Comments on: Coming of Age in the Ghetto http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:18:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Paulie227 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-34461 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:33:18 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-34461 I've told people over and over and over. If you stand up, look people in the eye, and let them know who you are and how *you* expect to be treated, not how *they* are going to treat you, the bullies and cowards will walk away and the others will always respect you. Your dad illustrated what I have been saying since I was a little kid. Once, when looking down on the ground as a white teacher was reprimanding me for something I did not do, I remembered what my grandmother had always told me. White people expect you to look down. But looking down implies you are lying or deceitful ,that you have something to hide. By doing so you "prove" to them what they believe about you anyway - that you are a liar and a cheat - always look them in the eye. As I remembered this, I lifted my eyes and jerked my chin so high she took a step back. I looked her straight in the eye and addressed her directly and let her know, even at the age of five, how *I* expected to be treated. Once when looking my grandmother directly in the eye (which you know is a no-no in black families), I got reprimanded for being disrespectful. I reminded her what she had taught me those years ago and she was taken aback. Although with my grandma you better be careful or accused of "sassin'" or "talkin' back"! And boy were you in trouble for sure then. Great story. I’ve told people over and over and over. If you stand up, look people in the eye, and let them know who you are and how *you* expect to be treated, not how *they* are going to treat you, the bullies and cowards will walk away and the others will always respect you. Your dad illustrated what I have been saying since I was a little kid. Once, when looking down on the ground as a white teacher was reprimanding me for something I did not do, I remembered what my grandmother had always told me. White people expect you to look down. But looking down implies you are lying or deceitful ,that you have something to hide. By doing so you “prove” to them what they believe about you anyway - that you are a liar and a cheat - always look them in the eye. As I remembered this, I lifted my eyes and jerked my chin so high she took a step back. I looked her straight in the eye and addressed her directly and let her know, even at the age of five, how *I* expected to be treated. Once when looking my grandmother directly in the eye (which you know is a no-no in black families), I got reprimanded for being disrespectful. I reminded her what she had taught me those years ago and she was taken aback. Although with my grandma you better be careful or accused of “sassin’” or “talkin’ back”! And boy were you in trouble for sure then. Great story.

]]> by: Margrily Garcia http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-33353 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:35:12 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-33353 This was an inspirational story Mr. Mansfield and I'm glad you shared it with us. Thank you. Sometimes we take for granted the certain small liberties that we enjoy today at the expense of many sacrifices that were made in the past inspite of many conflicts and fears. Thanks again for sharing such treasure and legend of your manhood experience with your father's lesson and bravery. This was an inspirational story Mr. Mansfield and I’m glad you shared it with us. Thank you. Sometimes we take for granted the certain small liberties that we enjoy today at the expense of many sacrifices that were made in the past inspite of many conflicts and fears. Thanks again for sharing such treasure and legend of your manhood experience with your father’s lesson and bravery.

