Separation of Church and State
Currently, I am a community organizer. Basically, I try to save the world from itself. Periodically, I support community campaigns where residents are fighting big corporations like Home Depot. Such was the case a couple of weeks ago.
For five years the residents I work with have been fighting to keep Home Depot out of the neighborhood. This battle came down to one planning commission hearing. The commissioners were deciding to approve/reject the proposed plan for a 153,000 square foot store. Over 100 of my residents showed up to express their concerns over this plan. Our opponents, a largely African American group of residents arrived on shuttle buses, provided by Home Depot. They wore huge Home Depot stickers and were greeted by the public relations representatives who had organized them. Interesting how most of them were also African American, except for the lead PR person.
We all knew this meeting would last until the wee hours of the morning. Home Depot was more prepared than me. I had no funding for extra "stuff" like food. Home Depot provided individually wrapped fried chicken dinners and bottled water for each of their supporters. Chicken dinners, people! I was disgusted how my people were seduced by a free ride to city hall and a chicken dinner.
After hours of public testimony, the commissioners began their comments. The lone African American commissioner began her comments by saying, "I want to evoke the name of Annie Powell". I heard someone clap their hands three times and then say, "Take your time". I looked around and wondered if I had fallen asleep and woke up in church.
Commissioner: I want to evoke the name of Annie Powell.
Someone is audience: Take your time.
DIT (in my head): This ain't church!
Commissioner begins to silently cry and she looks at the ceiling.
DIT: Oh, here we go!
Commissioner: Annie Powell was a young person who was shot and killed in Bayview Hunters Point
More tears
Audience: That's right! That's all right!
DIT: Why do we always have to take it to church?!
Commissioner: Our young people. . . .
She again looks up at the ceiling
Commissioner: Jobs bring hope! (in a strained voice) Jobs bring hope!
DIT: Well, we've lost this battle. I'm ready to go home.
Audience: Say it! Hope! (More clapping)
DIT: I love my people. How you gonna bust out and say 'I EVOKE the name of. . .' She ain't no preacher.
Commissioner: Home Depot, I told you I don't like your company. I don't like this plan. . . . . (sniffles) But, jobs bring hope!
DIT: Maybe I can find a chicken dinner. I can sell my soul also for some measely part time jobs with no benefits.
The hearing finally ended at 2:30am. Luckily, I was almost in San Jose by then - ready to begin a very short vacation.
Although I was exhausted from working over 12 hours, I still had time to thank our founding fathers for insisting on the separation of church and state.
Those chicken dinners sure did look good.
Be Blessed!
For five years the residents I work with have been fighting to keep Home Depot out of the neighborhood. This battle came down to one planning commission hearing. The commissioners were deciding to approve/reject the proposed plan for a 153,000 square foot store. Over 100 of my residents showed up to express their concerns over this plan. Our opponents, a largely African American group of residents arrived on shuttle buses, provided by Home Depot. They wore huge Home Depot stickers and were greeted by the public relations representatives who had organized them. Interesting how most of them were also African American, except for the lead PR person.
We all knew this meeting would last until the wee hours of the morning. Home Depot was more prepared than me. I had no funding for extra "stuff" like food. Home Depot provided individually wrapped fried chicken dinners and bottled water for each of their supporters. Chicken dinners, people! I was disgusted how my people were seduced by a free ride to city hall and a chicken dinner.
After hours of public testimony, the commissioners began their comments. The lone African American commissioner began her comments by saying, "I want to evoke the name of Annie Powell". I heard someone clap their hands three times and then say, "Take your time". I looked around and wondered if I had fallen asleep and woke up in church.
Commissioner: I want to evoke the name of Annie Powell.
Someone is audience: Take your time.
DIT (in my head): This ain't church!
Commissioner begins to silently cry and she looks at the ceiling.
DIT: Oh, here we go!
Commissioner: Annie Powell was a young person who was shot and killed in Bayview Hunters Point
More tears
Audience: That's right! That's all right!
DIT: Why do we always have to take it to church?!
Commissioner: Our young people. . . .
She again looks up at the ceiling
Commissioner: Jobs bring hope! (in a strained voice) Jobs bring hope!
DIT: Well, we've lost this battle. I'm ready to go home.
Audience: Say it! Hope! (More clapping)
DIT: I love my people. How you gonna bust out and say 'I EVOKE the name of. . .' She ain't no preacher.
Commissioner: Home Depot, I told you I don't like your company. I don't like this plan. . . . . (sniffles) But, jobs bring hope!
DIT: Maybe I can find a chicken dinner. I can sell my soul also for some measely part time jobs with no benefits.
The hearing finally ended at 2:30am. Luckily, I was almost in San Jose by then - ready to begin a very short vacation.
Although I was exhausted from working over 12 hours, I still had time to thank our founding fathers for insisting on the separation of church and state.
Those chicken dinners sure did look good.
Be Blessed!
posted by Diva In Training | 6:07 PM
2 Comments:
Mister Bachelor author of The
BachelorBlog says: Come on now, white people have been organizing black people for various reasons for years. Democrats do it every day but it happens so often we dont notice it anymore. Home Depot? now thats newsworthy...
Damn!
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