way to join the celebration

National hero remembered properly

Guilty as charged

…if by liberal they mean someone, who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people—their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties—if that is what they mean by a “liberal,” then I am proud to be a liberal.

John F. Kennedy
September 14, 1960

Why I'll walk today with my immigrant friends

Recent legislative action in Arizona prompted renewed conversations about immigration policy, national security and immigration reform. 

It's about time.

News reports out of Arizona over the past couple of days link the new law, giving police the authority to arrest residents without proper documentation, to Mexico's "drug wars" that threaten to spill over into the United States.  Making that connection doesn't stand up under even a cursory investigation. 

The vast, vast majority of immigrants in the United States and in Arizona have no connection whatsoever to the illegal drug trade.  Such unfair, unproven rhetoric does not advance an honest discussion, but promotes bigotry, hatred and division in our communities.

The hundreds of immigrants I've known and talked to over the past 16 years came to the U. S. seeking a better life, work and hope for themselves and their families.  This is the story for almost all of the 12-14 million immigrants in this country without the proper papers.  And, this has been the story of all of us immigrants who came to the U. S. or whose ancestors arrived before us. 

And, we've all taken good advantage of their  presence. Businesses, homeowners, contractors, restaurants. . .the list is practically endless.  The economy in Dallas would be hurt severely by the exit of the folks who are here without documentation. 

So, I'll walk with thousands of others today. 

I'll walk because I believe in the people who need to be included in our national life. 

I'll walk because I believe in the promise of our nation.

Property Rights vs Human Rights

Over the past several years, since the time that our work led us deeper and deeper into the issues related to developing affordable housing for low-income working people and permanent supportive housing for our disabled homeless neighbors, I've learned more and more about the opposition to such work.

Just last week, while in discussions with city leaders about housing for the homeless, the power of the opposition became more evident than ever as we discussed the political realities of acting against the interests of home owners.

Property owners enjoy amazing power in our nation and in our economy.

The result?

A disproportionate percentage of affordable housing developments end up in neighborhoods and communities where the number of home owners is low and where the home owners who are present are not well organized.

NIMBYism is a well known problem for developers who seek to provide fit and affordable housing for communities. "Not in my backyard" is a cry we hear often, even before project plans are fully developed or made known.

We were dealing with it again last week at city hall. It became clear to everyone that a plan to develop a piece of property in the more affluent northern part of our city to benefit homeless men and women would be impossible.

What is it about property and property ownership?

Who says that ownership entitles people to completely lock up and fundamentally control housing development, city zoning and community planning functions?

Is it as simple as this: The rich just have more power because they are rich? Are the poor largely powerless simply because they lack material resources?

Is that how a democracy is supposed to work?

It certainly seems to be the way our democracy works here in Dallas when it comes to property owners and those who have very little in terms of material resources.

As I pointed out in the meeting at city hall last week, we must finally reach a point where someone needs to remind everyone that civil and human rights still count for something in this country and city.

And, if we determine that they don't, we should go to work making sure that they count again for everyone.

.

Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth!

Celebrations began over the weekend and will certainly continue today here in Dallas, across Texas and, now, around the world!

It was on June 19, 1865, that General Gordan Granger and 2,000 federal soldiers arrived at Galveston Island as part of the plan to take possession of the state of Texas, previously under the control of the Confederate, rebel government.

Upon his arrival, Granger announced his enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln almost three years earlier on September 22, 1862. Unknown to the slave population of Galveston, Lincoln's executive order went into effect on January 1, 1863.

Standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the federal directive, “General Order No. 3”:

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Former slaves rejoiced in the streets of Galveston. The next year Juneteenth celebrations began across Texas. All over the state freed African Americans pooled their funds to purchase land to accommodate the annual celebrations. Today the celebrations continue as a community tribute to the arrival of both the news of freedom and the actual beginnings of liberation.

