Skip to main content

Thoughts on Puerto Rico

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón

At times I feel like I need to scream, cry, and drop to my knees when thinking about Puerto Rico and my people, especially now that the reality of death has struck home with my own family.

My heart and soul is with my family in PR. I lost a cousin last night to the bacteria in the water. She was only 17 and died within two days.

Many have no clue of the oppression our people currently face. You wake up not knowing about eating healthy because the food you’ve been given lacks the adequate nutrients. You fear drinking the water because it has become infected with bacteria! You fear to now wash your clothes in the river after catching a skin rash and your kids come out with a fever soon thereafter. You fear to drink soda and juice from cans because you just lost a family member who drank and as a result died because of the bacteria within two days.

The heat at night is suffocating. The shower is ice cold for those who have water and for those who do not, you start to smell yourself, because you fear to shower with river water and you are waiting to collect the rain water which is the safest to bathe with.

At night, you are in complete darkness because the electricity have not been repaired, and they promised by December, but now they say February, and next thing you know a year will go by, as you return to living in the same conditions your grandparents used to tell you about.

You don’t want to go to the mainland because, why should you leave all that you love behind? But you wait and wait and wait and wait for help but none seems to arrive. Some after becoming sick, they rush to the mainland only to make it just in time to die here.

And all this time, we have people in the WHITE house trumpified. They are following a man who is literally allowing a genocide to occur! Where are your only 16 deaths now Mr Trump?! Your selfish behavior is reckless and your recklessness aided in killing my cousin and my people! You are to BLAME! You are a murderer, no better than those who use a weapon, but in fact worse, because you can assist the one in need, but yet you refuse!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Brazilian Feijoada Halal

Recipe for Halal Brazilian Feijoada (Northeast style, minus the pork!) Courtesy of Yasminah Ketchman, 2012 Cooking time: All day • 1 pound (450 grams) dry black beans • 4 Tbsp olive oil • 2 large onions, sliced • 1 head of garlic, peeled and chopped (Don’t skimp on the garlic!!!) • 1 pound lean beef chuck, in one piece • 1 pound (450 grams) carne seca (dried beef) or cornbeef, cut into chunks • 1/2 pound (225 grams) fresh sausages, such as beef sausage • 1 pound (450 grams) smoked sausage, such as smoked beef sausage • 200 grams bacon (beef or turkey) • 3-4 bay leaves • 3 sprigs parsley • 2 sprigs thyme • 3/4 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 3 1/2 quarts water • 4 cups black beans, picked over, soaked overnight, and drained Soak the smoked and salted meats in a large pan overnight (just enough water to cover the meat). The next morning, drain, rinse, and soak again until ready to cook. In a large heavy stock pot, heat the oil over medium...
2 comments
Read more (Lea más)...

UMD UMAH: Being Latino and Muslim PANEL

UMD UMAH: Being Latino and Muslim PANEL The University of Maryland's United Muslim Advocates for Humanity hosted an interactive discussion moderated by Br. Jose Acevedo on the forgotten intersections of Latino and Islamic heritage. Panelists included Br. Hernan Guadalupe, Sr. Wendy Diaz, and Br. Jamal Abdul Salaam. Latino Muslims are one of the fastest growing segments of the American Muslim community. Though not part of the 'traditional' narrative, Islam is an inescapable part of Latino heritage. “What most Latinos who have embraced Islam find most amazing is their cultural affinity to the Muslim culture,” says Wilfredo Ruiz, a Puerto Rican-born Muslim who converted a decade ago and is a lawyer for the South Florida chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. “It’s like rediscovering your past. That area of our past has been hidden from us.” Latino Muslims are one of the fastest growing segments of the American Muslim community. Though not part of the 't...
Post a Comment
Read more (Lea más)...

Mexican Tortillas Halal

Halal Homemade Mexican Tortillas Courtesy of Holly Garza, 2011 Flour Tortillas (Mexican style) Ingredients~ 3/4 pound (2-3/4 cups ) all purpose flour, plus a little extra for rolling the tortillas 3/4 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening, about 3/4 cup hot tap water How to make–rub vegetable shortening into the flour using your fingers to knead it. Put the salt in the water mix around a bit so it will dissolve into the water. Mix the water into the flour little by little until you form a stiff-like dough. make sure there is hardly any “Powdery” parts left, as in try to mix it all together. add some flour to your counter top/table or hard/sturdy work station, add the dough on top of the flour surface and kneed it for about 10-15 minutes until it is elastic feeling and looking. Break the dough up into smaller pieces that look like round “balls” about slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Make sure to cover them up in a bowl with a cloth over it or some sort of co...
Post a Comment
Read more (Lea más)...