THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION REALITY

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION REALITY – will the debt be paid? The creators of ADOS, Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore, gave focus and direction to reparation becoming a reality. For years the crime of slavery has been in the minds of most mature human beings. For years most mature people have thought about some punishment for the perpetrators of institutionalized slavery. For years reparation has been thought of as a just penalty for the injustice of institutionalized slavery. For most of these years no specific person of group of persons could be identified as the sole perpetrator of institutional slavery. For most of these years no specific person or group of persons could be identified as victims of institutional slavery. For years black leaders have labored to find a clear and legal definition for perpetrator and victim of institutional slavery. Through pure unrelenting genius Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore have discovered a definition for perpetrator and victim which fits historical and legal frames. With their definition who benefited from institutional slavery, who were the victims, and who is to be paid, is easily identified. Their definition excludes no descendant of African slaves from justice through reparations. All descendants are justified in their claim for reparation. Since there are many descendant groups there is not one perpetrator. Since there are many perpetrators each group must find justice through reparation from those who directly benefited from their slave ancestor labor. American Descendants of Slavery–ADOS–identifies a specific group of slave descendants. America built itself on the labor of slave ancestors and its continued denial of full citizenship for slave descendants. It is often said that most white people object to reparations. I remind you that many white people objected to anti-lynching laws–white men and their families enjoyed the spectacle of good lynching regularly. Baseball is now a more enjoyable sport for the family to enjoy. amazon.com/dp/0983947724.

THOUGHTS ABOUT CREATIVE RISKING

THOUGHTS ABOUT CREATIVE RISK TAKING – nothing ventured nothing gained For any risk taker there is a cost for taking that risk. What a risk taker strives to achieve is a reward for taking that risk; he or she expects the reward to be greater than the cost for taking the risk. When a risk taker has the total cost of the risk in hand, meaning he or she already has the cash needed to take the risk, such a person is beginning with a distinct advantage. It doesn't make for a certain reward but the cost is kept to a minimum. When a risk taker has others, say a bank, cover part of the cost he or she begins with an obvious disadvantage. The accrued debt eats into the expected risk-reward and makes reward difficult if not impossible. Since my retirement I continue to work as a professional actor and independent writer/publisher. As any creative artist knows, art making cost money; the ability to keep making art depends on the rewards received from consumers of his or her art. For me it's been a life on the edge. amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY THOUGHTS – thinking aloud what I’m thinking I recently finished my 4th novel; I think it’s my best work–not perfect but good. I’m well into research for my 5th book; not yet ready for the story outline. I was with Lynn Burnett and a group of actors at Coffee Chatter the other evening when I had a chance to introduce my novel to a presenting writer for screen and TV. He asked if I had considered adapting it to film, I told him I had; he asked if I would do it or have someone else. Perhaps my response sounds a bit egotistical but I told him no one could do it better than I. The truth is I believe that. Another truth is I’m working on the 5th book–do I stop to write an adaptation or do both? For me, neither choice is plausible. Easy for me to decide but doesn’t stop my mixed emotions. Another thing has been haunting me lately–perhaps its due to age. Most of my adult life I’ve lived alone. I married twice and ended both in divorce. I have two loving siblings, five wonderful children grandchildren and great-grands. I’ve had a number of great lovers along the way but have purposely avoided marriage. For some time now I’ve been without a woman in my life. My writing and acting has, until now, kept me busy enough to avoid the creeping consciousness of feeling alone. I have good social contact but nothing on the personal level. No good mornings, no good nights, no how you feeling today baby, you feel like doing it? Now that life for me is slowing down I’m becoming more sensitive more perceptive more aware of what’s important in life. I do love life but I’m a little tired of living it alone. Amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION AS POLICY NOT JUST PRINCIPLE

