George Floyd Protests Across America Is Going Down!

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Curmilus Butch Dancy II 2020

A prescription for curing the chronic disease of racism in America

The symptoms of the disease

The rioting we are witnessing, throughout cities in the United States, in the aftermath of the  horrific murder or George Floyd in Minneapolis, are all too familiar images of understandable reactions to the pain of racist attacks on black citizens. From the murder of George Floyd this week; to the slaying of Atatiana Jefferson, last year; to the beating of Rodney King in 1991; to the killing of 11 members of MOVE in 1985; to the deaths of 648 African-Americans in the mass murder/suicide of the People’s Temple in Jonestown, Guyana in 1978; to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in1968; to the murders, by firebomb, of Harry and Harriette Moore in 1955; to the countless other black martyrs whose bodies swung, as strange fruit, from the limbs of lynching trees and whose blood stains the pages of American history, the riots you are seeing are reactions to the chronic pain of an ongoing onslaught on our right to exist, as fellow human beings, in this country that our ancestors, through slave labor, built.

The diagnosis of the disease

It is the slave labor of our black ancestors that jumpstarted an American economy that grew to dominate global economics. The fact that we have given so much to the establishment of this nation makes the pain of ongoing attempts to exterminate us that much more searing.  And the reaction to that pain, like the cries of agony and thrashing about if one were stabbed with a white-hot, iron poker is what we are seeing in the riots taking place today. Sadly, the riots, like the cries of agony and thrashing about in reaction to the stabbing of the white-hot, iron poker, do nothing to heal the wound or reduce the heat in the iron poker, or force the hand wielding the poker to drop it.  That requires more than a reaction.  It requires a response.

In psychology, a reaction is defined as an immediate or short-term, survival-oriented, defense mechanism that often is something you regret later. Whereas a  response, on the other hand, is defined as more of a long-term, flourish and thrive rather than survive oriented mechanism that goes beyond considering the preservation of one’s existence to the furthering of one’s well-being as well as the well-being of those around you.

The prescription for treating the disease

So, while understanding the RIOTS as REACTIONS, in the short-term, to the immediate pain and agony of racist attacks against us, it is incumbent upon us to go beyond this reaction to POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT, in the long-term, as the RESPONSE prescribed to eliminate the chronic disease of racism in America.  It is political engagement that will force the hand wielding the hot poker of racism to drop it and stop stabbing us with it!

As with any prescription, we must understand what political engagement is; how it differs from political action, political participation, and political involvement; how to use it; and when we can expect to see it have its palliative effects.

What is political engagement?

Political engagement is responding to external events, like the murder of George Floyd, by assessing the political power structures and processes that directly gave rise to those events; accessing those political power structures and processes; and personally committing to working to change them.

Other political activities, like  political action, political participation, and political involvement might result from political engagement but these activities, in the absence of political engagement, will prove fruitless.  The past almost 60 years since the peak of the American Civil Rights Movement offer clear evidence of this.

Protest is a form of political action and we have done it before, during, and after the height of the Civil Rights Movement and it has done little good.

Voting is form of political participation but voting alone has resulted in little change. If it had, George Floyd and many others would still be alive.

Being a member of various social and political movements and organizations is a form of political involvement, but that political involvement has not yielded the desired outcomes.  If it had, then we repeatedly would not be witnessing reactions to racist murders.

The failure of these political mechanisms, in the absence of direct political engagement clearly makes the case for the need to root all our other political mechanisms in political engagement.

Perhaps there is such a paucity of political engagement – which necessitates assessing the political power structures and processes that directly gave rise to atrocities, like the murder of George Floyd,  accessing those political power structures and processes; and personally committing to working to change them – because political engagement, in action, appears to be boring.  Posting about it on social media is not likely to yield a lot of views or likes and discussing it with friends and families might result in a lot of eye-rolling.

Despite how boring direct political engagement might appear to be it is what we must do to eliminate racism in America and doing it begins at the local level and is not exceedingly difficult.  These are the steps:

1. Contact your local government and ask for the list of local boards and committees that have citizens serve on them.  If there are none in key areas, like police advisory, human relations, public safety, community development, juvenile justice, planning, etcetera, on which citizens can serve then ask how local ordinances can be changed to make it so and work on making it so.

