In April 2008, MSNBC aired a show in which a young African American film maker David B. Wilson asked “What’s wrong with black people?” Hmmmm. My first thought was to ponder about the producers of this show and about the discussions and meetings that occurred to convince the station directors (which many would call liberal media) to dare air a program as such. In my mind, the responses began surfacing and my answers were so numerous and automatic as though they had been burrowing for the last thirty years just waiting for someone to ask me this question. I had to pause my own thoughts long enough to focus on the programming in which the producer asked people from various races to respond.
How amazing that the race topic and being black in America has gained more prevalence since now that Barack Obama, an African American is running for presidency. CNN is airing show Black in American
On April 12 2008, the Wichita NAACP posted a commentary by Kevin Miles, president of a Wichita chapter of the NAACP who also moderates a web form asking ‘Why have black people gone mad,’ addresses the same rhetorical question in his commentary which feature a controversial photo of African American Comedian Katt Williams sporting a ornamental noose to accessorize his pink pimp suit.
Oh – Kheeh, funny for some and not so funny for others. While the comedian utilized this ego-grabbing spotlight to mark his entrance on the red carpet that will be frozen in time, he provoked conversations such as ‘What’s wrong with black people.’ And remember he is a..let me spell it for you a..C O M E D I A N, and not a social-political spokesperson for blacks. I have to believe that this was a publicity stunt done for shock value. This photo received much attention, not just in mainstream media but in also in African American intellectual online community African American Opinion BlogSpot.
Nonetheless, Katt W. followed up on the controversy by making an appearance on CNN segment “Coming Out.” offering little explanation for his reasoning. Having met the comedian a few pre-Hollywood years ago, I was a bit disappointed. Like many other supporting fans of black entertainers, I too wanted some profound brilliant comedic explanation. One blogger questioned ‘should I be offended by Katt Williams?’ My question to him would be, should I be offended by black people?
There may be 365 justifiable reasons for all of these questions with one answer for each day of the year (what’s wrong with black people; have black people gone mad; and should I be offended by Katt Williams?) Perhpas what's wrong is when people remove the ability to be objective thinkers; to be able to have open civil dialogue that abandons the often primitive self-hating foul-mouth bitterness coming from damaged and sour souls of people as seen in the anonymous commentary on previous blog. While some of us pride our tonque-cursed gifts of making personal attacks on each other, many others hide behind so-called self-proclaiming godly doctrines of condemnation while being hypocritical and failing to have the capability to engage in a balanced dialogue to discuss and resolve our own issues. Clearly everyone that is black is not capable of engaging in a mindful dialogue, just as any other race of people, but we put far too much responsibility and creditability on entertainers. I don’t care if it is Chris Rock, Dave Chappell or even lil Katt Williams; slap-stick, skit comedy or buffoonery, entertainers entertain. We may laugh, frown, disagree or turn off the TV and read a book, but we should be able chuckle and be open to have a discussion or know when something is just plain stupid.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Ode to Katt (In Da Hat) Williams, Bigger Than Life
What are the odds that someone you knew; perhaps went to school with, either you or someone you knew dated, and then one day you look up on the silver screen and 'bam' there's that person.....bigger than life? Well that happened to me in 2002 when I went to see the hit comedy sequel 'FRIDAY AFTER NEXT' staring Ice Cube and Mike Epps. About a quarter into the move a new character was introduce; Money Mike.
OMG! It was Katt Williams. I was sitting in the theatre with who was my husband at the time when the next thing in knew I had blurted out, "I used to date him." My husband immediately responded, "My gawd woman, don't tell mi you dated dat. Dat funny lickle mon ugly." Now, mind you that I was too busy laughing in amazement. I replied, he's not ugly just short. Under my breath I added, 'the ring on your finger once belong to that ugly bombaclaat.'
When I left the theatre, I thought about lil' Katt. I thought about how funny and charming he was, and also how he pissed me off when borrowed my brand new Tony Tone Toni CD 'House of Music' and never gave it back along with my brand new Bolero hat I had just purchased during a trip to Boston. He was good for s*@## like that.
