The Truth: Black history month & If we must die…
There are several articles in this week’s Sojourner’s Truth that relate to Black History Month, one is the 20 North Gallery Presents the 15th Annual Black History Month Exhibit. The exhibit began it’s showing this past Friday and the featured art will be on display until March 6, you can also take a virtual tour of the exhibit by clicking here.
Continuing on the topic of the shooting death of Linda Hicks comes If We Must Die by Reverend Donald Perryman. One part of Perryman’s column:
If we are ever to get beyond the lambastic F### -The-Police rhetoric of the black community, the racist and patriarchal projection of blame upon the local Mental Health board leadership, the dysfunctional denial of the police department and an overly-critical but predictable and unimaginative public, then we need to refocus the energy of our frustrations upon the lessons revealed by this tragedy.
I agree with him for the most part, but I do think the some of the questions related to the Mental Health Board are valid. While being fair in stating that resources for mental health services being increased is not something most people will champion beyond the outrage of the moment; it is also fair to state that some of the public perception issues in relation to the Mental Health Board was created by it’s own lack of transparency.
Valid questions could be asked as to the support/training given to group home owners. Perryman raises the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, yet it was the group home owner who felt Hicks was a threat, she initiated the call to the police because she couldn’t handle the situation. No one has ever answered why Rescue Crisis was not called instead of police. That is after all their mission:
MISSION: Rescue serves those experiencing an emotional or psychiatric crisis. Rescue is committed not only to individuals and families, but also to organizations with clients in crisis.
Happy to read Lisa Renee, that you agree with some of the issues with the Lucas County Mental Health Board are valid and yes, Perryman there is a problem with Toledo Police and Mental Health Consumers; however, it is a problem and issue between Mental Health
for ALL Mental Health Consumers no matter what race or age!
What exactly is going on with the so-called committee that Carty appointed in December regarding the issue of the communication between the Toledo Police and the Mental Health Professionals and leaders??
What exactly is going on any where in the Lucas County Mental Health system
to approach and help solve the other mental health issues in Lucas County and the State of Ohio??
Looks and sounds as if it is the same
February 1st, 2010 at 4:58 amold silence and nothing is or will be changed or done!
I could not of stated it any better Mr DD Boots. Very well said. You are very infomative about Mental Health issuses.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:46 pmI read If We Must Die by Reverend Donald Perryman, and I hoped for a better article. Rev. Perryman all but concludes that we should lick the boot that kicks us.
Linda Hicks was murdered by Toledo Police, not by the Lucas County Mental Health Board as DDBoots would have you believe. Her murderers are free and back on patrol, encouraged to murder again.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:49 pmOh, is that 100% correct Mad Jack??
In this case we are only speaking of Linda Hicks! You give all the responsibily and put it all on the Toledo Police and not the group home owner/employees or her actual mental health providers?? They even declined to testify for the police investigation of itself!
However, go back and talk with other mental health consumer victim’s families,friends, others and learn the true facts of what actually goes on with the Lucas County Mental Health Board, Agencies, and Professionals!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:40 pm