Black on Black Crime, Inc. Officers
Art McKoy, Founder
Black on Black Crime, Inc.
McCall's Motel
14660 Euclid Avenue
East Cleveland, Ohio 44112
326.5619(c); 761.9293; 761.4687; 321.3273(h)
artmckoy@blackonblackcrimeinc.org
By Art McKoy . Many think of me as a city boy, but really deep down inside I am a good old country boy being raised on my single mother's farm with four other siblings deep in the heart of the cotton belt in North Carolina. As a teenager, my mother passed and Cleveland, the city of my father, became my hometown. I graduated from East High as a Blue Bomber finishing Erma Lee Barber College and became a lifelong barber. Shortly after completing barber school, I was drafted and sent to the Vietnam War.
It was in Vietnam, deep in a fox hole, with bullets buzzing over my head and the thought that I would be killed far away in a foreign land fighting for my country, and as I watched others die, that incident gave me a rude awakening. I made it out of that fox hole and back in the safety zone in Vietnam with the big red one, 1st Infantry Division. I was listening to my little transistor radio about news back home. I heard of the struggle that Dr. Martin Luther King and Black people were going through fighting for freedom and human rights. It hurt me that they were being beaten, bitten by dogs, sprayed by huge water hoses, and many killed. I thought to myself, "I said surely that's a struggle for me because if I can be way over here in this foreign land risking my life for my country, then surely when I get back home to the United States, it would be an honor to risk my life for my people in their struggle for justice and freedom."
It has been over 30 years since I made that commitment and though I am older, when it comes to fighting for the rights and justice for my people and all people, I still have the vigor of a my youth. Black on Black Crime, Inc. is an organization I founded in the early 70's because I saw the plight and destruction and infestation that was like a plague devouring our community. It was my goal, as well as others, to curtail and nip black on black crime in the bud back then so it would not spread and infest our neighborhoods like it has today. Before the 70's, there weren't iron bars on business windows, woman could feel safe walking through the neighborhood going to a variety of stores and shops right in our neighborhood without worrying about being robbed or attacked. It was unheard of for children to disrespect their teachers in the school system. We organized because we saw that slipping away.
I also saw the violent ugly side of our community begin to appear in the form of black on black homicides. Men killing each other. Shooting each other down in the street for the simplest of reasons. At that time, alcohol played the biggest part. We knew this was urgent and that we had to get organized because we knew that if we didn't black on black crime would cause the ills that we now see today. First of all, with black on black crime, black people can't trust each other and without trust they can't help each other. Black on Black crime is the foremost reason that the schools are in the turmoil they are in now.
Black on Black crime is the main reason our community is so segregated and our housing stock is not integrated and is depleted. The job market in the inner city began to decrease with the influx of black on black crime. I could go on and on, but do you see the urgency today of why it was so urgent for us to organize then. I was naïve because I surely thought that somewhere down the line the Black on Black Crime organization would go out of business because Black on Black crime would decrease as it was back in the day.
For instance, in the late 70's, and early 80's the homicide rate was at one of its highest peaks. Over 300 homicides. With our work, in the mid 80's we were able to decrease those statistics to the 70 to 80 range of homicides. We were exuberant because we thought that finally we were going out of business. As soon as we got our hopes up, in the mid 80's, our community became infested with crack cocaine. Shortly after that, the murder and crime rates again went sky high only this time the amazing part of analyzing these murders were they were no longer grown adults murdering each other in an alcohol stupor but it was young kids under the age of 25 who were murdering themselves in the streets. These were very startling statistics because never before in the history of the United States has there been such an onslaught of young people killing each other as blood flows in the streets of Cleveland and inner cities. That is when I came to a realization that Black on Black crime probably will never go away, and we can never go out of business because the man doesn't want black on black crime to stop.
My final example. Black on Black worked through the turbulent crack cocaine filled age. We have lowered the murder rate of our young people drastically. The use of crack is down, but guess what's happening? The man has infested our neighborhoods and our community with heroin and hallucinatory drugs like "wet," which of course will again bring the murder and crime rates back up once again. I could go on and on, but in closing, as gloomy as the picture is that I have given you, I myself am not filled with gloom. I am an eternal optimist when it comes to the struggle of our people and I do believe that we shall overcome.