He was a struggling artist when we met. He was extremely secret, he read a lot of books, but he was also a chronic liar. He didn't have a car or a pot to piss in. Katt was sleeping on a guys couch that he called his manager claiming it was actually his place but he was helping out his friend who was down on his luck. Katt had a side job cleaning houses for a maid service like Molly Maids. I recall hanging out with him at local gigs.
I'd pick him up and bring him to my place where I'd feed him and listen to music. He once told be that he only at once a day, after sundown. I asked, "Are you a muslim?" He told me, "No, I just think it is a good to be discipline," which really mean't 'I'm broke as hell lady, I can only afford to eat once a day."
A HILLARIOUS INCIDENT -
So one eveining I picked him up after a gig, I offered to cook him a hamburger. He excitedly jumped on the side of my high bed with his feet dangling saying, "oh boy, she gonna make me a hamburger." He'd always keep me laughing. I made his hamburger of which he ate every little finger licking drop then offerd him some home-made lemon pie. I watched him take the first 3-4 bites of the pie saying how good it was until his face suddenly went from a joyful grin to a serious smirk. His eyes bucked and slowly rolled them at me. I asked, "what's the matter?" I watched him pull something from between his teeth. Oh my god, it was my finger nail! While I was grating lemon peels, my nail was also gratted and had fallen in the pie mix. It just so happend to have landed in a section that was ill-marked for Katt. The look on his face was so hillarious. While attempting to aplogize, I laughed so hard until I was in tears. He wasn't laughing, "I'll just be damn. She put a goddamn finger nail in pie and then offered it to me. Ain't that a bitch. I'll have to use that shit."
It has been about ten years since I last saw him. The last thing he did was have me drop him off in Berkeley the day before he was leaving for a gig in Reno. We sat in my car for a while and talked. Before getting out of the car, he took off his little gold ring with about 4-5 micro diamond chips (you needed a magnifying glass to see them) and gave it to me. What was that about??? Although I thought his behavior peculiar, I never tripped on it. Soon afterwards he headed to Los Angeles and was heard from no more. I was pissed for a few months and just said, 'oh well, what the hell.' Guess the cleaning comedian finally hit pay dirt. Right on KW.
In the months after Katt moved to LA, since I had not heard from him I sat and wrote this little fable dedicated to him called 'Ms. Mackadoo.' This is simply a funny tale of endearment...so don't take it too seriously....Its comedy folks.
Tale of Ms. Mackadoo (Ode to Katt Williams) ©1997
Once there was a lady
Who was so all alone,
She felt a little crazy,
She had no one to call her own.
Friendly and well traveled,
Everyone knew Miss Mackadoo
In spite her talents and the people she knew
Without love she knew not what to do.
So in the mirror she decided to take a good look,
To assess all the reason why she couldn't get hooked
Emerald eyes, toasted skin,
A braid in her hair,
Polite words, charmed manners,
Decent and fair,
She said to her self,
"It's all O.K. as far as I can see,
I just haven't search high and low,
So tonight I'll hit the streets, put a short skirt, my Bolero
And give it go!"
So out she ventured, one mystical evening
Into a Cabaret she roamed,
Captivated by a Katt's meow
She decided to take him home
She served him well
With love and affection
Fed him warmth and comfort,
The pleasures of her chest
His tongue explored her fully
In quiet and sensuous expeditions,
He suckle, lick, digest,
Cuddle then slept upon her breast
He painted intimate portraits,
Sexed and teased til her mind was blown
Several months of ecstasy she exploded saying, "Pussy Katt,
Pussy Katt, I want you for my own."
"Mr. Honey Katt", she'd say, "I know you are use to nights in the streets a life unstable and gray,
Far from responsibility,
I'm afraid you may me leave some day."
Mr. Katt replied, "My dear, dear, dear Miss Mackadoo
You're much too special you see
I am lucky that someone like you
Loves someone like me.
She said, "I love you so Mr. Honey Katt,
I want to buy you some nice things
Let me show how much I appreciate you
And the joy that you bring."
So the very next day, whistling a happy tune
Off to shop she went for her new gent.
