Black El Paso News & Information Blog

As I began to ponder the many aspects of how we support each other, a question came to mind: “Am I My Brother’s or Sister’s Keeper?”

Quite simply, the answer is yes. Some may think that whatever a fellow brother or sister is involved in is their business. We tend not to lead them in a positive direction. Whether by way of choice or ignorance, if we see someone we care about falling into harms way, we should do all within our power to encourage them not to sink deeper into a black hole.

If we care for people, we should be there for them…in good times and bad. It’s our duty to Lift As We Climb and thus preparing the way for our children to understand the purpose in which they are put on this earth for: Giving honor to God, acknowledging our big brother Jesus and loving each other unconditionally.

Don’t forget to be a blessing to your own.

Say it aint so…!!! An all black cast…from El Paso…performing a black classic…in El Paso! Finally, someone is taking the helm to bring quality black entertainment to our great city. I know we surely hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of a black play.

check out www.blackelpaso.com for further information on Aint Misbehavin’

I recently spoke with someone concerning the nomination of Barack Obama as the Democratic Nominee for the Presidential Candidacy. The topic quickly turned defensive when I said, “America is a melting pot.” I was basically ‘rebuked’ for thinking such a thing. It wasn’t that the person I was speaking to was offended, they felt I was blind to society’s view of Black people.

Far from it! I am a black woman living in a town where I am the minority, trust me, I’m not blind. Yes, I’ve had my share of racial comments thrown my way. I’ve been followed around in stores. I’ve had the stares and so on. However, that does not change my view that not everyone feels the way of the ignorant few.

My comment to the person was one of motivation. I basically wanted to bring light to the fact that if Obama can do it nationally, we can do it locally. I know that not many positive opportunities are present for people of color in El Paso, but that shouldnt’ stop us from trying to reach the top.  Obama’s nomination is a stepping stone to what has taken decades to accomplish. A black man…viable as the President of the United States. Honestly, growing up, I never thought I would see this day.

In El Paso, there are cases of racism. Racism exists within our own people. You have light skinned brothers and sisters who look down on darker skinned black people. You have overweight black people being degraded by thinner black people. You have black people degrading other black people everyday. Listen to some of the music being played on the airwaves. The acts of racial hate didn’t escape us. As shameful as it is, SOME of us embraced it whether knowingly or unknowingly.

My point is this: Barack Obama is one of the recipients of what so many of our ancestors fought for. Equality. Yes, I’ve heard the ignorance that he isn’t 100% black, but newsflash…Yes he is! In spite of the fact that he was raised by white grandparents and his mother was white, didn’t stop the racial hatred in his life by others. He was black and others let him know it.

This nomination means that we as a people have another reason to get up and the least try to make a way for ourselves in the face of adversity. I know with or without Barack Obama in the White House, I will teach my black children to make their own way in this world. Yes, they will and do today face adversity because of the color of their skin, but that is not going to stop them from getting what God has for them.  My son has been called a n****r for no reason. My 6 year old daughter came home from school saying another child told her that black people are the devil’s children. I mean, it’s not going away. My greatest fear as a parent to a black young man is this: HE WAS BORN SUSPECT. Though I wanted a son, I was fearful for the things he would face in life because of what I had seen other black men go through. Even if he’s innocent, as a black man he’ll be guilty until proven innocent. He thinks I’m paranoid because I tell him, don’t go to any parties where there is drinking because if something goes down…the black kid did it. I’m not crazy, I just know that because of the color of his skin he will automatically be a target for everything negative.

This is why parents need to teach their children how to be respectful and stay away from all appearance of evil. It’s a hard way to discipline, but in the end, they will thank you for it.

I look around El Paso and see the many positive black role models for our young men and women to look up to. The important factor is that there are many black men in El Paso who have the feat of being an example. From Harold Howell (El Paso branch/NAACP) to Bishop Juan O. Lawson (Holy Light COGIC) to Dr. Maceo Dailey (UTEP Professor), our children have great role models, lets expose them to positivity.

