New Haven Independent

Posted by: Icarus 12 | September 12, 2007 12:04 PM

Living in Myopia

Having lived in a neighborhood (West River) beset by addicts and dealers robbing, burglarizing, shooting, beating on women, prostituting teenage girls, and sending eight-year-olds into drughouses to complete purchases . . . . I am sick to death of hearing how drug-dealing is a non-violent offense.

Tell that to all the children and spouses, mothers and brothers of those invovled. Tell that to the beautiful 13 year-old in the letterman jacket trolling for johns on Ellsworth near Stanley Street. Tell that to all the neighbors who keep their children indoors and not in their own front yards for fear of shots fired.

Drugs murder a whole community of victims.

I wouldn't vote for anyone whose seven, that's right, all seven(!) sons have been to prison. Why should I entrust my city, my ward even, to someone who did such a poor job of parenting?

The War on Drugs is a War on Black America? On an abstract level, I can see that. But on a street level, know-your-neighbor-level, that's bullshit. The sooner people like Ms. Fair and her sons take responsibility for themselves, the sooner Black America (always capitalized and always an abstraction) will turn away from crime and "getting over" and will get to work instead.

Can't find work? Try the carwash, the donut shop, picking up a broom. I know plenty of ex-addicts, ex-cons, who hold not-so-glorious jobs. A lot of ex-dealers just don't want to have work dull, boring minimum-wage jobs. It's beneath their dignity. Better to make excuses, live the gansta life, and then have mommy run for political office.

I'll save my sympathy and my vote for someone else.

Posted by: bjfair | September 14, 2007 12:27 PM

Hi ICARUS,I'm so sorry that you are having such a rough time with life and although I could respond ON YOUR LEVEL I won't because I am too dignified and I'm too busy running for office in a ward that will REGRETABLY miss your vote. sidebar: The article stating that all of my sons spent time in prison for drug offenses is a mistatement but I'm not concerned about requesting a correction because what others think of me and mine is irrelevent to me so you can have all the tanrums you like. Your remarks are meaningless to me and many others, will not change the course of American history relative to African Americans and the injustices they face on a daily basis nor will they help us all move forward.

Posted by: Dorthula Green | September 15, 2007 12:37 PM

I want to remind US ALL that MOST black young people are NOT, I repeat, NOT, in the criminal justice system. We have got to rethink our focus. We still have to fight for fairness in our schools, jobs etc., but most of our youth and young adults are not in the criminal justice system. The figures are daunting and unfair, but we need to be mindful that we have kids who are doing excellently.... Now to the issue of the drugs.... The complexity of the criminala justice system is daunty to say the least. Criminal justice, like social service has become big business. I think that Icarus and Ms. Fair have important voices in this situation. As to Ms. Fair's sons being imprisoned...The spider spins a web and then they blame you for getting caught in it. O.J. was found innocent, but he is imprisoned by the American imagination. "Cannot cash in your face" ... Amazing...

I too live in the Dwight/WestRiver area. I've been angry and stood toe to toe with drug pushers standing in front of my home or a corner near my home. I suspect that each time, I took my life into my hands. No one will save us but us. From my perspective, there is NO excuse for selling drugs or doing any other illegal game that continues to destroy our people. Yet I am also fully aware that the drug sellers are are simply the new "house slaves" when it comes to keeping our community down so that the "powers that be" can continue to be in control. Many are foolish enough to believe that selling drugs for "Mr. Charlie" benefits them. We fool ourselves if we think that legislation will be the savior. I do believe it will help as it has in every civil rights battle (crack penalties are stiffer than cocaine penalties).

The real rescue is our community taking ownership of our resources. We ares suckers for an expensive ECKO brand shirt. Who makes the money? 1st of the month, you can hardly walk down town because people are just spending every penny they have. Why not wait, and put $10.00 in a bank account. You spend your $$ in places that don't even think you are worthy of a seat (take out onlY) or a fitting room (only a drawn curtain) In some ways we are fighting the wrong war. A $25-30 pair of sneakers wears just as well and just as long as a $100.00 pair.

I've worked with men and women in prison. I encourage them to think outside the box and take advantage of what is offered. "Do the time, don't let the time do you." It sounds trite, but it's important to take charge of yourself as much as possible. A study of African-Americans from Reconstruction to 1950's will show the tenacity of rising above your circumstances and not letting others determine your dignity. The War on Poverty was a ware on Black folks. The War on Drugs is just chapter two. Black America, you got to recognize... no one is coming to save us. Start with our children. Be at home, spend less money, show a work ethic, value education! It might take a generation or two, but don't give them what they want...our soul and dignity. A White, wealthy family in Cheshire isn't more valuable than a working class family in New Haven. We have to believe it when no one else does. Go to the PTA meeting. If there isn't one start one.

