Silent Killer
The Unfinished Campaign Against Environmental Racism

"Another Africville in the Planning."


-M. Raymond Sheppard

The plight of the people of the African Nova Scotian community of Lincolnville continues based on Environmental racism. Recently, Premier Rodney MacDonald weighed in on this issue, after ignoring the concerns of Lincolnville during the recent provincial election.

In an email letter (June 19, 2006) to this former resident of Lincolnville MacDonald regurgitates largely what he has been told or fed.

He says, "The Municipality of Guysborough commenced the public consultation process almost three years ago. They have informed us that consultations on the development of a second-generation landfill between the communities of Lincolnville and Boylston began in September 2003.

According to their records a public meeting was held in Lincolnville on September 29, 2003 and in Boylston on September 30, 2003. The meetings were advertised in the local newspaper and notices were also posted in local communities.

Mr. MacDonald goes on to say, "Questions and attendance at the meetings were recorded and there were no questions given by members of the public that indicated absolute opposition to the plan to build a second-generation landfill.

Since 2003, in addition to these public meetings, quarterly editions of the municipal newsletter were utilized to inform all residents of the second-generation plans. Also, the municipality has a Landfill Liaison Committee which has met on a regular basis to ensure that the public is informed on all solid waste matters.

The Municipal Councilor, Sheila Pelly, and community representative, Alonzo Reddick, both from Lincolnville, are on the Landfill Liaison Committee. I have been informed that Mr. Reddick provided regular reports to the Lincolnville Development Association so that communications were provided directly to the community by a community member.

Openness and transparency are principles of effective consultation and the Municipality of Guysborough has shown that they applied numerous mechanisms to ensure that they adhered to those principles. There were entry-points and opportunities to raise concerns to the construction of the second-generation landfill that began some three years ago. The public consultation process was open to all community members.

"The Premier suggest, if I have and further questions, that I should make contact with the Director of Solid Waste for the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, one Gary Cleary.

If the good Premier had taken the opportunity of speaking with the residents of the community of Lincolnville he would have been given the community's view on the role race and privilege played and is playing in this ongoing nightmare faced by residents of Lincolnville.

Race is the most significant variable associated with the location of this hazardous waste site aka landfill. In the history of the Province of Nova Scotia, the greatest number of commercial hazardous sites and facilities has been located in or next to African Nova Scotian communities.

There have been more commercial hazardous waste sites and facilities located in and near African Nova Scotian community than non African Nova Scotian communities, with a great number of these sites and facilities located next to 1st Nations communities.

Generally with the Environmental Racism of late, community residents are duped into believing that they will somehow benefit from having their community used and abused. If the truth was to be told, like Africville, most African Nova Scotian communities are being continually planned out of existence based solely on the "Almighty Buck".

Speaking of which, the housing development known as Uniacke Square, where some forced former Africville Residents live, is now said to face demolition.
Many at-risk communities are victims of schemes and ploys that do not happen by chance, but rather by design.

The Municipality of Guysborough, members of a waste disposal company, and a few mis-guided brainwashed community members continue to attempt to convince African Nova Scotians in Lincolnville that dumping will somehow benefit them and that this crime against humanity is justified. The truth of the matter is that residents of the community of Lincolnville are facing health risks and possibly the extinction of their community and mine.

So would someone tell me where the children, grand-children and great-grandchildren of present community residents call home, and what legacy will they inherit? So who is benefiting from this exploitation?

Many studies throughout North America suggest clear relationships between a high concentration of African (racially visible) populations, low incomes and unhealthy environments. Poor African Nova Scotians do not have the economic means to leave their neighborhoods for resettlement elsewhere.

Housing discrimination often makes it difficult to find alternative dwellings at affordable rates. Industries that pollute are attracted to poor neighborhoods because land values, incomes, and other costs of doing business are lower. The industries are drawn to poor neighborhoods where political power and community resources to fight back are weak or lacking. Higher income areas are usually more successful in preventing or controlling the entry of polluting industries such as dumps to their communities.

The Nova Scotia Government, the Municipality of Guysborough and those fewer than three community residents should truly consider the consequences of their inaction and "Do The Right Thing". After all, the effects of pollution and environmental hazards on humans are real and well documented.

I would call on the Nova Scotia Government to clearly amend their environmental policies to take a bite out of injustice.

One realizes that this situation is not a situation that lends itself to an overnight solution, but doing the right thing is always the best solution.

Please rest assured community residents of Lincolnville and their many supporters across Canada and beyond will continue their rightful and sincere efforts to rid themselves of this racist cancer.

For more information on this grave injustice, please contact Concerned Residents of Lincolnville representative "Ms. Wendy Campbell and or Mr. James Desmond" at (902) 232-2223.
-30-

The Jay Marlo Story In Pictures

This is the story of Jay Marlo States as seen in pictures. Jay is my newphew, the son of my sister, Muriel and Jack States. Jay was born in Halifax on June 23, 1971.

