Apple Creek SDA – Valentines Family Day Banquet February 14, 2010
Speaking Notes of David Mitchell
Master of Ceremonies, Pastors, Distinguished Guests, Brothers and Sisters, Boys and Girls. Good evening, I say to you that any evening where you look good; spend time with good people for a good reason is a good evening so I say to you again good evening. Unfortunately, Inspector Keith Merieth from York Regional Police could not be here with us this evening. I’m going to thank you in advance for allowing me the honour and the pleasure of addressing you as part of this wonderful event that helps to support the work of your church. Even though Inspector Mereith is not here I think that it is important that you know something about the man who was going to deliver this evening’s address because he’s an up and coming leader in the York Regional Police. Keith was recently promoted to Inspector from the rank of Staff Sergeant.
When my Mom approached me about getting a speaker I asked her what she wanted the person to speak about? She told me to have them speak on the subject of love as it is Valentine’s Day and that the Banquet also falls on the Family Day Weekend. She also said that it would be important for the speaker to adhere to the three Bs’ of public speaking, I asked what that was. She responded by saying “Bredrin Be Brief”.
I have learned that there are many principles of effective public speaking such as ensure that your content is consistent with your theme. Use logical analogies to illustrate your point. Insert appropriate humor and monitor your audience for talk fatigue. I plan to simply adhere to the Jamaican NBWDLA principal of public speaking. By now I can see that many of you are asking what on earth is that? Its simple “Nuh Badda Wid De Long Augument” That loosely translated into English is “Please don’t bore use with a long drawn out address”.
For those of you who don’t know I am British by birth, culturally Jamaican and nationally a Canadian. I am fully bilingual, that is to say that I speak fluent Patois and English, and as such can be considered to be Jacadian. I would ask that those in the audience who are also bilingual please translate any portions of this address that that are delivered in patois for your neighbour who may not understand.
I have also learned that good communication principles dictate that in order to be affective I need to be honest with the audience. As a Senior Officer it is difficult to express your honest observations and thoughts at times because you are expected to be objective and politically sensitive. You’re expected not say things that may make others uncomfortable.
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I thought to myself its’ Black History Month, Family Day Weekend and Valentine’s Day….all of which have some uncomfortable issues that we as a community, we as a church, we as Christians must consider and address. In order to provide myself with some room to maneuver I say the following publicly and clearly “The opinions expressed are those of the presenter and do not represent the thoughts or position of a Superintendent serving with the Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services.” That’s my legal disclaimer should my employer not be in concurrence with my thoughts and observations. Now with that out of the way allow me to begin.
It is my intention to address you in the context of the following definitions of Love:
Dictionary's definition of love:
Love is a strong liking for someone. It's a strong passionate affection for another person.
Biblical definition of love: 1 Corinthians
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things.
Black History Month
February 11, 2010 marked twenty years since the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa and the beginning of the end of Apartide. Think of this for a moment from the perspective of what Mandela did when he became President of South Africa. Think of him resisting the very strong desire of many for revenge against the Afrikaners. Even overcoming his own human potential for revenge. On a Trip to South Africa several years ago I had the opportunity to tour Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto. Did you know Mandela’s house had a room made of reinforced concrete to protect him and his family should someone shoot into the house? Did you know that his fridge had a special lock on it to prevent anyone from opening it and poisoning him? Finally did you know that his house was the only house in Soweto with an indoor washroom so that he could not be caught off guard at anytime when performing basic human functions? In short he knew they (and you can determine who the “they” were in South Africa at that time) would try to murder him and or his family. Even after all this when he had the power and probably the justification to exact revenge against his enemies he said words to the effect “Revenge will not bring South Africa the much longed for prosperity, We're going to offer a New deal to take care of people, reconcile with White South Africa, and forgive…” Think about that, could you do it….? Pasta mi naw go lie, yuda hafi pray fi mi…!!!
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I humbly submit to you that Nelson Mandella truly understood that “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things”.
This February marks the 15th anniversary of Jean Augustine introducing a motion which was passed unanimously by the House of Commons in Ottawa to recognize Black History Month across Canada. One year ago On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States of America. Please think for a moment, do you remember where you were when this happened? I remember exactly where I was at 11:42 when the proceedings started. You see it is one of the great moments in history that you are apart of and that you cannot forget. For those who remember where they were that was truly a hallmark moment in history.
