Institutional Racism in CT, Look no further than our effort to honor Ebenezer Bassett

Readers take a minute to read the above. My thinking is not many of my readers live near Hartford CT. But, I want to share an insight into how institutionalized racism works in Connecticut, and most likely elsewhere as well. This is a battle that has been fought now for nearly five years...even longer in many ways. Who is Ebenezer D. Bassett was the first African American graduate of a public university in Connecticut, and the first African American Diplomat. Who became known as the Hero of Hispaniola for saving thousands of lives as ambassador.  He was an famed innovative education reformer, an abolitionist, and courageous civil rights activist. I can think of no more worthy Alumni name to place on one of our buildings at Center Connecticut State University.

We have one last river to cross here in Connecticut before Central Connecticut State University finally honors it's most significant graduate. It seems the policy here, is people have to buy university building names these days. I guess 400 years of slavery and Jim Crow were not payment enough? The time to honor Ebenezer Bassett in now.

If you live in Connecticut, please consider standing with us tomorrow morning in Hartford. We need all hands on deck, because this is the last hurdle. Imagine this, not one CT Government Building is name after a famous African American. What message are we sending our young people entering our institutions of higher education? When we can't name even one building after one of the most significant Black figures in our state history?
Some might called that coincidence.
Not me,
Dr. Jesse P. Turner
Moral MondayCT Education Ambassador

Wish us luck, and iff you like to listen to the song that inspire my walk today over the Avon Mountain...it's that old spiritual "One More River To Cross" cover by Sam Cooke 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzWfAJwPMRQ

"One More river to cross)

Before I'll be through shedding tears

(One more mountain to climb)

Before I'll be with the blessed

(One more river to cross)

Before I'll take my rest

And I've got one more river 2x

And I've got one more mountain before I take my rest

(One more river to cross)

Put the burden down here"

Walking Man Message Thanksgiving Message to Teachers

My Thanksgiving message to teachers,
I have proclaimed you advocates and activists for the children you teach. That is unquestioned!
But, teachers you are needed to be advocates and activists outside the school house walls as well.
Your advocacy and activism is needed for labor,
Your advocacy and activism is needed for health care for all,
Your advocacy and activism is needed for immigrant rights,
Your advocacy and activism is needed for voting rights,
Your advocacy and activism is needed for equity for all.

Teachers, I swear you hold the key to change,
The day, we teachers walk out, close the schools, and say enough is enough, justice now, not more promises of someday....
I say, when we all take out advocacy and activism outside those school house walls, it all changes.

We can be more, 
Do more, a
Care more, and 
Together I sear we can change it all,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner 

If you like to hear the tune this Walking Man listened to on his cold Thanksgiving Day morning it's Play For Change Cover of Bob Marley's Stand Up, Stand Up.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6szT5NnwTY

Moral Mondays CT is drawing that line in the sand against inequity

When the system is rigged to provide quality by Zip Code, when our own State Supreme Court Overturns Sweeping Ruling In CCJEF Education Funding Lawsuit.
" It is not the function of the courts ...to eliminate all of the societal deficiencies that continue to frustrate the state’s educational efforts." ~ Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, wrote for the majority.

Equity is the target, our governors, our legislators, our courts, and yes we the people have failed to hit that target for over a 100 years, and generations of our Black, Brown, and Special Education children have suffered for our failure to do better by them.
In my humble opinion this failure in the richest state in the nation is a moral failure to do right by all children. The fact that this struggle needs to even go to the courts is a sure sign of an immoral education funding formula.

In a moral society, our poor children should not have to beg for fairness and justice,
In a moral society, Black children should not have to beg for fairness and justice,
In a moral society, Brown children should not have to beg for fairness and justice,
In a moral society, Special Education children should not have to beg for fairness and justice,
When children, their parents, and communities have to beg for equity, than the system is broken.
The goal is equity and justice for all children, it has always been the goal, and anything less is exactly what White Supremacy fight for 24 7 365.
Bishop Selders and Moral Monday CT are willing to call it what is it, and are moving to take that conversation public, and on the road.

My eyes are on the prize,
Dr. Jesse P. Turner (AKA The Walking Man)

Moral Mondays and Save Our Schools March in the house
Bishop Selders, Pamela Selders,
Bob George & Jesse The Walking Man Turner in DC @
 The WE CHOOSE 2018 Press Conference 

Moral Monday CT Education Ambassador If you like to hear the song that inspired my morning walk this morning...it's "Eyes On The Prize" Marvis Staples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZWdDI_fkns