At the lower left, there's my son John David and Jay Marlo who wants to play with John David's car, December, 1971. Jay was 6 months old and John-David was 4.

At the lower right we see Lori Anne, my niece, and the daughter of my sister, Juanita and Donald Seale and Jay Marlo, our hero, at 3309 during a family Christmas gathering December 1973. Lori Anne was 6 years old and Jay Marlo was 2. Please note that this Christmas tree was the one that Mom didn't like and I can't say I blame her. It's a sad tree.

At the top left there's Torrin, son of Jay Marlo and Robyn States. Finally, there's Jay Marlo himself, deep in thought as he always is. He was 6 months old at the time. Torrin was born on June 29, 2005. At the time of this photo Torrin was nearly 5 months old.

Congratulations Jay and Robyn!!

As always, Well wishes,

F Stanley Boyd

Simple Things -- Warm and from the Heart

It was the simple things that made father happiest as when we went out to the rifle range to shoot with our scoped 303s; we did that, but it was not those things which made him happiest. To him things were jsut things that didn't matter much. He was happiest when he did those things that took him back to his childhood.

As Muriel pointed out his childhood was happy and unhappy at times and perhaps most times, he was an unhappy child. But he was a man that could be warm and charming these are the things in him I choose to remember.

Here in this picture he is content and being content is what really matters. You see the young boy inside the old man -- you see the things that made him to me so precious and cherished. Father could show this side of himself without a thought to who else might observe it and I got in on film to share it with you.

I guess that I cannot expect everyone to understand this way of being as involved as an adult as father could be and yet as gentle, simple and loving as a child -- the other side of him that made him as unique as he was a good person. The very reason why Mother loved him so.

Here another moment I like, scan 0081 in my collection. When sister Muriel and Jack got married at Cornwallis Street Baptist church. They were so young and in love with each other -- precious mements.

By the way Muriel did not know that I was going to send this out. I did send it to her earlier this week and I know that they both were taken back to their youth. For all of them these were precious mements in their lives. Love to family and friends, JR.

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd

FATHERS AND SONS

Above: Frank S. Boyd, Sr. with his son Frank S. Boyd, Jr.; I was born December 23, 1943 -- "Father's Christmas present"; Above centre: Frank S. Boyd, Jr., with son John-David Boyd, who was born April 3, 1967; Above right Frank S. Boyd, Jr., with his son, Keigan Fortune Boyd, who was born October 8, 1996. On the right Frank S. Boyd, Jr at 12 months



"If the relationship of father to son could really be reduced to biology, the whole earth would blaze with the glory of fathers and sons." -- James Baldwin.

"The most important things fathers can do for their sons is to love their mothers and their sons." -- F. Stanley Boyd.

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd.

Willie Lynch Dooms Black People

The following has been credited to William Lynch, a White slave owner, who reportedly made the speech on the banks of the James River in 1712. It was quoted at length by Minister Louis Farrakhan at the Million Man March where it stunned many in the audience because of the cold-blooded way it described how the minds of African-Americans could be enslaved.

According to an essay appearing in "Brother Man- The Odyssey of Black Men in America- An Anthology" Lynch was a British slave owner in the West Indies who came to the United States to tell American slave owners how to keep their slaves under control. The term "lynching" is derived from Lynch's name.

Gentlemen,

I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First, I shall thank you, the gentlemen of the Colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves.

Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies where I have experimented with some of the newest and still the oldest methods of control of slaves. Ancient Rome would envy us if my program were implemented. As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious King, whose version of the Bible we cherish.

I saw enough to know that your problem is not unique. While Rome used cord s of woods as crosses for standing human bodies along its highways in great numbers you are here using the tree and the rope on occasion.

I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree a couple of miles back. You are not only losing a valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, you suffer occasional fires, and your animals are killed. Gentlemen, you know what your problems are: I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems; I am here to introduce you to a method of solving t hem. In my bag here, I have a fool proof method for controlling your Black slaves. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 hundred years. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your oversee r can use it.

I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves: and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use fear, distrust, and envy for control purposes. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences, and think about them. On top of my list is "Age", but it is there only because it starts with an "A": the second is "Color" or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations, status on plantation, attitude of owners, whether the slave live in the valley, on hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, coarse hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action-but before that I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than trust and envy is stronger than adulation, respect, or admiration.

The Black slave after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self re-fueling and self generating for hundreds of years, maybe thousands. Don't forget you must pitch the old Black male vs. the young Black male, and the young Black male against the old Black male. You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves and the light skin slaves vs. the dark skin slaves. You must use the female vs. the male, and the male vs. the female. You must also have your white servants and overseers distrust all Blacks, but it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us. They must love, respect and trust only us. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. If used intensely for one year, the slaves themselves will remain perpetually distrustful.

Thank you, gentlemen.

