THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CIVIL DEATH AND JIM CROW

THE DEADWILEY TRUTH

OP-ED COLUMN

By Eric M. Deadwiley

September 26, 2011

The execution of Troy Davis, a man who many believed was an innocent man has ignited a discussion on the use of the Death Penalty as a form of punishment in the United States of America. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, out of 50 states: 34 states (including the U.S. Gov’t and Military) currently have the death penalty. As of 1976—up until this year, there have been 1,270 people in the U.S. executed. Out of those executions, 56% of those executed were White, 35% were Black and 7% were Hispanic. According to the U.S. Census 2010 data, blacks only represent approximately 12.6% of the United States population, yet, the Death Penalty Information Center reports that blacks represent 35% of those executed in this country; and out of those executed for “interracial murders” 255 blacks were put to death as opposed to 17 whites.  

Out of a U.S. population of less than 13%, and a death row population of 3251 death row prisoners, blacks represent 42% of those prisoners. Out of all the Chief District Attorneys prosecuting death penalty cases, a “disturbing” 98% are white.  These statistics are a clear reminder of the policies and practices that have defined the civil relationship between whites and blacks since the founding of this great nation. The “Death Penalty,” more than any other penalty—as a punishment for a criminal act, represents  the very essence of “civil death.” The very act of a “state” putting a citizen to death—is and of itself, (by definition) a “civil death”. Civil death is the act, practice or policy of denying a person the rights provided in the Declaration of Independence. Civil death was–and–still is a practice of punishment and deprivation of civil rights to “any” person who commits a criminal act on the federal, state or local level.

Jim Crow, however, is a product of “States Rights” in the deep south, where mostly “black folk” were subjected to “restrictions” and “discriminatory practices” based on color discrimination alone. Blacks did not have to commit a crime to be restricted to seating in the “back of a bus,” entering through the back door of a Hotel or using separate “public bathrooms.” Black folk certainly did not have to commit a crime to be relegated to separate and inferior Schools i.e., Brown v. Board of Education. Civil death penalties (with very few exceptions) are practiced exactly as they were practiced back in the 17^th and 18^th Century. The practice of “branding” a person with a “letter” is still in place. When a person is convicted of a “class A” felony, that felony is “publically” disseminated all across the country; just as the letter “A” was sewn on the clothing of any person convicted of Adultery in 17^th century European colonies. The purpose of the letter was to make the person’s conviction “public”—so the greater society can know that the person is a convict.

Civil death penalties were in the past (and are currently) used against a person convicted of a crime. There are currently 2.5 million people in U.S. Prisons today. According to the Justice Department, there are currently over “82 million people with convictions on their public records. There are over six hundred thousand people released into society each year from prisons and jails all across the country. If you want to make an argument that the term “convict” is the new and updated version of the word “nigger,” you will get no argument from me. However, the policies of Jim Crow could “never” match the cruelty and uncivilized practices of “Civil Death.” Human beings often search for “politically-correct” terms to replace other terms that make us uncomfortable i.e., “Collateral Consequences” instead of  “Civil Death” and  “Correctional Facilities” instead of  “Prisons.” It is my intention to focus attention on the real enemy that plagues the 82 million people in this country with criminal records. That enemy is the ancient, archaic and draconian practice of “Civil Death.”

Our country is headed towards a financial disaster which could collapse our economy to the level of a “third world nation.” We have a “tax revenue” problem that (if unchanged) can usher our nation into financial ruins. It is no longer practical or intelligent to keep over one fourth of the population of the United States “unemployed.”  What we need is “progressive” legislative  or judicial change to the thousands of civil death laws across the country. This is why I wrote the book, “Civil Death In New York State, How New York State Utilizes Criminal Conviction Records to Impede the Economic Growth of Formerly Convicted People” and “introduced”  a “Ban the Box” proposal to the New York State Assembly, Senate and the New York City Council which  prompted Mayor Bloomberg to issue an Executive Order removing the question (Have you ever been convicted of a crime?) from New York City job applications. Yet, Banning the box on job applications is not enough.  

We need to aggressively advocate for “spent sentence” and “conviction set-aside laws for “rehabilitated” formerly convicted people who have spent more than 10 years crime and drug free. Black unemployment is at a 27 year high. We do not have any time to waste. High black unemployment is a direct consequence of civil death policies, not Jim Crow.