2. After discovering the roles citizens can play on these local boards and committees, assess those roles to determine if they are most effective. Do citizens have a real say or are they just for window dressing? Research best practices for citizen involvement and see how those in your local area measure up and let your local elected officials know the change, for the better, that you want to see. This is a link to a manual that lists best practices local governments can adopt to improve political engagement: https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/flip_docs/How-To-Manual_FINAL_012213/files/assets/common/downloads/How-To-Manual_FINAL_012213.pdf .

3.  After discovering the roles citizens can play on these local boards and committees, even if it is not yet the role you want to see, commit to serving on them, as they are, and work to change them, from the inside, to what you want them to be.

4. Encourage your friends and family to join you in your political engagement.

Remember – political engagement is not always visible, and you might not get much notoriety but, it is the way power relations, in American democracy, are changed.  It might not be highly visible, but it is effective.  The change likely will be incremental, but it will neither be imperceptible nor ineffective.  Consider this encouraging example:

I helped organize the first planning board for a small town in North Carolina and served as the first chairperson of that board.  I received no notoriety and most people do not even know about it but a lasting outcome was the construction of a park that includes a paved basketball court and covered picnic area with access to electricity for family and community events.

So, when the smoke clears and the dust settles from the cathartic reaction of rioting let us roll up our sleeves, walk into the city halls across America and take our rightful places as citizens engaged in changing, for the better, the political institutions and power structures of America.  Having some of us serve on police oversight committees and boards, hopefully, will provide a level of accountability to prevent future tragedies like the murder of George Floyd.

See original post and other posts on Glenn Silver’s Blog.

Although I Have Been Engaged In Activism, It Ain’t About Fighting To Die To Go To A Better Place

What is there to talk about? It was Murder!

The Police have committed murder in 3 different cities recently that has gone viral, plain and simple.

I have been engaged in community and political activism over since the 80’s and I have seen some things locally and across the nation.

I strongly believe that some White kids travel from city to city causing issues during civil unrest.

I strongly believe that many white kids are rebellious to their parents help tear up the area and then go back to their hometowns and chill.

Some of these kids are reaping the benefits of White Privilege by default.

I strongly feel that sometimes it is not Black protesters that create the violent situation but it is perpetrated by intruders but because we have some hurting and angry Black folk, the situation becomes out of control.

I always try to look at the whole situation and when you are actively engaged you can understand what is going on.

I am for justice no matter who it is for or against!

They say that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had his eyes on the Prize that he knew if he was killed he would go to a better place. Well I don’t believe that is whole trues. I believe he had the mentality that I have today. I have been fighting since the late 80’s for ungrateful Safe Negro Black Folk just like Dr. King knowing I have put my life and my family lives in danger. I have not done it because I know if they kill me I am going to a better place, I have done it because I want this world to be a better place all the days of my life.

What we are facing today is hurt and angry Black folk who are sick and tired of being sick tired!

Pastors, ministers and church folk need to understand that while there are some who are so holy bound that they are living to get to heaven that some of us want to live a good life on this side. It is time that pastors, ministers and church folk to recognize and understand that some folk don’t want to just hear about when we get to heaven.

Now let’s talk about what is going on the good, the bad and the ugly. If we ain’t going to address issues within our communities be it Black on Black Crime, White on Black Crime and Police brutality/murder, hell those who only got heaven on their minds pray and ask the Good Master to come down and get you.

Those of you who are focused on heaven, I’ll see you in the morning because I am going to continue to fight without focusing on the end when I get to heaven, I am focused on the movement not the moment.

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Curmilus Butch Dancy II 2020

Excited About What Is Going On!

Nope been fighting this same fight since the late 80’s.

So now you excited but been silent on issues that matter all of these years.

I am watching everybody’s actions not just those who are in the streets the Non-violent Protesters and Violent Protesters but what those on the sidelines are saying in the moment. This is not a moment but an movement. Have you been a part of the movement?