But, freedom was hardly won in 1865. Even the language of the "General Order" bespeaks the continuation of limitations and hedges against complete liberation for African Americans in the United States. One hundred years later black Americans were still struggling for that liberation in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Today the celebrations continue. These times of rejoicing, memory and pride are invaluable not only for the African American community, but for all of us who cherish freedom, liberty and human equality.

The struggle, the sacrifice and the joy of African Americans provides a continuing vision for and appreciation of the best in our national life and memory.

Remember freedom today. Find your own way to join the celebration!

Play Ball!. . .At last!!! and thanks number 42

Baseball is back. . .finally!

Though the weather hasn't been totally cooperative (Cleveland had a hard time getting their home opener done thanks to a spring blizzard!), the boys are playing ball again all over the country.

Call me over the edge if you like, but the return of baseball every year provides me a reason to hope.

If you love the game, you'll understand.

If you don't, at this moment you're thinking I'm nuts and there is absolutely nothing I can say to explain or justify my feelings.

Maybe it is about my childhood. Maybe it is connected to the memories. I must admit I can still smell my old glove, the fresh grass and the ball on my hands. I can feel the heat. I recall the sudden excitement of a hot grounder headed my way or the crack of the ball against the bat.

Baseball's back! I can read the box scores again over my Wheaties! I ask you now, could breakfast be any better than that?

It doesn't even matter who wins, not ultimately.

The joy is in the game, and not just the season. That's what makes baseball so unique, at least to people like me. Every game stands on its own. Doesn't matter who is playing. Sure, I yell for the Rangers every time they take the field. But the point is the game. The amazing plays, the strategy, the pitching. The game is about each game and the team.

I confess: I grew up on the New York Yankees. Mantle, Maris, Berra, Ford, Richardson, Boyer, Turley. . .the list goes on and on. I still find myself pulling for the pinstripes, I can't help myself.

So, here's how I see the season ending in the late fall:

American League

East: New York Yankees
Central: Detroit Tigers
West: Los Angeles Angels
Wild Card: Boston Red Sox

National League

East: New York Mets
Central: St. Louis Cardinals
West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card: Chicago Cubs

World Series

Yankees versus Dodgers. . .Yankees in six!

Hope to see ya at the ballpark!

_______________________

On a more serious note, today is Jackie Robinson Day for Major League Baseball! In every major league park in the nation today fans and players will remember number 42.

On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke the color line for baseball when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in their game against the Boston Braves. The Dodgers won the game, played at Ebbets Field, 5-3.



The white controlled press paid little attention to this first, historic game.


During that first season, Robinson endured lots of insults, foul language and racially motivated hatred. The Dodgers' first series in Philadelphia against the Phillies proved the worst in terms of racial insults from both fans and players.


It was during that game that Dodgers' second baseman, Eddie Stanky, a native of Alabama, came to Robinson's defense in a tirade that likely couldn't be published, even today!

Branch Rickey, the Dodgers' General Manager who signed Robinson, later said that it was this series against the Phillies that brought the Dodgers together as a team. They came within one game of winning the World Series that year.


Robinson scored a run in that first game to help the Dodgers on to a win. He wrote a column for The Pittsburgh Courier afterwards in which he said, "Whenever I hear my wife read fairy tales to my little boy, I'll listen. I know now that dreams do come true" ( "Breaking the Truth Barrier," Stuart Miller, The New York Times, Saturday, April 14, 2007, A27).


Thank you, Jackie Robinson! The number 42 means a lot to baseball and to the United States today.

Sanitation workers, MLK, memory and mission. . .

I remember exactly where I was when I received the news.

My best friend, Eddie Wilson and I were delivering yard signs for a school board election in Richardson, Texas.

As we listened to a local radio station, the news interrupted our music.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been gunned down on the balcony of a motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

We couldn't believe it.

That was 39 years ago today, just after 6:00 p.m.

I'm remembering that terrible event today.

We need to recall why Dr. King was in Memphis on that fateful day.

On February 12, thirteen hundred African-American sanitation workers in Memphis had gone on strike.

