THE ALLCOLOR EQUITY REPORT III*

by Carol Taylor R.N.

The 6th Annual Gordon Rapier (Tuskeegee Airman) Conference
Mental & Physical Health in America:
The Insidious Effects of Racism (White Supremacy)

Monday April 9, 2007
Under the Auspices of The Chesapeake Health Education Program
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Medical Center
10 North Greene Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Frank Katz, Ed.D. LCSW/C, Substance Abuse Program

Faculty: Murray Raskid, M.D., Lee Jones, Peter Buxton, James Jones, Dr. Robin Hindsman, Carol Taylor, Panel of Veterans: Fred Ballard U.S.A. Marine Corps; Eddie Boyd U.S.A. Navy; Larry Johnson U.S.A. Army; Jerel Shaw U.S.A. Marine Corps

Conference Opening Statement: "The effects of white supremacy practices continue to appear hourly in print and electronic media. Additionally, crosses burned on lawns, swastikas painted on synagogues, preferential hiring and firing patterns and institutional racism in all of our major government and private offices continue as both subtle and obvious happenings."

This Conference, I must iterate and reiterate, was one of the most well-organized and 'on-the-mark' programs I've attended.

In addition, there was, throught the proceedings, an almost ineffable atmosphere of caring and concern and this was observed emanating not only from the organizers but also from the attentive and variegated audience. (I can only imagine what an epiphany this event must've inspired in many of those listening)

This Report will focus on my own Presentation, but, for information, I will briefly mention the other important contributions, to wit: Psychologist Dr. Robin Hindsman opened the Program with an 'Action Plan for Healing and Conquering' what she defined as 'Cultural Pain;' (I was the next Presenter with "Living The Color Lie: How Untreated Racism/Colorism Affects Everyone's Mental and Physical Health in America)."

Next came an extraordinary treat: Peter Buxtun was the man who 'broke open' the scurrilous Tuskeegee Syphilis Experiments scandal, and gave us bits of material not well known by the public about the extent of this outrage. We then went to a self-service lunch - held at an adjacent room with Staff and Presenters sitting together around a table animatedly talking with each other, providing a well thought out networking opportunity for us.

After lunch, a Panel of the aforementioned military veterans graphically and succintly and with pathos certainly communicated to everyone listening, related their painful and longlasting experiences of "racism in and out of the military," which had greatly impacted their lives. (I can still feel the influence of this part of the Program and sincerely hope that their testimonials will be forwarded on to the top Administrations of the U.SA. Marine Corps, the U.SA. Navy and the U.S.A. Army!)

This was a particularly 'hard act to follow,' but Rev. Osbourne Robinson's "Is It Slavery or Education:"certainly started out evocatively: (I say "started out" because, unfortunately, I had to leave for New York at this part of the Program and missed part of his Presentation and also that of Denise Vaughan's "Plans For The Future)."

(At the beginning of my own Presentation, I asked everyone to get out their pens, pencils and paper because they'd want to preserve some of my material for future use)

My "Living The Color Lie" began by illustrating "How Untreated Racism/Colorism Affects Everyone's Mental Health" by asking the entire assembly - "Who Here Is African?" (Most of them were Black) - this is always instructive - only about three of the entire audience raised their hands, however, one or two of the white folk did raise theirs. I told them that since huemanity began began Black and in Africa, as the Historian Cheik Anta Diop, Psychiatrist Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Historian Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Geneticist Dr. Spencer Wells and others had established - all huemans were "...of African descent..." and therefore, African! (You could've measured the surprise)

I introduced our Racism/Colorism Quotient Test Program With Follow-Up Psychological/Psychiatric Counseling where indicated - for uncovering dysfunctional responses to differences in color and culture. (When I asked the audience if they'd like me to read one of the questions aloud they readily assented). Then I gave the Site: www.racismtest.com so they could log on to it later.

As another example of the effects on society by untreated racism/colorism, I described the ungodly arrest of Gerard, a seven year old Black youngster in their own city of Baltimore by the Baltimore police.

I read from my Blog - http://caroltaylorword.blogspot.com - the "OPEN LETTER TO NYPD POLICE COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY:" (who was also the Director of the U.S.A. Customs Department under whose watch a pregnant Black woman had been handcuffed to a hospital bed, force-fed laxatives and thereafter aborted her baby); the audience gasped.

I then introduced The Little Black Book and the reasons I wrote it - namely - the understated danger faced by Black males on this nation's streets and the unmitigated continuing slaughter of Black males - by this nation's police forces. (I had much more material but had to truncate my remarks in order to keep to my allotted hour and to allow for questions, which were forthcoming with alacrity)

I would like to end this Report with firm and appreciative thanks to Frank Katz, Sharon Kelly and the other Faculty and Commission members for inviting me to their Gordon Rapier 6th Annual Conference and especially for their vital contributions to societal healing on one of huemanity's last - and perhaps most important - frontiers.

What tremendous lessons we learned - so inspiring!**

Your Nappy-Headed Sister-in-THE-Struggle,

Carol Taylor R.N.
First Black U.S.A. Flight Attendant
President/Founder: The Institute for "Interracial" Harmony, Inc.
Author: The Little Black Book: Black Male Survival in America: Staying Alive & Well in an Institutionally Racist Society
Mother
Grand Mother

**P.S. For similar inspiration: Call 1-800-PLAY PBS to order the video "Briars in the Cotton Patch" (Re the origins of 'Habitat for Humanity')

* 'AllColor Report I' - R/CQTest-ing of Sufolk & Westchester Counties MultiCultural
Commissions
'AllColor Report II' - African Descendants World Conference Against Racism,
Barbados, West Indies (Both available upon request)