Eulogy for Amos E. Pierce, Jr.

This is the most profound, difficult, challenging, sacred, ethereal, painful and spiritual moment of my life. I had years to prepare but nothing prepares you for the loss of a father……… I loved him deeply but over the last 11 years the love grew as I heeded my mother’s death bed wish, “Wendell I’m dying. Hold my hand. Stay close to your brother, and take care of your Daddy.” Tee I did my best and now I deliver him back to you and God.

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that an individual or group (like the NAACP) are NOT allowed to sue states for violating the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. This ruling destroys almost 60 years of precedent in U.S. federal law. THERE IS BLOOD ON THAT BALLOT BOX. From the emancipation to the passage of this landmark bill 100 years later thousands of Americans were murdered, lynched, tortured, abused and violated by fellow Americans as they try to exercise their constitutional right just to vote. THERE IS BLOOD ON THAT BALLOT BOX.

This is not an isolated incident. This is the result of a culture of fascism that gives white nationalists and Nazis room to thrive. Political leaders who say “ there are good people on both sides”. Officials who downgrade the horrors of slavery with miseducation of Black history

https://twitter.com/cnn/status/1695572834779529230

We are expected to enter into a state of denial that these murders are NOT a part of the racist rhetoric spoken as policy in this country. It is not coincidence that Black judges, District Attorneys, and prosecutors are receiving death threats without any condemnation.

Warning Maui Fire Victims: As a victim of Katrina, we saw the criminality begin at this point of the disaster. 1) Insurance companies will abandon you after years of paying premiums. 2) If insurance companies do pay out they will collude with banks and pay off your loan, not you. 3) Commissions & Coalitions will be put together with government & corporations without your best interest at heart. Demand you are included in the process of rebuilding.
4) Beware of those attempting to steal and expropriate your property. 5) Beware of no bid contractors

Immigrants coming to NY, either on their own, or bused in as political pawns, should be openly welcomed. It’s less the 1.5% of the population. We have the resources. SL Green, the largest commercial property management has almost 8000 buildings with over 50% empty post COVID. Immigrant labor always represents about 20% of a robust economy. Any community that desires a strong economy welcomes immigration. Immigrant and migrant labor GROWS JOBS AND THE ECONOMY. The immigration lie is that they replace our jobs or take or resources.

We are at a dangerous moment in the American experiment. For centuries we were in denial of the lies we told ourselves. Liberty and justice for all, as we committed genocide of indigenous people, and enslaved another. America’s written promise of redemption to “form a more perfect union” would be the only salvation. The recognition that our constitutional system will amend to rectify injustices and anything that doesn’t support the ideal that “all men are created equal”.

There is Blood on the Fields. Centuries of slavery now being reduced to “personal benefits” for Black folks. Black women raped continuously. Black peopled tortured, branded, and murdered. Amputations. Mass graves of towns destroyed. Revisionist history that blasphemes genocide. There is Blood in the Fields were my family was robbed of their freedom and stripped of any dignity of life and humanity. Anyone that embraces the idea this was a grace for Black folks confirms a special place in hell for you. It confirms that the values of America are a lie.

Ice Cube has the right to ask what the Democrats have done for the Black community.
-Civil Right Act, Voting Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Obamacare, Economic Empowerment Zones, Community Development Legislation creating Community Banking to combats red lining Expanded access to the judiciary for Black jurist, Expansion and oversight of the EEOC to combat discriminatory employment practices and penalize/criminalize employers for violating equatable hiring

Remember during these next few days, the GOP economic philosophy of Reaganomics tripled the debt in the 80s, widened the income gap, defunded the central mental health system flooding the streets with homeless citizens in need creating a crisis decades old, including veterans The GOP economic plan to this day embraces that same policy of tax breaks for the wealthy and cutting government spending at the expense of resources working Americans pay their taxes for. They increase defense spending but cut benefits for veterans.

Remove emotion and politics. Intellectually everyone knows because of data, red flag laws, background checks, licensing add layers of defense that will not stop gun violence but will reduce it. The proliferation of guns logically increases gun violence. Anyone against layering defenses to prevent mass shootings has this knowledge but their agenda is more important. NRA is a marketing entity to sell guns. Right wing politicians ignore the data for power. Their opposition to gun laws isn’t principled. Their agenda is $ and power

For months I have wondered what the recall campaign in New Orleans was really about. It’s aim is to recall an ineffective Mayor. That I understand. I assumed after a recall, the politician most likely to benefit from the removal would be revealed. Then the real motive came out… The campaign went to court to “scrub” the voter roles of “inactive” voters. This is the oldest voter suppression strategy around. This has nothing to do with a bad mayor. The Louisiana GOP is financing a purge of voters in the largest city in the state, New Orleans. The Purge

The US economy grew 2.6% in Q3 beating expectations. Strong exports, consumer spending, and a healthy job market. All in spite of inflation. This inflation is created by 50%+ corporate profit. Greed. It helps put GOP back in Congress, who will reward them with tax cuts back to 0% Democrats need to be clear with this message. The strongest economy in 40yrs is battling the highest inflation in 40yrs. This economy is what we go to war with. Stop avoiding the debate. The GOP will reward corporate greed with 0% corp tax, by cutting Medicare/Medicaid.

