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A MAN OF CHARACTER: REMEMBERING JOE MARCINIAK

Nothing makes you question your mortality more than seeing someone you’ve known for most of your life pass on and join the ancestors. When the one who passed away was still so full of life and still had much to offer this world, it makes you question the fairness of it all. On Saturday, Feb. 17th, a service was held for one of our own, Joseph Marciniak, who passed away on Super Bowl Sun., Feb. 11th, at the age of 52. Knowing Joe and the type of reach he had with people in Buffalo and beyond, I wasn’t surprised by the amount of people who showed up to send him off. It  was quite impressive. Joe Marciniak was a man whose impact on those around him was immeasurable. His legacy is one of character, a quality often overlooked in today’s society. Though many in Buffalo, particularly on the West Side may have known Joe and his brother Brian Marciniak for the numerous Freestyle music concerts they have promoted over the years, I knew Joe and his family from having grown up across the street from their family home on 85 West Avenue (Lower West Side). I will be turning 46 this year and for as long as I can remember, I have always known the Marciniak/Jamieson family, and as I gave my eulogy on February 17th, a great number of the memories I shared were centered on remembering Joe as a man of character and someone many of us looked up to. Whenever I think of my father, I can’t help but think of a memory tied to Joe Marciniak. In the weeks after my father passed away, just a week and a half before Christmas 2002, I ran into Joe Marciniak in front of the Marciniak/Jamieson home on West Avenue, just across the street from my own family home. Joe and I talked about my dad, and one thing that always stayed with me from that conversation was when he said my father had “character.” At the time, my young, jaded mind didn’t understand what he meant by this, as to know my father, Joe the Barber, was to know he was quite the character, however, Joe corrected me and stated “he was a man of character” and explained why. I think about these words whenever I think about my dad and try to live up to them. I have Joe Marciniak to thank for helping me understand what “character” really meant. He was a natural teacher; it wasn’t a surprise when he passed away to read numerous messages about the mark he left on so many as a teacher at McKinley High. His legacy will forever live on. Knowing how well-versed in history he was and wanting to pass on that knowledge at his alma mater which also happens to be my alma mater, McKinley High, solidified the type of character he possessed. When many wouldn’t have wanted to take up that type of challenge, teaching inner city youth, Joe took it head on and left his mark. He was a man of high character and I’m grateful to have known and looked up to him as a young man growing up on the Lower West Side. As a man in my mid-forties, I feel a sense of comfort knowing I can look up to the sky knowing that another man of character is up there inspiring many who knew them. Thank you, Joe, for teaching me what it meant to be a man of character. If only we all could live by the example you set. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Politics Sports Technology A MAN OF CHARACTER: REMEMBERING JOE MARCINIAK March 4, 2024/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More BRIDGING DIVIDES: CHALLENGES IN UNITY WITHIN BUFFALO’S LATINO COMMUNITY February 6, 2024/2 Comments It has been well over a year since I returned to Buffalo New York, after spending the previous twelve years… Read More RESILIENCE AMIDST TRAGEDY: ONE YEAR LATER, REFLECTING ON THE BUFFALO CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD OF 2022 January 1, 2024/7 Comments As the Christmas season ends and a New Year is upon us, I can’t help but reflect on the difference… Read More Load More End of Content.

Column, People

FRUITS OF MY LABOR

Recently, I’ve thought a lot about the saying: “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” In Swahili, the proverb “Asiye funzwa na mamae hufunzwa na ulimwengu” means roughly the same: “Whomsoever is not taught by the mother will be taught with the world.” When I consider the circumstances surrounding my finding out that I was going to have another child and the series of events that played out leading me to go on the path alone again, I was not certain if the village was going to be supportive.  Initially, I was happy and then I was put under pressure and decided under duress. A decision that I’m so grateful that I did not carry forth. I had faith that I would and could raise another child as I did with my daughter, AAliyah, who was then 9-years old. (See Part 1, Feb. 2024, page 3) Months later I told Aaliyah that I was giving her something she had been asking for many years for her “Birthday.” Her response, when I asked her to guess what she thought that would be, she said “A pony?” Turns out it was not a Pony! It was a sibling! That sibling finally arrived five days after her 10th Birthday, and it was a baby boy. We had decided to name him with a male version of my first name, and her last name with a middle name meaning ‘Founded in Peace’: Asheem JahRuleSalem Ali.  Having children ten year apart was surreal for me, but I had a few close friends that assured me that Asheem was the “community’s baby”, and it’s been that way ever since. As Aheem’s 12th “BornDay” approached, and I reflected on our lives, I realized that he is not only interested in many things, but he is passionate and good with his many extra-curricular activities! He’s present in all the Villages he’s been fortunate to be a part of: Hybrid Ninja Academy/716 Ninja, Independent Health Soccer for Success, Police Athletic League, Buffalo Swim Project/Buffalo Tide Competitive Swim Team, Women Against Violence Everywhere, 716 Rollers Skating Mentoring on Wheels Program, The Galactic Tribe/Wakanda Alliance Program, Wealth in Health Family Garden, Boundless Unschooling Academy/Homeschool Library Club, The School of Two Hearts, The Folksy House, The Arts Are For All (Piano), Amor and Heritage Dance Company, Hispanic Heritage Council (Guitar Initiative), Nancy Fernandez’s Royal Taekwon-Do Academy, Ogbe Aiye’s Juche Taekwon-Do, Ten X Shooting Club, and most recently, added Stellar Dreams Program, Junior Astronomers, and the Cheektowaga Soccer Club Open Gym (and possibly travel team if time permits)! Since my recent car accident where I not only suffered physical injuries, but complete loss of a vehicle that has yet to be replaced, I’ve seen the community village concept shine bright as a diamond.  Special Gratitude is extended to the uncrowned Queens and Kings: AAliyah Mya, Jacqueline Bontzolakes, Miracle Reed-McCoy, Kat Makin, Annette Gutierrez, Fragrance Harris Stanfield, Latoya Reid, Trina Hamilton, Dale Lum and David White. Without you all, Asheem would not have made it to many (or any) of these homeschool co-ops, trainings, rehearsals, or competitions.  I’ll close out by saying — as parents, we don’t know everything. What we do KNOW is our children; and what we can find out from them is that they are talented and gifted. Our diligence in finding this out will lead us to find our tribes! Whether that’s one tribe or nineteen tribes, these are people and organizations that LOVE what they do and they Love Children! Once you find them, then they will help in guiding you and your children so that we Don’t Have to Know or Do It ALL! The bonds that are formed and the lasting friendships developed will help keep your children yearning to be the best they can be, be pleasing and accountable for their actions for years to come.  Ultimately, because we can’t be and do all things ALONE – he/she who is not taught by the mother/father is taught by the world! ÀSÉ!  Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Politics Sports Technology FRUITS OF MY LABOR March 4, 2024/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More FRUITS OF MY LABOR PART ONE February 5, 2024/No Comments Peace, EVERYONE! I was unfortunately not able to submit this article last month. But I trust you will enjoy my… Read More The Good Friend – El Buen Amigo: SANTIAGO MASFERRER December 18, 2023/3 Comments For the final issue of the year, I wanted to spotlight an individual who has a business that we all… Read More Load More End of Content.

Books & Poems, Column, Politics

NEW SLAVES FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY Part 2: Slaves vs Automatons

