violence | Mule of the World

Glimmer of Hope in Dark Times

shoepainting I’ve been having a hard time staying positive and seeing the light in this world of ours. Everywhere you look there is violence, despair and hate. But lately – no doubt due to the holiday season – I’ve learned of a few people who refuse to give up or give in.

Maurice Kie, Life Pieces to Masterpieces in DC: A young man and after-school program uses art to help young children cope with living in neighborhoods stricken with gun violence.

Tiffany Anderson, Jennings School District in Jennings, Mo.: A school superintendent who actually cares about the students and implements innovation RESULTS to real problems.

Amy Peake, entrepreneur in England: Empowering women in other countries with employment by making a necessity – sanitary pads.

Journalists out there: we need these stories YEAR-ROUND! Apologies that we make Amy Peake you think we only want “reality”,
depravity, terror and salaciousness.

To anyone reading this post, you’re welcome. 🙂

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Posted by joyinhome on December 23, 2015 in Arts, Career, Civil Rights, Education, Family, Girls, Health, Politics, Real Talk, women, Youth

Tags: violence

I Know Many Trayvon Martins…

17 Jul

Too many. In fact, a lot of people that I know, know too many Trayvon Martins. And most people have the luxury of knowing only this one.

We are broken-hearted because they know too many. Most of whom received less justice than this one.

That is the issue.

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Posted by joyinhome on July 17, 2013 in Civil Rights, Family, Motherhood, Politics, Race, Reflection, Youth

Tags: Trayvon Martin, violence, young black men

Strange Fruit

16 Jul

Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

– Billie Holiday, 1939

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Posted by joyinhome on July 16, 2013 in Civil Rights, Education, Family, History, Motherhood, Race, Youth

Tags: Strange Fruit, violence

A Young Man Died…

27 Jun

was killed, actually… At the end of the day, let’s not lose that within the legal manuevering.

This morning, a Harvard law professor had this to say of the Zimmerman trial.

If nothing else, this trial is certain to reveal society’s ills.

To say the least…

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Posted by joyinhome on June 27, 2013 in Civil Rights, Family, History, Politics, Race, Youth

Tags: law, Trayvon Martin, violence

$8 Million Bail

09 May

Can you imagine having to serve as Castro’s public defender?

Just when you thought humankind could not scrape any lower in the barrel, meet Ariel Castro. In a year of kindergarten murders and marathon bombings, I thought I couldn’t get any more disgusted with people…

Yes, the women are free and home now, there is reason to celebrate. But I am saddened and infuriated by the deviated path these girls’ lives were forced to take. I was talking to a friend today and told him that this case underscored how closely I monitor the commuting of my 16 year old. Too many people think I’m paranoid. People steal/hurt/kill/rape teenagers too!

And how in the hell do you let the brothers go? Am I missing something?!??

A final thought: I hope the city and police departments are ready because lawsuits are a-brewin’… These women were a few miles from where they disappeared. WTF?!!!!