Every American Policy we hold dear was created by Democrats and Republicans voted against it: Social Security in 1935, Medicare in 1965, ACA in 2009, American Rescue Plan and COVID relief 2020-2022. It saved the economy, raised wages, lowered unemployment and created jobs The Culture War is the Republican plan to distract from the fact they have no agenda and supported an insurrection to overthrow the government. Not Patriots-Traitors.

Watching American politics living abroad is interesting. The power of messaging. 12 straight months of 500k jobs, 3.6% unemployment, wages up 5%, $1.5T infrastructure spending even Republicans are hawking as their creation. A strong place to fight a painful pandemic inflation. But the messaging is the policies that saved a crashing economy through the pandemic & created this robust economy is the cause of the inflation. The investment in infrastructure is deficit speleothems no ROI. The trillions spent in a public health crisis didn’t get us through.

Speaking to a young actor last night, I realized how important it is to be a student of your craft. The history of the art form. He only wants to do film. But he knew very little of its history, icons, or landmark films. I realized that he has only experienced the 21st century. He hadn’t seen The Godfather, In The Heat Of The Night, Citizen Cane, or Midnight Cowboy. He reminded me of a young crew member who asked me who Jimmy Stewart was. I know there are millions of young people who are aware of this history but we shouldn’t take it for granted.

In Budapest, I’m only 200 miles from Ukraine. America is so vast, we forget how much smaller Europe is. Because of the close proximity, the fear of the spread of war is tangible. Lviv Ukraine from Budapest is the distance between New Orleans and Atlanta.NATO is the deterrent During the coarse of the day, I discussed evacuation plans for a colleague’s family in Kyiv. Money, foods, housing have all become issues of concern. While they are concentrating on getting out, they don’t know if they are successful if they will get back. Personal life crisis

Today the Senate votes on Dr. Lisa Cook. Dr. Cook’s distinguished career in macroeconomics & years of public service make her an outstanding nominee to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. Her exceptional background includes years of macroeconomic policy Her exceptional background includes experience in academia, the private and public sectors, including experiences with the Federal Reserve system.
She was the first Marshall Scholar from Spelman College, where she was also named a Harry S. Truman Scholar.

Last night in Budapest, I got to see THE GODFATHER for the first time on a big screen. Revelatory! I thought I had seen this movie hundreds of times, but last night was the first. The sweeping scope of the story and filmmaking transports the viewer into another world. Th acting was sublime. As actors we attempt to create the world so strong in our minds, bodies, and spirit that it induces the behavior. We are students of human behavior, like psychologists, and work towards an understanding of character that does the work for us. A masterclass!

“There Is Blood On That Ballot Box”…..I first heard that phrase from a preacher in a pulpit as we prepared to get out the vote in 2012. It was a reminder that the work we were doing wasn’t a civics exercise but the fulfillment of those who had given their lives for this moment “There Is Blood On That Ballot Box” is a reminder that people died fighting for the values of America on Bunker Hill and Birmingham, on Normandy Beach and in Navajo Nation, in the hope that our humanity would strive for a more perfect Union giving every American the right to vote

President Biden is exactly the President I voted for and has provided strong successful leadership. The Covid response has been expert and robust. Providing the country everything it needs to fight. We as Americans have chosen not to vaccinate,extending this pandemic through 2022 The economic recovery from the pandemic shutdown has been strong. Policies in the Biden recovery plan provided capital to business to survive ( my business did because of it). Now we face inflation, a supply chain slowdown, and a workforce deserving more leaving lesser jobs.

Biden’s Blunder: Naming @MitchLandrieu to oversee the $1.2T Infrastructure Bill. If his record in New Orleans is any indication, the construction is doomed for delay & stagnation. In New Orleans, post Katrina, half the city saw no economic development while millions went unspent. For 15 years the Lower 9th Ward has received no development though millions were allocated, and @MitchLandrieu cancelled all development proposals, using the need & demand to collect FEMA funds unspent to this day. The Sewage & Water Board is another example of inertia in NOLA.