All posts by Dorris Ellis

Dorris Ellis is the publisher-editor of The Houston Sun, established in 1983 A native of Lexington, Mississippi Graduate of University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign, BA and MA
Editorial

Vision of the warriors

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Through Dorris’ Eyes

Sometimes I think that I worry too much about the future of our nation, and the position and state of where African Americans will find themselves. It seems to me that African Americans and other vulnerable groups are always fighting an uphill battle. There is an array of struggles lined up in cue barley awaiting the completion of one crisis before having to engage in another. This lifestyle can drive one to insanity. Mental Health week is around the corner and the African American is besieged with one trial after another that leaves the brain not enough time to regenerate.

As a child, I had hoped and thought that the vigor of the Civil Rights Movement would make life a little lighter so that at least there would be gaps in crisis driven action. I witnessed the adults working so hard. They would leave farms and jobs to attend change meetings that ran late into the night and got up the next day to start again. They were focused with a mission. They were intense. Gaining access to education, fair employment, accommodations, travel, voting and fair housing rights, I am certain has made a distinctive difference for all Americans. Still, the blacks are lagging. It seems so hard to keep from going under and now whites are experiencing the delayed American dream in this tight economy. The transformation of our nation brings about change in our melting pot called the United States of America.

These thoughts come to me as I reflect upon my time as a teenager assisting Fannie Lou Hamer and Robert G. Clark with Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party meetings. This week is especially reflective as the planned unveiling of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Monument on the Mall in Washington, DC. I recall my meeting of Dr. King when he came to my hometown for a meeting and fund raiser. My mom allowed me to serve as an usher and Mrs. Hamer moved me from the rear of the dining hall at St. Jr. College to the head table saying that I should serve, Dr. King, Medgar Evers and other dignitaries and leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. I was honored and determined to do a good job so that the movement that was being undertaken would indeed benefit me for my mother and grandfather were front line civil rights workers who had enough courage to stand for a different kind of future. To serve Dr. King was indeed an honor. He was gracious, encouraging and kind as was Evers.

Now as I reflect upon the progress that has been made, even through the election of President Barack Obama, I wonder whether we have fallen short of the vision of the warriors. The passion with which they volunteered giving their time, money, ideas, resources, and bodies, taking unprecedented risks in hopes a better future for the children are memorable. These warriors spent countless hours away from families on treacherous roads traveling through Klu Klux Klan country to make life better for future generations. The question is, are we merely benefiting from their struggle that provided access and opportunity or are we being greedy benefactors without planting seeds of progress for the next generation?

I think that the vision of the warrior was one of an unshackled people with courage, high hopes, drive, aspiration and the willingness to love and share as they brought the village along unselfishly so that all will enjoy the fruits of the collective labor. Maybe, this is not their vision, but it is what I culled as a child working amongst them as a sponge serving coffee, water, and mimeographing papers so that the word could get out about the next direct action.

My hopes are still high and my longing for a better life for the downtrodden and the upward mobile. Each group needs the other. There is still a necessity for collaboration, cooperation, and the ability to listen and learn from others and therefore, organize a plan of action for the next unresolved problems, of which there are many. Positive unselfish role models are still essential so that the one generation can be influenced by the next.

What warrior voices do you hear? Whether one chooses to replicate the work of previous generations or advance the work left unfinished, there are still many opportunities to make this world a better place with new vigorous creations and strategies for justice, opportunity, and improvements. That is what the Civil Rights warriors were trying to do. Shake this place up. Put some vitality back into neighborhoods. Get life and hope moving again. Do not be so dull and contrived. It is boring and eventually ineffective. Participate in life. It is not a game. It is a journey that leads from one loop to another with many on and off roads that can take you to various destinations. The people who are honored and remembered at the unveiling of Dr. King’s monument, I am sure had no early inclination that they would be moving around the Jim Crow south trying to bring justice and equal opportunity to others.

