Seeing is Believing — While watching a documentary called “A Place of Our Own” by Filmmaker Stanley Nelson (2004), on the screen pops Henry Louis Gates Jr. speaking about a fear of being arrested.  In the film Gates says “many of us engage in actions to prevent racism from occurring.”  He goes on to explain about living in his fear of living in his neighborhood.

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The documentary “A Place of Our Own” appears to be a 2004 release.  To our surprise and purely coincidental, at post time, this week is the one year anniversary of Gates July 16 2009 arrest in Cambridge, Mass in a place of his own.  Did Gates go off on Police Sgt. James Crowley because he had already “engaged in actions to prevent racism from occurring,” but still it occurred?

Imaging that, succeeding while Black, did Gates live with a fear of living in his own home?

About A Place of Our Own

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson takes a nostalgic look at a rare phenomenon — the black-oriented middle-class resort community of Oaks Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, where Nelson and his family summered for 40 years. Via intimate stories of other African-Americans who vacationed there, he paints a vivid portrait of a sector of society that, far from being disenfranchised, put down roots in a largely white vacation area and has remained for generations. Google more about the film |  Watch on Netflix

Seeing is Believing – www.DryerBuzz.com — Combing the headlines.  Changing the way you look . . . at life.

I20Justice – Bringing Justice to the Dirty South

Atlanta, GA – Tasha Hill, the African-American victim of a hate-crime beating inside a Morrow, Ga., Cracker Barrel restaurant last month, says she is afraid for the safety of herself and her daughter after her alleged assailant was released from jail this afternoon.

Troy Dale West Jr., 47, was indicted on charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, first degree cruelty to children, two counts of battery and two counts of disorderly conduct. Police say that West beat Hill inside the Morrow Cracker Barrel restaurant in front of her 7-year-old daughter, employees and other customers, while West shouted racial slurs at Hill.

“I don’t think this was a momentary loss of control,” Hill said. “Based on the Cracker Barrel incident, I think Mr. West’s anger is deeply rooted in racial hatred, and he could still very easily seek to harm me and my daughter in some way now that he has been released.”

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 a judge set a $325,500 bond for West. Hill has been working with the Clayton County Victim Witness Assistance Program, and West has been ordered to wear an ankle-monitoring bracelet for added security.
SideBuzz: Wednesday, President Obama gave remarks at the the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the East Room of the White House.  Obama signed a $681 billion U.S. defense budget bill which included a provision that makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Follow the Buzz via Cracker Barrel Hate-Crime Victim Fears Retaliation after Assailant’s Release. Local updates via radio: www.WAOK.com

Police have arrested three people and charged one with murder in connection with the stabbing death of University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard.

Howard was stabbed early on the morning of October 18 after a school-sponsored dance. He was laid to rest Monday in Miami.

Police on Tuesday said John W. Lomax III was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree — both felonies. He is being held on $2 million bond.

via Police arrest three in connection with Howard stabbing – College Sports – San Luis Obispo.

I20Justice — NEW YORK – Lil Wayne, who owned last year’s best-selling album and is currently No. 1 on the pop charts, pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession on Thursday, and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence.

The performer, arguably rap’s most popular artist and one of pop’s biggest acts, previously had pleaded not guilty to illegal gun possession charges that carried at least 3 1/2 years in jail upon conviction. He remains free on bail while awaiting his February sentencing.

via Lil Wayne pleads to attempted gun possession – Yahoo! News.

I20Justice – Bringing Justice to the Dirty South

Legal Buzz — Montieth & Company, a special situations management advisory and communications consultancy, announced today the findings from its 2009 “Media and the Law Survey.”

“Reporters are trying to cover more litigation than ever, and they need help understanding the core issues of the cases, especially in securities actions,” said Montieth M. Illingworth, President, Montieth & Company. “If we want journalists to be able to explain complex legal matters to audiences outside the courtroom, everyone involved in litigation needs to find ways to communicate more effectively with them.”

Montieth & Company conducted the survey in September among reporters who have recently written about litigation for newspapers, magazines, online outlets and broadcast media. Nearly all the respondents are based in the U.S., but the survey also included reporters in the U.K., Europe and Asia Pacific who have covered major cases in the U.S.

Follow the Buzz via ‘Media and the Law Survey’ Reveals Communications Gap.

Read more I20Justice at DryerBuzz dot com

The Georgia NAACP State Conference has launched an investigation into Cracker Barrel to gain a better understanding of the conditions that allowed an African American woman to be severely beaten inside a restaurant, while her assailant shouted racial slurs.

“Cracker Barrel has a proven history of racial intolerance, and this recent incident might very well be an outgrowth of that corporate culture,” said Georgia NAACP President Edward DuBose. “Cracker Barrel has pledged in the past to take steps toward improving its diversity and racial tolerance, but I am unconvinced that the company has maintained that pledge in good faith.”

A 2004 consent order required Cracker Barrel corporate leadership to hire an outside auditor to oversee the implementation of non-discrimination policies, procedures and training programs. The order also required severe discipline for Cracker Barrel employees found to have discriminated against any patron.

Troy Dale West Jr. was indicted last month on charges related to beating Tasha Hill inside a Morrow, Ga., Cracker Barrel restaurant. Police reports say West was shouting racial slurs at Tasha Hill until she fell unconscious, as her 7-year-old daughter watched on.

Read more via NAACP Investigates Cracker Barrel’s Role in Hate-Crime Beating.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear Lewis v. City of Chicago, involving fair access to courts for employees who seek to vindicate their rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, our nation’s key safeguard against discrimination in the workplace.

“This case will determine whether job applicants that a court has determined are victims of discrimination will be denied an effective remedy,” said John Payton, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) President and Director-Counsel. “The Supreme Court should apply a common-sense reading of Title VII and hold that discrimination occurs each time an employer uses a selection practice that unfairly excludes qualified African American applicants for a job.”

Follow the Buzz via Supreme Court to Hear LDF Employment Discrimination Case.

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blackamericaweb.com — TJMS talks with Harvard University Professor and author HENRY LOUIS ‘SKIP’ GATES. Professor Gates gives his first hand account of his arrest by Cambridge police officer Cowley & the beer summit that followed at the White House. More of TJMS if you missed it.

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