Yvette B Williams
  • Welcome
  • "On Blast" Blog
    • August 2015
  • My Story
    • Media
  • Online Voter Registration
  • Contact Me
  • 2020 Sanders Delegate

Welcome to 
"ON BLAST"

A digital news source for the culturally competent community, focusing on public policy and African American lifestyle With a global perspective. 

"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."      congresswoman shirley chisholm
                                                                             

"On Blast" Sign Up

A Legacy of Violence

11/4/2017

0 Comments

 
In our own backyard, residents and visitors were horrified by the events of October 1st, 2017.  While over 22,000 attendees were enjoying a beautiful night amongst the glimmering lights that make a perfect backdrop, concert goers were attacked without provocation, leaving 59 dead and over 500 injured. 

As I stayed glued to my television, tweeting information in hopes families impacted out of state could reconnect with loved ones, I thought of my own children and how vulnerable we are in today’s climate of violence.  It impacts us all, regardless of where we live, racial or ethnic background, or financial and political influence.  To address this issue the Clark County Black Caucus recently hosted the Legacy of Violence in the African American Community Summit in partnership with The Action Company and Like It Is Radio with support from Legal Aid of Southern Nevada, NCEDSV, Gritz Café, NAACP, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. 

The African American community has experienced a long history of violence and as our country continues to heal, let’s not be guilty of invalidating the horrific tragedies of mass shootings and killings in the U.S. simply because they were people of color.  When the mass media referred to October 1st as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, it struck a nerve with many Black people who asked on social media why their experiences remain invisible or irrelevant to American media and society.

For those not familiar here are a few examples: In 1917 a race riot in East St. Louis left 200-700 Black residents murdered, after given the option to burn in their homes or be shot while trying to escape the flames. This included those that were lynched.  In the Philips County, Arkansas Massacre of 1919, its estimated 237 to 800 people were lynched, beaten, and killed. And in one of the largest incidents it’s estimated that 300 Black victims lost their lives in the Tulsa, Oklahoma Massacre of 1921.  The Equal Justice Initiative observes, “Racial terror lynching was a tool used to enforce Jim Crow laws and racial segregation.”

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, and friends affected by October 1st and other brutal attacks of violence around the world. We can each make a difference in how we choose to treat each other. 

Yvette Williams is a community advocate and Chair/Founder of the Clark County Black Caucus, a non-partisan community organization driven 100% by volunteer members registered to vote.  Follow her Blog at www.YvetteBWilliams.com and on twitter @YvetteBWilliams or contact her at [email protected] for more information.

0 Comments
    Picture

    Yvette Williams

    As a member of this vast global society, I hope to inform, inspire, and invoke positive change.

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All
    Black Electorate
    Education
    Elections

    RSS Feed

    If you believe in racial equality, the CCBC is the premier organization on the front lines of social justice. Consider a membership and support our efforts.
    Picture
    Yvette Williams is the Founder and Chair of the Clark County Black Caucus
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.