Hence, as millions view the monument, as I am certain there will be, let us remember those who organized and participated in the Movement so that there could be a statue. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial becomes the 395th national park. His statue is a sum of the work of many and I hope that a lot of you sent a dollar or two to help pay for it.

May God bless, and I will see you next week.

obama_cartoon-9-1-2011

Editorial

Through Dorris’ Eyes

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Laborers and the bounty

With 16,000 troops recently on the streets of London, I can think about what has happened must have come as a result of terrible acts of injustice, real or perceived to ferment frustration and revolt following the shooting of a young black man in the chest and arm killing him by a police officer. The incident brings memories back to the turbulent times in the USA during the civil rights movement when blacks were killed by police officers and the Ku Klux Klan without subsequent justice being rendered.

Hence a wide range of ages and races have gathered creating mayhem and social malaise. The challenge of a class system with people without jobs and feeling that their hands have been tied by a system and generations that have failed them by an unjustly flawed system.

On August 28 in 1963 America witnessed the historic March on Washington. This event of human force was a demonstration following years of unrest, mistreatment, disrespect, and injustice and a host of negative treatment to the Negro since their enslavement by America and its laws. August 28, 2011, is the date in which the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. statue in Washington, DC will be unveiled. The work of Dr. King was accomplished during the turbulent civil rights movement in the fight for justice. When he was assassinated on April 4, 1968 however, the active movement drew to a chilling stop leaving much work to be done. A part of the work still to be completed in its new phase is to teach residents how to manage their lives as they work with law enforcement officials.

Most minorities and marginalized people have yet to understand how they can stay alive when addressing turbulent circumstances, and not get caught up in the judicial system whereby they are spending hard to earn cash and years in jail or on parole.

The civil rights movement sought to bring rights to a class of Negros in preparation through advancements in education and access to opportunities for the protected class in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment of the US Constitution. The middle class of African Americans have grown exponentially since the civil rights movement with advancements in education, upward mobile careers, Title VII laws and Fair Housing and Voting Rights statues passage.

Each of these legislative actions served to provide opportunity and access for African Americans, yet with these advancements, a growing underclass continues. Therefore, the class of marginalized Americans need the benefits gained by those who were afforded opportunities to attend law schools and the like to share their knowledge with the people who have not had such opportunities and who continue to struggle in neighborhoods impacted by intense legal clashes with police officers. We must teach the people what their rights are under the law so that they can help save themselves and elevate their families and communities.

We must learn to think deeply about what can be accompanied with new knowledge and new experiences. The prudent and responsible operation is to bring that information back to the masses so that the tide of humanity can be lifted from the dungeon of threats, mistrust and hatred. Witnessing what is happening in London, witnessing the unveiling of Dr. King’s Monument in Washington next week are concurrent acts that should increase the middle class citizens urgency to do more for the underclass through acts of devotion to a cause that laid down a foundation for your success through the blood of families that suffered for the freedom America’s African American middle class enjoy today.

We must remember that the Civil Rights laborers did not labor for the subsequent generations to eat the bounty and not replenish it for the next generation. Too many risks were taken. Too many families were subject to abused. Too many people were hurt and damaged. Much was lost including lives, homes, and the destructions of families. So with this unveiling of Dr. King’s statue on the anniversary of the historic March on Washington, Americans of all races need to step it up a notch, as going backward is an unacceptable option for progress.

Progress can also be made in London as it was made in the USA, which will relieve racial, class and economic strife when like-minded people unite on the common cause for justice and fairness. It will come in the aftermath of social power interjected with people participating on their on behalf and for a new kind of inclusive governmental system that creates policies to benefit all. Still there will be much work to do.

May God bless and I will see you next week.

News

Marines Why do men go west of the Mississippi?