In closing, I would like to see a less hateful world; unfortunately that is not going to happen. We still must strive for peace and prosperity while we are yet on this earth, but in doing so we must be wise. No, Obama’s nomination doesn’t mean that racism will decrease, but it sure does feel good to know that not all Americans feel that a black man isn’t capable of running the country. I’m proud of America and all of those Americans black or otherwise who have agreed that not all black men are trying to steal, kill or destroy you.

I received an email from a newsletter I subscribe to and I would like to leave you with these closing words from it:

Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns 

Determination is a key ingredient to your success in the matters set before you. You are indeed coming to a new spiritual plateau, but this new level is not easy to achieve, for you will encounter fierce opposition. Discern the attack of the enemy against you and set your face strong against opposing forces. Resist the temptation to run and hide; instead, be strong and courageous in taking and standing this new ground. It is My work that you are manifesting in the earth, and My reward is with those who are obedient, says the Lord. 

Be Blessed,

Moni/ BEP Publisher

I understand that we are all Democrats and because of that we should “get along” especially when it comes to making sure a Democrat is voted into office as our next President.  However, the experience that many have felt here in El Paso during and after the precinct conventions is proof that not much has changed with some people over the years. Its no secret that the local Democratic Party officials were in support of hillary clinton.  Some wonder why. I say, its obvious. The implication that she has much more experience than Obama is STUPID so that leaves only one other reason.  clinton and Obama agree on many of the same issues and its possible they could run on the same ticket for November. Local Clinton supporters seem to think Obama isn’t ready to be in the White House…what are they going to think if he is on the same ticket as clinton?  Are they going to change their mind and say yes, we support Obama now?  Wouldn’t that mean they are double-minded.  And we know what the Bible states about a double-minded man/woman…he/she is UNSTABLE in all their way.  Hint: Watch who you vote for in your local elections.

I understand the local officials will state that African Americans are “disgruntled” because Hillary won El Paso; this is far from the truth.  As long as a Democrat gets into office, we’re fine.  The problem comes when locally, the racial tension is evident due to racial slurs and the treatment we as African Americans receive at public events such as the recent conventions.  “SOME” of us would like to witness the day a Black Man or Woman becomes President.  Our ancestors fought and some died to make sure we could see a time such as this.  It’s disheartening to know that some El Pasoans who are not Black are upset that we are so proud of this feat. It’s like they expect us to show our appreciation of Obama in silence. 

Some say we deserve an apology locally…please, no one has yet to apologize for slavery so if you think that’s going to happen…jump back to reality.

Not all local Black El Pasoans voted for Obama; but those who did, I am surely proud of for doing so.  If you look beyond Obama’s face and instead look deep into his soul through his eyes, you will see people like Martin Luther King Jr., Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Joe, Cousin Mack and even the Caucasian men and women who helped fight for civil rights saying, “Lift Your Brother.”  How dare some El Pasoans try to deny us the right to be proud that a Black man has made it this far to have top billing as our possible next leader?!

Ignorance comes in many forms and Tuesday night, we saw that take place. If ever there was a question does racism still exist in El Paso…the answer is blatantly yes. Some of “my” fellow Black brothers and sisters were called niggers, monkeys, etc. I personally have blood brothers and sisters who are of mixed race including Caucasian and Mexican.  Racism calls for blood relatives to choose sides as to which race they claim.  If some of them would really dig deep into their history, they would be surprised to find that their great great great grandmother could have been black.  Quick to call somebody a nigger because they are black and they may be black themselves. 

Has anything changed since the Kerner Report…not much. The Kerner report was right.  40 years later we’re still dealing with ignorance. Racism is alive and well and until we as a people start educating our own people about not falling into the stereotype that others expect us to, it will stay this way.

I contacted the state and local Democratic Party Headquarters and I have yet to get an answer pertaining to my question as to why the election judge purposefully did not assure we had the proper paperwork to caucus in my precinct.  If the election judge was there when I asked the question “What about our precinct convention” as they were packing up to leave; why did she continue to leave anyway? 

The only answer I get is: “There is nothing we can do about that now.”  So does this mean my precinct doesn’t matter?  Of course in my precinct, military spouses and soldiers are the majority.  We were in attendance for the convention and no one showed up to give us the proper paperwork. I guess our vote doesn’t count.