Eric M. Deadwiley is a Freelance Op-Ed Columnist and Author

Contact:          Eric M. Deadwiley

Email               thedeadwileytruth@yahoo.com

Blog:                http://civildeathinnewyorkstate.blogspot.com/

SHAME ON YOU LARRY MERCHANT, HBO AND GOLDEN BOY!

THE DEADWILEY TRUTH
OP-ED COLUMN

By Eric M. Deadwiley
September 20, 2011

I have been a faithful Boxing fan ever since my father introduced me to the sport in the
70’s. From the first time I watched a Boxing match–“I was hooked” on the sport–which some
affectionately call the “Sweet-Science.” Over the years, I have become a faithful fan to many
fighters like Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Alexis Argüello, Julio Caesar
Chaves and yes, Mike Tyson. These great fighters and others personified the best in athleticism
and perseverance in a sport that can literally end a person’s life with one well-placed blow. We
didn’t care about the “ethnic background” of the fighter back then. The days of applauding an
athlete for their skills and talent are long gone.

What we are seeing today is an over emphasis on an athlete’s national origin and the abandonment of a natural love for the sport. This dichotomy was openly showcased in Saturday night’s Welterweight fight between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz. Floyd Mayweather came into the fight as a heavy favorite because of his experience and speed–matched up against an experienced slugger who is 10 years younger. The fight started off just as many boxing analyst had expected, with Mayweather “peppering” Ortiz with straight right hand shots and using his defensive skills to avoid counter attacks by Ortiz. It was in the second round that Referee Joe Cortez first warned Ortiz about leading with his head. To put it plain, Ortiz was attempting to head-butt Mayweather early on in the fight. The was obviously a strategy being implemented in the Ortiz camp.

In all of my years watching boxing matches, I have never seen a fighter “literally” launch himself into the air like a missile to head-butt another fighter. Joe Cortez “rightfully” took a point away from Ortiz for the intentional head-butt. What was not readily seen or recognized by all of the analyst which included Emanuel Steward, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant, was Mayweather rubbing on his bottom teeth which could indicate that a tooth may have been knocked loose from the head-butt. Floyd Mayweather rightfully scolded Larry Merchant for–not only looking past the intentional head-butt of Ortiz, but also not giving him any credit for the knock-out victory. This is not the first time Larry Merchant dismissed the opponent Mayweather just beat, and disrespectfully match him with a new opponent which Merchant and others are claiming Mayweather is “ducking.”

When Mayweather fought and easily defeated Juan Manuel Marquez, Larry Merchant, Jim Lampley and others quickly dismissed the victory with claims that Marquez was a “smaller” man which prompted Merchant along with Shane Mosley to approach Mayweather after the fight to press Mayweather to fight Mosley–who they said was a naturally big Welterweight. After Mayweather defeated Mosley, they quickly dismissed that win–claiming that Mosley was a “washed up” fighter; as seen in the 24/7 HBO special where Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotions) was talking to Victor Ortiz, telling him that when Mayweather fought Mosley and him, they were past their prime. These bogus claims were never made against Pacquiao who also fought them and other fighters Mayweather had defeated around the same time. There appears to be a blatant disrespect for black pugilist like Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sports analyst Jim Gray also often denigrated the accomplishments of black fighters in his post-fight interviews. Floyd Mayweather Jr earned the right to demand respect from any person who would have the audacity to step in a ring, after he just put “his” life on the line and dismiss his victory. Larry Merchant deserved to be chided by Floyd Mayweather.

Everyone wants to see a “Super-fight” between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao because they are pound-for-pound the best fighters in the sport. HBO need to stop promoting racially charged matches where “petty nationalism” accounts for 99% of the fans enthusiasm for a fighter. We must go back to respecting the “art” of boxing. These men and woman put their lives on the line when they glove-up and enter into the ring for our entertainment. They deserve our utmost respect. What will happen if Floyd Mayweather eventually defeats Manny Pacquiao? Who are they going to say he is ducking then, Wladimir Klitschko? I would still be a fan to both fighters no matter who wins the fight. In the meantime, Golden Boy Promotions, HBO and Larry Merchant should clean up their acts.

Eric M. Deadwiley is a Freelance Op-Ed Columnist and Author

Contact:         Eric M. Deadwiley

Email              thedeadwileytruth@yahoo.com

                        http://civildeathinnewyorkstate.blogspot.com/

THE DEADWILEY TRUTH

OP-ED COLUMN

IS AL SHARPTON CONNECTED TO ATTACKS ON DESSENTERS OF OBAMA?