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Special Assignment

SAN DIEGO — Since October 2008, U.S. Marine Sergeant Xavier Bynum has recruited 67 young men and women from the Houston area to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Forty-three of them have already arrived at the San Diego Marine Recruiting Depot where approximately 19,000 recruits become Marines annually. The male recruits living west of the Mississippi River go to San Diego and all female recruits go to Parris Island, NC for the 13-week intensive boot camp. Christopher Weikel, 19 of Kingwood said, “I came to the Marines because this is my thing to do for my country. Most of my family has become Marines, my grandfather is a retired Capitan.”

With his new Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem (the official US Marine Corps insignia), following boot camp, Weikel plans to take combat training in North Carolina and study to become a combat engineer. “I will stay as long as I can. Basic training was lots of hiking,” he said. Forty-two weeks out of the year, the San Diego Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD) graduate recruits like Weikel, certifying them as Marines where they do a lot more than forced walking.

Bynum said, “My recruits show up because I look for young men and women who could be a successful recruit and then a Marine. Bynum, one of 77 Houston area recruiters, also said that he works with youth ages 18 and 19 to prepare them for what it will take to become a successful recruit. He and his recruits can be seen doing physical workouts once a week at Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cullen Parks. He said that they run, do pull ups and crunches to prepare them for the strenuous routines required in the Marine Corps Basic Camp.

Trever Pierce, 19, of Arlington, TX also said that he joined the Marines for his country. Pierce said, “I joined because of my country. It is the least I could do for what it has done for us in the past. I feel the need to become something greater than I am, a more disciplined person.” Pierce said that he would get additional training for the infantry. “I like to be on the front line,” the Summit High School graduate said of serving in the infantry.

Bynum accompanied 34 area educators on their Educators Workshop trip to San Diego. With an all volunteer military, this branch for the past 20 years has taken the first-hand-look approach at providing an up-close view at the US Marine Corps by bringing high school counselors, principals, and teachers to the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot. Houston educators participated in the five-day exercise by role playing at a far lighter level of intensity than the true Marine will endure.

“We work to get educators and community influencer such as mayors, judges, and elected officials to pass information on to the students and let the public know what the Marines do. Teachers can tell students about the opportunities in the Marine Corps,” said Sergeant Bobbie Curtis.

Staff Sergeant, Antonio Flores, Jr. 34, a 14-year Marine Corps Veteran who has been deployed on five missions including Iraq, Narobi, Kenya, Lima Peru, Yerem, Armenia and Japan, was the drill instructor (DI) for the Houston educators and with each opportunity, he diligently explained the core values of the US Marine Corps of “honor, courage, and commitment.” During each bus ride to and from the staging areas, he used it as an opportunity to give details about Marine Corps life. DI Flores, a Jackson, N.J. native said, “I’ve always wanted to follow law enforcement. I read the history of the Marines as a young man and wanted to be a part of the Few and the Proud.” The proud Marine said, “If I ‘m going to die for my country, so that my family can have a better life, I might as well do it with the Marines, the best.” Flores is married to a Marine and they have two children.

Regarding the educators workshop, he said, “I love interacting with people, my wrestling coach and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) pushed be to do better and all the achievements I have accomplished comes from the diverse nature of the Marines.” Flores believes that the educators can share information that can guide the students in discussions when they talk to them about what they want to become. “Yes, it will be hard. However, they can tell the students what they need to know by having a better understanding of what they are talking about. You can see the light bulb go off with some of the educators during the workshop,” said Flores.

There is success in recruiting in Texas because it is a patriotic state according to Marine Corps officials. Major Jason A. Borovies, 34, the Commanding Officer for the Houston Recruiting Station said, “Texans are patriotic and have a tradition of service and Houston has the third largest veterans community in the country.” Borovies believes that the Educators Workshop is essential to recruiting in an all volunteer military, “It helps to tell the Marine Corps story as less than 1% of Americans have been a Marine and this workshop helps pass the message on to people who are influential and are educators about the Marines,” he said.

After the educators’ experience, they are more willing to allow the recruits on campus to talk with the students according to Major Borovies.