To hear more, tune in to Black on Black Crime with Art McKoy, WTAM 1100, 8 pm to 10 pm. We are coming to you straight from the hood and we are going to keep it real.
Ernie Harris, President
Black on Black Crime, Inc.
14681 Euclid Avenue
East Cleveland, Ohio 44112
255.0645(c); 381.3787(h); 266.4200(w); 266.4202(f)
ernieharris@blackonblackcrimeinc.org
Earnest Harris has been the President of BBCI for five (5) years. He is a licensed social worker and has worked with young people for over 30 years. Prior to becoming President of BBCI, he served as the Education Chairman. He attended Hope College where he majored in Sociology. He grew up in the projects of Chicago where he excelled in track and field. At present, he is the Assistant Track Coach at Collinwood High School.
Alfred E. Porter, Jr., Vice President
Black on Black Crime, Inc.
14681 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44112
486.0236; 386.8843(c); chessworldent.@yahoo.com
Mr. Porter is the current Vice President of Black on Black Crime, Inc., and member of the Board of Trustees. Also has also been a co-chair of the East Cleveland Love Fest for the past five (5) year. He also is the Chairman of the Hip Hop Workshop Committee, which BBCI started in 2004. The Hip Hop Workshop provides free, clean, family entertainment every other Saturday at the Neighborhood Ping Pong & Chess House, 14681 Euclid Avenue. Poets, singers, rappers, musicians, artists and dancers are welcomed. Al is also the public relations person for the SFE university, which is the largest music networking event that meets weekly in the Cleveland Coyote on 1187 Old River Road, East Bank of the Flats.
Judy Martin, Treasurer
1321 East 279 Street #101A
Euclid, Ohio 44132
or
Black on Black Crime, Inc.
14681 Euclid Avenue
East Cleveland, Ohio 44112
586.7398(w); 579.0212(f); 990.0679(c)
jmartin@jonesday.com , survivorsvictimsoftragedy@yahoo.com , jmartin@survivorsvictimsoftragedy.org , judymartin@blackonblackcrimeinc.org
By Art McKoy . When a tragedy hits home, some people wallow in their own sorrow, some people grieve themselves to death and for some people it gives them courage to stand up and say enough is enough. This was the case of a lady named Judy Martin. Judy Martin was an average, hard working family woman raising two sons, trying to live the American dream. Then one day a tragedy struck her. Her 23 year old beloved son Chris traveled down St. Clair to Bonehead's Gym. In a moment's time, after arriving at the gym, and before Chris could get out of the vehicle, he lay mortally wounded, shot, in a pool of blood, dying, Oh, what a terrible tragedy for any mom, but sometimes, as hard as it is, tragedy can bring out the best in courageous people and it brought out the best in July Martin. Since Chris' death, Judy has joined, organized, demonstrated, lectured, been out on the front line with other advocates and many times by herself to save our youth. During the trial of the assailant who killed her beloved son, when the prosecutors asked her did she want the death penalty, she said no. She had lost her son and did not want to see another mom lose her son. Because of her, her son's killer's life was spared. Judy Martin has compassion and courage, but don't think that this woman is not tough because she will go right in the areas infested with drug dealers and talk to them and even demand that they give the community respect. Line dancing is her passion. Can that woman move? Line dancing and dancing is the way she relieves a lot of stress.
Judy Martin saw a need for a Memorial Wall of Sorrows. So many young people have been killed in the streets and the only outlet they had was writing graffiti on abandoned buildings and walls that would soon be torn down. She had a vision that if there was a permanent Memorial Wall that hundreds and thousands could come to put pictures and memorabilia and grieve and share their pain and then most importantly heal. Her vision was to build it and they will come. She used her hard earned credit and she was able to erect the Memorial Wall/Wall of Sorrows, which is dedicated to over a 1,000 people from the age of birth through 25 who have lost their lives in Cuyahoga County alone. Judy says shame, shame, shame.
