M.A.R.C.H Newsletter: July 2024
The purpose of the M.A.R.C.H. newsletter:
“M” is for Memory. The core purpose of this newsletter is remembering, honoring, and learning from the lived experiences of our elders be it here in the community, across the state or nation.
“A” is for Awareness. The purpose of memory is to guide our awareness, so that we understand the context and complexity of the work that is needed regarding achieving racial and social justice.
“R” is for Resilience. Memory and awareness are built on the resilience of our spirit. Racial and social justice work requires one to be mentally, physically, and emotionally strong. The purpose of this newsletter is to build up that needed strength.
“C” is for Community. The purpose of this newsletter is to remind us that our strength to fight for racial and social justice is fueled by knowing that the work is not done in solitude but in solidarity. As Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
“H” is for Hope. We know that racial and social justice is not just going to happen. Our hope is that through our actions of voice, feet, or mind we will get closer to it happening. This newsletter highlights ways folks are working toward the goal of this nation truly being a place of racial and social justice for all.
This e-newsletter shares what the MLK Association and its Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) Program is doing and offers other news, events, and stories that align with its efforts. Below are some items that are noteworthy.
As always, feel free to share any or all of these items or the entire e-newsletter.
The Disability Pride Flag:
The black field represents the disabled people who have lost their lives due to not only their illness, but also negligence, suicide, and eugenics.
The lightning bolt represents the non-lateral lives that many disabled people live, often having to adapt themselves or their physical routes to get around an inaccessible society.
Each color on the flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment:
Blue: Mental illness.
Yellow: Cognitive and Intellectual disabilities.
Green: Sensory perception disabilities.
Red: Physical disabilities.
***Voting***
If you are part of an organization, faith community or group that is interested in hearing more about the changes that have happened in NC with voting, feel free to contact Ron Katz. He is reaching out to faith communities, nonprofits and other groups to speak or provide a speaker to support their efforts to vote in 2024. Ron is working with a number of nonpartisan groups that are promoting voter engagement throughout WNC and the entire state.
National News
- As November nears, election ads appear more frequently. Here is an article that provides a glossary of far-right code words. article
- Black farmers’ association calls for the CEO of Tractor Supply to resign after the company cuts its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. article
- It is summertime, and many people go to pools and beaches for relief from the heat. About forty million Americans do not know how to swim with Hispanic and Black people being the most likely to die from drowning. article
- The U.S. Surgeon General has declared gun violence as a national health crisis. article
State News
- Mark Robinson, the current NC Lt. Governor, who is also the GOP candidate for Governor, recently called from the pulpit of Lake Church in White Lake, NC for “some folk” to be killed. article This follow-up article includes a response from the Robinson campaign. article
- A recent report finds that health care in North Carolina is the most expensive in the country. article
- North Carolina schools are re-segregating. article
- The NC Senate district racial gerrymandering trial is set for February 2025. article
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County honored eight students during its annual scholarship awards program. article
Issues In Education
- Programs centered on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in North Carolina public schools are a major campaign issue. article
- South Carolina will not offer AP African American studies in their schools. article
- The Hartford County Public School district in Maryland rejects teaching AP African American studies because it is “divisive, with a progressive agenda and has too much focus on racism.” article
- 131 scholarships in Texas are put on hold due to the state’s ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. article
Racism
- A poll by the Pew Research Center shows that many Black Americans believe that racism fuels institutions to work against them. article
- A man from Arizonia planned to start a “race war” in Atlanta. article
- A white Nebraska man shot and wounded 7 of his Guatemalan neighbors. article
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre case. article
- The last two survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre have asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to reconsider their decision. article
- A GOP candidate for the office of Secretary of state of Missouri disparaged Juneteenth and Black Americans call for reparations. article
- Here is an interesting editorial on how the GI Bill widened the Black-white wealth gap. article
- A West Virginia couple adopted Black children to enslave them. article
Local News
- The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County honored eight students during its annual scholarship awards program. article
- Stephens-Lee High School just held their 100th-year alumni celebration. article
- The Skyview Golf Tournament, the longest Black-owned and operated professional golf tournament in the nation, begins this week. article
- Dr. Andrew Shannon is the new director of the YMI Cultural Center. He shared his vision for the center with The Urban News. article
- Mr. Todd Gragg produced Black in Asheville, a documentary film that explores the past, present, and future experiences, and challenges of African Americans in Asheville and WNC. article
Reparatations
The Asheville and Buncombe County Community Reparations ComissionCommission webpage
- The Commission’s project page Project page
- The next meeting of the Community Reparations Commission is scheduled for July 15, 2024 from 6pm-8pm at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Banquet Room: 87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801
The Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Asheville has created the RSAA Reparations Fund. Here is information on how people can learn and support this effort organized by the Tzedek Social Justice Fund.