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Curmilus Butch Dancy II 2020

For Those Who Do Not Know Me So When You Come For Me, Come Correct

This is old and has not been updated on my site for several years to reflect recent things I have done. I think after reading this you will see what where I stand.

Curmilus Dancy II A lifelong North Carolinian

Curmilus Dancy, II was born in Edgecombe County to Curmilus Dancy, Sr. and the late Dorothy Gray Horne Dancy on December 25, 1962. He began to work at age 5 on the farm and he continued to work on the farm while working other jobs up until 1996. His mother and father’s love for helping people has rubbed off on him as he reaches out to lend a helping hand to the grassroots people on a daily basis.

Curmilus graduated in 1981 from SouthWest Edgecombe High School in Pinetops, North Carolina. He has been employed at Honeywell Aerospace Company (formerly Allied Signal and Bendix) of Rocky Mount North Carolina since 1987. He assembles and test fuel controls for the military that are installed on the F-14, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.

Curmilus is the founder and President of Dancy’s Professional Services where he specializes in barbecuing and video taping. He makes his own special barbecue sauce that his mother taught him how to make and his father taught him how to cook pigs, chickens and other meats on the grill. His best friend Otis Cornel Barnes sold him a video camera back in the early 90’s and Curmilus videoed everything he attended. People liked his tapes and they told him he should start selling copies of his work. Curmilus only cook for family now because of his busy schedule. Curmilus only video on a personal note capturing history in Edgecombe County and surrounding areas to add to his archives.

Curmilus is a strong advocate for justice in the workplace. On one occasion he stood up by himself after seeing a picture in a company newsletter showing the human relation manager presenting a rebel flag to his retiring manager saying a gift from Rocky Mount. After arriving to work on the evening shift, he left work early that evening after another technician showed him the newsletter. He met with some Reverends and Black Workers For Justice to discuss this issue. They held a news conference on the following day. The manager was dismissed shortly after because of the pressure and publicity in the newspapers and on the tv stations.

Curmilus is also a strong advocate for justice as he is vocal in the community and in the school system. In 1993 he was involved in helping the students at SouthWest Edgecombe High School resolve a walkout that they performed. During this time some parents and Curmilus started Partners in Education (P.I.E.) to try to get black males to volunteer some time in the school system to be a role model to the students. Shortly after Curmilus was invited to the CORNFIELD by the principal of the school because he didn’t want Curmilus volunteering in the school. The principal said Curmilus was a racist. The local NAACP where Curmilus was the 1st Vice President had called for the principal’s resignation but to later meet behind Curmilus back and sided with the principal.

After (P.I.E.) was kicked out of the school, Curmilus and his wife co-founded (P.I.E.C.E.) People Interested in Enhancing Our Children’s Education in January 1999. P.I.E.C.E. hosted several meetings in the past and most recently held political meetings (meet the candidates) in 2002 trying to educate the people on politics because very little was being done to reach the people.

Curmilus played a major role in the appointment of the first black Sheriff of Edgecombe County in 1996, the Honorable James Knight. He was also instrumental in helping Senator John Edwards (wm) and Governor Mike Easley (wm) to get elected in 1998 and 2000. In 1998 Curmilus played a role in the Daily Southerner firing Frank Taylor, editor as he responded back and forth to his articles concerning the Democratic Party and a lot of folks stopped buying their newspapers.

Curmilus is a former member of the Bynum Farm Road Community Club and he was very instrumental in the flood recovery process after the 1999 flood of the century that devastated the Bynum Farm Road Community with major losses and 6 deaths. He rode around the county and sometimes out of the county attending meetings gathering information dealing with the flood recovery. A TV station out of Durham NC followed him home to do an interview for the 11:00 PM news after a flood meeting that was held at G.W. Carver School in Pinetops. Curmilus fought against a white group which included Piggly Wiggly owner who started a housing development on the same road out of the flood zone. The group had some crazy restrictions and he made sure that the group changed the restrictions before the people agreed to purchase the land.

