The Unspoken Word
Volume 1, Issue 1
Child Support Stories
What can we do?
Written By: R.C. Graham
Poeticmindz Productions
We are all aware that our black men seem to
be at the mercy of child support more than any other
race. We are also aware that there is not much respect
for “dead beat dads.” But are we slowly being
transformed into that no matter what we do?
It appears to me that men are crippled before
they even get a chance to get up and walk. And if you
are a black man than you may as well be paralyzed.
We are victims and the sad part is that most of our
women know this already. Threats of calling the law
have become too easy for most. We are forced to be a
certain type of man when most would be that anyway.
Many fathers feel like they do not have to be
told to take care of their child or children. However,
when there is a money hungry mother around we see
things differently. We are constantly being told, “I need
this. The baby needs that.” And then when the money
is given it is used for everything except the child. “You
can catch more flies with honey than you can with
vinegar.” This is an old statement but true. If given the
chance to be fathers many men would act differently as
continued on page 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 Child Support Stories/ A Theory of Truth
2 Child Support Stories (continued)
3 Things to Think About
3 A Theory of Truth (continued)/ The Lorraine Motel
4 Jay-Z SUV/ Top States for Homicides by Black Males
Newsletter
January 2007
A Theory of Truth
Where are we my people?
Written By: R.C. Graham
Poeticmindz Productions
After months of sitting amongst peers and
close friends, it seems as if we are all somehow drawn
to the same conclusion. Where are we as black
people? For years we have been products and
examples of the “Everyday Struggle.” We are hunted
by disease, poverty, welfare, drugs, and prison. I feel
as if we are somehow becoming even blinder to the
road up ahead. Our children are seeing dollar signs
before they can witness the work that comes behind
“The Mighty Dollar.” Drugs and drug dealers are now
today’s Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. “By Any
Means Necessary.” This is the thought of today’s youth.
While BET decides to air shows such as
American Gangsters, which digs the thought into their
heads even more. How are we really helping each
other? Or are we using the power of suggestive
thinking to persuade each other down a road of
destruction. Our children are becoming too easily
influenced and we know this already. As long as there
is a great deal of money being made, who cares? Who
plays a game of chess and gets upset over losing a
couple of pawns? You expect them to be lost because
they provide you, or should I say you at least set them
up to earn a bigger prize.
We are so wrapped up in making everyone
else rich as we struggle everyday to survive. Cars are
being picked while colleges and high schools are being
ignored.
On an average most people spend $100 on
their phone bills and this may not even include paying
to download ring tones and screensavers and such.
This calculates roughly $1200+ a year. But how much
continued on page 3
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 continued from page 1
apposed to being told that they got someone pregnant
and they are now going to HAVE to take care of their
responsibilities. That is a lot of pressure, especially if the
man is still young. Most men do not like to be told what to
do. If we were raised properly by our mother or parents
we know how to handle our responsibilities.
Child support is truly an issue today but we have
to realize that we are losing good people in the process.
Child support has become our silent war. But with war we
have to understand that good people, husbands, and
fathers are constantly being lost. A couple of bad apples
should not spoil the whole bunch. Society offers no type of
programs that assist fathers in doing right. There are no
counselors that teach us how to take care of our own
together without using the system. There are no work
programs that help as well. So if you don’t offer anything
to help and to teach, how are we to learn? Or are we just
pushed out there as they wait for us to later return in
metal bracelets and shackles.
Programs are offered to drug addicts, abusive
men and women, alcoholics, adulterers, even rapist. But if
you are a father trying to keep a job and take care of your
child or children, you have to just figure that one out on
your own. Just pray that you don’t fall behind or you’ll be
sharing your story with the rest of the fathers who sit in jail
today for the same reason. Only to come out and still be
behind in child support.
Fiscal Year 2005
Data Obtained from OCSE Annual Reports and Statistics
Illinois rank = out of 50 states plus District of Columbia,
Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico (54)
• Children Affected by Child Support: 680,763
(Rank = 8)
• Paternity Establishment: Total State Percentage
63.07% (Rank = 49)
• Paternity Establishment: Total DCSE Percentage
59.59% (Rank = 51)
• Child Support Order Establishment: 59.35%
(Rank = 49)
• Arrears (Back Child Support) Collection: 8.11%
(Rank = 18)
• Payments Being Made on Arrears: 45.91% (Rank
= 52)
• Cases with Collections: 35.19% (Rank = 50)
• Current Child Support Collection Rate: 53.29%
(Rank = 43)
Newsletter
• Overall Collection Rate (current and arrears):
17.80% (Rank = 35)
• Case to Caseworker Ratio: 1:389 (Rank 45)
The National average case to caseworker ratio is 1:266
• The number one ranking state (Montana) for
paternity has a ratio of 1:242
• The number one ranking state (South Dakota) for
order establishment has a ratio of 1:405
• The number one ranking state (Pennsylvania) for
child support collection and arrears collection has
a ratio of 1:207
Previous five years Illinois Case to Caseworker ratio:
• FY 2000 = 1:642
• FY 2001 = 1:504
• FY 2002 = 1:501
• FY 2003 = 1:471
• FY 2004 = 1:405
• FY 2005 = 1:389
Illinois has received 23.5 million dollars over the past
three years in Federal Incentive Bonus money that is, by
law, required to be reinvested back into the Child Support
Enforcement system.
