Author: James Shearer
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Where Are You?
During the holidays the United Nations released a report on poverty in the United States of America, and it wasn’t pretty. This should have been a major topic of discussion in the news, but it wasn’t. It’s a story that should have been a cause for alarm, but it wasn’t. It should have sent shivers…
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Cold Weather, Colder Reality
Quincy COPE has been serving food and love at South Station for years with little or no complaints, that is until now. Apparently one of the Station’s security guards probably with nothing better to do approached Suzanne Featherstone (who is seen by many as the leader of the Quincy contingent) and the other volunteers and…
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Memories of Thanksgiving on the Street
I enjoyed this past Thanksgiving, probably more than I’ve enjoyed Thanksgiving in quite some time. I got to spend a nice, quiet holiday in my adopted hometown with friends. It was quiet, and I caught up on a lot of sleep and watched movies. I wish I could say that nothing bothered me at all,…
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Memories of Thanksgiving on the Street
I enjoyed this past Thanksgiving, probably more than I’ve enjoyed Thanksgiving in quite some time. I got to spend a nice, quiet holiday in my adopted hometown with friends. It was quiet, and I caught up on a lot of sleep and watched movies. I wish I could say that nothing bothered me at all,…
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Long Island Shelter Closure Inexcusably Left People Out in the Cold
As the cold weather set in a couple of weeks ago, I posted on Facebook how cold days like this make me think of Long Island Shelter. I wasn’t alone when I posted that. Some people had positive responses, others not so much, but we still remembered the island. It’s only been three years since…
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Racism as Usual at Sports Stadiums, College Campuses
Sometimes I find it truly amazing these days when people hear of racist actions or events and are shocked, as if these things are new to America or as if racism started yesterday. A couple of racist events happened this past week. A white college student in Connecticut did everything she could, including something weird…
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We Never Learn: Mass Carnage Reveals America’s Apathy
I watched the events unfold in Vegas last week with a deep sadness, and then utter disgust as I watched politicians and others on the left (including myself) spout off about gun control once again. I am always amazed how as Americans we react to a situation after tragedy strikes. The same thing happened with…
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On Homelessness and Humanity
A couple of weeks ago, the executive director of the Homeless Empowerment Project, which publishes Spare Change News, read my column, “Homeless People Don’t Matter,” and it stayed with her for some time. “How did we get here?” she posted regarding the story, which was about the lenient sentencing of a security guard who assaulted…
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Boycotting the NFL Won’t Stop Police Brutality
On the day of the New England Patriots’ first game of the year, a friend asked me if I was going to watch it. I said, “Of course I am,” and he immediately began to lecture me on how I was betraying my people. (He was white, go figure.) As everyone knows—unless you’ve been in…
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Boston Courts to Homeless People: You Don’t Matter
My column this week was supposed to be about the so-called “Free Speech Rally.” It was supposed to be about the pride that swelled in my chest as my adopted hometown—which has itself faced more than enough issues when it comes to racism—overwhelmingly rejected (to the tune of 40,000 people) the same crap that engulfed…