For many in our country the fact that Michele Jean, a Black woman is our Governor General, is a significant indication that the issue of race has been rendered a minor matter, an insignificant barrier to any Black person achieving their full potential in this country. As we celebrate Black History Month this year, some are asking what is the significance or value of recalling the achievements, tragedies and triumphs of Africans in the Diaspora now that a Black man and his family occupy the White House and a Black Woman and her family occupies Rideau Hall? Do these achievements mean the end of the need to teach and remember our History?
There are those who suggest that indeed our History is no longer significant. Recently during an interview the Academy award winning actor Morgan Freeman indicated that he finds Black History Month to be "ridiculous." The interviewer then asked him how we're going to get rid of racism and Morgan Freeman responded very matter-of-factly "Stop talking about it." I find this statement to be ironic given the fact that he is currently portraying Nelson Mandela in the movie INVICTUS a movie about a significant point in the history of South Africa post Apartide. People who continue to advance the notion that race does not matter do so at the peril of our young people and our nation as a whole. First and foremost, it is imperative that we remember that President Obama and Governor General Jean are products and beneficiaries of our history as a people.
The steady and unrelenting march of people of African descent from the horrors of slavery and the free labour that built centers of economic power, to being defined as 3/5th of a human being in the US Constitution. Consciously and sub-consciously we need to remember and celebrate the tribulations and triumphs of our History! We must understand from whence we’ve come and how far we have yet to travel. We must take this opportunity to recognize how far we have come and how far we and our young people in particular must continue to go. My reality, our reality is that less than 2% of all Senior positions in the Municipal, Provincial and Federal Public Service are held by African Canadians. 40% of African Canadian males in Toronto area High Schools are not graduating.
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My reality, your reality is that while we accept and celebrate momentous accomplishments, now more than ever we must be encourage and support our young people to finish the course that our ancestors and you begun. Now more than ever we must be determined to keep all of our minds focused on the fundamental importance of social justice. Unfortunately I must tell you that Race still matters or the Toronto Star wouldn’t be writing about it, Race still matters or the population of the new state of the
art Youth detention centre in Brampton would not be over populated by young men and women who look like me and you.
Love of Family
You may not realize it but studies show that one of the significant determinants of success in the life of a child or young person is an adult who cares. They’re the mothers and the fathers, they’re the uncles and the aunts, and they’re the teachers and the preachers. They’re people like you and me who want the best for our children and are willing to show love and that they care.
I am a product of what can happen when a person has a Mother and church that care….you see circumstances lead to my mother raising us by herself in a rougher part Toronto where I was exposed to people who were negative conduct consultants, substance brokers, and unauthorized acquisition specialist. For those of you not acquainted with the new terminology for people in conflict with the law i.e. criminals. Those were bad men, drug dealers and tiefs.
Omar Wellington was a 17 year-old Black teenager that was growing up in a different rough part of Toronto who should have been 21 years old this year. It’s reported that he joined a Gang in his neighbourhood called the Rascalz. On July 14 2006, fellow gang members advanced him $1500 to set up a gun purchase. The person he was supposed to get the gun from took the money and kept the gun. Omar returned empty-handed only to have his “friends” turn on him, strip him to his boxer shorts, and viciously beat him.
This was witnessed by several residents of the neighbourhood and passersby. No one called Police or initially assisted. The Pathologist report indicated that Omar had been subjected to 31 stab wounds and 39 other cuts from knives and sharp objects. On Wednesday February 10, 2010 a teenager under the age of 18 who looks like me pleaded guilty in criminal court to killing Omar. Two other teenagers pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm in connection with Omar’s murder. Where was love and what happened to lead young people to be so brutal?
You may even want to ask what happened to my brothers and me, what was the difference you grew up in a rough neighbourhood? The difference was the grace of God, a Mother who loved us and a church that cares, sprinkled with some good old fashioned West Indian licks. Be clear I’m not talking about the hamburger restaurant when I say licks. You see I knew my Mother loved us despite the “licks”. But equally as important
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were people like Brother Guerra and Brother Langdon taking an interest in me through Sabbath School. I don’t know if they remember encouraging me to attend soccer practice at the Field located at Vanhorn and Edmonton Drive. I don’t know if they realized at the time how significant their encouragement, inclusion and love would be to me and whatever success I may have achieved with the grace of God. Sister Ince de Rue was the first Pathfinder leader for the Agincourt SDA Pathfinder Club and she demonstrated her love for the youth of my generation by showing them compassion, being involved with them and inviting them into her home.
