Memories from 2007-"The Churchlady goes to Washington DC"

The Churchlady Goes to Washington originally posted July 3, 2007

Just when I think God has done all that he could possibly do to bless me, he out does Himself and blesses me some more!Last week was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. I had the privilege of hosting 10 youth from Chicago ages 14-18 to the Nation's capital to speak to lawmakers there. The youth were a part of a Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization based in Federal Way, WA.

They traveled to D.C. out of their concern with the growing number of young people killed in Chicago over the past school year(35) by gun related violence. The delegation, "The Chi-Town Crew" visited with Congressmen Danny K. Davis (Dem 7th District) and Bobby Rush (Dem 1st District), and Senator Barack Obama. We also visited Cong Jesse Jackson, Jr's office and spoke with his office staff and legislative aides. They were kind enough to give audience to the delegation and encouraged them. We also watched the tv monitor while Cong Jackson addressed the House in support of Peotone Airport. Several of the youth saw him briefly in his office after he returned from the floor.Each of the youth read prepared statements to their reps, that painted pictures of what their lives have become due to gun violence. After pointing out the problems, the youth each read 3 recommendations for policy change. I especially appreciated how each of our US Congressmen and their reps gave their undivided attention to the youth and allowed each of them to present their ideas.

After this meeting our tour guide took us on the undergound journey from the House of Representatives to the Senate. There were trains to ride and tunnels to navigate, but the kids were so excited to participate in the adventure (personally, my feet were killing me but my shoes were sharp...). Along the way we met Congresswoman Carolyn Kirkpatrick of Detroit. She is the mom of Mayor Kwame Kirkpatrick of Detroit. She was very down to earth and encouraging to the kids. Although she was in a hurry, she stopped to pose with them for photos and was very generous with hugs for everyone. After meeting her we were even more excited about our meeting with the our Senator Barack Obama.

After walking for what seemed like hours (actually about 25 minutes of total travel between buildings) we arrived at Senator Obama's office. His staff greeted us and alerted us that although the Senator originally had 30 minutes, he now had only five left. We had used all of our time travelling between buildings--Can you imagine!

The staff suggested that we may want to use the five minutes as a photo op. The kids quickly decided that even five minutes with the senator listening to the issues was worth more than a photo op. We stood in the hallway while the kids decided that one student would speak for everyone and that would be Stephen Hudson or Claiborne Wade and Sharlisa Brooks if there was time.
We then proceeded into Senator Obama's inner offices and he stood in the doorway and greeted each of us personally, issuing handshakes and hugs--it was a very personal touch and it took three minutes. Once we were inside, Senator Obama had the kids sit and the adults stand. In addition to myself there was a parent volunteer, Virgil Hudson and Romanita Hairston, a VP from World Vision and Lena, another WV co-worker.

Senator Obama then asked the kids, "So, what y'all wanna talk to me about?" One of the youth explained how disturbing the recent rash of youth killings in Chicago had been to them--so much so until decided that they had to travel to DC to offer some possible solutions to our lawmakers.
Intrigued, Senator Obama had one of his staffers to bring him a chair and he sat amongst the kids and allowed the presentation for the next 27 minutes; along with dialog and questions related to his service to the youth as the possible next President of the United States. I cried as I watched the interaction between the kids and Obama. I was so incredibly proud of them both. Two of the kids were already registered voters. After explaining that he needed to get back to the Senate floor, he asked if the kids were interested in a photo . They took lots of photos with him and then we took a group photo.

In a word this experience was 'da bomb!" Senator Barack Obama is personable and warm. He is also very thoughtful and accommodating. Although I had met Senator Obama on several other occasions in Chicago, this meeting in the nation's capital is the one that will stand out in mind mind.

The Taste of Chicago Sucks

Yesterday, I attempted to participate in Chicago's largest annual festival, The Taste of Chicago. I had intentionally waited until the day before the last day. I hate crowds-period. The Taste is in essence simply a giant crowd with the potential of somebody spilling some food on my clothes and having me 'snap' on that fool who accidently did it.
Everybody who knows me knows I hate the Taste. Nevertheless, I agreed to meet my girlfriend, Dee Dee downtown so that we could trip out a minute and eat together. I was traveling by bus and ended up late meeting her due to a mishap.

When I finally arrived people were everywhere!There appeared to be utter and total chaos (although there probably wasn't) because there were so many people. I took a few pics and startd to get agitated because of the crowds.

Dee Dee and I finally hooked up but I couldn't take the crowds and ended up leaving. My conclusion is that while the prmise is very lucative for the food vendors, its very inconvenient for attendees.
Some people were smoking cigarettes, pushing strollers in the middle of the already crowded main strip, and pushing their bikes through the shoulder-to shoulder-crowd.

I did not enjoy folks' food coming so close to my clothes and standing so close to people I didn't know. It probably would have been more fun in a smaller setting. The Taste of Chicago sucked.

