All posts by James Posey

Stewards of Black Folks Destiny in Oregon

Our future is their hands.

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I was privileged to attend the networking event hosted by the Oregon Association of Black School Educators on Sunday (ORABSE). I had to leave early. However, I was there long enough to appreciate the awesome work and accomplishments of this group. Renee Anderson and Michael  C. Grice represented the Portland Branch of the NAACP very well.

All I can say is that unless we begin to truly recognize these folks, celebrate their accomplishments,  and the value of what they mean to our future, God help us.

These black people who are in a  position to ensure the education of black youth are the key to black prosperity and the survival of our race. All of a sudden that hit me while I was in that room.

Pay special attention to Nicole Watson, their new President. She is a superstar working on behalf of our black youth as is Paul Coakley Jr. and Dr. Charlene Williams. Everyone in this photo is a major contributor to the success of black youth and stewards of our future.

Thank God for them.

Portland NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Fundraiser

Ok, my people, it’s going down on October 28. The Portland NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Fundraiser is the hottest ticket event for 2023. Don’t miss it. Get your tickets now.Portland NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Fundraiser 4

Below are only 10 reasons you should join the NAACP and celebrate with us on October 28:

  • Advocacy: By joining the NAACP, you become part of a community of advocates who work to promote equal rights and justice for all. Members have the opportunity to participate in advocacy campaigns that aim to improve civil rights and social justice for people of color.
  • Education: The NAACP provides members with educational resources and opportunities to learn about civil rights, social justice, and policy issues. Members can attend conferences, workshops, and other events that provide education on topics like voting rights, police reform, and educational equity.
  • Networking: Joining the NAACP provides opportunities to network with like-minded individuals who share a passion for social justice and racial equality. Members can connect with leaders and activists who are working to make a difference in their communities.
  • Leadership: Development: The NAACP offers leadership development opportunities for members to develop their skills and take on leadership roles within the organization. Members can develop skills in communication, advocacy, and community organizing.
  • Civic Engagement: The NAACP encourages civic engagement among its members by promoting voter registration, voter education, and participation in local and national elections. Members can also participate in local advocacy efforts that aim to improve their communities.
  • Legal Support: The NAACP provides legal support to members who experience discrimination or other civil rights violations. Members have access to a network of attorneys who can provide legal advice and representation in cases related to civil rights.
  • Scholarships: The NAACP offers scholarships to students who are committed to promoting civil rights and social justice. Members can apply for these scholarships to support their education and career goals.
  • Health and Wellness: The NAACP promotes health and wellness among its members by providing resources and information on topics like mental health, nutrition, and physical activity. Members can participate in health and wellness programs that aim to improve their overall well-being.
  • Community Service: The NAACP encourages members to engage in community service projects that support social justice and racial equality. Members can participate in local initiatives that aim to improve the lives of people of color in their communities.
  1. Personal Fulfillment: Joining the NAACP can provide a sense of personal fulfillment by allowing individuals to contribute to a cause they are passionate about. Members can take pride in being part of an organization that has a long history of fighting for civil rights and promoting social
NAACP.ORG/Join

Mike Green nails it.

Wake up Black America. Mike Green nails it.  

Don’t be confused runing around chasing rabbits. Mike Green will help keep us focused. Thank you Mike

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For those who think Trump is an authoritarian leading a cult following, perhaps this piece I wrote will change your mind. Before Trump became POTUS, I argued that Trump was the logical choice by a growing movement that isn’t interested in so-called “democracy” but rather defending, conserving and protecting white power, domination and supremacist ideology that fuels the national narrative of a Great White America.

There is no other Republican candidate who comes close to Trump’s overt and covert defiance of all presumed political ideals to prioritize the defense of white supremacy and the taking back this nation from those who seek to change it … at all cost.

Trump was recruited by the supremacist wing (aka “far right”) of the GOP to achieve the goals that a majority of White Christian Conservatives established and fought for with a century of violence (starting in 1868 – backlash to the impeachment of white supremacist President Andrew Johnson … to 1968 and the assassinations of MLK and Bobby Kennedy followed by a landslide election of white supremacist President Richard Nixon).

Today, despite Trump’s lifelong background of corruption and criminal-minded collaborations, he stands alone as the Republican Party frontrunner because, as he continues to remind us all, he alone can salvage the hope his supporters have in putting the brakes on the encroachment of multiculturalism and preserve the domination of white power and control over America’s institutions of power, wealth and influence. This message, and none other, is why Trump remains today the favorite candidate among a majority of White voters … both White men AND White women.

Sadly, the only way to stop this movement is to persuade a majority of White women to align their voting support with the majorities of all nonwhite populations. White women are the nation’s largest voting bloc and they serve as the fulcrum upon which the 2024 election will balance.

June Black Fantastic TRIFECTA

 

 

IT WAS ALL GOOD

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Fantastic Trifecta can best describe the events occurring in the last few weeks in the black community. First, came the Juneteenth celebrations and they were outstanding, That same Saturday came the 8-second Black Rodeo. That Black Rodeo thing was a surprisingly great success. Then came the Good in the Hood and Wow was it poppin’. I mean, was it just me ?, or was black people saying “Let us just be free to kick it”? It seems to me that black people were saying “Free at last, thank God almighty, Free at last from COVID and all that mask stuff.  It was such a pleasant sight to watch Black people on all occasions just enjoying themselves together.

I can’t say enough about all those who organized these events. I was so proud of Vince Jones, Ashton Simpson and their folks at the Black Rodeo, Jenelle Jack and her crew at the Juneteenth events, and Simone Carter, Deborah Roache, Angela Harris, and all their crew making the best “Good in the Hood” I have ever seen.