Curmilus served as former vice chair of Rocky Mount Nash Edgecombe Economic Development Corporation (NEED Inc.) board of directors until he was kicked off by an Edgecombe County Commissioner that he represented. The treasurer William Hobbs a retired IRS Agent was also kicked off the board by the Nash County Commissioner that he represented because Dancy and Hobbs were trying to run the program as a business and cut out the unprofessional activities that were taking place. The chair and 2 other board members quit when they left also.

Curmilus is the former vice president of the Edgecombe County Branch NAACP #5390 (Adult Life Subscribing Member) where he was also the acting education chair and a member of the legal redress committee. He received the District 11 NC NAACP Humanitarian Award on February 22, 2002 for his commitment, dedication and not being afraid to speak out on issues. He chose not to hold a position in the November 2002 elections because he would be focusing on politics and he does not want anything or anyone holding him down.

Curmilus has been very active in the school PTO over the years serving as assistant secretary and vice president at G.W. Carver Elementary School. In 2001 he was instrumental in making sure that G.W. Carver replaced the retiring principal with a certified person and not the non-certified white female that they were going to put in place. He is a former member of the School Improvement Team at South Edgecombe Middle School where his daughter India is a 7th grade honor student. Some of the staff at the school felt intimidated by Curmilus because he challenged them during the meetings and always holding them accountable for their actions. Curmilus has requested that 2 schools staff receive diversity training because of some issues. The Central Office agreed and the training was held in 2003.’ Because of Curmilus’ knowledge of the education system, a former principal of South Edgecombe called the local Sheriff Department to have him removed from the campus at a School PTO Report Card Pick Up night because he asked questions during the election of the PTO officers and during a visit to one of his daughter’s classrooms where he questioned the teacher about a math question. The principal was later removed from this school.

Curmilus has received certificates of graduation for participating in the yearly (PESP) Parent Education Studies Program through the NC Justice and Community Development Center Education Leadership Institute at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill NC on June 14, 2002 and again on May 30, 2003 at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center in Rocky Mount NC.

Curmilus is the former vice chair of the Edgecombe County Democratic Party. He resigned his post in August 2002 after many years of trying to educate the people of Edgecombe County about politics. The black community always talked about electing good qualified people to represent them and then came Patricia Ferguson of Bertie County who was a candidate for Senate District 3. The Edgecombe Nash Political Caucus (formerly the Edgecombe Nash Black Political Caucus), some of the local Democratic Party players and some of the black ministers supported the white candidate. Ferguson was not only qualified but a very knowledgeable and powerful black female. Curmilus played a major role in the 2002 election of Jean Farmer-Butterfield who was elected to serve as the NC House 24 District Representative for some of Edgecombe and some of Wilson Counties.

In July 2003 Curmilus played a major role in the dispute of the Dr. MLK Statue controversy in Rocky Mount NC where a statue was placed in the King Park and the people were outraged that the statue did not resemble Dr. King.

Curmilus helped Rev. Andre Knight President of the Rocky Mount Branch of the NAACP to put together a meeting to have some dialogue about the image of Dr. King that was placed in the park. Out of this meeting and a visit to the Rocky Mount City Council meeting, a committee was formed to try to have the statue facial appearance redone to meet the consensus of all those who was in the majority for change. Because of Curmilus’ role in the statue controversy, Erik Blome of Figurative Art Studio in Chicago Illinois, the creator of the statue felt compelled to call him to discuss the issue on a personal note.

In October and November 2003 Curmilus played a major role in the election of Rev. Andre Knight as he was elected to serve as the Ward 1 Representative for the Rocky Mount City Council.

Curmilus worked hard trying to get Reuben Blackwell current Rocky Mount City Council Representative elected as the 1st black mayor of Rocky Mount but Blackwell was defeated by the 30 year incumbent. Out of these 2 campaigns the formation of organizing a grassroots organization that will kick off it’s presence in February 2004. This group is ready to stand up and make a difference in the Rocky Mount City, Edgecombe/Nash Counties.

Curmilus is a former member of the Edgecombe County Workfirst Extension Hearings Committee and Common Ground (Race Relations) Study Committee based in Rocky Mount.

