Union Busting

This is not the post I had intended to blog about my intentions were to post only Black History events and things of that nature during Black History Month, but the shit has hit the fan here in Wisconsin. I will make this quick being that I'm suppose to be sitting in my classroom even though there are no students in attendance. The Governor of this state has issue a Budget Repair Bill and this shit includes busting up unions including the Teacher's Union (I'm a current member). The man has casted a personal attack on all workers in this state he is trying to eliminate the rights of public workers.

The photo above is what the Capitol Rotunda has looked like for the past three days. Schools have been closed due to the fact that teachers including myself called in sick yesterday and some today. I was sick yesterday I had Futuritis ( I could not commit to the bullshit the Governors Budget Repair Kit offered) so I called in sick and hit the protest lines out front of the Capitol.

Primarily his plans would bust up unions, cost all of us more for health care and we would have to contribute more to our pensions. This will not work for many of us being that we are at our personal budget limits already, hell I don't make any money as it is and if it weren't for some of the benefits I would rather pan handle because it has got to be more profitable than my teaching income minus the rewards of teaching. I need to have collective bargaining and the students need to have the best teachers available, but he doesn't seem to recognize the importance. The man has threatened to call in the National Guards if State, County and Municipal decided to strike. I've got my picket sign and I'm ready to go!

Denied the Privilege

I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future, this being Black History Month many of us tend to forget or have placed the memory of the struggles our families had to endure to get us to where we are today; talk about blood, sweat and tears. We've come along way and have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for today, tomorrow and always.

During the month of February take sometime to read; do you know that there was a time when we were not allowed to read? Yes there was time when this type of activity could have cost our people their lives. Take sometime and checkout some of the older works and most certainly check out some of our newer writers/authors. Be it fiction, non fiction, bios, history or just a periodical find something to read and enjoy. I've taken the liberty to list a few of my favorites from the past and at present.

Fiction:They Tell Me of a Home (Daniel Black)
The Longest Moan (L.M. Ross)
Non Fiction: Ailey Spirit(Robert Tracy)
Civil Rights: Roaming in the Master's House: Power and Privilege in the Rise of Black Conservatism
Bio: Foxy (Pam Grier)
There is a host of arts, entertainment and various other great things to read about Black History so indulge.