Where on Earth is Yasmin Acree? Does Race Impact Missing Person Investigations?

When a teenage black girl from Chicago and two young white women from the suburbs all mysteriously vanished, would race be a consideration in the investigation and news coverage?

Yesterday, I attended a prayer vigil on behalf of a missing 15 year-old girl from Chicago's West Side, Yasmin Acree. It seems that Yasmin, the cousin of my dear friend, Rev. Ira J. Acree, has been missing for 6 months with no plausible explanations or police discoveries and no closure for family and friends.
I remember when she vanished from her home back in January '08. I'd heard about it on television and from the neighborhood grapevine. In fact, the newspaper I write for, the Windy City Word, ran her picture for about 3 weeks immediately following her disappearance.
Subsequently, when we heard nothing more about the investigation from electronic or mainstream press, I fugured she had been found or simply returned home.

Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Rev. Acree announcing the prayer vigil and the fact that Yasmin was still missing. As a member of the media I found his fact to be very disheartening in lieu of the very high-profile coverage given to two young women, Lisa Stebic and Stacy Peterson, suburbanites who have been missing for over a year, but whose stories remain fresh in the public's minds due to print and electronic news coverage.
My analytical mind tends to speculate the reasons why these cases have been handled so differently. Race.
Yasmin is a black girl from an inner-city community. Lisa and Stacy are young white women--wives and mothers who lived middle, class suburban lives. Yasmin is described as a basically good student and responsible teen who had no prior history of running away from home, who attended church regularly and who liked to hang out at the the YMCA; Lisa and Stacy were adults who were both admittedly involved in troubled marriages and who had both confided to their family and friends prior to their disappearances, that if anything were to happen to either of them that they should look to each of their husbands as suspects.

Lisa Stebic, who disappeared first, seems to have vanished into thin air. After numerous searches by family, friends, and strangers (and plenty of media coverage) there has not been a trace of her whereabouts. Her family continues to hope even after a year and a half that she is still alive.

Stacy Peterson vanished shortly after Lisa amid very suspicious circumstances. Relatives, friends, and even her pastor believe strongly that her husband might be responsible for her disappearance or at least knows more than he is telling. The husband, a police officer, maintains that Stacy has left he and their children and run off with another man. Her family says this scenario would be totally out of character.

As a part of her disappearance investigation the police exhumed the body of Stacy's husband's deceased former wife and autopsied her again. They reclassified her death from an accident to a homicide with her husband as a prime suspect. This woman's family maintained at the time of her death that it was not an accident but an orchestrated murder set up by this same husband.
The local police agencies have spared no expense in searching for these two young women.

Yasmin Acree is believed to be alive. has not received even a small portion of the high profile news coverage that these two women have commanded even though she is an underage minor and could not possibly be taking care of herself independently. Rev Acree maintains that the investigation into his cousin's disappearance is not yielding any results from the police detectives. All persons who may have seen her on the last day before she vanished have not been interviewed and thoroughly ruled out, including the former boyfriend of the young lady's mother.

Those folks watching closely include concerned clergy, family and friends, who feel that there appears to be some indifference on behalf of the Chicago Police Department in solving and closing this case. Could it be that race is playing a part in how this investigation is handled?

Happy Birthday Trevor Fields:A Biker Laid to Rest in Grand Style

On Saturday, June 28, 2008, a brother-friend of mine, Trevor Fields, was laid to rest in a homegoing service that was second to none.When I arrived at the service, which was held at Carter Temple CME Church in Chicago, I was greeted by a sea of bikers wearing colors that seemed to represent every black MotorCycle Club in the Chi-town.

Trevor, it seems was a part of the Red Liners MC. Their colors are red & black. There were many men and women Red Liners who came out to pay their respects. It was very touching and I'm sure his family was very happy to see such an awesome show of support from his friends and those persons who cared enough to put a comma in their day to celebrate the life of this young man. They say that it appeared to be over 200 bikers in his processional, in addition to the many cars.

I never knew Trevor loved motorcycle riding, which means I never really knew Trevor. I've known who Trevor Fields was only casually for 12 years. I knew his parents, William & Brenda Fields better than I knew him; but I knew he was their son whom they loved dearly.

I love motorcycles too. Trevor was killed in a motorcycle accident while riding his motorcycle on the Bishop Ford expressway in Chicago. Trevor was wearing his helmut, but in this instance it didn't help him. He died from mostly bodily injuries.

The news accounts I read were very tragic.I am the mother of four sons. I feel Brenda's pain at the sudden loss of one of her only two sons. When I saw her at the funeral I could only say, "I love you."

On July 5th, William and Brenda's son, Trevor would have celebrated the 36th anniversary of his birth. I know that this will be a very hard day for the Fields' family.

Trevor, I celebrate your life today. I am glad that you lived. I am glad that you knew how it felt to be 'one with the wind.' I am glad for the life of your daughter; I am happy that you had many friends and folks who loved you. I am glad that you had the parents that you had, and most of all I am glad that you knew Jesus for yourself.