Curmilus launched his own talk show “You Can Make A Difference If You Get Involved” (UCANMAKADIF) on April 2, 2003 that was every Wednesday evening from 4:00 ““ 5:00 PM where he was taking the “tough love” approach. He had fresh new approach because he was not afraid of breaking the rules. When he say breaking the rules, he does not mean breaking the law. The rules that he is talking about are certain individuals or a group of people who want to be in control and don’t want others to get involved.

Some people do not want us to deal with the local war. The local war is about economics, race, education, discrimination, liberation, reparation and all those dirty words to some folks. Due to financial reasons Curmilus had to stop the show but he looks forward to going back on the air.

In January 2004 Curmilus was the recipient of the 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year Award during the 14th Annual Commemorative Banquet honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sponsored by the Edgecombe County Entrepreneurs Organization. In April 2004 Curmilus was the recipient of the President’s Award at the 31st Annual NAACP Rocky Mount, NC Branch Freedom Fund Banquet.

In October 2005 Curmilus was appointed as the NC State NAACP Press and Publicity Chairman.

Curmilus consolidated P.I.E.C.E. and UCANMAKADIF under one umbrella. He is now founder and president of Dancy Communications Network (The DCN Newsletter) where he is “making an impact in the thinking of the people throughout eastern North Carolina via the internet, newsletter, public forums, radio and video.” He now has a blog that anyone can read and post comments to the information posted.

Curmilus tells people all the time that he has been kicked off or resigned from more boards than some have been a part of. When Curmilus feels he has spent enough time trying to suggest change and comes to a dead end, then he feels it is time to move on.

Curmilus has written many editorials to the Rocky Mount Telegram, Tarboro Daily Southerner, Greenville Reflector, Wilson Daily Times and several (Black Owned) newspapers the Raleigh Carolinian, Wilmington Journal and had my own column in the Community Journal Newspaper Pitt County. Curmilus also call in to other talk shows in Edgecombe County, Nash County and Wake County weekly to voice his concerns. You can count on

Curmilus speak out on issues while others are afraid to do so publicly. Curmilus has a daily e-newsletter through his weblog sending information across the nation via internet. He also managed the NC State NAACP weblog for 2 years along with serving as the Press and Publicity Chair. The 2 blogs kept Curmilus very, very busy as he continuously tries to get information to the people as soon as possible while working a full-time job.

Recently Curmilus played a role in getting Democrat Clee Atkinson appointed to Sheriff of Edgecombe County in March 2017 when Sheriff James Knight retired.

Curmilus has been videoing and taking photos on a voluntarily basis for the church since 2009 using his own equipment.

Curmilus has sacrificed much in order to try to educate the community by spending his own money and donating countless hours over the years. He recognizes and understand that the system works when you work the system, so therefore he is a resource not only to the black community but to other communities as well. He makes himself available 24 hours a day.

Curmilus writes letters to the editor to local newspapers and also call in to local talk shows voicing his opinion on issues.

Curmilus Dancy II resides in Pinetops with his wife Brenda Douglas formerly of New Bern NC and they have 3 children Nashonda Lavette Dancy Waldorf Maryland, India Matita Dancy and Curmilus Dancy III (CJ) of Pinetops NC.

Although Curmilus has been labeled a troublemaker by some and a militant by others, his motto is: “I’M FOR TRUTH NO MATTER WHO TELLS IT. I’M FOR JUSTICE, NO MATTER WHO IT IS FOR OR AGAINST. I’M FOR A HUMAN BEING, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND AS SUCH I’M FOR WHOEVER AND WHATEVER BENEFITS HUMANITY AS A WHOLE.” Malcolm X

“I have no permanent friends no permanent enemies only permanent interest!”

Affiliations:

Dancy Communications Network The DCN News Blog Online TV – Founder & Owner
Blogger, Videographer, Photographer
NAACP – Life Fully Paid Member/2nd Vice President Rocky Mount NC Branch
Democratic Party – Precinct Chair/County Executive Committee
Education – SouthWest Edgecombe High School
Community Activist

https://curmilus.wordpress.com/bio/