Returning home, Mr. Katt was gone, he took her heart, her Bolero
Not even leaving his scent.
Week's later Mr. Katt surfaced at the front door.
He appeared frail, weaken, downtrodden and poor
Announcing, "I didn't mean to hurt you,
I hope you understand
But I fell for you Miss Mackadoo
And that was not in my plans."
You see, I'm just an alley Katt,
The streets are all I know
I'm not used to commitments,
Just nightclub hootchies and cheap hos.
She replied, "You've been very, very bad Mr. Katt!
Maybe I will cut you some slack,
Prove to me that again you won't leave
And I'll consider taking you back!"
He curled up around her leg and rubbed up against her thighs
Purring and licking, he stroked her body until she cried,
"Oh, Mr. Honey Katt, Pussy Katt, Kitty Katt
You stole my trust, my love and left me all alone. But now I've got someone who treats me like a queen and I have given him a new home.
So scat you alley Katt, disguised as a rat in a hat.
Get on with your mix and your back of tricks
And please, don't ever come back
So remember young girls to stay away from the charmingly handsome and wicked stray.
He may have a kind work and a gentle greeting today
He may come out of an dark alley but say
"Hey pretty lady, I'm just from around the way."
This was a lesson that she well knew.
That's the tale of Ms. Mackadoo.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Jazz Music, Winery and Good Company
Late Septemeber, one Friday afternoon I got a call from a friend who had a few tickets to see Herbie Hancock at Vila Montalvo Winery. Well, I thought to myself why couldn't she had asked me sooner. I would have come to work prepared to go to a concert. I was very tired and had a miserable week. Again, I though to myself," Oh what the hell. When was the last time I had gone to a jazz concert. Oh bullocks, I told her, "Count me in, damn it. Tired or not. I am going."
So she picked me up and we sped over the Bay bridge to San Franciso to pick up to other passengers and drove south bound 280 to Villa Montalvo. It had been dreary and cloudy all day until we made it beyond South San Francisco down 280. It was a beautigul drive. Afterall, I for once could sit back and be a passenger. I had never been to this venue and I was very tired but suddenly came alive as we entered into the town of Saratoga. Greenery and abundant tree lined streets through the town and passed the entry gates leading into the Vila Montalvo Estate. Down into a narrow winding path we drove into a designated area for parking. We hiked through a rustic rocky dirt path up to the Villa. Once inside, we were met with a reception table complete with a variety of wine from the surrounding area. Then the music began. It was a wonderful trio of melodies dominated by the rhythmic piano mastery of Herbie Hancock who was accompanyied by Nathan East a third musician and piano player. Herbie played his old standards fused with some new ones.
Once the event was over, the musicians and guest were invited for a reception in the Phelan Mansion. That's were I ran into Mayor Dellums of Oakland, CA paling around with Herbie, who was so amazed by his new I phone with pictures of his grandchildren. Eventually I grabbed Marcus (brother of guitarist Nathan East) Herbie and Mayor Dellums for a photo op.
Creating Generaltional Wealth
Many individuals are uninformed, misinformed or unskilled on the basics of financial and money management. While it is true that a large percent of Americans own a basic financial portfolio consisting of saving accounts, retirement plans, mutual funds and real estate; however many more do not. Those who manage a basic investment portfolio may also have a very good credit history; yet, there remains a larger percent of Americans that represent millions of people between the ages of 22 and 55 who live at ground zero that do not have a basic savings account. They are concentrated in urban cities and surrounding areas with conviences of check cashing centers, fast foods, super marts and corner liquor stores. These groups of individuals are also in dire financial crisis with severe credit issues. Few households pay a monthly mortgage and many struggle to make the payments, however most are paying monthly rents. Many individuals do not have checking accounts and are also unaware about the value credit worthiness and lack debt management skills that every citizen should know about. Too many urbanites are simply surviving living pay check to pay check. Are we missing the true picture? For generations, too many Americans have existed in the survival mode, but did we fail to learn a greater and more practical lesson: How to build generational and sustainable wealth?
