Authorpreneur Dashboard – Ebony Medina Jones-Kuye
A Sense of Pride: An African-American Journey to West Africa
Biographies & Memoirs
No synopsis has been added for this book
Rough-Cut Book Bubbles from A Sense of Pride: An African-American Journey to West Africa
Preface for second book
This is part of my preface for my second book "A Sense of Pride" which is about my journey to West Africa. Going to West Africa gave me a sense of pride, joy, and happiness that I never felt before in my life. In America, we as African-Americans never see or hear about our rich African culture and history. We are always told that we are descendants of slaves with no history of our own which causes us to always feel the need to assimilate. I found out that we are so much more than America perceive us to be. We are descendants of a people that created math and engineering which a lot of African-Americans don't even realize because we have been brainwashed to believe we have no accomplishments. We have been taught that our ancestors were running around in juggles and acting like savages until they were captured and brought to the Americas. We have been taught that we have no value, not beautiful, not smart, and we are not equal. Our rich African history has never been shared in American school books which is such a disservice to our children and ourselves. This is why I decided to share my beautiful journey which I hope inspires other African-Americans to visit Africa and learn their roots.
Stand For Something or Stand For Nothing
Biographies & Memoirs
Well... I'm still here. And I'm certainly stronger; a lot stronger. But it was close. So, this is my story. It's a story about a strong brother who loved me and took care of me until tragedy struck. It's a story about a strong will-powered mother who showed incredible courage in challenging one of the richest, most powerful men in the world...former NBA Clippers owner Donald Sterling. It is a story of battling injustice, poverty, discrimination, cruelty, emotional hardships, and unbelievable events. And, though there isn't a 'Knight in Shining Armor' or 'Happily Ever After' in this story, it is absolutely a story of hope and strength and empowerment. It is my desire that this story will help you to overcome your own obstacles. Because, sometimes... Just knowing that one person beat the odds is enough to give you the encouragement you need to try it for yourself. This is a story of my mother and I fighting to hold on to each other when we had nothing left to hold onto in this world.
Book Bubbles from Stand For Something or Stand For Nothing
Being back in L.A.
I had a hard time adjusting back to Los Angeles especially since my brother got killed. My mother was struggling with her physical and mental health issues especially dealing with all the changes in our life. Crack cocaine got heavy in the streets of Los Angeles especially South Central Los Angeles. The Crips and Bloods were growing so much during the mid to late 80's. Young women were on almost every corner selling themselves for a less than $10 to get a "hit" of crack. It was during this time that I met two friends, and even got a cat name "Freeway." I was attending an elementary school in South Central Los Angeles and felt like I could be accepted due to the kids living just like me...in poverty! However, my 4th grade teacher referred me to a magnet school for gifted kids which had middle-class to rich kids attending and I got picked on and called so many names daily because I did not have the right clothes and I was poor. Thank God for the "Big Sisters of Los Angeles" program! My "Big Sister" Claudette Moody was the best thing that ever happen to me because she became a true role model for me!
Acknowledgements
I needed to give these important acknowledgements to the people that help mold me over the years, people that supported me and my mother, and to Attorney Gloria Allred for helping me share this story to the world. There may be a lot of acknowledgements but these people deserve it! Please click on link below to see the worldwide press conference with me and Gloria Allred in May 2014. This is the first time that the world heard about our case that ended ten years ago. Newspapers went on to say that this was one of the largest housing discrimination cases that ever happen in Los Angeles. Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZbEVNQh5tQ
Los Angeles Life
A brief excerpt from chapter 1 about Los Angeles street gangs and the reason why my mother moved us to Dallas, Texas. My brother was active in the Crips gang life in Los Angeles. My mother was always wondering when the police would be calling or knocking on the door to inform her that my brother got killed. No one could have ever told us that Dallas would be the place that would change our lives forever! Below are three links to learn more on my mother and I standing up to Donald Sterling. May 2014 press conference with attorney Gloria Allred to address the NBA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZbEVNQh5tQ Press Conference Photos: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/picture-of-kandynce-jones-in-her-appartment-is-shown-by-news-photo/489836515 Daily Beast article on the case: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/14/killed-by-donald-sterling-s-racism.html
Speaking Out!