]]> by: badge216 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-3629 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 22:32:41 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-3629 Mansfield,if I maybe so bold.There a times in a persons life that are lessons to be learned,lessons to be taught.The lesson the you father gave you is on of inmense inportance. My father had some of the same lessons for me they were not as outstanding as this But in the 60's whe several great men's lives were cut short by coward's gun.I'm refering to the late Martin Luther King jr.death and that of Robert F.Kennendy. When my youngest sister and I need medications for our illness in the late 50's the place where he was enployed by both Black and White men the whites did not want to help my father his black co workers were willing to help him,with his sick children.We are white and that lesson the he taught me was this judge a person by what's in the heart not the color of a persons skin.God bless for these lessons of our late fathers.My Dad died at the young age of 58 in 1984,I was a corrections office at the time at the justice center downtown Cleveland.I was treated badly by both the white and black supervisors,they told me I had nothing comming,not evena sorry for your loss.At the time the gentlemen that were back in cleveland for the Danny Green murder.Thet were housed on the thenth floor and that the floor I worked.They Told me one thing "sorry for you loss"I told them thank you for that,this was the first day back to work for me.One of my white coworkers had called me one the phone and said a ditry dozen to me,that was the straw that broke the camels back.I was told that I started to slam my fist into a steel door,one of my coworkers tried to stop me by grabbing my arms,he might have succeded if he had timed his grab better as it was I sent him flying backword.He then activated this (pertable alarm transmitter)P.A.T. trhe superviors came running and one supervisor secured the pat,and told the rest of the supervisors to return to their floors.He asked me why I did what I did,I could barly tell him for all the tears that were flowing.He sent me home.This was on a Saturday,we he was scheduled off for the next two days,and the supervisor that senied me the time off would be back on duty that Sunday.I was afraid the he would bring me up on disaplianary charges so I came to work.By monday I had a doctor's appointment and I was a walking basket case.When I returned to work the next day on medication to help with the severe depression that I was suffering from the Warden whom had seen me that day I was leaving decided that I need some paid time off,so he approved an emergency vacation for me and I was off for two weeks. When I returned a C.O. was collecting for someone whom had a death in the family.I told him to go away that I was in no mood for someone taking up a collection for some one,He told me just wait and see what is done to you when you have a death in your family.That's when I told him what was done not even three weeks eairlier.And he just acted like I did not asy anything to him at all.This was in Aug.1984,I stayed down there untill 1995 when I ended up taking a disability retirement. Mansfield,if I maybe so bold.There a times in a persons life that are lessons to be learned,lessons to be taught.The lesson the you father gave you is on of inmense inportance. My father had some of the same lessons for me they were not as outstanding as this But in the 60’s whe several great men’s lives were cut short by coward’s gun.I’m refering to the late Martin Luther King jr.death and that of Robert F.Kennendy.
When my youngest sister and I need medications for our illness in the late 50’s the place where he was enployed by both Black and White men the whites did not want to help my father his black co workers were willing to help him,with his sick children.We are white and that lesson the he taught me was this judge a person by what’s in the heart not the color of a persons skin.God bless for these lessons of our late fathers.My Dad died at the young age of 58 in 1984,I was a corrections office at the time at the justice center downtown Cleveland.I was treated badly by both the white and black supervisors,they told me I had nothing comming,not evena sorry for your loss.At the time the gentlemen that were back in cleveland for the Danny Green murder.Thet were housed on the thenth floor and that the floor I worked.They Told me one thing “sorry for you loss”I told them thank you for that,this was the first day back to work for me.One of my white coworkers had called me one the phone and said a ditry dozen to me,that was the straw that broke the camels back.I was told that I started to slam my fist into a steel door,one of my coworkers tried to stop me by grabbing my arms,he might have succeded if he had timed his grab better as it was I sent him flying backword.He then activated this (pertable alarm transmitter)P.A.T. trhe superviors came running and one supervisor secured the pat,and told the rest of the supervisors to return to their floors.He asked me why I did what I did,I could barly tell him for all the tears that were flowing.He sent me home.This was on a Saturday,we he was scheduled off for the next two days,and the supervisor that senied me the time off would be back on duty that Sunday.I was afraid the he would bring me up on disaplianary charges so I came to work.By monday I had a doctor’s appointment and I was a walking basket case.When I returned to work the next day on medication to help with the severe depression that I was suffering from the Warden whom had seen me that day I was leaving decided that I need some paid time off,so he approved an emergency vacation for me and I was off for two weeks.
When I returned a C.O. was collecting for someone whom had a death in the family.I told him to go away that I was in no mood for someone taking up a collection for some one,He told me just wait and see what is done to you when you have a death in your family.That’s when I told him what was done not even three weeks eairlier.And he just acted like I did not asy anything to him at all.This was in Aug.1984,I stayed down there untill 1995 when I ended up taking a disability retirement.

]]> by: newaha http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-1206 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 02:26:34 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-1206 Thank You Mr. Frazier. I had a mother that was strong like your father. She had to be , coming from the south with no formal education or skills other than being a domestic. She did this all her life and made no money but she taught me how survive and thrive in this world that doesn't always want me to. Thank You Mr. Frazier. I had a mother that was strong like your father. She had to be , coming from the south with no formal education or skills other than being a domestic. She did this all her life and made no money but she taught me how survive and thrive in this world that doesn’t always want me to.

]]> by: Darvin http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-383 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:26:52 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-383 This is a really great story. It's a shame that so many of our young African American men and women have forgotten what we had to endure as a race to even be permitted the most basic of human freedom in America. Thank you for writing this, brother. This is a really great story. It’s a shame that so many of our young African American men and women have forgotten what we had to endure as a race to even be permitted the most basic of human freedom in America.

Thank you for writing this, brother.

]]> by: katherine volk http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-197 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:02:46 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/26/coming-of-age-in-the-ghetto/#comment-197 I was inspired, tears came with the recognition of the victory over repression. My experience was different, as a white female, watching my mother protect us in a very similar situtation. It was after I read your story, that the realization came, that, was my coming of of age, and what it means to be a woman. Thanks, Kat I was inspired, tears came with the recognition of the victory over repression.
My experience was different, as a white female, watching my mother protect us in a very similar situtation. It was after I read your story, that the realization came, that, was my coming of of age, and what it means to be a woman.
Thanks,
Kat

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