Volume 4 Issue 47…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…November 30, 2001

by Dot

On March 6, 1857, the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford. Scott, a Negro slave, sought to be free, based on his stay in free territory. The case involved three important issues: (1) whether Scott was a citizen of Missouri and thus able to sue in federal court; (2) whether his sojourn in free territory had made him legally a free man; (3) the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. Though the justices wrote separate opinions, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's remarks are generally regarded as the majority opinion and the best historical example of strict construction of the U.S. Constitution on the question of citizenship of Negro slaves and their descendants.

"In the opinion of the Court, the legislation and histories of the times, and the language used in the Declaration of Independence, show that neither the class of persons who had been imported as slaves nor their descendants, whether they had become free or not, were then acknowledged as a part of the people nor intended to be included in the general words used in that memorable instrument.

It is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in relation to that unfortunate race which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence and when the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted. But the public history of every European nation displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken.

They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the Negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic whenever a profit could be made by it. This opinion was at that time fixed and universal in the civilized portion of the white race. It was regarded as an axiom in morals as well as in politics, which no one thought of disputing, or supposed to be open to dispute; and men in every grade and position in society daily and habitually acted upon it in their private pursuits, as well as in matters of public concern, without doubting for a moment the correctness of this opinion." (Source: The Negro in History, Vol. II

On Nov. 1, 2001, a Charleston, West Virginia judge ruled that15-year-old Katie Sierra could not form an anarchy club or wear T-shirts opposing the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan on the grounds that to do so would disrupt school.

A Sissonville High School sophomore, Sierra was suspended from school three days for promoting the club. She was also told not to wear T-shirts with messages such as: "When I saw the dead and dying Afghani children on TV, I felt a newly recovered sense of national security. God Bless America."

In a complaint filed with her mother, Sierra argued her right to free speech was being denied. Circuit Court Judge James Stucky agreed that free speech is "sacred" but he found that such rights are "tempered by the limitations that they ... not disrupt the educational process."

Sierra said she'd pursue the dispute. "I don't want war. I'm not for Afghanistan," Sierra said. "I think that what we're doing to them is just as bad as what they did to us, and I think it needs to be stopped." Roger Forman, Sierra's attorney says, "she is being punished for expressing her opinion."

by John Burl Smith

"Percy is a civil rights icon" began an email from EddaRPittman@compuserve.com. Edda was upset over Mayor Francis Slay's firing of Percy Green, Director of St. Louis's Certification Office for Affirmative Action and his staff of three. For strict constructionists and compassionate conservatives like Slay, social welfare and affirmative action programs are dead considerations. All traces of the programs that came after the Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education are being dismantled. Sisters and brothers like Edda and Percy did not believe G. W. Bush during Election 2000 when he declared he was a compassionate conservative and promised to strictly construct the Constitution.

Most black Americans did not understand his rhetoric, so the actions of his supporters like Slay baffle them. First, strict constructionists believe emancipation was illegal because President Lincoln's Executive Order did not repeal Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, which established the value of whites as citizens and blacks as 3/5 white. Strict constructionists maintain that by leaving Article 1 Section 2 intact, blacks were never citizens and are still subject to the 3/5 value. In practical terms, this means Plessy v Ferguson's "separate but equal" could not be overturned by Brown v Board of Education. Therefore, they insist efforts to give blacks equality of citizenship are unconstitutional.

Dot's "chasm of inequality" analysis, which uses government data, show blacks have been systematically discriminated against, even after the 1960's civil rights laws. Her retrospective analysis shows the income disparity between blacks and whites mirrors the 3/5 Compromise in the marketplace for goods and services. The clearest examples that slavery never ended are found in employment and education. Employment stories like Percy's and other 'good blacks' abound. Victims of hostile environments, blacks are the last hired, first fired.

From their inception, American universities limited black access to higher education. All southern universities legally prohibited blacks from attending under any condition until some time after Brown v Board of Education (1954). Only under federal court order to desegregate did white schools admit blacks. Developing in response to segregation, historically black schools are forced to actively recruit white students under the guise of desegregation/diversity.

