By Joe C. Hopkins

In the past few weeks there has been a lot going on, locally and nationally, that it is difficult to keep up, but we must always remember that we should not get sidetracked from what I believe is the essential goal of economic justice for Black Americans. All other goals are secondary because economic justice provides the resources to do the rest. When you have economic justice you can provide education, health care and influence the culture that uplifts your people rather than what degrades groups of people like gangster rappers. Having said that here is my take on recent events, or as one of my friends teasingly characterizes it "The word according to Joe."

After a rocky road, the Pasadena Unified School Board did the right thing and approved the plans to open a Charter School in Northwest Pasadena, so the NIA Educational Charter School is off and running. Hats off to Prentice Deadrick who stood up to fellow board members in favor of the NIA project. Prentice vouched for the project based on his knowledge of the great work of a great lady, whom we all call "Naima." Naima Olugbala Knox has run, for the past thirty years, Omowale School. Her resolve and dedication to the education of children in Pasadena convinces us and Deadrick to lead so the others could follow. We can only say thank you to a board who has not given the Black community much to cheer about lately. As for Naima, we say, "You Go Girl." We are with you.

For as long as I can remember there has been way too many liquor stores in Black communities, everywhere, and Pasadena is no exception. Councilman Victor Gordo has taken the battle beyond the talking stage and begun a battle to close down some of the liquor stores in his district. He has zeroed in on the trashy stores on Orange Grove, just east of Fair Oaks. These two stores should have been shut down a long time ago. They are all within a few blocks of other liquor stores, including one at Los Robles and Orange Grove. How much liquor do we need? These stores are magnets for concentrated vice and filth. Why is it Ok for Black and Brown neighborhoods but non existent in white neighborhoods? Let’s join with Victor Gordo as he tries to do something positive in our neighborhood.

Let’s not Forget the need to name a school for Elbie Hickambottom who gave much to this community. Let’s not let his memory die. Call your School Board Members and tell them you support the idea.

An article in the Sunday Los Angeles Times (1/18/04) highlights the fact that Property values in Altadena are still on the rise. It also highlights that people are selling houses like crazy. The article in the Real Estate Section of the paper said that 58 homes were sold in December, 2003, at an average sales price of $438,000. This was more homes than were sold in any other area in Los Angeles County in December. I can only say again, look before you leap. Where will you move when you sell your home? Prices are up all over the County and Altadena is becoming a very attractive area, destined to become known as an "upscale" neighborhood.

My son the entertainer, known as Brother Yusef, aka The Fatt-Back Blues Man was the opening act for The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, at The House of Blues at Downtown Disneyland last Sunday, January 18. The crowd loved his one hour performance, filled with crowd pleasing, house rocking tunes including "Hoochie Koochie Man", "Little Red Rooster" and many other old line blues favorites as well as a number of his own originals. He can be found on his website at Brother Yusef.com, where purchases of his CD’s can be made. Or you may stop by his office at Hopkins T- shirts in Hopkins Village, 1541 N. Lake Ave, Suite C, Pasadena, CA. which he has owned and operated since 1986. You may stop by to order some T shirts for that special event as well as pick up a few CD’s.

A man came into my office a few weeks ago to purchase my book, "I Will Not Apologize." He was on his way to take his sons on a little trip. As we started to talk he mentioned how rap music had begun to effect his sons and he had responded by canceling his cable television, eventhough it meant canceling his sports channels, to try and avoid having his boys being exposed to the negative influence of rap. I was impressed. How many parents would give up their access to Basketball and other positive television for the good of their family’s future? What will you give up?

Councilman Steve Madison recently expressed concern that too much money is being spent on Jackie Robinson Park in Northwest Pasadena. Madison lives in and represents an affluent area of town and wants more city money spent for the more affluent parts of town. Whatever happened to a "needs based assessment" of city funds? What else does he want to stop? Maybe he will join with Councilman Gordo and move some of the liquor stores from Northwest Pasadena to other parts of town, or move more job producing businesses into Northwest Pasadena? How about moving more affordable housing from Northwest Pasadena into other parts of town? I believe in equality and equitable distribution of resources, so what is the real deal? How about more schools in Northwest Pasadena, or more banks in Northwest Pasadena? Let’s not just take the park money. Develop a plan that distributes all economic opportunities, all over town.

I will admit to being amazed at the spectacle of the thousands of people, including Blacks, who traveled to Santa Maria to watch the Arraignment of Michael Jackson. I can’t get over the fact that he is a man who has apparently spent millions and taken so much effort to stop being Black. I love being Black and don’t have a lot of time to spend on Blacks who don’t want to be Black. I guess his mommy didn’t teach him the old saying, "You can run, but you can’t hide (from being Black)." If you think you can hide, just keep on living . Or the one that says. "The Blacker the Berry, the sweeter the Juice" Michael has a line in a song that talks about being neither Black or White. I guess he thinks that describes him. There is an African American poem that describes the dilemma of being neither Black or White. It goes like this:"My old man was a white old man, my old ma was Black. If ever I cursed my white old man, I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my Black ol ma and wished she were in hell, I’m sorry for that evil wish and now I wish her well. My old man he died in a big white house, my ma she died in a shack. I wonder where I will die, being neither White nor Black." (Author unk.)

The important question about Michael remains. What if he is a child molester/pedophile? Is his trial that important an issue for the economic or social justice of Black America? ...Or of you and your family? Think about it!

When will it stop? Young Black men killing each other has changed the meaning of (white) KKK, i.e., (white) Ku Klux Klan to (Black) KKK - (Black) Kids Killing Kids. Recently another young man was shot to death at the corner of Lincoln and Woodbury, leaving a wife and two kids. Why? In Baltimore, MD, there is the story of a mother who asked gang members to not sell drugs on the corner where she lives. She would not let any of her children go out to play. The gang members took offense and threw Molotov cocktails (fire and gasoline in a bottle ) into her house and killed her, her husband, and their five children.

Parents the clock of history says "It’s 2004." Where are your kids right now, and who are their friends and associates? Isn’t it time for a change in their friends, their music, their lives. Money won’t do it? There needs to be a change in attitude as well.

My book "I will not Apologize," and a new one called "Strategies To Give Your Children A Jump Start To Their Dreams " has some suggestions. You can also find solutions at your local church. Remember, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he[she] is old he [she] will not depart from it?" By the way, don’t ask your child if he/she wants to go to church, demand it, and go with him/her.

My books are availabe at my office, 1541 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA.