Although at that moment, I felt a sense of contentment and solidarity towards the family of George Floyd, something deeper lingered in my mind and hung above my head; the deep-rooted systemic racism embedded in American society and how on earth I would unearth that conversation with my son someday. 

Four months ago, I birthed a son, and while his birth was a life changing experience for me, it was also bittersweet. My son can barely talk now, and he doesn’t know the consequences of his skin color. Still, I am acutely aware that someday, somewhere, as long as there is life in me, I will have to have the difficult conversations with him about the ramifications of wearing a hoodie at night in a suburban neighborhood as a Black man or driving a car that attracts the attention of the police and to say that I fear for that day is an understatement. On the other hand, to pretend that these dangers do not exist in the world would rob him of the right to know of this evil condition in the world called racism.

As a Black mother, I am acutely aware that society demands me to be strong all the time, to take things in stride, and always walk a fine line between remaining composed in the face of racial terrorism and living in an America that has been so wicked to Black lives. If George Floyd’s mother was still alive today, I could not begin to fathom the blinding pain that would shoot through her heart upon having to endure the unjust killing of her son, a son she nurtured and loved a son with whom she was so close. As a mother, I get it.

As I type this, the picture of Emmett Till’s mother crying over his casket plagues my mind and is another bitter reminder of the dangerous poison that is racism. My heart also breaks for the mothers of the Alton Sterlings, Daunte Wrights, Trayvon Martins, and thousands of other Black men and people who have lost their lives in the crossfires of systemic racism and police brutality. No mother should have to explain to their son why thousands of boys that look like him are shot at and killed, year in, year out. Yet, Black mothers across the US consistently bear the brunt of this painful reality. 

I am certain that the hashtag #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd will live on in Cyberspace. When the day comes for me to explain to my son the injustices that have been leveled against Black men for years, I will broach the topic with honesty, grit, and fortitude. Although I wish that I could protect him from the perils of this world, the truth is that I cannot, and that is why Black mothers like me need to recognize that we are faced with a precarious situation: raising Black boys who will thrive in a society that has all of the odds stacked against them. Some day, when my son is older and wiser, I will tell him about George Floyd and his trial, not to scare him or harden his heart, but to make him acutely aware of what it means to be a Black man in America because ignorance is deadly. Being a mother to a Black man in America carries a special type of terror. As I write this article, I am mulling over the many different ways that I will talk to my son about his roots, heritage, and future. For the umpteenth time, I have decided that I will use my words to buttress him against the hate that exists in the world for people that look like him, and above all, I will encourage him to remain his authentic, true Black self.

The post I have a Black son: Here is how I will explain the George Floyd verdict to him someday appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

There are 46 people living at The Sarah Powell Huntington House, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a residence for formerly incarcerated women and their children. Some are lifelong drug addicts, some were imprisoned for other crimes. Many have been separated from their children.

The House is owned by the Women’s Prison Association who opened its doors yesterday to over 100 volunteers for “Rebuilding Together” an event held to improve the facility. Volunteers spent the day repainting walls, windows, and staircases and doing repairs in the units.

Irene Bonilla resides in apartment 5D. She moved in after leaving prison and a period of homelessness.

“By 17 [years old] I was addicted to crack,” she said. “By 24 I had four children. Incarcerated in 1996, incarcerated in 2005. I’ve got 10 children including this one,” said Bonilla, gesturing to her young son.

Bonilla’s had a hard week, her sister died two days prior. Despite the grief, Bonilla insisted that she’s going to be okay. She’s worked hard to be sober for 24 months.

“I didn’t go nowhere yesterday,” said Bonilla. “Even though I felt the urge, I stayed home, here.”

Diana McHugh, the director of communications of the WPA said she’s been with the group for over five years, and was one of the organizers of “Rebuilding Together.”

Prior to working for the WPA, McHugh taught a class for women at a correctional facility. In preparing for class one day, she opened the window blinds in the room to let some light in. Less than a minute later, a prison guard came in and shut the blinds, letting her know that it was forbidden to have them open.

“There’s no humanity in prison,” she said. “They’re being denied sunshine.”

That moment in the prison has stuck with McHugh for years and was part of the reason she sought out work at the WPA first as a volunteer and now a full-time employee. For her, Saturday was about letting the women know that they have people on their side. The WPA and all of the volunteers who came to paint the walls and staircases, make repairs and improvements, are there rooting for them.

“We provide a physical space. Someplace safer, more comfortable,” said McHugh. “The most inspiring part of today is to have so many volunteers share their time and let these women know that they matter.”