By Eric M. Deadwiley

September 1, 2011

President Obama is using a risky strategy in his attempts to allure disenchanted black Voters back to him in 2012. Our President is utilizing the black media, specifically—High profile black radio hosts to bolster his re-election campaign. The President has granted—“highly sort-after” access to himself and members of his Cabinet to popular Radio Host like the Rev. Al Sharpton, Host of “Keeping it Real” (and recent Host of “Politics Nation” on MSNBC),” Steve Harvey, Host of “The Steve Harvey Show,” Tom Joyner, Host of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show" and Michael Baisden, Host of “The Michael Baisden Show.”  All of whom have “huge” following’s on their radio shows.


Although, this is a campaign strategy used by most politicians to reach the masses of black voters, President Obama is receiving assistance from these hosts that far exceed what some would characterize as a “a simple bias” towards the first black President. These hosts have been like “attack-dogs” towards anyone who has the audacity to criticize the President for his policies (or lack-of policies) as they pertain to black folk. The recent attacks on Tavis Smiley and Professor Cornel West for their open criticisms of the President’s policies towards the poor have been often distasteful if not bordering on “libelous.” 

Steve Harvey recently referred to Tavis Smiley and Professor West as “Uncle Toms.” Tom Joyner took it a step further by saying that Professor West was Tavis Smileys “Piece,” implying that Tavis Smiley and Professor West are involved in a homosexual relationship. Michael Baisden has taken a more “even” tone to the controversy.  There have been attacks on Minister Louis Farrakhan for his “open” criticism of the President and his support of embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Columnist and Author Earl Ofari Hutchinson wrote a negative Column about Min. Farrakhan in “The Grio” which is a Columnist/Opinion website sponsored by MSNBC. Mr. Hutchinson “claims” that Minister Louis Farrakhan is supporting Moammar Gadhafi because of contributions made by the Libyan leader to the Nation of Islam in the past.

There appears to be a growing legion of black Columnist, Talk Show Host, Activist and Scholars who are connected to Al Sharpton and standing in line so they could have “access” to America’s first black President and all of the “gifts” and “privileges” it brings. In fact, most (if not all) of these people attacking anyone critical of the President’s policies towards black folk–have revenue sources which are connected to the others, and can all be traced back to one person–the Rev. Al Sharpton. Rev. Sharpton has an “unholy” alliance to President Obama, and it appears he’s being “paid well” for his allegiance. Rev. Sharpton has attended most (if not all) of the “Bill signing Ceremonies” and “social events” of the President. Rev. Sharpton has enjoyed “unprecedented” “access” to the President’s Cabinet member’s i.e. Arne Duncan U.S. (Secretary of Education) and Valerie Jarrett (Senior Advisor). Rev. Sharpton has a “syndicated” talk show on 1600 WWRL and 98.7 KISS FM, where Michael Baisden and Steve Harvey host shows. Rev. Sharpton’s National Action Network Sunday rallies are broadcast on 1190 WLIB–a “sister” station to 107.5 WBLS, where The Tom Joyner Morning Show is broadcast on weekday mornings. Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes for The Grio and often acts as a “contributor” to Rev. Sharpton’s show. While the “masses” of black and brown folk are suffering unacceptably high unemployment and foreclosures, President Obama is using “House-Negro” politics to divide black people.

The Deadwiley Truth in this story is that (unlike the black leadership of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s) black leadership today can be “bought off.” Our “so called” leadership today goes against the interest of the black and brown community for their own selfish needs and desires much like the house Negro did in the times of Chattel Slavery. Civil Rights Leaders were never synonymous with “wealth.” The Rev. Al Sharpton has used the pains and struggles of the black and brown community to launch himself into the pinnacles of wealth and power. Maybe Dr. King was sending a message to black people and America when an “earthquake” cracked the Washington Monument (indefinitely closing the National Mall) and Hurricane Irene effectively shut down the King monument site for events scheduled by Rev. Sharpton and President Obama. Maybe Dr. King (from the grave) is telling us that these people do not represent him or what he stood for. Maybe we should all listen.   

Eric M. Deadwiley is a Freelance Op-Ed Columnist and Author

Contact:         Eric M. Deadwiley

Email               thedeadwileytruth@yahoo.com
Blog:               http://civildeathinnewyorkstate.blogspot.com/