Welcome to Living in Atlanta: A Day in the Life of John: We all have our morning rituals. Mine is to stop every morning at the RaceTrac and fill me up a big cup of their crushed ice! Yes, ...
Sunday, August 16, 2015
A Day in the Life of John
We all have our morning rituals.
Mine is to stop every morning at the RaceTrac and fill me up a big cup
of their crushed ice! Yes, it sounds weird but it’s what I do. The store is busy, landscapers and
construction workers fill up on their much needed ice and Gatorade to quench
their thirst on these hot summer days, corporate people in their suits run in
for a quick cup of coffee. Through the
glass window that faces the entrance of the store I notice an older gentleman
sitting at the café counter. I see him every
day. He usually has a lottery form and
pencil in his hand. Passersby speak to
him on their way out and he waves and he speaks back. On occasion, I have even given a head nod of
“good morning” in his direction, but I never took the time to say “hello”.
One morning in particular, when I was in a moment of weakness, I wanted
to eat something more than just a cup of ice to sip on my way to work. I had no cash and did not want to use my
debit card on such a small purchase so I went to the ATM machine to get some
cash. From out of nowhere a man comes up
behind me and says “I don’t mean any harm
by saying this, but I just wanted to tell you that you look so nice every
morning you come in here”. Since I
could not see who was standing behind me at the cash machine, I took a deep
breath and started smiling as if the words “thank you” had already emerged from
my lips to see John standing there smiling.
Pick up line…I thought to myself, but it was a compliment and I
appreciated it. It really did make me
smile. On my way to work, I couldn’t
help but wonder why was this man at this store every day? Who he was, and you know me…what’s his story? The entire week, I made it a point to say
hello to him, until one day I told him who I was and that I would like to write
an article about him. At first, he had a
puzzled look on his face until I explained that my blog was about everyday
people who in one way or another had a story to tell that would enrich people’s
lives. He agreed to sit down for an
interview.
The next day, I returned pen and paper in hand. Dressed in his usual khaki’s, polo shirt and
baseball cap John, who by the way is 82 years old, told me about his growing up
in Summerset Louisiana and his migration to Detroit Michigan. He’s always been a quiet fellow and learned
early to travel alone, because as he puts it “being with the wrong people can get you into trouble”. We
talked about a lot of things like, how he ended up in Georgia, his family,
career, regrets and if he could what would he change about his life and here’s
what I learned from John’s story:
Family Love is the Best Kind of Love
“I moved to Georgia about 5 years
ago. I am here with my daughter and her
children. She thought it best that I be
near her since I’m getting older. I wasn’t
always home, but I remember when the need to change that came over me.
I worked during the day, and when I came home, my wife would go to work
and I would be there with the children (he has 3 children). I needed to be there with my baby girl, and I
was. It was important to me. It was then that I quit my bad habits of
drinking, smoking and being away from home at night, ‘cause of my children and
I am proud of that.” Family love is more times than not reciprocated. Being a good parent and a good child pays off
in the end. And if the outcome of your
love is not what you expected, in the end, at least you know you were a
faithful steward with the gift given to you.
Being with the Wrong People Can Get You in Trouble
“I have never been in any kind of trouble with the law,
that’s good. One night me and my brother
went to this club. We sat at a table and
there was a guy sitting across from us had some words with my brother and me,
the guy pulls out a gun and points it at me.
My brother grabs me, the guy shoots and nothing came out, but it had
bullets in it ‘cause he fired up in the air on the second shot and it fired. That was God I say. We left the club and I knew right then, I
wasn’t going to hang around anybody any more…not even my brother. I continued to go to that club but I sat and
drank by myself and I been doing things by myself ever since then”. Watch
your association, even with family members.
Blood is thicker than water but blood is no good if it’s pouring out of
a bullet wound. If you want to know
where you are going, take notice of who you hang around.