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd

For more information click links below:

http://www.uky.edu/StudentOrgs/AWARE/archives/lynch.html

http://www.toptags.com/aama/voices/speeches/willlynch.htm

Great Fathers Have Quiet Expectations

Frank Stanley Boyd, Sr. 1912-1991

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes." Benjamin Disraeli

Father had such a mind and it is in this, as in many other things, he taught me the lessons of life. He had to find his own name and make peace with that. He did it charmingly, with violence at first and then with grace he accepted the terms and conditions of his life and changed them with grace and love.

My father is, and has always been, my hero. Today, more than ever the role of father in family life, especially Black family life, is so vitally important. Fathers' Day is but one day in June each year and to me fathers' day is every day. Celebrate it.

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name!Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I'll no longer be a Capulet." William Shakespeare

As always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd, Jr.

Black Males Face Relentless Racism

Surviving blackness
Black men quietly combat negative stereotypes

By ERIN TEXEIRA The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Keith Borders tries hard not to scare people.
He’s six foot seven, a garrulous lawyer who talks with his hands.
And because he’s black, he has to think a lot about how threatening he looks.

"I have a very keen sense of my size and how I communicate," says Borders. "I end up putting my hands in my pockets or behind me. I stand with my feet closer together. With my feet spread out, it looks like I’m taking a stance. And I use a softer voice."

Every day, African-American men consciously work to offset stereotypes about them — that they are dangerous, aggressive, angry. Some smile a lot, dress conservatively and speak in a deferential tone. They are mindful of their bodies, they don’t dart into closing elevators or stand too close in stores.

Decades after segregation, biased views of black men stubbornly hang on. Statistics show a yawning gap between the lives of white men and black men. Black men earn barely 75 per cent of what white men earn; nearly one in three black men will spend time behind bars during his life; on average, black men die six years earlier than whites.

If black men don’t carefully calculate how to handle everyday situations that most white men wouldn’t think about twice, they can end up out of a job, in jail or dead.

Melissa Harris Lacewell, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, says learning to adapt is at the heart of being a North American black male.

"Black mothers and fathers socialize their sons to not make waves, to not come up against the authorities, to speak even more politely when whites are present but particularly if there are whites who have power," she said.

It’s like a game of chess, says 43-year-old Chester Williams, of New Orleans. He has taught his three sons, ages 16, 14 and 11, to play.

"The rules of the game are universal: white moves first, then black moves," he said. "Black has to respond to the moves that the whites make. You take the advantage when it’s available."

Walter White, a black sales executive from Cincinnati, recalls sitting down with his family and watching Roots, the groundbreaking 1970s TV miniseries tracing a black family from Africa through slavery and into modern times.

The slaves were quietly obedient around whites. "As soon as the master was gone," he said, "they did what they wanted to do. That’s what we were taught."

Historians say both the stereotypes and coping strategies are rooted in America’s history of slavery and segregation.

School is still a challenge. Last year, Yale University research on public school pre-kindergarten programs found that blacks were expelled twice as often as whites — and nine out of 10 blacks expelled were boys. Some trace it to negative views about black boys.

Bill Fletcher still has nightmares about his third-grade teacher, a white woman who "treated me and other black students as if we were idiots," he said. "She destroyed my confidence."

But his parents were strong advocates, and taught him to cope by having little contact with teachers who didn’t take an interest in him, said Fletcher, former president of TransAfrica Forum, a group that builds ties between African-Americans and Africa.

As black boys become adolescents, the dangers escalate. Like most teens, they battle raging hormones and identity crises. Many rebel, trying to fit in by mimicking — sometimes becoming — criminals.

Others are just treated that way.

Having darker brown skin can erect another barrier. Mark Ferguson has worked on Wall Street for 20 years. He has an easy smile and firm handshake.

"I think I clean up pretty well . . . but all that goes out the window when I show up at a meeting full of white men," says Ferguson of New Jersey, who is 6-foot-4 and dark-skinned. "It’s because they’re afraid of me."

"Race always matters," said Ferguson, whose Day in the Life Foundation connects minority teenagers with professionals. "It’s always in play."

Fletcher says his light brown skin gives him an edge — or would if he smiled more. "If you’re a black man who doesn’t smile a lot, they (whites) get really nervous," he said.

All this daily manoeuvring has left black men enraged, exhausted and in chronic poor health. Black men are 20 per cent more likely to die of heart disease than whites, and they have the highest rates of hypertension in the world, according to the National Medical Association.

Ferguson says over the years, he has learned to steel himself for face-to-face meetings — for clients’ raised eyebrows and stuttered greetings when they see he is black.

"It just rolls off our backs — we grin and bear it. You can’t quit."

Top photo: Mark Ferguson a Wall Street financier, visits students at Central High School in Newark, NJ. Mark has built a business and earned promotions over the phone. Ferguson has learned to steel himself for face-to-face meetings -- for clients' raised eyebrows and stuttered greetings when they see he is black. (Bebeto Matthews/ AP)

Below photo: Rasheed Smith, 22, talks about his life during a visit to cafe in Bedford Stuyvesent section of New York's Brooklyn borough. He suvives the stereotyping by staying close to his family.

As Always, Well wishes,

F. Stanley Boyd