Generational wealth building begins with information and strategic planning to break the cycles of ignorance plaguing previous generations. Every American from grade school to adulthood can benefit from basic financial literacy. Savvy parents have the impetus to begin educating their children early and continue throughout high school. By the time a child is ready for college, he or she will understand how to avoid the pit falls of debt. They should understand how to use a student loan to maximize the benefits and work toward their first investment in real estate or other securities. Additional understanding of wealth building ideally can be integrated into curriculm to educate adults and children alike; such as financial programs in public schools offered through local banks or first-time home buyer programs offered through the city community based organizations. It behooves the home buyer to have a thorough understanding about home ownership. It is the first and largest investment that can be leveraged into building a financial portfolio that can be used later to finance a child's college education or help to finance a new business or just provide comfort in later years.
Steps to begin with:
Make sure your households to develop a financial organizing system to centralize all confidential information on paper and electronically. This information should be stored in three ways: 1 on a computer with a protected password; 2. On a USB drive for portability and 3. In a notebook. I suggest using the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) and Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDPG) which can be downloaded for free at http://www.operationhope.org/.
As a leader or co-head of household, create a list a set of personal and business goals and objectives for your self and then with your household. Sit down with family-team members monthly and begin creating accountability systems to measure and review performances.
It is essential to create and maintain a budget for the household. Minimize wastefulness and reduce spending on fast foods. Get your children involved with specific responsibilities. Once established, periodically review the budget with the family. This is a great teaching method and a good starting tool to begin developing financial awareness.
Obtain credit reports for everyone who has one and make a list totaling the amounts of assets and debts. Create a plan to reduce the debt emphasizing discipline. Review credit frequently. Credit reports can be obtained for free at http://www.myfico.com/ and for a small fee; you can receive a FICO score.
Write out a plan to eliminate debt in order of priority. Determine the cost of borrowing and rate of interest paid, then the size of the debt. Ideally the debt with the greater rate of interest is the first to focus on illuminating.
Capitalize on combine resources with family members. Open a team savings account along with an investment account that yields interest like a mutual fund for the family that pools a monthly contribution from each member.
Talk to a financial counselor at a lending institution or a broker about obtaining bonds and making stock purchases. Your investments should be based on your availability of funds, the term of investment, and the rate of return.
Once you purchase a home and begin a successful business, obtain life insurance policy and seek out a tax advisor and estate planner or software to create will and trusts. This is to protect assets and determine how remaining assets are distributed upon the termination of an individual and to prevent loss to state probate agencies.
Obtain auto, house, and medical insurance and review your policies. Be sure to protect your family from losses.
Everyone should obtain financial literacy education through school or a community program. Check your schools and local community organization or contact Operation Hope 1-877-592-HOPE.
Sonja Brooks is a Business, Commercial and Residential Loan Officer at Operation Hope in partnership with Bank of the West in Oakland, CA. Email: sonja.brooks@operationhope.org
Generational wealth building begins with information and strategic planning to break the cycles of ignorance plaguing previous generations. Every American from grade school to adulthood can benefit from basic financial literacy. Savvy parents have the impetus to begin educating their children early and continue throughout high school. By the time a child is ready for college, he or she will understand how to avoid the pit falls of debt. They should understand how to use a student loan to maximize the benefits and work toward their first investment in real estate or other securities. Additional understanding of wealth building ideally can be integrated into curriculm to educate adults and children alike; such as financial programs in public schools offered through local banks or first-time home buyer programs offered through the city community based organizations. It behooves the home buyer to have a thorough understanding about home ownership. It is the first and largest investment that can be leveraged into building a financial portfolio that can be used later to finance a child's college education or help to finance a new business or just provide comfort in later years.
Steps to begin with:
Make sure your households to develop a financial organizing system to centralize all confidential information on paper and electronically. This information should be stored in three ways: 1 on a computer with a protected password; 2. On a USB drive for portability and 3. In a notebook. I suggest using the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) and Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDPG) which can be downloaded for free at http://www.operationhope.org/.
As a leader or co-head of household, create a list a set of personal and business goals and objectives for your self and then with your household. Sit down with family-team members monthly and begin creating accountability systems to measure and review performances.