Be more than an ex-offender. We can learn something from those who come from very poor countries. Pool resources, live simply, sacrifice, and work hard until you can get what you need to go forward. My grandparents had second grade education, my parents went to 10th grade, my generation graduated college/masters, our children are doctors, lawyers, scholars,.. Morehouse, Yale, Harvard, Trinity graduates...

We must fight for our children's futures. We do not want to see them in jail and we don't want them on street corners.

It's tedious, but we have to fight on all fronts.

Posted by: Icarus 12 | September 15, 2007 3:20 PM

Ms. Fair,

I am sorry the NHI misstated the number of your seven sons who actually went to prison. That is an important fact, and most definitely you should ask for and get a correction of fact by the paper.

You stated that my comments and view were meaningless to you and others and would "not change the course of American history relative to African Americans and the injustices they face on a daily basis." Indeed, I agree with you. I can't imagine one commenter's words in a small, local paper affecting the course of history or how we view the past or future.

I do, however, firmly believe that it is mistaken for African Americans like yourself to focus on the injustice of the past as you try to forge a more just future. It's not that it isn't important, but it's a question of how important it is now to moving forward.

According to a New York Times report (I don't have the date), black immigrants from the Carribean nations have catalyzed a brighter future for themselves in the New York region. Black Carribeans come to the New York area with less money, nearly no property, and less education than Black native-born New Yorkers, and yet by the end of the first generation of immigrants, the Black Carribeans have higher incomes, higher educational achievements for their children, higher home ownership figures and lower drug and incarceration rates than their native-born American racial counterparts.

To me, that points not to the enduring exercise of racism in the United States, but to its shrinkage and change. It's not gone, but it's not going to hold you down until you scream Uncle.

What holds so many African-Americans down, at least in the West River neighborhood where I lived for many years, is their conviction that there's no point in striving to make it in this society, because that society at large is dead set against your gaining independence, education, wealth, and mastery over your own individual destiny. Instead, an attitude of resentment reigns and so-called African-American leaders focus community fury on suspected discrimination, white racist comments (I mean, who cares what such racists say?!), portrayals in the media, proportional color representation on boards and organizations, etc. In other words, it's nearly always about that hostile world out there and not about what African-Americans can do about getting busy.

Active, vicious, and effective racism is a truth about the American past, but it is a pernicious falsehood about the present.

The greatest brake on African American achievement is an unwillingness in the African American community to focus on the things within a person's own control -- his or her own schooling, work, and family.

I know mine is not a popular view, and it will probably enrage many NIH readers (if they are even reading this, and I don't flatter myself that they are!). But it is both an observation and conviction that I live by, as I attempt in every situation to treat all fairly, and to offer such opportunities as I can to whomever is willing to work and strive.

Posted by: Edward_H | September 16, 2007 9:06 AM

So now the state , or to be more specific the taxpayers, are supposed to help these con-men, crooks and criminals to get jobs? They would not need help if they did not decide to delve into the criminal lifestyle in the first place. Most people learn as a child to stay away from criminal activity or suffer the consequences. What makes it so hard for these people to understand the negative repercussions of their actions? In my experience from running my business, for every ex-con who fills out an application you get at least five if not more applications from people of equal or better qualifications who have never had any brushes with the law or spent time in jail.

The coalition wants the state to erase the records of ex-offenders who have paid their debt to society.

The harm done upon society and the victims of these criminals cannot be erased. Their victims will have to carry the phsyical and emotoinal scars and decent neighborhoods are usually changed forever once drug dealers set up shop. Just because these convicts have served their jail sentences does not mean they have paid their debt to society, carrying these criminal records are part of that price. These records also serve to protect those of us who chose to live honest and productive lives rather than become criminal parasites. Employers can avoid hiring undesirable criminals who may put their businesses, clients and other employees at risk. If someone has gone to jail for embezzlement I would like ot know that before I hire them to do my books and if someone has gone to jail for selling drugs out of their own mother's house I would like to know that before I rent them an apartment.

The hardest thing is to see them struggle so hard to get a job," she said of her sons. All seven have been jailed for selling drugs.