Statistics show that women in prison receive less visitors from family and friends than male prisoners. As much as 79% of incarcerated women were abused at some point in their lives. More than half of women in prison were the primary caretakers of their children prior to their jail sentences.

Bonilla was happy the volunteers are making her home more cheerful.

“When the walls are dull, it makes you feel depressed,” she said. “I go to my drug program, then come home here. Every day, same routine. The wall outside my apartment is green. That makes me really happy. Green is the color of money. Of life.”

Bonilla has been reunited with one of her 10 children, 6-year-old CJ. The WPA has helped her get her life back after prison. Bonilla compared her life in prison to her life now, grateful for what she has overcome.

“Not having to stand up and be counted,” said Bonilla.. “Not having to share a shower with five other women. Waiting for everything, in line to eat, waiting to go to the bathroom.”

The WPA helps women reunite with their children, find employment, and reestablish themselves after leaving the criminal justice system.

Tiffany Hallett manages the building. She has been at the residence for five years and helped oversee “Rebuilding Together.”

“People that are on the outside, that haven’t been in correctional facilities,think that these people are different. And they’re not. They’re no different,” said Hallett.” “It’s their choices that set them apart. And people may say, ‘Oh, why do they have to drugs because something happened?’ But they may not have had the same circumstances, or made the same choices.”

Bonilla recently received the good news that the New York City Housing Authority has approved her for permanent housing.

“No Regrets,” she said. “Twenty –eight years of crack and I’m proud of me now. I’m happy. Fridays are my best days. I go to parenting [program], come home, pick up CJ and got to my mom’s [house].”

The post A second chance for formerly incarcerated women appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

The new hot seller on the Internet marketplace is breast milk.

Advertisements regularly pop up on Craigslist and the website OnlytheBreast.com where anonymous moms sell their milk to the highest bidder, often proving the quality of their milk by describing their eating and exercise habits. Some even post photos of their babies as proof.

“Hi! I am a first-time mom to a handsome and healthy 4-month old boy,” wrote one Jackson Heights, Queens mom on recent Craigslist posting “I am drug-free, a non-smoker and still taking my prenatal vitamins. I eat a well-balanced diet and regularly go to the gym to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I am willing to sell my liquid gold to anyone.”

The mom is selling her breast milk for “$2 per ounce. Cash only.” and it’s a convenient way for overproducing moms to make money. But, it’s can be dangerous for the buyer according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which publicized warnings on its website against purchasing milk online.

“When human milk is obtained directly from individuals or through the internet, the donor is unlikely to have been adequately screened for infection disease of contamination risk,” the FDA writes.

If you’re going to buy milk, purchase it from a milk bank the FDA states, which New Yorkers will soon be able to due with the state’s first milk bank slated to open on Mother’s Day.

The New York Milk Bank is accredited by the Human Milk Bank of North America and is licensed by the New York State Department of Health. There are 21 milk banks in the United States and their function namely is to supply hospitals with breast milk for premature infants. But, mothers can buy milk directly from the milk bank with a prescription from their doctor.

“Mothers who give birth prematurely tend not to have enough milk so this can be a good option for them,” said Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, nurse practitioner and executive director for New York Milk Bank.

But, not all people seeking breast milk have just given birth. Others include parents of adopted children and cancer patients, as the milk has thought to have a necrotizing effect.

The breast milk that fuels the New York Milk Bank is donated by local mothers and the bank has established nine milk depot locations, or drop off sites, where screened mothers can bring their milk. The depots are operated by individuals in the industry, like physicians’ offices and a breastfeeding supply store, who then store the milk in a freezer before shipping it to the milk bank in Ardsley-on-Hudson. But, before mothers can donate their milk they’re first screened. Donating moms also need a letter from their physician and their baby’s doctor. Once approved, the donating moms are tested and prenatal records are examined to ensure the milk is safe.

“Then we accept her as a donor and we ask for a minimum of 150 ounces, but many women do much more than that,” said Bouchet-Horwitz.

The price for breast milk from the New York Milk Bank can be triple the price per ounce of what is offered online, but with the hefty price tag comes peace of mind said Bouchet-Horwitz.

“We know our milk is safe and that’s why we charge $4.50 an ounce,” said Bouchet-Horwitz, noting that the price covers testing the donors, staff, and equipment needs.

The milk bank’s success is dependent upon new mothers, like Katie McDermott, who are willing to donate their excess breast milk to help another family out.

“If you are unable to [breastfeed] and if somebody was able to give that gift, I think it’s just wonderful to know that another mummy out there is thinking ‘I want to keep your baby as safe as my baby,” said McDermott.

Dr. Perri Klass on the importance of breast feeding

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