I Don’t Regret, but I Would Change Something
“I was married to my wife for 34
years and she was a good woman. She was
god fearing and kind and she put up with a lot of bad things from me. I remember us piling up in our motorhome in
the summer driving from Detroit all the way to Summerset to visit my
family. My wife would fry chicken and
bake a chocolate cake and we would take that 27 hour trip (I made it in 23
hours home). As the children grew older,
it was just she and I and it was still good.
It all changed in 1994 when she died, it wasn’t fun anymore. I miss her.
The one thing that I would change would be the first 10 years of our
marriage ‘cause I was still out in them streets. I wish I would have been home those first 10
years”. Some people never learn, but most people do. The question then becomes when? Don’t wait to change things about yourself
that you know needs to be changed now.
DON’T waste valuable time on stupid things.
Find Something to Do, No Matter your Age
“I come here every day ‘cause I
like it. It’s something to do. Since I don’t drive any more I can come up
here, talk to some people, play my lottery tickets. Everybody in here knows who I am. I just don’t sit here all day; I walk all
around the neighborhood. I live right
across the street. When I walk, I look
at the trees and cars and people. I
really like coming up here and sitting on this patio and feeling the breeze. I
get out and do something every day”. No matter what age you are it is important
to DO SOMETHING! People were created to
connect to something…other people…nature…yourself. People can’t wait until they retire so that
they won’t have to do anything. But the
fact of the matter is that when you retire, you better do something! Engage your mind and extend your life. The devil’s playground is still active even
at age 82. Good for you John for not
having an idle mind!
Live, love, learn. Until next
time my lovelies….
Peace and blessings,
Phaedra
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The views or
opinions published in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog
owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that
the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal
capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended
to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or
individual. Additionally any comments left by any other independent readers or
authors are the sole responsibility of that person.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
A Day in the Life of John
FROM THE DESK OF PHAEDRA G. SAUNDERS - New Blog Post - Living in Atlanta - A Day in the Life of John
We all have our morning rituals. Mine is to stop every morning at the Quick Trip and fill me up a big cup of their crushed ice! Yes, it sounds weird but it’s what I do. The store is very busy, landscapers and construction workers fill up on their much needed ice and Gatorade to quench their thirst on these hot summer days...MORE TO COME, STAY TUNED
Monday, August 3, 2015
Welcome to Living in Atlanta: Our Struggle, Our Fight, Our Victories
Welcome to Living in Atlanta: Our Struggle, Our Fight, Our Victories: January 11, 2013 – Kendrick Johnson’s body was found in a rolled up wrestling mat in the gymnasium of Lowndes County High School, Valdost...
Our Struggle, Our Fight, Our Victories
April 8, 2015 – a 25-year-old black man, Nicholas Thomas, was shot and killed in a vehicle by Smyrna police on Tuesday at around 1:30pm. There is a call for justice.
May, 2014 – Habersham County Georgia, a Northeast Georgia SWAT team raided a residence in which a flash-bang grenade landed in a 1-year olds playpen seriously injuring the toddler. Because the suspected drug dealer had previous weapons charges a “no knock” warrant was issued. There is a call for justice.
Update: As this writing, Habersham County, Georgia, will pay nearly $1 million to settle a lawsuit by the parents of Bounkham “Bou Bou” Phonesavanh, the toddler who was injured in the drug raid last May. Also, a Habersham County deputy sheriff and special agent of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Criminal Investigation and Suppression Team (“NCIS”), has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of providing false information in a search warrant affidavit and providing the same false information to obtain an arrest warrant. Providing false evidence to a judge to obtain a warrant is a federal civil rights violation.
When you hear reports like this on the news what do you do? Sadly, many, me included, head straight for social media sights like Facebook or Twitter to voice outrage, ask questions and even offer condolences to the families of these slain young black youths. We have round table discussions with friends or over telephone lines and text. But somehow, never seem to take it to the streets on a consistent basis. Shameful yes, but that is why we have people like Marcus Coleman an activist and who stands up for justice in our communities.
