ALBERTO JONES: "Another Brother Gone Astray" - Kendrick Meeks

[magbana]

Dr. Alberto Jones is a member of the West Indian Welfare Society in the city of Guantanamo, Cuba who now resides in northern Florida. He is an activist with strong communal ties to his homeland, Cuba, and is the director of the Caribbean American Children's Foundation as well as a director of the Cuban American Alliance Education Fund, Inc. He writes regularly on issues concerning Cuba.

Another Brother gone Astray
Posted by: "[e-mail]" [e-mail]
Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:19 am (PDT)


Another Brother gone Astray

Alberto Nelson Jones

April 10, 2009

Although I live in Florida, I am fortunate to do so 300 miles away
from the rotten, corrupt political environment that pervade every bit
of life in Miami, this unique American micro cosmos.

Many years ago, at the height of the “special Period” in Cuba, when
food, medicine, transportation, electricity and all other basic means
of survival was no where to be found and the life and wellbeing of an
entire nation was at stake, tens of people of the most diverse,
ethnic, social or political organizations, walked the halls of the US
Congress and Senate, searching for and pleading with every politician
or their staff, to pay attention to the human tragedy that was
unfolding in Cuba.

Some listened politely, a few responded with compassion, most others
expressed indifference or outright support for the divine punishment
that had befallen the Cuban people, for straying away from their
religious past or for embracing a foreign ideology.

As our sub-group of 4-5 individuals left a Congressman’s office, I
noticed Congresswoman Carrie Meeks in front of her office, engaged in
a lively conversation/farewell with a group of youngsters, apparently
on school break. I approached the group, she looked at me and said
nothing. I waited until she bid good bye to the group.

After my salutation, I identified myself as an Afro-Cuban hoping to
share with her the enormous pain and suffering the Cub an people in
general and Afro-Cuban in particular were enduring as a direct result
of the US embargo and the collapse of the Soviet Union and other
eastern block countries with whom Cuba held the bulk of its
commercial/financial exchange. I also gave her a copy of my handout
“A Cuba in Diaz-Balart’s Image or that of Today’s Miami“, which she
promised to read and get back with me. She never did!

Years later, her son Kendrick Meeks was elected to Congress in the
same district in which his mother was elected, which happens to be
where my father lives . Hoping to congratulate him, I tried and
failed to meet him twice at his Miami office . Months later, I heard
a disturbing set of his political pronouncements and alignment with
the ultra-right-wing, rabid Republican Cuban-Americans groups in
south Florida, which led me to write to him, hoping to provide him
with some historical background of the tragic experience of being
Black in Cuba and living under the Diaz-Balart family dynasty in
Banes, where they were the slave drivers for the United Fruit
Company.

Months after, as I drove in front of his offices on 183rd St. in
north Miami on my way to my father’s home, I decided to stop and
inquire about my letter. No one in his office acknowledged knowing
anything about it, presumably because it was sent to his Washington
office. I asked his aide, if it would be OK if I would send her a
copy of the previous letter, which I hand delivered week s later
and…..still no reply to this day.

Years ago, US Congresswoman and Presidential candidate Shirley
Chisholm decided to relocate to Palm Coast, Florida. We met, greeted
and I attempted to share with her, this burning concern, but she
respectfully suggested I brought this issue to another person, since
she was an ordinary citizen, retired from politics.

Then we learned, Ms. Chisholm was ill, convalescing and unfortunately
later died. A fitting and moving funeral with military honors took
place at the AME Church. At the end of this sad event, as we left ,
friends and acquaintances met and greeted in front of the church and
in the parking lot. I spotted a few members of the Congressional
Black Caucus whom I had visited in their offices in DC, I went over
to say hello and welcome them to Palm Coast.

Suddenly out of no where, US Congressman Kendrick Meeks walked-up to
the group, hugged most present and gave me a wide and friendly smile,
as he innocently asked, can you help me remember if we met before? I
said not personally, but I have written to you twice without an
answer.

He asked me for my business card and promised he would personally
look into that matter, until today.

Since, I have followed closely and listened intently to his
statements. Regretfully, I must admit, that for reasons unbeknown to
me, US Congressman Kendrick Meeks and especially now with his bid for
a Senate seat, is fully in the fold and under absolute control of the
ultra-right-wing Cuban-American mafia in south Florida, the same
group of people with blood still dripping from their hands, for
untold crimes committed in Cuba especially against people of African
descent, who they despised and continue to despise to this day.

Their track record with the Afro-American community and with the
recent emigrant community from Central American in south Florida,
speaks volumes of their racist, despicable behavior towards those
deemed inferior.

It would have been great to have another member of the US
Congressional Black Caucus, who was aware of and supportive of the
struggle, suffering, hopes and expectation of millions of sons and
daughters in and outside of Africa. Tragically, as it has happened
before, there is always one of “ours” willing to side with our
victimizers , eager to earn their trust, by using their melanin
content to divide and weaken our spirits.

The cause of black people will continue to suffer because of his
actions and that of others like him, but we will prevail in the end.
Too many dignified, heroic blacks in our turbulent history have known
and have been consequent with their socio-historical responsibility
and have been willing to suffer, put their lives on the line and pay
the ultimate price.

Lumumba was cruelly hanged by his tormentors. No one knows or care
who these monsters were, but his place in history is un-erasable.

Holden Roberto, Savimbe, Buthuleeze sided with the Afrikaners and=2
0their Apartheid system, but no one in the world today remember their
heinous action or whatever have happened to them. Nelson Mandela
heroic struggle for freedom, has been etched in granite forever.

Few people if any, remembers the name of Andres Teran, Felix
Rodriguez or any of the others Lilliputians charged with murdering
Che Guevara in Bolivia. Che is known, revered around the world and
has become of symbol of resistance to all.

What would Mariana Grajales, the heroic mother of the Cuban nation
think about US Congressman Kendrick Meeks behavior, who could well
have been her great grandson, allied with the worst of Cuba and
recklessly tarnishing the memory of her entire family, who were
willing to pay the ultimate price in defense of Cuba’s Dignity,
Independence and Sovereignty?

[Judi Lynn]

1. What a shame Meeks has chosen to accept the patronage of the killer right-winger Cubans.

He always has seemed so damned nice, too. Maybe it's as simple as deep fear they will bomb him if he doesn't bow to their dominance in South Florida.

If he can't do his job the right way, instead of the right-wing way, he should go back to being a cop, and leave his seat open to someone who will stand up to the bullies in South Florida.

How dare he ignore Professor Jones, after all. My god. He's going to regret it one day, when he has to face his conscience.