Selection of the 2011 class of MCRD educators came from an applicant pool of 140-200 with 40 being selected to participate and 34 actual attendees from the Houston area. Borovies, who has overseen three such classes, said that the 2011 class was the best. He said, “These educators were the best of the three. They were more engaged, participated more, talked with the recruits, cheered on each other, and asked the DI many questions.”

“Whether they [new recruits] realize it or not, they are learning teamwork and building bonds for the future during their 13 weeks of boot camp,” said Col. Stevens.

Danielle Hubbard, 31, a former Air Force recruit and a Teach for America Geometry in Alief Independent School District instructor said, “I came on the trip to learn more about the Marines and how they can be a help to our students. Justice of the Peace Judge Sallie Gonzalez, of Harlingen, TX said, “This experience will help me as I see so many children in my court for various misconduct. I will be able to help by working with them to clear their records so that the Marines can be an option for them.”

Brigadier General Daniel D. Yoo, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region/Marine Corps Recruiting Command told the educators, that it was important to educate the public at-large about the Marines, to sit down and talk about the voluntary force. “This is the same thing that we do for congressional members. We discuss the cost of defense of the nation and as we draw down in Afghanistan from hard power to soft power, we must be prepared, have a common bond and commitment to the country,” said the veteran. The General discussed further the assimilation process for the recruits emphasizing that the contact with the recruits are “unfiltered” and they are unfiltered spokesman who fight for their country and have a mentor-mentee relationship with their DI who gives them guidance and teaches team building through a transformation process. Ending his statement to the educators, he said, “We are your Marine Corps.”

Sergeant Major Sylvester D. Daniels, Sergeant Major Marie Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region, a Jackson, TN native said, “The Marine Corps offer something different, pride, self confidence and leadership. These are things that will make a better person. They are the intangibles. We rock.”

David Winfiele, a Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology special education co-teacher and world history 10th grade instructor said, “I was impressed that in so short of time each recruit internalizes the Marine Corps core values of honor, courage, and commitment. This is done by the mentor-mentee relationship between the drill instructor and the recruits in his platoon.” Houston new Marine, Private First Class Paul Garza, 19, said, “It was hard, it was hard. It was the best experience that I have had. It was tough on all of us. But the DI took care of me. He took care of all of us.”

Chaplain Robert Peters of the third Battalion advised the educators of CARE, which are Counseling, Advice, Religious Aspect, and Everything. Peters, a Ph.D. Chaplin explained that there are 17 religious services per week that covers all dominations and beliefs the Marines desire. William Jeffery, 9-year science teacher and 4-year head basketball coach at Jefferson Davis High School in the Houston Independent School District said, “I have learned a lot of things on a lot of different levels at this Educators Workshop. For instance, the influence educators have on students, meeting the soldiers. I think that I am doing more good than I thought I was doing with my students. The workshop gave me a greater awareness of the role I play within my community and I understand it.”

The United States Marines Corps was organized during the second Continental Congress in 1775. Its first amphibious landing raid was in 1776 in the Bahamas. Marines have served in the War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil Was, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

The 388 acre Marine Corps Recruiting Depot base with 367 acres of tidal area are responsible for providing basically trained Marines to be prepared when the nation calls. For their serve the nation provide tuition assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill, Marine Corps College Fund, Continuing Education, Marine Corps Institute distance learning program and Officer Commissioning Programs. When injured while on duty service, health benefits are provided at veteran hospitals such as the DeBakey Hospital in Houston. Deceased Marines have the option to be buried in military cemeteries such as Veteran Memorial Cemetery in North Houston.

The educators witnessed the graduation ceremony recognizing the 13-weeks of basic training of the young men west of the Mississippi River, many of whom were their students a year ago like Marines Miss. Lott from Sterling High School and Mr. Jenkins from Worthing High School.

Chief Officer General Yao
Chief Officer General Yao - Photo by Dorcaus Robinson

Brigadier General Daniel D. Yoo, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region/Marine Corps Recruiting Command in San Diego.