African American workers had a long history of grievances with the City of Memphis. And, this strike was begun as a response to a January 31 incident that year in which 22 black sanitation workers were sent home without pay during bad weather, while all the white workers remained on the job.

When the City of Memphis refused to negotiate with the 1,300 striking workers, King and other civil rights leaders were asked to visit Memphis to show their support for the striking workers.

On Monday, March 18, King spoke to over 15,000 who had gathered at Mason Temple. Ten days later, King returned to Memphis to lead a march in support of the striking workers.

Unfortunately, during that march, a few of the protesters got rowdy and smashed the windows of a storefront. The violence spread and soon countless others had taken up sticks and were breaking windows and looting stores.

Police moved in to disperse the crowd. Some of the marchers threw stones at the police. The police responded with tear gas and nightsticks. At least one of the marchers was shot and killed.

King was extremely distressed by this eruption of violence. Determined not to allow violence to have the last word, Dr. King planned another march in Memphis for April 8.

On April 3, King arrived in Memphis and that evening he delivered his "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech to a relatively small crowd that had braved a stormy Memphis night to hear his speech.

He concluded the speech with words that proved to be prophetic:

"Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.

And I don't mind.

"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life - longevity has its place.

"But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land.

"I may not get there with you.

"But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And so I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man.

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

The next day Dr. King was assassinated.

His death, as was true of his life, was significant for subsequent events in the American Civil Rights Movement.

But what I am thinking of today is the simple fact that Dr. King returned to Memphis to stand with hard working sanitation workers in their work action.

His lifelong commitment to the poor and to establishing justice provides me the encouragement and the example I need today as I remember his life, his death and his contribution to our national life.

Even now, he points the way for the work that is left to be done.

South Dallas: Bexar Street Theatre, 1949

The photographs of Dallas photographer, Marion Butts are priceless.

This one is important to me. Shot in December 1949, it signals the tough legacy of a community destined for decline.

The historic Lincoln Theatre is located at 5414 Bexar Street, at the edge of the Ideal Neighborhood, just north of Highway 175 and not far from the Rochester Park neighborhood where Central Dallas Ministries offers our After School Academy inside the Turner Courts Housing Development.

Pictured here is S. R. Tankersley, with the Negro Moving Picture Machine Operators Union, protesting in front of the theater.

The theater was patronized solely by African Americans, but employed a white projectionist. Owners of the theater sued and won an injunction against the union to prevent them from using the word "Negro" on the pickets.

Today the old movie house sits in almost complete ruin. Restoration seems most unlikely in view of its condition.

The theater symbolizes what occurred in the surrounding community.

The racism that controlled the operation of the theater also limited the folks who lived around it.
Even in the late 1940s much of the housing stock in the area was rental in nature, with few home owners living in the community.

As the Civil Rights Movement spread across the United States and as jobs and opportunities opened up for black citizens, those who could, moved out, leaving behind those who had fewer options.

The percentage of rental housing stock continued to increase. Jobs and retail departed the area. Even the theater closed.

With the exit of the more successful former residents and with average incomes going down relative to the rest of the city, the tax base, code enforcement, city services and police protection declined as well.

The accommodation of an influential group of black pastors to the demands of the white power brokers didn't help either. White leaders were worried that the racial tension and unrest that was sweeping the nation would also come to Dallas. Deals were made, the pressure to protest was squelched and the quality of life for blacks in Dallas didn't improve as it should have, especially in neighborhoods like this one.

Today the area is in need of complete reclamation.

The City of Dallas has appropriated funds for infrastructure improvements along the section of Bexar Street pictured by Mr. Butts. Plans are in the works for single-family homes for sale.

Will it be possible to turn this neighborhood? Time will tell.

One thing seems certain to me. Without the infusion of fairly massive amounts of public investment in this community, the decay and the decline will continue.

Let's hope the public commitment comes through. This neighborhood should be reclaimed for its people and all of us who love Dallas.

[See the photographs of Marion Butts at: http://dallaslibrary.org/ctx/photogallery/marionbutts.htm.]