It is essential to create and maintain a budget for the household. Minimize wastefulness and reduce spending on fast foods. Get your children involved with specific responsibilities. Once established, periodically review the budget with the family. This is a great teaching method and a good starting tool to begin developing financial awareness.
Obtain credit reports for everyone who has one and make a list totaling the amounts of assets and debts. Create a plan to reduce the debt emphasizing discipline. Review credit frequently. Credit reports can be obtained for free at http://www.myfico.com/ and for a small fee; you can receive a FICO score.
Write out a plan to eliminate debt in order of priority. Determine the cost of borrowing and rate of interest paid, then the size of the debt. Ideally the debt with the greater rate of interest is the first to focus on illuminating.
Capitalize on combine resources with family members. Open a team savings account along with an investment account that yields interest like a mutual fund for the family that pools a monthly contribution from each member.
Talk to a financial counselor at a lending institution or a broker about obtaining bonds and making stock purchases. Your investments should be based on your availability of funds, the term of investment, and the rate of return.
Once you purchase a home and begin a successful business, obtain life insurance policy and seek out a tax advisor and estate planner or software to create will and trusts. This is to protect assets and determine how remaining assets are distributed upon the termination of an individual and to prevent loss to state probate agencies.
Obtain auto, house, and medical insurance and review your policies. Be sure to protect your family from losses.
Everyone should obtain financial literacy education through school or a community program. Check your schools and local community organization or contact Operation Hope 1-877-592-HOPE.
Sonja Brooks is a Business, Commercial and Residential Loan Officer at Operation Hope in partnership with Bank of the West in Oakland, CA. Email: sonja.brooks@operationhope.org
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Is There Hope In West Oakland? A Cell Phone Saga
On April 21, 2007, I attended the 45th anniversary of the African American Association Reunion at the DeFermery Park with keynote speaker Dr. Khalid
Al-Mansour at DeFermery Park in West Oakland between 1:00 and 4:00 PM.
My participation in the event came as an invitation to support a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower the underserved communities offering free programs like entrepreneur workshops, homeownership program, financial literacy and credit education for adults and banking education for youth. We set up a table complete of Operation Hope information on the programs, seminars, workshops and gave away can sodas.
Although it was over cast with few sprinkles, Dr. Al-Mansour delivered a speech emphasizing the core values of the Association include unity, self-help, education and dignity in communities.
While he encouraged African Americans to participate in the global economy, to show brotherly love to one another, there was an un-brotherly (or un-sisterly) thief in the crowd. I busily gave away flyers on home ownership and business seminars while my friend Colleen who was visiting from England assisted. We spoke compassionately about the Hope’s mission of helping people in the community and gave away can sodas. Somewhere towards the end of the event, Colleen’s pocket had been picked. In her pocket was my cell phone that served as my mobile bible containing numerous of important phone numbers. The phone also displayed a recent photograph of me and the first lady of California Marie Shriver taken at Laney College, which was also stored as my wallpaper in the face of the phone.
When we discovered that the phone was stolen, I could care less than a pig’s hoof about helping the underserved community in West Oakland. Where was the unity in West Oakland on this day? And where was there any dignity?
UPSET AND PISSED. I was not upset with my friend Colleen (well maybe a little for not being more aware of her surroundings), but I was actually angry with the neighborhood and angry at myself for thinking that we could make a small difference on this day.
I questioned the efforts of the African American Association holding their reunion in De Fermery park in a neighborhood, (I felt) where consciousness did not exists.
On May 15, 2007 around 10pm, almost four weeks after the De Fermery Park event, I received a phone call. There was a young girl with an inner-city dialect on the other end asking, “Is this the lady who lost her cell phone?” It was Dee, a 15 yr old girl from West Oakland. I asked Dee where she lived. She replied, “In the lower bottoms.” I then asked her where she attended school. She said she Ralph Bunch. I later became aware that the school is located directly across the street from De Fermery Park in West Oakland, where the students are economically disadvantaged. I told the young girl that I would give a reward once I got the phone and would not ask any questions about how she got the phone. Dee told me to meet them at De Fermery Park at 3PM the next day. I didn’t care; I was just elated that I was going to retrieve my phone. But at what cost?