The current Wall is in East Cleveland on a building that is a fitting memorial in which thousands come by to pay their respects each year. Media such as CNN, LA Times, the Associated Press, local papers, and local and national TV stations have all reported on the impact of the Memorial Wall/Wall of Sorrows. Today, Judy Martin's ultimate goal is to save the Memorial Wall/Wall of Sorrows and Memorial Wall Building from being demolished. Her intentions are to build a fitting memorial garden on the land along with a community complex that will house a community center, computer room, building trade center, and much, much more. This can only be accomplished with your help. Judy is not asking for much. She asks that if each of you would just donate $5 or more to the Save the Memorial Wall/Wall of Sorrows Project, we can generate enough money to save the building and project. This is urgent. We need your contributions right away.
Judy Martin had the courage to stand up when her son was killed. Will you now have the courage to stand up for all our children and help save this Building? If you will stand up and say yes I want to help save this building, you will be saying that never, never again will we allow so many of our children to die senselessly in our community and our streets and do nothing about it. This Building and Wall will be a constant reminder that we can never let this happen again. Our children are our most valuable asset. For those of you who have lost loved ones like Judy and just want to talk to someone or grieve, Judy has founded Survivors/Victims of Tragedy, Inc., a support group for those who need support during the time of their tragedy. S/V consists of mothers and fathers who are sensitive to their pain and sorrow. These parents have been through the same thing you are going through.
Judy Martin has been a member of Black on Black Crime, Inc. since July 1994, two months after her son was killed. She has held the offices of Secretary and Treasurer. She is the founder of Survivors/Victims of Tragedy, Inc. and was active in the Head Start organization from approximately 1970 - 1984. She is a member of International Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (Queen Tutt #1271 & the Cleveland Joint Elks Beauty & Talent Committee), VOICES, the Task Force for Community Mobilization, and the Greater Cleveland Million Moms, a Chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. She was born in Tacoma, Washington and has been in Cleveland since 1967. She was an i nstrumental part of the creation of the Memorial Wall/Wall of Sorrows on the building at Euclid & Page. Borrowed 98% of the money for the Wall of Sorrows and materials on the building. Involved in organizing events about missing children, and has spoken at a couple prisons, at schools, rallies, etc.
Theodore Guerry, Secretary
Neighborhood Ping Pong & Chess House
Black on Black Crime, Inc.
14681 Euclid Avenue
East Cleveland, Ohio 44112
229.6792(h); 761.9293; 577.3628(c)
Mr. Guerry is the founder of the Neighborhood Ping Pong & Chess House and is the Secretary of Black on Black Crime, Inc.
If you want to meet a good, noble, sincere, honest and dedicated person, then you need to meet our Secretary, Theodore Guerry. This distinguished gentlemen worked and retired from the City of Cleveland. Upon retirement, he could have sat down, relaxed and enjoyed the American retirement dream. However, this was not Ted Guerry's calling. Upon retirement, he ran for state legislator and being a new comer to politics, though he garnered a significant amount of votes, he lost.
Again, Ted Guerry could have retired to the good life, but instead, he had a vision to develop his old campaign office into a neighborhood center called the Neighborhood Ping Pong & Chess House ("PPCH"). Since, he became a member of Black on Black Crime, Inc. and the rest is history. This man has done outstanding work in the community and for the PPCH. The PPCH is a non profit organization that works for the betterment of young people and senior citizens through development of character, comradeship and caring. Mr. Guerry sacrificed much of his money and time to nurture this facility and to make it a gathering pillar for the community. Participants at PPCH come from all over the community and Greater Cleveland for competition or just a good old game of chess, checkers, backgammon, ping pong or other games. The young people learn from the seniors and vice versa. This center could not have survived without Mr. Guerry's dedication.
The PPCH is also a gathering place for many community groups and meetings, such as, AA, NA and it is the main headquarters of Black on Black Crime, Inc. One of Ted Guerry's most notable quotes is that "We are not in control. God is in control. And if we just believe and trust in Him, everything will be alright."
If you really want to see Ted Guerry in action, come to the Hip Hop Workshop every other Saturday at 7 pm and watch him intermingle with the Hip Hop generation in song and dance or being the voice for the blind auction, and you would know that this man is truly a gift from God to Black on Black Crime, Inc, to the PPCH and to the community.