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION AS POLICY NOT JUST PRINCIPLE I recently became a follower of American Descendants of Slavery, ADOS. I’m a black American who is independent in his thoughts, meaning I don’t usually follow groups. I have a specific reason for aligning with ADOS–its commitment to reparation for ADOS. I think it’s a debt long long overdue. The leadership of ADOS was wise enough to bring clear focus to reparation: who gets it and why. ADOS does not equivocate about its commitment. I know more than a little about institutional change, my academic and work experience awards me that. Specific focus has to be given to the goal; the same specific focus has to be given resistance to the goal. Much like changing the mindset of an individual institutional change is a very difficult process–not impossible but difficult. Change makers must never lose sight of the condition that will exist after the change. Change makers must guard against getting bogged down in the opposition to the intended change. Opposition to change will often cause dissension among change makers, resulting in failure to reach the goal. Whenever change makers doubt success that doubt will add to the opposition to change. It may seem improbable but any opposition can be overcome. Although in favor of reparation, some black people believe too few white people supporting a policy for reparation make its reality unrealistic. There is a way for reparation to benefit white people as well black. Find that way and reparation will become a good policy rather than a good principle. Amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT LITERACY AND EDUCATORS

THOUGHTS ABOUT LITERACY AND EDUCATORS–good reading skills make good teaching possible I have written a novel of historical fiction. It covers three (3) generations of a black family: 1930s, 1940s, and 1980s. This story may be compelling enough to attract the interest of young as well as adult readers–particularly those endeavoring to increase their literacy skills. Educators and literacy trainers seeking reading materials may find “DIFFERENT ROADS SAME STOPS” an ideal aide for teaching American History, ethnic studies, and personal development. As the author I am willing to send you a free copy for review. If you are in Southern California near Los Angeles I would also meet with you and students to discuss the story in detail. Email: adolphusward@aol.com. Please identify yourself and purpose in the subject-line. www.amazon.com/dp/0983947724.

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY LATEST NOVEL: 3rd Generation

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY LATEST NOVEL– 3RD Generation [DIFFERENT ROADS SAME STOPS] is about three (3) generations of the same family: Calvin Tallman is the grandson of Jacob and Clara Tallman. Calvin like kinfolk in the generations before him chooses to confront racial discrimination rather than tolerate it. The time is 1984 and he’s moved from Milwaukee to Kenosha, Wisconsin to be near his job as an HR manager. Part of his responsibility in Human Resources was to manage the company’s Affirmative Action Program. The program was a government program designed to move African Americans into jobs previously denying them entry on the bases of race. As in all previous generations white men and women constructed roadblocks to slow or stop the progress of black people—especially where that progress cost them some advantage. If you like a good story you’ll love this book. It is in paper-back and e-book. Go to amazon.com/dp/0983947724 for your copy or buy one as a gift to someone you care about. THANK YOU!

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY LATEST NOVEL 1st Generation

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY LATEST NOVEL– 1ST Generation [DIFFERENT ROADS SAME STOPS] is about three (3) generations of the same family: 1930s Arkansas, 1940s and 1980s Wisconsin. Jacob and wife Clara open this story in Arkansas in the mid1930s. This is a time when water came from a hole in the ground, a time when most country people rode on the backs of horses in wagons or simply walked–the automobile was an anomaly. Milk the family drank came directly from a cow and the butter they spread on their baked bread came directly from that milk. A mule and human labor were the chief implements for planting, cultivation, and harvesting food grown for the family table and cotton grown for sale. Some white men and the laws they made blocked the roads to progress and a better life for Negroes. Jacob, Clara and family struggled to overcome the roadblocks to their dreams and aspirations. If you like a good story you’ll love this book. It is in paper-back and e-book. Go to amazon.com/dp/0983947724 for your copy or buy one as a gift to someone you care about. THANK YOU!

THOUGHTS ABOUT HARRIET MOVIE BOYCOTT

THOUGHTS ABOUT HARRIET MOVIE BOYCOTT – a political view I will not see the movie for political reasons. Those who have or will see the movie are not my enemy; I don’t wish the cast or crew ill winds. My abstention is purely political. Harriet Tubman is and will remain an integral part of the American descendants of slavery (ADOS). Her courageous act of guiding slaves to freedom gave and continues to give value to the lives of black Americans. To even contemplate, let alone cast a black female from outside the black American experience takes more than a bit of arrogance. It takes the total disregard for the American black female talent pool eager to recreate the life of an iconic person from within the ADOS’ life experience–it takes a blatant disregard for the importance of culture. amazon.com/dp/0983947724