“Slave labor anywhere threatens real jobs everywhere.” When the idea of profit is its justification, watch out! Rulers tend to chase vast potential wealth and while most people are willing to pay something to end slavery few are willing to make the inevitable great sacrifice: Higher market prices. Unlike early slaves (a piece of expensive property needing to be maintained and accommodated) Automatons are cost-effective; relatively cheap, abundant, and easily replaceable commodities. Although they differ in the extent of violence and intimidation used, they both share one key objective; the slave must be broken; divided, conquered, and unleashed within a socially alienating arena where “dog eats dog.” Trust and loyalty must be shifted from slave to owner, from employee to employer. According to Willie Lynches’ manifesto (The Making of a Slave –James River, Virginia, 1712), this is best accomplished by maintaining an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and envy. Further, slaves need to be selected, trained, and assigned (another cog in the economic wheel), based on individual levels of weakness, gullibility, and deprivation. Is it any different today? It’s worse! It’s insidious (devious, sinister, and deceptive). Alas! The cloak and dagger of the banking system: Credit and Debit. Thus enters the unsatiable need for consumerism, hedonism, and sex. Are you free to spend and party or simply need temporary escapes from the truth: You are just another automaton, another disposable cog in the economic wheel. But today’s slavery can’t be limited to race, color, or creed/religion. The new slave is faceless, temporary, highly profitable, legally concealed, and, by way of competition, completely ruthless. They are unleashed like sharks and Piranhas to prey upon each other; like termites in the shadows feasting on the wooden foundations of the currently decaying social order. Thus, comes the historically eventual fall of empires. Is America next? Seemingly always underestimated is the amount of pressure the poor and middle class can take. But when the gluttony from the top encroaches on what little is left for the bottom feeders – watch out. Anarchy and revolution can rise like smoke and where there is smoke there is fire; and where there is fire, death and destruction follows. But America has indeed learned the lessons of history. To control the level of inherent resistance and revolt understand there will always be a need for the poor and suffering. Using unemployment and social service benefits (LIKE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DISABILITY) to maintain socio-economic stability they, the poor lower middle class, are important surplus bodies, automatons to accommodate, tolerate and activate whenever the current labor force steps out of line. How does that feel? Thus enters the booming field of mental health … LETS MEDICATE! Almost every morning you rise like a horse to the bell at the starting gate of the global economic racetrack. Sometimes you have time for breakfast or a workout, but eventually, you must put on your appropriate monkey suit and wear the mask of “Yassa Master” I’ll get right to it. You get the kids off to school or the babysitter and hop into your means of transportation to battle your way through traffic congestion. You get to your destination and another bell goes off; you diligently perform your task with some indifference. You pull your shift and the bell rings: Free time; time to MEDICATE; blow off some steam and pay the tab. Eventually, last bell; time to go home, play master of the house, eat, go to bed, and wait for that next first bell to ring. We’ll be discussing the effects of all these bells in our next issue.  Meanwhile ask yourself: Do you work to live or do you live to work … OBEY! Don’t Belong   I don’t belong! I don’t want to belong I don’t want! To here – to this – adjust – it’s wrong This here now place without grass or trees Cept in parks scattered here and there to simulate and tease   I can’t find pace or space to ease my mind from the constant noise The constant flow of cars, trucks and buses that never cease to pass The constant flow of people rushing, screaming & fighting, a people dis-eased – more A Force-fed congestion deep within – outpoured upon each other – a people in discord   I’m void! Quiet mornings and peaceful nights Can’t hear the wind flowing through the trees or the chirping birds therein There’s is no escape, there is no appease, there’s not even a please But Please! I need to ease or cease   I’m haunted onto disgust By memories I can’t seem to shake Of yards, pools, and courts not public but mine to choose who to invite or lose, Of spacious schools for learn not burn and youth run stores well kept   Cops I rarely saw – firemen I rarely heard Churches that never begged – poor that knew their place Homes! Where to be at one I need not far go Space! Where for everything – found – its special place   And yet now – crowds – in, out and all around Surrounding, threatening, bargaining Paying to have me – Paying to get rid of me Me! Another piece of merchandise online – I must decide   To live or die – and – on what side To the outside, even mom and dad – a lie No time to sob or regret – no time to forget Me online – to live or die – I must decide Live or Die – Must Decide Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Politics Sports Technology NEW SLAVES FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY Part 2: Slaves vs Automatons March 4, 2024/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More NEW SLAVES FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

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