Of course, I was doing my NAACP thang at all events. I was soliciting my butt off but I was so proud of Black people. Did I mention unless I am mistaken, with few exceptions,  no measurable incidents of violence were reported? Hallaluha, Praise God.

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A Warrior is gone

A warrior is gone

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Jerry Tyler, Robert Andrews and Bond (Jerry’s brother)

A warrior is gone. A couple of weeks ago Jerry Tyler passed but I am not sure he understood that he was a warrior (he might have thought he was just a hard-working Black man). He was the “J” in J&R Trucking, part of the TRIAD of the Black dump trucking firms working on the NE Interstate Light Rail project (NE Urban Trucking Consortium 2001). Jerry Tyler and Robert Andrews of J&R Trucking were on the team of black truckers who endured the racist attacks by white truckers and a system that tried everything to exclude us from working in the industry. Work Horse Construction, Rock and Road Construction, and J&R Trucking were Black firms forming the base of the consortium.

They called us “Niggers” in raggedy trucks on the CB radios and tried to tear up our trucks in the loading and dumping process. They did everything to discourage us from working on that project. But thanks to Fred Hansen the TRI-Met administrator, and Bill Bruce, a white Stacey &Witbeck project manager at the time, we not only survived, but we eventually thrived. This is the point where TRI-Met becomes the region’s premier public agency promoting true economic equity and inclusion for Black contractors.

The consortium dissolved after the project and most of us are now retired but racism throughout the region remains. A new generation of Black construction businesses is now on the scene. But keep your eye on the procurement process involving the remodel of Jefferson High School if you want to see a case study of modern-day racism. More to come on that project.

No Excuses

Funding for the Black Community: No Excuses

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Watching Portland City Council today 4-12-23 in determining how monies originally dedicated to empowering the black community with investments were characterized and maligned in the discussion. One thing for sure is that when allocating resources to help black people it seems like there is always a controversy. I don’t imagine that kind of controversy allocating funding for a dog park would conjure up that kind of controversy. What is starkly clear, is that the City has been criminally dysfunctional when it comes to moving any positive agenda for black people.

Commissioner Rubio was emphatic about the original intent and purpose of the disputed resources. She outlined when, who, and why the money was allocated. She was spectacular in her defense of retaining the resources for Reimagine Oregon and Imagine Black.  Even the Mayor attempted to be creative in finding a way to honor the city’s commitment to doing something right for the black community. His longevity and experience on City Council was a sign of his political maturity. The commissioners who voted to redirect the money didn’t seem to understand the real and symbolic harm and impact of their decision to redistribute promised black dollar commitments. Nevertheless, the black community has more work to do to emphasize the catastrophic damage inflicted on the black community and the need to find every avenue to remedy past harm and hurt.

Of course, the black community bears some responsibility to move initiatives aimed at supporting and restoring black livability and economic growth. We can’t afford to think the system will automatically respond and take of us. We need to step up to the plate and get it done, no excuses.

Art Queen was truly a King.

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A few days ago I returned to Atlanta GA for the funeral of a giant in the Black construction field. Art J. Queen’s influence was not limited to the construction industry, he was an exceptionally good man in all aspects of his life. He never met a person he did not want to help. He would give you the shirt off his back. I could only attribute his goodness to his Christian values which he wore on his sleeves with pride. I am so thankful that I had a chance to know this man and regret I did try to spend more time in his presence.

I had not been in Atlanta in a while but it did not take me long to feel at home.  And I was elated and exceedingly happy to be surrounded by so many Black people. It was almost like I could breathe again and a sense of my African/Blackness rushed in to revive me. There is nothing like being around Black people in mass and immersed in their authentic selves. You get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly and most beautiful in all our variations.  For me, it was breathtaking and make me know how isolated I am from my roots. For a minute I saw the awesomeness of their material accumulations and spectacular political/social achievements but what was most impressive for me was that they seem like they were in control of their environment and had a spirit of wholeness. I might have just been intoxicated by the intensity of being around so many Black people. But whatever the case might be, I know I wanted more and was sorry to leave this Black Oasis. I know I had my rose-colored glasses on because I could see over in the distance that everything was not straight in the ATL.  One wrong turn in the wrong direction could have changed my perspective one hundred degrees. I just know that when I left ATL it was as if I had not finished a delicious meal. God knows that being Black is a precious earthy attribute and I went to the ground in Atlanta.

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A Vessel of hope

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A Vessel of HOPE

A Vessel of hope 26I decided to run for the President of the local  Portland branch the NAACP.  The election is in a few hours and I hope folks vote for me.  But win or lose I know this organization is still relevant in spite of the local branch’s reputation. If I am elected I hope to change all that because we need every tool in the tool kit to help rebuild our community. Thank God everybody knows that black people in America are the most resilient people on the planet. Let’s see if can make the Portland branch a powerful instrument in the fight for justice, equity and anti-discrimination.  As Jesse would say ” Let’s keep HOPE alive”A Vessel of hope 30

See my campaign information:

Campaign Statement and Profile_Portland Branch NAACP Members-final

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My Brother on Veteran’s Day

My Heart Aches on Veterans Day 

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As I marched in the veteran’s day parade in Portland  today.  All I could think about was my brother (Jerry Posey) and how much he loved service in the Army.  He died in December of 2020 after many years of suffering due to complications of being shot in back in Vietnam. Coincidently, I met several  South Vietnamese soldiers at the parade. It was eye opening and heart breaking knowing  the sacrifice made on all sides. Marvin Gaye was right ” War is not the answer”

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