[Antiracism] Latin Flava tonight!

[zanSS at hampshire.edu]

We would like to invite you to:

           Latin Flava Café http://www.latinflava.biz
                   1677 Main St  Springfield Mass  
                      poetically or just speak out  
                      against Domestic Violence
  
                          Springfield Mass
  
                       Saturday Night may 28th
                       starting at 9:30 p.m.
     
                          Reclaiming Life

        Please support us by printing fliers and pass them around
  
                http://www.c-a-h.net/reclaiminglife.pdf

For more info. please contact Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor - soulfighter at c-a-h.net


"Racism is pervasive in American society and remains a silent code that 
systematically closes the doors of opportunity to young and old alike. 
Visibly identifiable members of racial and ethnic oppressed groups 
continue to struggle for equal access and opportunity, particularly 
during times of stringent economics, strident calls for tax revolt, 
dwindling natural resources, inflation, widespread unemployment and 
underemployment, and conservative judicial opinions that are precursors 
to greater deprivation. Unless curbed, these conditions invariably lead 
to greater ethnic and racial rivalry and to greater political, social, 
and economic oppression".
(see more information here)
http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/events/911/racism.asp


"Despite the significant correlation between domestic violence and 
chemical dependency, hardly any research has been conducted and little 
has been written about the need to develop intervention strategies that 
address both the domestic violence and the substance abuse problems of 
chemically dependent men who batter. Similarly, little has been done to 
assist battered women with chemical dependency problems to meet their 
need for both safety and sobriety. Neither system currently is equipped 
to provide the range of services needed by battered women and batterers 
who are affected by chemical dependency". 
(see more information here)
http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/health_humsvc/substance/falsecx.html

Learned Behavior
"Battering is a socially learned behavior, and is not the result of 
substance abuse or mental illness, advocacy groups claim. "Men who 
batter frequently use alcohol abuse as an excuse for their violence. 
They attempt to rid themselves of responsibility for the problem by 
blaming it on the effects of alcohol," they say.
Alcohol does not and cannot make a man abuse a woman, but it is 
frequently used as an excuse. Many men drink and do not abuse anyone as 
a result. On the other hand many men abuse women when they are sober. 
It can be easier for some men and for some women to believe that the 
violence would not have happened if a drink had not been taken".

It's part of the denial process. Alcoholism and battering do share some 
similar characteristics -- both may be passed from generation to 
generation, both involve denial or minimization of the problem, both 
involve isolation of the family.
(see more information here)
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/abuse/a/aa990331.htm

If Domestic Violence is a learned behavior, and racism keeps non-white 
communities from adequate education because of lack of economic 
potential then we must stand to end racism and build within our 
communities

  
               Latin Flava Café http://www.latinflava.biz
                   1677 Main St  Springfield Mass  
                      poetically or just speak out  
                      against Domestic Violence
  
                          Springfield Mass
  
                       Saturday Night may 28th
                       starting at 9:30 p.m.
     
                          Reclaiming Life
  
        Please support us by printing fliers and pass them around
  
                http://www.c-a-h.net/reclaiminglife.pdf