There appears to be so much emphasis on the
problem but not an attempt to fix it. You do not have to be
a genius to know that if you provide the opportunity
people will take it. That money can easily be given to the
state. Allowing fathers to work whatever odd jobs that
need to be done on a voluntary basis to make up for their
either being behind or trying to get ahead. Buildings are
constantly being built, which would give us a trade as well.
Programs can be made to heal the relationships between
fathers and their children. Instead we are put in jail, and in
some states, aired on television.
I am not trying to rule out women who are on child
support but we are the main targets. And while child
support is increasing along with inflation, we only get a
small raise in minimum wage. There is not much room to
better yourself when you have nothing to do it with.
Willingly knowing that there is help for most crime
offenders, where is the help at for this issue? What
politicians speak on making things easier for us, we vote
as well. Until we fall behind enough in child support to
where they will want to make it a felony.**
2

T hings to T hink A bout …
….
President Bush to Spend More in Iraq;
Pentagon Seeks $100 Billion More For War
The Pentagon wants the White House to seek an
additional $99.7 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The military's request, if embraced by
President Bush and approved by Congress, would
boost this year's budget for those wars to about $170
billion.
Oprah Winfrey Finally Opens $40 Million
School for Girls in South Africa
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has opened a school for
disadvantaged girls, fulfilling a promise she made to
former president Nelson Mandela six years ago. The
28-building campus features computer and science
laboratories, a library, a theater and a wellness center.
In these two stories alone we are looking at 200
billion dollars combined. While there are so many people
dying on American soil from disease, hunger, and
homelessness. It seems as if it’s getting easier and easier
to overlook the misfortunes here. We are taking
everything to other countries, while there are so many
suffering right in our own backyards. First we lose jobs to
other countries and now we are losing assistance. And
you wonder why we can’t afford to do better these days.**
Newsletter
continued from page 1
does it cost to take a couple of classes at a community
college?**
The Lorraine Motel
Written By: R.C. Graham
I had the pleasure of bringing in my new year with
positive thoughts and strong beliefs that someone needs
to make a change. I visited the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis, TN where Dr. Martin Luther King was killed.
Now ask yourself, “Was his death in vein?” What
do you take out of the “I Have a Dream” speech or do you
just see a black man talking? While we embellish what all
our leaders have done, we also must realize that the fight
still continues. We are still victims to hate crimes as well
as police brutality. Some of us are exposed to racism and
discrimination. While racial profiling haunts most with
every police encounter. What has really changed from
then to now? We are still behind bars and some still think
drug dealing is the only way to make it. What has
changed? We were flashy back then and we are still
flashy now. You have to have or had the best women,
cars, and jewelry. What has changed?
It’s no longer what and it’s now who. We are not
letting our minds get passed that image that we have
always grown up seeing. From television to the movies,
we are still in that same train of thought. Some would say
that changing the way you think or what you are
accustomed to doing is the hardest thing to change. It’s
not that you smoke or drink. It’s that you can’t get you’re
mind to say that’s enough. So when is enough? Enough is
when I’m sitting on the porch with my children and
grandchildren and they ask me, “Grand-daddy, why is the
world the way it is today?”**
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The Jay-Z SUV by General Motors Is Top States for Homicide by Black Males
Ready to Roll #1 Maryland: 69.6 %
By The Associated Press
#2 Illinois: 64 %
#3 Louisiana: 61.7 %
DETROIT (AP) - Jay-Z and General Motors are teaming #4 Mississippi: 57.1 %
up to bring a stylish hue to a rugged sport utility vehicle. #5 Michigan: 57 %
The music mogul emerged from a concept GMC Yukon
#6 Pennsylvania: 53.4 %
Denali SUV on stage Saturday during a celebrity-filled
party thrown by General Motors Corp. on the eve of media #7 Georgia: 52 %
previews for the North American International Auto Show. #8 Wisconsin: 50.7 %
#9 Missouri: 49.5 %
Painted "Jay-Z Blue," the SUV was developed through a #10 Alabama: 48.1 %
partnership with the rapper during the past two years. Jay-
Z , whose real name is Shawn Carter, worked with the #11 Virginia: 47.7 %
company's global color studio to create the reflective blue #12 Kentucky: 47.1 %
color for the SUV. #13 Ohio: 46.9 %
#14 New York: 45.8 %
"Hopefully I'll be able to drive one of them out of here
tonight," he said.**
#15 Arkansas: 45.3 %
#16 South Carolina: 44.1 %
#17 New Jersey: 44 %
#18 Delaware: 43.3 %
#19 Connecticut: 43.2 %
#20 Indiana: 43 %
#21 North Carolina: 40.2 %
#22 Tennessee: 38.2 %
#23 Minnesota: 37.5 %
#24 Massachusetts: 34.5 %
#25 Rhode Island: 34.1 %

Newsletter 4
The Unspoken Word 5