I decided to speak out against Donald Sterling last year due to the the racist comments he made against African-Americans. That was the last straw! I kept my mouth quiet for over ten years since we closed the case. Here is a man that owned a majority Black basketball team and made millions from ownership with a huge number of fans being Black yet he hated people like me. I felt like my mother would have wanted me to speak up on her behalf again and take a stand! He is a rich and powerful man and I am an average American just trying to work hard everyday! However, I decided to speak up with the help of Attorney Gloria Allred. We held a press conference and directed our comments to the NBA who was deciding to remove or keep Donald Sterling as the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. I also felt it was my duty to speak up against racism and discrimination especially if I am teaching my daughter to do the same! Stand For Something or Stand For Nothing is a meaning that my mother and I believe in 100% because sometimes you must take a stand that is hard but needed to help make an impact for a positive change!
The Good Bye
This is part of chapter 8. My mother passed away and now her cat was so depressed and eventually passed away due to grief. I was just hurt and in a lot of emotional pain over the death of my mother and her cat "Morris". I felt that I lost everything in my world and now I still needed to keep my promise to my mother and carry the torch to keep fighting Donald Sterling which was one of the hardest things to do!
The Fight!
This is another excerpt from Chapter 9. The Associated Press would report that this case was the largest of its kind in the United States. No more discrimination would be allowed due to the public being aware.I volunteered to help the Justice Department in 2006 because Sterling was at it again with his racial discrimination at another building he owned.Sterling was surprised to see me again but I will always fight against any type of discrimination! Going through this situation with Sterling made me stronger and aware that I must stand up for what is right at all cost!
Excerpts from Chapter 9
This excerpt talks about how Donald Sterling sent notices to the tenants about closing the apartment garage and only tenants that filled out a two page form which asked your race, place of birth, and citizenship would get a garage remote control if they passed his test. You will also see how far Donald Sterling will go get minorities out of building with the exception Koreans because he felt they would stay quiet and accept any way of life. You will also get a chance to understand what my mother went through living at the Ardmore Apartments. Fyi...if you like this story, get the book on Amazon for $2.99. Please help support this story!
Court Battle Begins! Chapter 9
This chapter is the start of the court case. This excerpt gives you some details on Donald Sterling and how he viewed the tenants of his apartments. You will also read about how Donald Sterling own wife Rochelle lied to my mother and other tenants by posing as a housing inspector to enter the apartment units. There were a lot of illegal practices during this time which was racist and cruel. The good thing is that all these practices are well documented by the courts and witnesses.
Parts of chapter 8
I knew my mother wanted me to carry the torch and keep fighting Donald Sterling. My life was full of hurt and pain at this point but I made a promise to my mother on her dying bed that I wouldn't give up until justice prevails in this case! I had to juggle being a mother to my own daughter, trying to put food on the table, and driving from mid-Wilshire Los Angeles to Beverly Hills almost everyday to give my testimony and deposition to Donald Sterling high priced attorneys. I had to also mentally prepare myself because Mr. Sterling attorneys were digging into my mother's history and my background looking for anything to discredit us. It was painful because my mother died and yet they didn't care!
Excerpts from Chapter 6
This excerpt will discuss how I met the father of my child, got pregnant with my daughter Jazmine at 19 years old and juggle caring for my mother whose health was failing.
Chapter 3
This was a very hard time due to relocating back to Los Angeles, attending a new school in a very poor area, and my mother moving us into a guesthouse with no bedrooms; just a livingroom that we converted into our bedroom. We also had to get free food from churches and non-profits organizations to survive. Living in the neighborhood we moved to was scary with gangs and drugs growing everyday in the community. We had no car and we would have to take a cab or walk to the market and walk back home pushing the market basket. We struggled so much but we had each other!
How our fight got started!
This excerpt gives some background on former NBA Clippers owner Donald Sterling nasty comments on African-American and Latino tenants and why my mother and I had to take a stand against one of the richest and powerful men in this country. Just think two African-American women; a disabled and legally blind woman and her daughter who was trying to raise her own child; both with no money or big time lawyers decided to take a stand against hate and was successful when many people didn't want to take this powerful man on!
Chapter 1
This chapter highlights some good times in my life. My mother was healthy, my brother was alive and doing well, and I was happy and feeling so much love. Los Angeles during this time was changing in diversity and leadership. I truly enjoyed my childhood and never realized it would not stay this way because I was sheltered and protected.
My Early Years
My life was challenging, difficult, and fun at the same time. We struggled but we always pulled through together! We were a little family and we only had each other which was fine with me. I would never know that in a few short years that the family I knew would change forever!