The irony in 2001 is, the University of Tennessee (UT) has a black enrollment of less than 7%, and school officials and government say they cannot do any more to get more blacks enrolled. However, Tennessee State, which was all black, because whites refused to attend, is forced to give white students with C (2.5) grade point averages scholarships to increase white enrollment. Courts have ruled UT, which erected racial barriers to keep blacks out, cannot be forced to even admit blacks, if their enrollment keeps one white student out. Slavery never ended. The 3/5 Compromise is the law. John 2001

Funky Hood

Did you know that beginning January 2002 sanitation fees assessed against residential property will be billed and collected by the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner? More important, did you know this change makes garbage collection fees property taxes?

Currently, residential sanitary service customers receive a quarterly notice from the DeKalb County Treasury and Accounting Services. In 2002, the annual assessment will appear as a line item on the annual property tax statement, which will be mailed from the Tax Commissioner's Office in July 2002. The DeKalb County Code Section 22-32 (b). Residential Units effectively makes the annual sanitation assessment a tax, just like property taxes, which means any unpaid assessment becomes a lien against the property.

The foreclosure rate in DeKalb County is among the highest in the country. Majority black south DeKalb teems with predatory lenders, carpetbagging vultures of regentrification and redlining banks that suck away homeowners' equity. News that DeKalb, under the leadership of a black man who is supposedly conscious of the predatory practices and wish to see them ended, had instituted this new scheme did not sit well with many of the older south DeKalb County homeowners. We are fed up with the abuse of taxation without representation. The poor and elderly should not be placed in the position of possibly losing their homes for non-payment of sanitation assessments. Repeal the garbage tax!

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is neither a social nor political conservative, but he is very compassionate. When his mother's head hurt, the Dark One/Nina/Zorro said, "My mother is sick and I feel bad."

Somalia's sole Internet company and key telecommunication firm have been forced to close because the United States suspects them of being terrorist links. Somalia Internet Company and al-Barakaat appear on the US list of organizations accused of funneling money to the al-Qaeda network.

These companies have stated categorically that they are not terrorist links. Along with denying all Internet access to Somalia, the closures have severely restricted international telephone access and shut down vitally needed money transfer facilities. The closure of these companies is having a devastating effect on Somalia's economy, which desperately needs the services these organizations provided.

More than 80% of Somalis depend on money they receive from relatives living outside the country. Thousands, if not millions, depended on al-Barakaat. With all Internet cafes shut down, the international phone lines run by two competitors cannot cope with the added call volume in the wake the US freeze on al-Barakaat's assets. Many Somalis live in the US. All of them have been affected by the US action. For more info, contact Sadiki Kambon at hamisi@earthlink.net.

President Bush issued an executive order to allow special military tribunals to try non-citizens charged with terrorism. This action followed another regulation that gives the government the power to listen in on any conversation between a suspect and his attorney. Both of these measures threaten to essentially eviscerate key constitutional protections.

Military tribunals would authorize secret trials without a jury and without the requirement of a unanimous verdict, even in situations where the defendant could face the death penalty. Allowing the government to eavesdrop on any conversation would severely damage the right of defendants to receive adequate counsel. Take action! Due process must be protected. You can read more and send a FREE FAX, asking your members of Congress to hold hearings to question the Administration's new policies at: http://www.aclu.org/action/dueprocess107.htm

Disgruntled wants to know: Mainstream media ignore important bits of information in identifying those responsible for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. What role do oil, gas and petrochemicals play? More important, how can America fight 'terrorism,' when it is steeped in racism?

Disgruntled says: Self-exempt from basic standards imposed on others, a US-based coup installed Dubya as president. Had America been a Third World country, the West, including the US, would have sent in troops to demanding 'democratic' elections. Without complaint, Bush kowtows to the right, suspends the Bill of Rights and makes the US imperialistic in its foreign relations.