The next day, I showed up at the park. I went to the office and was told that I just missed a girl dressed in pink looking to return a cell phone to a lady. Dee called me again, “Wheh was you? We was there.” She told me to hold on and then covered the mouth piece of the phone. I could hear the rough cracking voice of a woman coaching in the background, “Can you meet us tonite at West Oakland BART station?” Dee asked. “NO,” I replied for obvious reasons. I the young girl what was her last name and she repeated, “...my last name?” The street wise woman belted, “Don’t you give yo name! How much she given you?” I asked Dee if the woman talking was her mom and to let me speak to her. The cracking voice woman said, “Whaddya want her name fo? I don’t trust given info’ on the fon. You gonna give her some money, right?” I told her yes, “I will call you tomorrow.” So back to square one I thought.
The next morning, I drove to the school went straight to the principal’s office and told the administrator what happened. Less than an hour later, I received a call from the principal stating that they had security collect my phone and that I may pick up my phone. Thirty minutes followed with several calls from unfamiliar numbers that came from the panicky student. I told Dee that I was busy and would have to talk later. The next call came in thirty minutes from the pissed-off mother, “That ain’t what we agreed on. You came to the school and told the principal. I talked to the police and they said if she found the phone, it belong to her. The police gonna be there when you come. You was supposed to call me!” the crackish voice woman threatened. I replied, “Okay, Mam. You go ahead and call the police,” and hung up.
Little did the woman know, I had already prepared a package for Dee, which included a Citi Bank Finance CD Rom for students; a teddy bear from Bank of the West, gourmet caramel corn and a “Thank You” card with $50 with the following scripted message: Dear Dee, thanks for returning my phone. Always remember it is better to do the right thing. Don’t allow others to sway you away from having integrity and good character. Just know that you have done a good deed and that is worth more than any reward in the eye of God. After the threatening phone call, I wanted to pick up m phone then tear up the card, forget the bag of gifts and put my money back in my wallet. After all, why should I pay to get back my own phone that was stolen from me?
After toiling in anger, I finally I decided to have my husband in his armed security uniform drop the bag off at the school and to pick up my phone.
Less than an hour later, I received two more phone calls. School administrator Ms. Thorn somewhat chokingly, “Ms. Brooks, I am lost for words. When I saw what you had done, tears came to my eyes. I am so sorry that this is the way you became acquainted with our school. But I want to thank you for what you have done.” The second call was from Dee. She wanted to know if I had picked up my phone and to tell me that she received the items.
All ended well, but I remained slightly disturbed by the irony of events that began weeks ago with Dr. Al-Manssour’s message: ‘each one teach one.’ This was perhaps my opportunity to teach one person the importance and value of good character. Somehow, I felt that Dee had hoped to make a new friend or perhaps even a role model.
Finally, Dee thanked me saying that she was glad that I got my phone back. I wished her well and hung up.
Al-Mansour at DeFermery Park in West Oakland between 1:00 and 4:00 PM.
My participation in the event came as an invitation to support a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower the underserved communities offering free programs like entrepreneur workshops, homeownership program, financial literacy and credit education for adults and banking education for youth. We set up a table complete of Operation Hope information on the programs, seminars, workshops and gave away can sodas.
Although it was over cast with few sprinkles, Dr. Al-Mansour delivered a speech emphasizing the core values of the Association include unity, self-help, education and dignity in communities.
While he encouraged African Americans to participate in the global economy, to show brotherly love to one another, there was an un-brotherly (or un-sisterly) thief in the crowd. I busily gave away flyers on home ownership and business seminars while my friend Colleen who was visiting from England assisted. We spoke compassionately about the Hope’s mission of helping people in the community and gave away can sodas. Somewhere towards the end of the event, Colleen’s pocket had been picked. In her pocket was my cell phone that served as my mobile bible containing numerous of important phone numbers. The phone also displayed a recent photograph of me and the first lady of California Marie Shriver taken at Laney College, which was also stored as my wallpaper in the face of the phone.
