An additional story that I complained about last year, is now being told in tribute to September 11th.

Last year, I wrote a blog about Time Magazine having displaying a book about the September 11th attacks. It was called Beyond 9/11.  In the blog, I summarized my thought about the book in terms of not showing or revealing the names of the African-Americans who also either served, survived or died on that tragic Tuesday. Also I did mentioned Genelle Guzman-McMillan who was black, and was labeled at the “last survivor of 9/11.” Read her book entitled, “Angel In The Rubble.”  Also, I commented how Jason Thomas, who was black and served in the U.S. Marine  Corps was on hand to help find those trapped in the rubble.  Not the “Jason Thomas” was played in the movie World Trade Center.

The question of asking last year of “where are the blacks?” had came up again. On the 11th anniversary of the day, I read on the Huffington Post’s Black Voices site,  and later BET.com about some black firefighters that died on 9/11. Now you’re about to ask the question. “Why this? Why it does have to be about color? Why does it have to be about black folks yet again? It’s not Black History Month. Why can’t they just be heroes?”  Uh-huh. I saw those comments on Facebook and Black Voices and half of those comments who had a thought about them being segregated, it’s not. Plus for those who ask that, and are and are not African-American, you may not understand the FULL gist of it. Technically the keyword is basically understanding. And likewise, African-Americans have had or currently doing historical things in America as we know of.

By the way, who was the first African-American Astronaut to die in the Challenger explosion in January of 1986? –  WITHOUT GOOGLING!

Second, we all know about the March on Washington, who organized the March? Plus the person was an African-American male, and Gay. Again – WITHOUT GOOGLING!

For the Green Bay Packers Fans, who was the first African-American NFL Player to play for the team? –  WITHOUT GOOGLING! But I’ll give you a hint, it wasn’t Lionel Aldridge, Willie Davis,  nor Reggie White.

And also when a piece of history gets put out in the open, knowingly it’s going to be recognized and I dare say scanned. On that note, let me comment that everyone that can understand: 9/11 effected EVERYONE. No matter what.  I like every American will never forget where we were, and what we were doing on that horrible day.  Matter of fact, the whole week including going to church on a Sunday that was packed.

But getting back to the story of the black firefighters that died in service on 9/11, this is one of things that I wanted to look for. Not to make a mockery of race here. I like any other American of African Decent, needed to know as well. Or Blacks Folks, African-Americans whatever we choose to identify, about this revealed piece of  history. The main point of all of this, is to give us more information that should be displayed. Too many times in black history, or in parts of black history, information at times gets either incorrect or not mentioned. There are those “Americans” who think or still believe that Dr. King was a Republican. NOT TRUE! His father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr, he was the MLK that was the republican. Dr. King, during his days as the SCLC  President during the 1960’s never endorsed any political party. Want more proof? Research the King Center, and find the article letter that he written back in the 1960’s and it will tell you a hidden clue that he wasn’t a registered Republican as many thought he was. Read up, Americans.

However, read up on the article: Mothers Of Black Firefighters Killed On 9/11 Fight To Keep Their Sons’ Memories Alive. And plus read about the struggles and discrimination that they endured in becoming firefighters. Another thing I can hear now about the reaction is like: Who cares? or Why should I care? Well, tell that to those that knew these men in  school, or at church, or in their native cities, towns or districts. Even their families. My thing to them would be this: Ask around and you will know why it is. And when you do read the article: Black people, we need to continue to recognize US! I’m just saying to be realistic. Not just for this 9/11, but for every 9/11 that comes across every time.

God Bless America!

Ummm…..Time Magazine, you forgot one ethnicity to report about on 9/11: African-Americans

Dear America:

We are one day removed, and 10 years removed from “the worst smackdown in American History”. We all have those moments and memories of what we were doing when the planes hit the original World Trade Center. Speaking of which, I remember being in the 8th Grade, when I had the opportunity to visit New York and having the chance to visit the World Trade Center as well as the Chrysler/Empire State Buildings. Keep in mind, I was 14 years old and it was in 1991. 20 years ago. But I did had a thought of visiting the NYC again one day and getting a chance to visit the towers as usual. But those terrorist attacks changed everything, but like every American (or should I say determined, hopeful, optimistic American) I will not be like those who refuse to stay home. I will visit the NYC and visit the World Trade, even though it may not be the same towers I viewed in 1991.

Now to change features. I am viewing the online version of Time Magazine, which was titled: “Beyond 9/11”. And I’m looking at the pictures and video clips of those who witnessed and/or survived that tragic Tuesday. But there was one group of folks that weren’t shown: African-Americans. One of my Milwaukee News Columnists, James Causey pointed that out that there weren’t any blacks shown in the magazine! Utter Nonsense! I want to ask, why weren’t there any blacks featured? Really Time Magazine? I mean the Black Race wanted to share some insight of the experiences also. Believe me, I’m going there!