When I first became an officer I had no problems with marching, pressing my uniform and was one of the few new recruits who knew the difference between a right turn and a right wheel. I learned this in Pathfinders and from a church family that cared. Brother Earl Smith was ahead of his time in his understanding of the challenges that teenagers faced and provided a unique opportunity to discuss these issues in the context of some very non-traditional Sabbath School discussions. Because of the God of Love, a Mother’s love and a church with members who demonstrated their love I am able to demonstrate love and compassion to those that I work and interact with.
I encourage you to identify the young men and women that need your love so that they too can be successful. The danger of not doing this is that if as Fathers and as a Church you do not tell the young ladies that they are beautiful and that you love them. They will respond to a stereotypical young man wearing pants that are absent a belt, and he will probably also accessorize himself with a gun and cosmetic gold teeth.
I bring this to your attention because it appears as if there is a new apathy. A belief that it is the primary responsibility of others, and the few from our community who are incrementally entering senior positions in education, social services, politics, justice, and law enforcement to address the community’s many issues. I want you to know just because some of us now have a say, does not mean that we get our way. Some of us may appear to be “up there” but be clear we are not always “in there.”
We need to recommit ourselves to being engaged spiritually, socially, economically and politically so that young people can learn in class instead of languishing in prison. We need to stop buying what we want and begging for what we need.
One of the definitions that I found for love I learned came from old English lufu, connected with Sanskrit lubh, 'to desire' and Latin lubere, meaning 'to please'. As I considered this definition I thought about my plan this morning to prepare breakfast for my wife consisting of cooked bully beef with onions, country peppers and tomato served in the shape of a heart, surrounded by heart shaped fried dumplings, with a side dish of hard dough bread cut into the shape of a heart and big red mug of chocolate tea to wash it down. I decided against this plan realizing the meal would be filling but not very romantic. Instead I have chosen to wait for this opportunity to publicly tell her that I love her and thank her for being a great mother and wife.
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As I conclude I need to ask a very important question, why can’t Black people swim? ...and why is this question important you might ask? It's important because during the time of slavery (you must understand that African & Aboriginal slaves were brought to Canada by those who came here following the American Revolution. Slaves were not freed in Upper Canada until 1793, the trans-Atlantic slave trade was not abolished until 1807 and slavery itself was not abolished in the British Empire by means of the Emancipation Act until 1834) Slave "masters" perpetuated a lot of racial myths in order to protect their "property" (or to prevent its escape).
Rivers were natural barriers and they physically separated a lot of places. In order to cross over into other places such as states and countries you typically had to cross a river, lake, or ocean. Think about it if you were the slave master, it would be one thing to have a natural disaster come along and wash all your belongings away, but would you want your "property" to "swim" away? That is a major part of the reason why, Black people don't swim today.
I could continue to talk and leave this without resolve or leave it for you to ponder and figure out. But I won’t, you see the solution starts with me. Yes, it takes a million to hold us back but it only takes one mind to hold you back. That's your mind. So it's your responsibility to "teach yourself how to swim."
Once you learn to swim, you must make sure you teach someone else and / or your family and children as well. Before long, a majority of us will know how to swim and who knows, we may then begin to see more of our young people becoming better educated and more accountable to themselves.
But it starts with us; we must be willing to die just to try! As usual with some of us I can already hear them yelling, "But wi nuh hav nuh swimming pool roun yah” To them I say excuses are the tools of the incompetent and with there use, you will never succeed. If you don’t vote you don’t count and we all have a responsibility to create the conditions for change. When individuals do their part change will come, hope will arrive because yes we can. My reality, your reality is that while we accept and celebrate momentous accomplishments, now more than ever we must be encouraged, motivated and inspired to finish the course. Now more than ever, the study of Black History must fuel the determination to keep all of our minds focused on the fundamental importance of social justice, fairness, equity and harmony. Thank you and enjoy your evening.