Now, ain't that good news?

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Daddy,
If you were still here with us in the natural, I'd be calling you to wish you a happy birthday or showing up at your door bearing gifts to help you celebrate the 68th anniversary of your birth.
Daddy, I still miss you so much, I wish I could really make myself believe that you are still with me in the spirit. I have missed you everyday for the past 22 years--every day I realize that you are not here.
I tell my kids who you were daddy, in my life and in the lives of everyone who knew you. Of course, you had an opportunity to see and hug Ali and Gregory before you died. But I have four other kids you've never seen. Na'Imah, Na'Tifah, Curtiss, and Christopher.
My kids are brilliant beyond belief daddy. They are so smart and special just like you were.
I am proud to have been your daughter. I will never forget.
Happy Birthday daddy!
Vanessa

"Favor Ain't Fair: RKelly Acquitted On All 14-Counts"

Okay! Okay, I admit I was as wrong as two left shoes in my prediction of RKelly's eventual relocation into one of Illinois' state correctional facilities after the jury deliberated last Friday. It was bad enough that it was Friday the 13th--a day seen as bad luck, and I'd already pictured him in the obligatory orange jumpsuit with his hair braided, of course. I'd also pictured the eventual video that he would make after his release from prison in about June 2013. You could have bought me with a nickel when he was acquitted.

He would go on to hush all of his naysayers when on Friday, June 13, 2008, Robert Sylvester Kelly was acquitted on all charges of Child Pornography stemming from a video tape that was turned over to police in 2002, depicting a man and a girl having sex. The man was believed to be RKelly and the girl was believed to be an under-aged minor.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the acquittal was due to the facts. The facts are that the prosecution obviously forgot to bring their 6-year-old case with them to court. In this event, the defense team headed by Samuel Adam, Jr., proceeded to discredit and cast doubts about the credibility of every witness that testified for the prosecution and even with the authenticity of the video tape. It was a purely "Johnny Cochran-ish" style of defense. The kind that unbelievable acquittals are made of.

Well, I personally have always thought that this kid from Chicago's Southside had the "favor of God" on his life. He's had unbelievable success in the music business despite the fact that 'bitter water runs out of the same fountain as sweet water with him'.
Let me explain. I am a fan of "I Believe I Can Fly" and "The World's Greatest"-- two songs I absolutely adore that he wrote and were both popular crossover hits. His voice is melodic and classically trained. He sings in other languages, reads music and is talented beyond belief.

How then can he use these same gifts to sing about some of the most disrespectful subjects and have them blasted on the airwaves? He is a father with daughters. Some of his material goes way beyond the scope of decency and is totally "R" rated and "X"rated music that he's written from the same pen (so to speak)as the songs that children embrace. He refers to himself as the "Pied Piper"--a mythical character who played music and led a group of children to their demise. How ironic.

Well, RKelly, the world plans and God plans too. It was reported that after each acquittal was read you said, "Thank you, Jesus." They also reported that you cried. I admonish you to be aware that "not guilty" is not the same as "innocent."
When I was a little girl my daddy warned me that unless I was interested in becoming a Supreme Court Justice, that I needed to get out of the judging bizness.
I am not judging you, but I am suggesting that perhaps this episode in your life was so that you may be humbled. You could afford the justice you received. I am certain that you prayed for favor with the jury and the judge. It seems you received both. Remember my friend, "Favor ain't fair."

Does RKelly Really Believe he Can Fly?

Closing arguments are set to begin on Thursday, June 12, 2008 in the RKelly Child Pornography trial. On this past Tuesday, the prosecution and the defense both rested their case. RKelly explained to the judge his decision not to testify. This would be the only statement he would make throughout the entire 6-week trial.
The case is very simple (in case you've been hiding under a rock and are clueless to what this is all about). Robert Sylvester Kelly is accused of having videotaped himself having sex with and urinating on an underage girl of about age 13 years approximately 10 years ago.

Kelly and the alleged victim maintain that it is not they who are the stars of this production. The prosecution brought forth witnesses (friends,schoolmates and family of the young lady and former business associates and lovers of Kelly's) who testified that it is without a shadow of a doubt RKelly and the young lady that are depicted in the raunchy 27 minute video-tape that has been shown to the court observers and jurors.

Kelly has been charged in 14-counts of child pornography and each count carries a 4-15 year sentence. RKelly only needs to be found guilty of one count in order to be sent to prison.

Many people in Chicago believe that RKelly is guilty but will not serve any time in prison because he is RKelly. Some of the testimony in the case was extremely damaging, especially from former lovers who testified that RKelly frequently video taped sex acts between him and other ladies.

If RKelly really believes he can fly, then he needs to spread his wings and fly right out of that courtroom, because from my window on the second floor--his situation looks bleak.