The Opioid Epidemic and Keeping it Real

Not many are black people; now it becomes important to society.

"They were in a small city in a rural county, fertile ground for prescription drug addiction, though they traveled from as far as Nashville and Missouri. They were young or middle-aged and ranged from blue-collar workers to businesspeople. They said painkillers prescribed after accidents or injuries paved the way to their dependence on opioids. They also were all white. Of all deaths in 2015 from opioid and heroin overdoses in Tennessee and nationwide, about 90 percent of the people were white. Black people accounted for little more than 6 percent in Tennessee and 8 percent across the country, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.Among African-Americans critical of the modern drug war launched four decades ago by President Richard Nixon, the fact that the opioid epidemic is primarily striking the majority race helps explain why it is largely being called an epidemic and treated as a public health crisis, rather than a war." From: Largely White Opioid Epidemic Highlights Black Frustration.

by Don Allen, M.A. Ed./MAT (response)

          People say there are many versions of the United States; Black, White, Red, and Yellow.

Don Allen, M.A. Ed.  - Teacher/Researcher
and Editorial Columnist 

From these many versions, no matter who you are, you can see that some are treated with less attention to generational challenges. I'm not trash-talking, nor whining, but let's face the facts; when an epidemic like Opioid misuse dug in and stayed with Black, Yellow, and Red versions, there was no outcry for help. The people in the mainstream just looked the other way, opened up treatment centers (multicultural disparities are a billion-dollar enterprise), and walked away wealthy from multi-version pain. 

          Now the Opioid epidemic has enveloped the White version of the United States killing children of well-off, poor and middle-class. Like the sun rising in the morning, all attention is now focused on saving "one version" when for generations the other versions have suffered catastrophic losses. 

          As a teacher, if I cannot present our world within a timely and relevant, and factual lens, our students do not benefit. I will not teach Black History because in reality its American History. Black people did not begin their journey in slavery, so while this topic is relevant, I know many black historical figures that invented thousands of machines, processes and guided many with words printed in some of the finest books ever. Once we decide to keep it real, Achievement Gaps disappear; crime rates drop; unemployment becomes a memory of a time long ago, and our families become reunited with the ideal that integrity, respect, politeness and love have always been the utility for us as people to make the world go around. Remember, we need each other; I need you, you need me...we cannot survive in any other construct no matter how far apart the differences might be.

Part 1: North Minneapolis: Bloody Puddles | Black Fiction

The murder scene of Tabyis Paskins (8.3.16). Photo: fightthepowerjournal.com

On Wednesday, August 3, 2016 a 19-year-old named Tabyis Paskins was gunned down on his bike in a senseless but common act of youth violence in north Minneapolis. As his mother grieved for her son at a vigil late Wednesday of Penn Avenue North and 25^th, I wondered about Tabyis and the life he might have. I dedicated to all of the children who have lost their life in Minneapolis’ White Lie. This piece is written as if Tabyis is talking to us…

Fiction by Don Allen

…It was supposed to be an nice summer morning; the buses running down Penn, the fine ladies heading to work downtown, and us waiting for the liquor store to open  – hanging out with my boys, hitting the blunt and riding around the neighborhood. Ain’t none of us got no jobs, that’s why we’s got to hustle. Mom’s moved us up here from Peoria, Ill. She said we needed a fresh start – away from all the bullshit in Peoria. I wasn’t going to school anyway – that shit is whack; them white teachers don’t care about no niggers. In the “Mini,” was all about hanging with my boys around here and in the “Paul,” - the ones who got my back, not them turncoats who can’t smoke the African bush, or puff the Ace…Mok gets too high and was pushing up on Clyde’s sister in the basement. Pop’s came down and Mok tried to fight him…we can’t hang there anymore.

Wednesday morning should have been easy; we were going after this mark. It was an easy score; Mok, Clyde and me could make some quick loot.

It’s not that hard for things to go wrong; it happens a lot over north. Last week my boys got shot at by a bunch of different niggas. Didn’t none of them die, but damn, they shot at them right in front of they mom’s crib; that’s ratchet cuz. If you got heat with one of your boys, you ain’t ‘pose to try and shot him and his mom’s.

Coming up - Part 2: My Environment 

Gun Violence in the Twin Cities out of control; Politicians and local leaders want more meetings…#fail

By Don Allen

Two people dies yesterday from gunshot wounds suffered over the weekend. The city is in chaos. Local leaders want to have more meetings to talk about the senseless violence and untimely deaths of people who in some cases will never have the opportunity to be a father or mother; or see the evolution of life unfold before their eyes.

More meetings. A friend of mine, author Tim Wise said, “Conversations hardly ever result in actions.” There are some who want to study the black animals in the Twin Cities who kill by weapon. Some leaders abandoned facts and rationale thinking in order to start Soul Patrols. A soul-patrol to address youth death and violence in the Twin Cities? How about a patrol to address youth opportunity? Nobody thinks like than anymore.

Yesterday a huge fight broke out at a church in north Minneapolis during a funeral. Knives, police and the mortician confused on how a day of death people could fight in the street.

Politicians who are born to believe in war have started a war on young, unemployed and poor youth, who search for something that cannot just appear out of thin air.  

Maybe if these kids had a job?

Maybe if these kids had a better education?

Maybe if these kid’s parents were able to show them what a hard days work and the payment looks like? Nobody thinks like that anymore.

That’s what cracks me up.