30th. Anniversary Of The Bombing OF Move

5/17/2015

                                              Move 

  May 13th 2015 was the 30th. Anniversary of the bombing of the move home in the 6200 block of Osage Avenue here in the city of Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

  In May 13th 1985 the Philadelphia Police Dropped an incendiary device on the move home resulting in the deaths of 11 people. About five of them were children. The fire that ensued partially destroyed the block causing people to leave their homes. Eventually houses had to be torn down and new homes were built. The new homes had various problems.

          The fire and police shooting at the home was tragic news that travelled across the country. A decision was made to let the fire burn after the bombing. The move members that tried to escape were fired on by police according to reports. Romona and little Birdie Africa were the only ones to escape. 

      Thirty years later a commemoration took place at the end of the block.
Sixty Third Street at Osage Ave. Was Blocked off for the demonstration. There were White People, Hispanic, Oriental, American Indians, Palestinians, Rabbis, rappers

members of the clergy, the Jewish Community and many more in solidarity for the event.

   There were speeches, poetry, signs and drummers. When the speeches were over, the group marched from Osage Ave to the Thirty-Eighth District Plaza.

  Speeches took place, by the many guest. Cornel West and Chuck D were on hand as well as other National Figures.

 

While We Are Able

May 14th 2015


                                                          While We Are Able


                       We are like flowers that wither with age. We are living in the evening of our hours
sleeping through the night and waiting for the sunshine of a new day. We celebrate our neighbors
in the same garden by coming together every three months. Roses, lilies, daffodils, tulips , violets
and thorns. Yes, it takes all kinds to make a garden. We all have a season.
   Meeting at the Hibachi Buffet on Cheltenham Ave in Philadelphia has been a joy.
  While we are still able we are going to push it to the max when it comes to enjoying ourselves.
 God has blessed us with longevity. Many of us are yet strong and alert and have much to offer.
We are former Germantown High School Students and Friends. Let us continue to enjoy one another
and keep the fellowship alive.

Arts And Crafts

5/12/2015


                                                        Arts And Crafts


       Mothers are known for their abilities and special talents in the home. They cook, sew, decorate and design. A mothers touch is in her home decor. She has her way of expressing her feelings through the artistic styling she chooses to display. Some mothers take it to another level with creative thinking. Some skills are so extraordinary they are worthy of an art show.
      Mother's day hosted an event of arts and crafts down at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.
There was jewelry, pottery, sewing art, and many other skills displayed. The men were not left out. They demonstrated the masculine ideas of art along side the women. Ideas abound in the creative mind only limited by ones imagination.  Being at the free event gave me much to think about.
   There is so much to do for an artistic person. It takes time and dedication to produce works of art. In the end, a labour of love is worth the effort.

Philadelphia/ Baltimore Solidarity March

                                   The Philadelphia /Baltimore Solidarity March


       April 30th 2015 launched the solidarity coalition march from downtown Philadelphia. A few thousand people gathered around 4pm in the evening at City Hall. The protest speeches and poems started shortly after. There were white, hispanic, oriental and other ethnics. Solidarity marches were in other cities across the nation. The statement was strong that black lives matter, but why is it needed  to be said when it should be understood. Of course, all lives matter but why are black men dying at the hands of police more than any other race.
      Another well needed speech was given on the fact that blacks are killing blacks.
It seems with this rash of killings so close together, we have an epidemic of major proportions. If fear is the true motivator of these killings then do we blame Freddie Grey for running, or understand the police reacting. Do police fear dark skin men? Do blacks fear police?
   It is unacceptable that justice is absent in the face of abuse. Any group can say justice for us but to level the playing field it should be justice for all. Where there is no justice, absolutely there is no peace. We need police. We have some great police officers who are truly professional an compassionate and are doing fantastic work. Officers have a dangerous job and I take my hat off to them. When officers do the wrong thing, just like the general public, they should be held accountable.
  The justice system is at the root balancing the scales of equality.
       It should be understood that inequality, greed, incompetent leadership and poverty is at the root of violence in this country. Those who have the most power to change this dynamic refuse because of selfish greed. Black men need jobs and education. Those who have been incarcerated and released back into society need help. They can not just be thrown into the free world with no support system.
          Young black women and men, the new blood flowing through the veins of an awaking giant,  are on the verge of revolution. Revolution does not always mean violence but strategy and thinking.
  The black single woman who struggles to maintain  a Fatherless household while raising her children faces tremendous odds. The cost of child care, housing, education and other expenses is astronomical.
   Black women are also crying out for respect and recognition in a male dominated world becoming more and more divided with unequal distribution of rewards given for the same achievement. America's sleeping giant is a rising army of powerful women in leadership positions whose voices are about to be heard as never before. All over the world women are stepping in to high offices of leadership in many countries. Women Presidents are the wave of the future. The solidarity of progressive movement toward change is being forged by young dynamic and intelligent sisters along with their female allies from other ethnic groups.

Ron Dove