Is El Paso a Melting Pot?

Greetings readers of Black El Paso.com,

        First off, let me start by saying thank you for your continued support in our efforts to make Black ElPaso.com, the best information webpage in the nation, if not the world.  We have definitely grown and we have face may challenges and adversities since our first publication.  Some things have not turned out the way we wanted them to, but when that door closed another one opened, and we were given even better opportunities on that path.  Through it all we have stuck through all the things that usually cause a person or business to give up, and that ranges from lack of support from the ones that we originally felt like our strengths would channel in from, but we found that not everyone shares our dreams and ambition.  That is why I am a firm believer that if you show mad love to those that can not affect your life directly, something will happen for you no matter what.

        We, and when I say we I mean those of us who want a change, but do not know how to go about getting it, have to stop being “haters”. We have to stop degrading ourselves and stop trying to steal other people,s dreams.  Instead, we need to start congratulating those of us who do make it or who have decided to improve their life, which in some way, will affect yours either directly or indirectly.  Be happy for others, be supported of their dreams, and be a man or woman about the situation and say I am happy that he/she has made it.

        Where would you be today if the first slave to escape never escaped or got caught, because another slave was ‘hating’ on him/her.  Know damn well he/she had the same opportunities to escape as the one who took the chance. They were comfortable with the situation, and got complacent with their surroundings, forgetting that, not long ago they were free men and women and not captive and subject to being brutally beaten for trying to enhance their well being.  The next time you hear of someone doing something great or accomplishing something, you should congratulate them and smile and thank God that He freed yet another person from their captivity.  Yes, captivity…the captive mind. 

        You hear all the time, “The mind is a terrible thing to waste” or “An idle mind is the devils workshop”.  They both have a negative outcome.  If you do not improve yourself in life, then you will forever be blinded by the darkness that you have subjected yourself to live in, and if you continue in that path, you begin to allow the negativity to take over.  You begin to experience the struggles of life and wonder why you have not made it, or why you can’t get or have the same things as the next person.  Why would you want the same things as the other person? Why not make a way for yourself through your own dreams?  We really do not want a world of drones do we?  I mean a world where everyone has the same things, same car, same house, same clothes, same everything. We might as well have remained slaves because that is when we were all the same. 

        I am saddened by the fact that we do not do the things that our fore fathers fought so hard for us to have.  It kills me to hear us say that it is someone else’s fault that this is happening, when we have not taken the opportunities in life that have been presented to us.  We did not finish school, we did not obey our parents, and we wanted success faster, so we took the easy way out.

Let me tell you, the majority of the successful people in this world did not get there as easy as you believe.  It took some work and a lot of thinking, but most importantly, it took the same courage as it took for that first slave to runaway and seize the opportunity that life had to offer.  Oh, by the way, if you had not noticed, life has not reneged on its part by offering us opportunities. We are still waiting for life to hand it over to us or deliver it in a nice box with a big red bow on it and a tag that says, “OPPORTUNITY”.

In the words of the two hardest working men in the music/film industry, “You got to get up, get out and something.  Don’t let the days of your life pass by.”

I wish nothing but the best for all of you and I pray that each and every one of your dreams come true. 

Thanks for your support and your time because if you made it to this line, you are asking yourself, “Where am I in this?” Your support will come when you tell your friend about the article you just finished reading.  Believe it or not, you were inspired and helped someone else at the same time.

Hello Black El Paso,

It is with great joy and pleasure that I greet you.  Now that the holidays are over, there are some very important events that will soon take place.  The choosing of our Democratic or Republican Presidential Candidates.  It concerns me that some don’t take this as seriously as we as citizens should; with that in mind, several organizations will rally this year to educate you on the importance of your vote, how the whole voting system works and the consequences our children face if we choose to remain known as people who don’t vote. 

 I hope you take advantage of the message forums and comment on topics posted.  Weekly I will post comments and information to topics of interest.  Soon, we will seek authors for some of our topics to post here as well. 

 We sincerely thank you for your support and we encourage you to get involved within the community.  We are accepting queries if you are interested in submitting articles.  For payment information, please visit our website.

Black El Paso…”It’s About Life…It’s About Us”