Free Young Minds
by Valerie Caesar | originally posted on March 30, 2010
In Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, families have been fighting for eight years to have a jungle gym with the word “JAIL” painted on it removed from the grounds of a preschool playground at the Tompkins Houses. Over the years, a few parents have taken the initiative to paint over the words, only to have them repainted by the New York City Housing Authority [NYCHA].
Students at the Elementary After School Program at The Brotherhood/Sister Sol spoke out recently about this issue.
I feel that the idea of making a playground that looks exactly like a jail was a bad one. I don’t think this is a good environment for us young black kids. The kids will start to think jail is okay and that it’s fun. For me it is not a good sight seeing black and brown kids playing in that playground. This is a bad influence for us black kids!
- Ariana Hammonds
I feel that if a “play jail” is put in a playground, I think you are sick. I can’t believe that you would even think of putting something like this in a playground. If you think it’s funny to see little black kids playing like they’re in jail. You are very sick. I am very mad as an 11-year-old black kid. Why did it take eight years to take this thing down? It should have taken one second to take that down. I hope you don’t make a mistake like this again.
- Jared Toussaint Bower
I am very disappointed that you wanted to have a park that looks like a jail. I think you’re sick because why would you make a play jail - that’s just wrong. I think black children deserve better.
- Armani Caldwell
Valerie Caesar is a Chapter Leader and the Media Program Coordinator.
Health Insurance Is A Human Right
by Marsha Jean-Charles | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
Many of my closest friends and neighbors do not have health care insurance. They, like I at times, have suffered varying levels of pain when managing an illness without sufficient treatment. With my mother’s employment, I have been fortunate to have health care insurance for much of my life. Because of this I have gotten medicine, tests and other treatment that I have desperately needed to deal with my asthma and get accurate assessments after two cancer scares.
In my world as a 21 year-old Black woman from Brooklyn, health care insurance seems to be the marker of a healthier and more secure lifestyle. The fact that 30% of people my age and their family members do not have health insurance is frightening. Furthermore, the reality is that a large portion of this group has either never had health insurance, or have gotten kicked off their families’ insurance once they have turned nineteen. This implies that they will begin their adult life not having the capacity to truly take care of themselves as they work hard and try to attain their dreams. These same people are from marginalized communities and are of the population already at high risk for heart disease and other illnesses. This is a daily problem many people in my family deal with. This reality is scary and disheartening. How are we to succeed and attain this country’s promises if we are too sick to do so?
Change in the health care system has been long overdue. I am not sure if the necessary change will be fulfilled with this new legislation, but I remain hopeful. Healthy living is a human right; health insurance and access to proper treatment and facilities are means toward more Americans receiving that right.
Marsha Jean-Charles is a sophomore at Wesleyan University. She is also an alumni member of the Liberation Program, and has participated in the International Study Program trips to Ghana [2007] and Brazil [2006].
Bro/Sis Photo@Random