They should have sampled a page out of MSNBC. Brian Williams interviewed a Trinidad born Citizen named Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who later became a U.S Citizen in 1998. She is labeled as the “last survivor of 9/11”. I happened to see that interview online yesterday, and even though that she didn’t felt talking about her story of being trapped in the rubble, but she had a story to tell. I often wondered about other blacks who didn’t have the chance to voice out their stories and lived to tell about it. Yes, 9/11 effected EVERYONE in various ways. There was a Marine who went to Ground Zero. You may have heard of him. Jason Thomas. In his story, Jason tells Ebony Magazine about his experience about putting on his uniform and going to the site and helping those who may have been trapped or assist those in need in the rubble. I dig up the story and I’m like: why didn’t Time Magazine didn’t research him? And for the record, Jason is black, not white as thought in the World Trade Center movie.

See, this is what I’m talking about. I know I may be tripping of not having blacks featured, but I am! James Causey had it right. Where are the blacks?  Don’t judge me, Milwaukee! I see you reading this. I’m not calling Time Magazine racist. But I think Time Magazine made a false call of NOT including Americans of color in the article of telling their story in the incident 10 years ago. So as an American of Color as I am: I want to see and HEAR my people talk about their experiences to be recorded. Not just missed off the pages. So despite of the unity of United We Stand, Time Magazine needs to check itself for real and not just missed the boat to get the ball rolling. So yeah, God Bless America.

Regards,

Stephen’s  Spot

Retro Blog: 9/11 Was No Joke

***Here’s a retro blog that I wrote about 9/11 in 2007 on Milwaukee’s Fox 6’s website and plus my MySpace blog. It’s what I’ve experienced. Ever though this day is a reminder of remembrance and service, but it also paints a reflection to never forget. This year, for a special edition in 2011 – this marks a decade after the worst “smackdown” in American History.***

 

Today is the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. And I’m sure we were doing something that day when the news broke the story. Well, for me I’ll lend in my story in an extensive format. The morning of September 11th, I was preparing to go to a job interview in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It was to a printing company, Quebecor World for a printing position. As I was preparing to leave, I turned on the television and it was a report from NYC. It was Fox 6. And it was one of the towers of the World Trade Center was hit. I thought at first it was an accident. I kept thinking it was a mishap in the flight pattern. Well, I continued on my way to the job interview and unfortunately, I didn’t get the job offer that would fit around my class schedules with MATC in Milwaukee. Back on the bus, there were more passengers in talking about the towers, and the planes and how horrific it was. When I got back home, after I bought lunch from Burger King, I watched more of the footage on NBC, and Fox News. And when I watched it, it was like hell on earth. Planes flying into the buildings in New York. The Pentagon, was hit, and another footage of the scene in Shankville, PA where United Flight 93 went down. Those on that plane knew what happened with other plane fought hard against those who wanted either the White House or the U.S. Capitol a target. And on the flip side, those in the middle eastern countries, were cheering like they won the world championship. Tossing candy around saying “God is Great.” Later on the day, my mother came back home with me and my sister, and there was a bible study activity in the works. I’m thinking why a bible study on a day like this? Well maybe it was to make mends of healing and comfort. So we went out and actually did it. This was at my sister’s church at the time, Solomon Community Temple United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. At the end of the activity, each of us took a piece of paper, wrote messages on it, and took a match and burned them outside of the church, which ended the bible study.

 

The day of September 11th will not be forgotten. And the week of September 13th, will not be forgotten. During the week of the footage, I happened to watch WWE Smackdown. It was live in Houston, Texas. For some reason, I started to watch it and made me think that during of all the tragedy, it took some of the pain away to progress forward. It was entertaining, yes but it was something to think that we must get the gears in motion again. Some would argue that shouldn’t be on TV at that time, but it did generated a start of public assembly which was the first since 9/11, and it directed a message that Vince McMahon said: “We will not live our lives in fear!” Those two hours were all about dedication, wrestling, and comfort. And after that, Baseball and Football started up again. Furthermore, my education continued despite the horrible events, and churches on September 16th were packed. Even my church was packed, and the service ended with America The Beautiful.

The questions I remember were:

• How can America be safe now?
• What’s going to happen when we go through public government buildings or airports?
• Where was God that day?
• Is there going to be a draft? – That got me the most. I was 24 years old then!

As the title says, 9/11 was no joke. It was in my opinion the biggest “smackdown” in American history. And it serves a reminder of us that although we have these freedoms and independence of opportunity, we need to prove ourselves even more than ever. Some of us remember when JFK, MLK, were assassinated. And December 7th 1941. But most of us will never ever forget this date etched in stone: September 11th, 2001.

The infamous Firefighters of NYC hoisting the American flag at Ground Zero, 2001

.Vince McMahon addressed the WWE fans in Houston, TX on Sept. 13th, 2001 on a special edition on Smackdown.Firefighters of NYC, 2001

11 September 2001 pic

Closeup of an American Flag