Disgruntled feels: Liberated! "Good blacks" are Toms saying and doing nothing relevant to change the situation. Many blacks fall into this category, forever plugged into the power plant of ignorance and inaction.

by Etta Pittman

At a UNC lecture the other day, they played a video of Olive North during the Senate Iran Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration. There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree. But, what he said was stunning. A Senator was drilling him.

'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?" Oliver replied, "Yes I did sir." The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience. "Isn't this just a little excessive?" "No sir," continued Oliver. "No. And why not?" "Because the life of my family and I were threatened." "Threatened? By who." "By a terrorist, sir." "Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?"

"His name is Osama bin Laden." At this point, the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. "Why are you so afraid of this man?" "Because sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of." "And, what do you recommend we do about him?" If it were me, I would recommend an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth."

Information in last week's Hood Notes on the selection of Moses Ector, former GBI deputy assistant director, as DeKalb County Homeland Security Director had its skeptics. But, it confirmed a secret report by deep undercover operative Peep City Barnabas, i.e. "Bush Administration designates DeKalb County ground zero in the domestic war on terrorism." Slipping into several meetings during Bush's recent trip to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Barnabas claimed to have overheard key elements of Bush's plan to seize assets of those identified as terrorists.

Predicting dark times for DeKalb's Arabs and Asians in particular and Muslims in general, the super snoop conveyed Bush's plans to use the Homeland Security force much like the Japanese internment program during WWII, except there will not be camps. Apparently, Arabs, Asians and Muslims will be treated as blacks were following the end of Reconstruction. When Union troops were withdrawn from the South, courts turned blind eyes and deaf ears, as blacks were forced back into second class status by Plessy v Ferguson's "separate but equal"-- the 3/5 Compromise.

Unlike blacks, relegated to a second class status as mandated by Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution (3/5 Compromise), foreigners are citizens covered fully by the US Constitution. Consequently, with judges following new guidelines and using secret military tribunals, Arabs, Asians and Muslims will be Co-Intel-Pro-ed as blacks were in the 1960s. Bush enjoys white support in his war on terrorism, which includes the seizure of property of those "identified as terrorists."

According to Peep City, Bush emphasized getting "strict constructionist judges confirmed and directed Homeland Security forces to apply pressure on Senate Democrats blocking his judicial appointments. Homeland Security plans to use DeKalb's large Arab, Asian and Muslim populations as a pilot project.

Bush's strategy has two goals. First, Arabs, Asians and Muslims in DeKalb will be forced to do business with more whites as a means of deflecting charges they support terrorists. Nationally, Bush wants to address the growing economic and political clout of Arabs, Asians and Muslims in America.

During Election 2000, these groups supported Democrats overwhelmingly and many believe their votes, along with blacks, made the Bush v. Gore coup d'etat necessary. Consequently, G. W. plans to use the Homeland Security force to intimidate Arabs, Asians and Muslims into voting Republican as a means of inoculating themselves against charges of supporting terrorism. This is Bush's "you're either with us or against us" approach to fighting terrorism. Remember, during WWII, some California whites became rich and powerful taking Japanese property. With Co-Intel-Pro as the model, Peep City's analysis is on the money.

Email universalwoman9@yahoo.com "Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." -- Hermann Goering, Hitler's #2 Man

Email: http://www.truthout.com An anthrax letter recipient, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, claims he is not being partisan in the manner in which he holds hearings on President Bush's judicial nominees.

Judiciary Committee hearings on the American anti-terrorism actions are needed. According to Leahy, "We stand for a great deal in this country. When we're talking about setting aside our criminal justice system for something like this, we end up looking more and more like some of the things that we are fighting against."

Email alexrobbin@juno.com U.S. Special Forces Master Sgt. (ret.) Stan Goff's essay, "The Evidence is a Farce." http://www.narconews.com/ cites two premises that must not be accepted without more convincing proof: "One is the premise that what this defacto administration is doing now is a 'response' to September 11^th. Two is the premise the World Trade Center and the Pentagon attacks were done by people based in Afghanistan."

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