When we discovered that the phone was stolen, I could care less than a pig’s hoof about helping the underserved community in West Oakland. Where was the unity in West Oakland on this day? And where was there any dignity?
UPSET AND PISSED. I was not upset with my friend Colleen (well maybe a little for not being more aware of her surroundings), but I was actually angry with the neighborhood and angry at myself for thinking that we could make a small difference on this day.
I questioned the efforts of the African American Association holding their reunion in De Fermery park in a neighborhood, (I felt) where consciousness did not exists.
On May 15, 2007 around 10pm, almost four weeks after the De Fermery Park event, I received a phone call. There was a young girl with an inner-city dialect on the other end asking, “Is this the lady who lost her cell phone?” It was Dee, a 15 yr old girl from West Oakland. I asked Dee where she lived. She replied, “In the lower bottoms.” I then asked her where she attended school. She said she Ralph Bunch. I later became aware that the school is located directly across the street from De Fermery Park in West Oakland, where the students are economically disadvantaged. I told the young girl that I would give a reward once I got the phone and would not ask any questions about how she got the phone. Dee told me to meet them at De Fermery Park at 3PM the next day. I didn’t care; I was just elated that I was going to retrieve my phone. But at what cost?
The next day, I showed up at the park. I went to the office and was told that I just missed a girl dressed in pink looking to return a cell phone to a lady. Dee called me again, “Wheh was you? We was there.” She told me to hold on and then covered the mouth piece of the phone. I could hear the rough cracking voice of a woman coaching in the background, “Can you meet us tonite at West Oakland BART station?” Dee asked. “NO,” I replied for obvious reasons. I the young girl what was her last name and she repeated, “...my last name?” The street wise woman belted, “Don’t you give yo name! How much she given you?” I asked Dee if the woman talking was her mom and to let me speak to her. The cracking voice woman said, “Whaddya want her name fo? I don’t trust given info’ on the fon. You gonna give her some money, right?” I told her yes, “I will call you tomorrow.” So back to square one I thought.
The next morning, I drove to the school went straight to the principal’s office and told the administrator what happened. Less than an hour later, I received a call from the principal stating that they had security collect my phone and that I may pick up my phone. Thirty minutes followed with several calls from unfamiliar numbers that came from the panicky student. I told Dee that I was busy and would have to talk later. The next call came in thirty minutes from the pissed-off mother, “That ain’t what we agreed on. You came to the school and told the principal. I talked to the police and they said if she found the phone, it belong to her. The police gonna be there when you come. You was supposed to call me!” the crackish voice woman threatened. I replied, “Okay, Mam. You go ahead and call the police,” and hung up.
Little did the woman know, I had already prepared a package for Dee, which included a Citi Bank Finance CD Rom for students; a teddy bear from Bank of the West, gourmet caramel corn and a “Thank You” card with $50 with the following scripted message: Dear Dee, thanks for returning my phone. Always remember it is better to do the right thing. Don’t allow others to sway you away from having integrity and good character. Just know that you have done a good deed and that is worth more than any reward in the eye of God. After the threatening phone call, I wanted to pick up m phone then tear up the card, forget the bag of gifts and put my money back in my wallet. After all, why should I pay to get back my own phone that was stolen from me?
After toiling in anger, I finally I decided to have my husband in his armed security uniform drop the bag off at the school and to pick up my phone.
Less than an hour later, I received two more phone calls. School administrator Ms. Thorn somewhat chokingly, “Ms. Brooks, I am lost for words. When I saw what you had done, tears came to my eyes. I am so sorry that this is the way you became acquainted with our school. But I want to thank you for what you have done.” The second call was from Dee. She wanted to know if I had picked up my phone and to tell me that she received the items.
All ended well, but I remained slightly disturbed by the irony of events that began weeks ago with Dr. Al-Manssour’s message: ‘each one teach one.’ This was perhaps my opportunity to teach one person the importance and value of good character. Somehow, I felt that Dee had hoped to make a new friend or perhaps even a role model.
Finally, Dee thanked me saying that she was glad that I got my phone back. I wished her well and hung up.
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