The Asheville Racial Justice Coalition has released their “Every Black Voice” Report
Monthly Community Events
Black Wall Street AVL works to support Black Businesses in Asheville. Check out their website for more information about upcoming events!
Hood Huggers offers a fun way to learn about the history of Black Asheville. They also organize volunteer opportunities at the Peace Garden 47 Bryant St. Assheville, NC 28806. There are regular Community volunteer days. The Farm stand is open on Fridays from 3pm-7pm every week. Get details about how to book a tour, volunteering or taking part in their other community actions here.
The Color of Asheville’s Black-Owned Businesses and Community directory
We are now hosting an Open Jam Night in The Canopy at Art Garden AVL (191 Lyman St., Suite 316, Asheville, NC 28801) every 2nd Friday of the month! Hosted by The Pot Stirred and local band, East Ritual! You can come and listen, or sign up to show off your own musical talents. This is a free event, open to the public. Reserve your seat at https://www.artgardenavl.com/ Join us Friday, July 12th, from 7-10 pm for our next Open Jam Night!
he Shiloh Community Celebration
Saturday, July 13, 2024
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Shiloh Community Garden (map)
The East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association announces a community workday on Friday, July 12 from 2:30pm to 5pm at Dr. George Washington Carver Edible Park (30 George Washington Carver Ave.) Parking is available at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center.
Resources of Interest
- Data from the 2016 election shows how statistics on sexism, racism, and nationalism can be used to explain and predict election results. article
- The North Carolina State Capitol Historic Site has begun a “From Naming to Knowing” project. The goal of this project is to name and, as much as possible, share the stories of the enslaved men who built and maintained the State Capitol between 1833 and 1865. https://namingtoknowing.org/
- The National Museum of African American History & Culture has 500,000 pages of Freedman’s Bureau records available online. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/freedmens-bureau
- The Official mapping Police Violence database – https://mappingpoliceviolence.us/
Remembrance Projects Nationally & Locally
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has been the important partner not only to Buncombe County but to all communities willing and working to address their history of racial injustice. As in each edition of this e-newsletter, we will continue to highlight several items from the EJI.
- EJI is currently working with nearly 100 communities to advance Community Remembrance Projects. More than half have erected historical markers. You can find out more about the communities that have erected EJI sponsored Community Remembrance Project markers here.
- You can view what is on each of the markers for Buncombe County, front and back, here as compiled by the Equal Justice Initiative. To see the markers, go to the following sites: for Mr. John Humphries – College & Spruce Streets; for Mr. Bob Brackett – Triangle Park; and for Mr. Hezekiah Rankin – Craven Street & Emma Road.
- The full stories about each of the three men who were lynched are captured in this document.
- The Equal Justice Initiative shared this webpage of the Historical Markers Installation Ceremony In Asheville on October 30th of 2021.
Please remember:
- Do you want to stay connected to the work of the Equal Justice Initiative? Sign up for updates about their work here.
- Every day of the year offers important racial justice history. If you want to get a daily reminder of that history, the Equal Justice Initiative offers this sign-up. Go here to get today’s reminder.
The NC Black Alliance offers this webpage with a page entitled – “Access to Healthcare: What You Need to Know” along with other pages that have articles and information concerning the Black community.
Black in Asheville, Dr. Andrew Shannon, MLK Asheville Scholarship, Mr. Todd Gragg, Reparations, Skyview Golf Tournament, YMI Cultural Center