You would think she would be lobbying for the state to set up parenting classes with a track record like this. I have found most people who breed criminals look for a scapegoat , like the War on Drugs, to blame for their failures as a parent. Stories like this make me think we should bring back compulsary sterilization.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | September 16, 2007 5:45 PM

Icarus 12
You Need To Read About The Late Gary Webb And His
Investigation Of Colombia's Cocaine Cartels Pipeline That Put The Drugs Into The Black Neighboroods Of Los Angels. Also Most Of The Illegal Drugs That Come Into This Country Also Come In By Crooked Diplomats Who Have Diplomatic
Immunity.You Stated That Black Immigrants From The Carribean Nation Have Higher Home Ownership
And Low Drug And Incarceration Rate And Higher Incomes And Higher Educational Achievements.See My Wife Is From The Carribean And I Shared Your Post With My Wife Family And They Told Me That You Are Half Right And This Is Why. First You Said That Black Immigrants Have Higher Home Ownership, But If You Do The Research You Will Find That Black African American's Who Live In The South Have A Higher Rate Of Home Ownership More Than Black Carribean Immigrants.You also Said That Black Immigrants Have Higher Incomes And Higher Edcational Achievements, Read Ebnoy
And Jet And Black Enterprise Magzines And You Will See Again That In The South African American's Lead The Way. You Also Said That Black
Immigrants Have A Low Incarceration Rate Than African American's Not True Must Of You Black And Other Immigrants Are In The Fedral Prison.You Also State That So Called African American Leaders Focus On Community Fury Or Suspected Discrmination And White Racist. Should I And Other
African American Not Fight On Going Discrmination And Racism Like The Case Of The Jena Six In Louisiana And The Case Of The Black Woman In West
Virginia. Bottom Line I Agree That We African American's Must Do More To Help Ourselves, But We Must Also Fight Racism And Discrmination When That Evil Sprint Rise Up. Also A Lot Of Black Immigrants Who Come To This Country Do not Get Involved In Any Civil Rights Or Social Movement That Fights Discrmination And Racism. There Become Laid Back And Say Nothing.But I Will Say This A Lot Of Them Are Comming Around In Thinking
Due To The Fact That There Are Now Losing There Homes To Subprime Loans, Job Outsourcing And Like
The Rest Of Us The American Dream!!!

Posted by: icarus 12 | September 17, 2007 1:08 PM

A new form of cool

Dear ThreeFifths,

Thanks for the information about differing rates of African-American home ownership and other economic indices across the country, especially in parts of the American South.

I agree with you that drugs get funneled into poor neighborhoods for sale to rich, middle-class, and poor alike. The white kids from Darien go to Stamford and Bridgeport (or their more local dealers do) to obtain their party drugs. Then they come home, participate in "Diversity Day" at the town high school, and feel that racism sucks but that their actions have nothing to do with its perpetuation.

At minimum there is one thing that people living in nice neighborhoods can do: stop buying illegal drugs.

If you are not already an addict, that should be an easy life-style change. Don't fuel the demand for drugs, don't participate in an economy that first funds and then rips the heart out of poor communities from Bogata to the Bronx. Oh yes, and that funds the Taliban in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and elsewhere. We know about "blood diamonds" and their link to funding epic wars in Africa. Now it's time to stop funding terrorism and the disintegration of poor families in the United States by buying illegal drugs.

That would be a new form of cool.

Posted by: bjfair | September 17, 2007 1:29 PM

Icarus, regarding the misstatement. I am responsible for that, not the reporter. I misspoke during the interview relative to my sons'cirminal history. As I said I didn't ask for a correction because what people think of me and mine isn't significant to me or them. I learned a long time ago that the world is full of self righteous people and so one of the lessons (during my attempt to parent)was to shield my children from falling prey to those who view the world with a narrow vision. Another lesson I taught my children was to never look down on others or state what you wouuldn't do unless you have walked a day in the shoes of those whom you wish to comment on. I might have failed at parenting in others' opinion but I think it's a lesson that many other parents might want to teach their children. I have 7 beautiful sons and 3 beautiful daughters and in spite of some of the mistakes they made along the way from childhood to adulthood they are doing quite well,no drug addicts or alcoholics,thieves,robbers, or child molesters. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them.They are employed, attending college and raising their children and are very content with their lives and despite what others may think about my parenting skills my chldren think I'm the best parent any child could have and hundreds of other children, young adults and adults have expressed the same. Those are the opinions I value. My children know I have worked hard for them, gave them a sound foundation, taught them coping skills, set high standards of education and life goals,set a good example before them, attended PTA's and other events, praised their good and admonished their bad choices. fed them, clothe them, provided shelter, emotional stability, high moral standards and loved them with everything in me.If that's a bad parent, I agree with you I need some parenting skills. Yes, All of our children are not in jail or prison and there are some who are doing quite we.. Kudos to them, They don't need my assistance but there are thousands of others who do. I advocate not only for prison and criminal justice reform bu also for hihger levels of education for our kids, living wages for parents so they can spend more time in the home raising their chldren, decent and affordable housing and better care for our elderly. I may focus on the prison and crimianl justice because they are the ones scoeity wouldrather forget about. My humanity won't allow me to do so.I struggle for a better world and will continue to do so. Finally, Edward If anyone should be sterilized you might look closer to home.