Mr. Coleman has long been in fights like this one. I first noticed Marcus on Facebook a couple years ago, someone shared a post that I found quite interesting and decided to befriend him. For the past few years I’ve watched as he has remained constant with his challenging of judicial rulings, his speaking out for justice not only in Georgia, but across the nation as well. He is not an attorney, he is not a political figure, he is a man that possesses a type of enduring tenacity that makes a person like me say…“I’ve got to talk to this man”, and being the type of man that he is, he agreed to sit down with me for an interview to talk about his call for justice.
The criminal justice system has long been the backbone in regards to the governance of law in the United States and historically been biased and has missed the mark in the administering of fair sentencing to the underserved and to people of color. In his mid-twenties, Marcus states that he was unjustly imprisoned for a felony crime and spent 30 months in federal prison. It was during this time of incarceration; his need to help others was formed. Upon his release Marcus went into action and became the founder and President of the Atlanta Chapter and responsible for the acquisition of the South Eastern Regional headquarters of The National Action Network (NAN). He worked closely with and still maintains in close relationship with the Rev. Al Sharpton, and credits him for his position in giving a man like himself, a criminal record, the opportunity to reach and help others on a national platform. It has been over a year and a half since leaving The National Action Network to form his own company Save OurSelves #SOS.
RAL: Tell me about your company Save OurSelves (SOS)
Coleman: “Well, it’s something I always wanted to do even when I worked with The National Action Network, but felt the need to do this outside of that platform. It is new, established in May 2014, and it is different. Currently there is no board of directors as I am taking my time to construct the foundation and the people involved in its foundation. We focus primarily on: 1. the criminal justice system in terms of police brutality, unfair prison sentencing, and prison industrial complexes… anything dealing with the penal justice system. 2. Community outreach with the homeless and those suffering with addiction. 3. Mentor-ship with a concentration of Athletics, and this one is the one that I am most proud of”.
RAL: Why do you do this, and what is your focus?
Coleman: “My major is the black community… with a minor in inclusiveness (laughs) meaning the inclusion of like-minded people with the mindset of fairness and equality for all. I have a number of associates of different races and cultures and religious beliefs, and I don’t discriminate against those who are willing to work hard and fight for an issue. I may be invited to be in meetings and functions with high ranking officials and dignitaries one moment, and the next moment in undeserved communities with individuals who don’t believe in the nationally recognized organizations, and their support and activism is due to a willingness for change in our communities and the abuse suffered by the undeserved and people of color within the criminal justice system. I have associates who are clergymen, atheists and communist, it’s not about their belief or non-belief, it’s about the cause”.
And for Marcus, and the handful of his closest associates, it is about the cause. The Kendrick Johnson case is far from over. Every day, we read truths about his death. As recent as last month, U. S. Federal Marshals seized emails from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office after they concluded that there was no foul play in Kendrick’s’ death. Investigators stand by their findings that Kendrick’s’ death was due to a “freak” accident. The Department of Justice has targeted former students in the ongoing investigation into Johnsons’ death. In addition to the seizing of emails from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Federal marshals also raided the home of the Father (current FBI agent), the dorm room of his oldest son, & a couple’s apartment whom were friends with the oldest son…all former classmates of Kendrick. Although not formally charged, the Kendrick’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming two brothers who federal authorities are now investigating. I expect their findings in this investigation will be revealed soon, so stay tuned.
Save OurSelves (SOS) is not just a catchy slogan; it is what we as a community now find ourselves having to do not just for our generation, but for generations to come. Surmise it to say, I think that’s what black folks have been doing since our beginning. It’s nothing new, but with changing times and the advancement in technology and social forums, the methods have changed. The grass roots way of finding answers we desperately seek in our communities makes activists like Marcus a necessity in saving ourselves. Until next time my lovelies…
Peace and blessings,
Phaedra
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The views or opinions published in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Additionally any comments left by any other independent readers or authors are the sole responsibility of that person.
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