Posted by: bjfair | September 17, 2007 3:10 PM

Sorry readers, I spoke too fast again and misrepresented a fact.Tish, tish.I need to slow down my response. I beleive I stated that ALL my sons are working. Factually, five are working. The other 2 are committed to finding employment. All 7 have matured and come to recognize how dealing drugs contributed to the destruction of their community even though I tried to plant that seed when they were young. I should also add that one of my sons is working 2 jobs to take care of his family. He is on his way to work at 4:30 am, has a two hour break between jobs and returns home at the end of the day at 8:30 pm, spends time with his children going over homework and asking about their day before retiring for the night. Three work contruction jobs and one works with children in crisis. These are the things that are irrelevent to the self righteous because their focus is on the bad choices they made in the past. Look around we have lawmakers and law enforcement making bad choices, (legislators driving drunk, prosecutors stealing from defendants, cops selling guns and drugs to kids, judges driving drunk causing loss of life, yale professors and priests molesting children,officers lying, stealing and murdering,legislators contracting to cause physical harm to others, and on and on and on and on..

Posted by: Ned | September 18, 2007 8:49 AM

Why is getting high a crime? Imagine if everyone who broke the speed limit was sent to prison - wait, I'm sure there's some zealous politician who thinks that would be a great idea... Why does the United States have the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world? Why do crooked cops get pensions, but small time dealers (of currently illegal drugs - remember Prohibition?) get permanent records?

Posted by: Icarus 12 | September 18, 2007 10:38 AM

It's fairly obvious that you have never lived in a neighborhood where drug sales are the norm.

The issues are complex, but the end result is that one person's "getting high" feeds into a whole system of exchanges that make life hell for others, especially for those living near the point of sale.

The buyer for recreational use doesn't see the wreakage, unless he or she becomes addicted and then, out of poverty and dependency, has to live in that drug-saturated environment.

My own laissez-faire, almost libertarian attitude toward drug use changed completly after I had to live in a neighborhood that catered to others' desire for drugs. The users came and went, but I came home to the destruction every night.

Posted by: misssecretary | September 18, 2007 10:45 PM

It's nice to hear that Ms. Fair is family orientated but that has nothing to do with being a city Alderperson. A good Alderperson should be available to represent their neighborhood and the city in times of crisis by being ready to appear in City Hall in a moments notice. Rumor has it that Barbara works in Hartford which means she spends her evenings stuck in traffic. How many meetings is she going to make? When you miss a meeting, Barbara, they write that in the paper too, along with your voting record and tax payment history. If it hurts to read these little comments here about your family, you don't want to be an Alderpson.

Barbara said that if she lost the primary she would work with the winner. The day after her defeat, however, she vowed to run again in November as a write in. Why the hipocrisy?

Posted by: BJ | September 19, 2007 12:48 PM

Ms. Fair,

Your thinking has got to be the most....

Unfocussed,
Ill Informed,
Manipulative,
Evasive,
Substance Lacking,
Integrity lacking in the formulation of the positions,
Honesty deprived in the selection of the, (clearly self serving), issues,
( .... Etc ...)

That I have ever seen.

You Madam, have all the traits of an elected official as pitiful as Barbara Rawls-Ivy, if not more pitiful and more of a fake, http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/07/former_alderwom.php ).

You have the worst rhetoric I have ever heard & read from some one trying, (for clearly self serving reasons), to become an elected official. I had students writing better and more honest SAT essays than your reasoning here. I will use yours as an example of bad thinking in my courses.

There are many of us African Americans ashamed and embarrassed at the insinuation that "YOU" can or would even consider talking for African Americans! Limit your bad and poor thinking as the spokeswoman for your own familly. That is your right.

Posted by: Edward_H | September 21, 2007 1:13 PM

Fair's story was as immediate as her swing by the Webster Correctional Institution to collect her son, Keijam Tucker, 32, just before coming to the Legislative Office Building. He served nine months for selling drugs

BJFAIR
All 7 have matured and come to recognize how dealing drugs contributed to the destruction of their community even though I tried to plant that seed when they were young.

Nice to see the lesson finally hitting home after 32 years.