Beyond a whisper

Upper photo-My aunt and whisper Nicholas Caldwell at my father's funeral.

TBR Leighton Bradford Editor-in-Chief 

I remember my folks telling me about how talented my father was, and that he created or started the R&B group the whispers! My mother told me about how he played the guitar for her and eased towards her fondness. Not bad for a brother from South Central LA! The sixties were a turbulent time, Watts, CA exploded into a riot after the death of Malcolm X and soci

al degradation. I possess books recovered from the Watts riot; it has shaped my knowledge of Black Consciousness. My latest struggles within the uplifting of my people within the south, allows me to reflect on what I took for granted, growing up on the west coast. I was born in South Central LA, it has molded my understanding of the pitfalls of inner city life. Black people are doing great things, despite socio-economic deprivation. I never knew I would be countered within the aforementioned construct. My brothers and sister's aren't afforded the sacrifices made towards freedom. My southern brothers and sista's still fear shadowy bigots. Racism is alive and well.  My parents were the catalyst for this chosen path. My relatives kept telling me to watch the unsung depiction of the group. I said to myself the unsung person is my father. Clarence Andrew Bradford gathered his classmates together at Jordan High School in Watts, California; beginning what we now know as the Whispers! My father could play the guitar, dance and sing.  My uncle use to tell me  that my father could fight and handle himself around the block. Most of the Whispers ate and stayed with my grandparents during their formative years. I'm told the Bradford refrigerator nourished the group. The passing of my father and Nicholas Caldwell, allowed me to reflect on my fathers past accomplishments. My mother, Dr. Bradford, made sure his memory was truthful. She told me how they had house parties in the sixties, and she danced better than my father.  The last memory of my father was him driving an early seventies Eldorado Cadillac, heading toward a gig. I never talk about this part of my life. The Whispers founder choreograph, sang, and played several instruments. "Needle In A Haystack", was the whispers first hit! After a stint within the army, the twins came later in the group. People only know the Don Cornelius/Solar version. The group has had countless hits.  Andrew Bradford played several instruments. Contributing to the neo-soul sound

of today. The music of today could benefit from the timeless soul music created by the Whispers. I know there are some that read this and want me to be negative, and concentrate  on people's problem's. Sure they were human beings who had problems. My father started one of the most profound R&B groups of all time!

Reverend Pinkney-How I became a political prisoner

Rev. Pinkney and his wife Dorothy. Rev. Pinkney was held as a political prisoner for 21⁄2 years because he led the community’s
challenge to a corporate backed mayor in Benton Harbor.

 

 



TBR-BENTON HARBOR, MI —  I am Reverend Edward Pinkney, a national and community activist, who tragically, became a political prisoner in the state of Michigan on December 15, 2014.  I was sent to prison with absolutely no evidence a crime was ever committed. The Berrien County trial court and Judge Sterling Schrock, along with prosecutor Mike Sepic, stole 30 months of my life.
On July 26, 2016 the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected my appeal. The three-judge panel, Kelly, O’Brien, and Hood, better known as the three blind mice, stated Rev. Edward Pinkney must have told somebody to change the dates on the recall petitions. This was ridiculous. There was absolutely no evidence to support their theory. I was convicted by an all white jury that was motivated by something other than the truth, but it is bigger than that. The powers that be will crush anybody who stands up today. It’s me today, and you tomorrow.
I have already completed the 30 months that was forced on me as the result of a Jim Crow trial that accused me of altering dates on a recall petition against the puppet Mayor James Hightower, who lost the last election by a landslide.
The prosecutor and judge formed a partnership and instructed the all white jury to convict me without any evidence. I am an innocent man tried, convicted and sentenced to die in an effort to isolate and silence me against the power of the land grabbing, job out sourcing, criminal Whirlpool Corporation, with its headquarters in Benton Harbor. This is a company who refuses to pay taxes or hire Benton Harbor Black residents. My unusually harsh sentence was imposed by Judge Schrock.
I appealed the judgment of the Michigan Court of Appeals with the Supreme Court on Sept 3, 2016. On May 17, 2017, the Court asked two questions about the case, (but refused to ask about the insufficiency of evidence.) The questions are about whether the Berrien County trial court violated the Michigan Rules of evidence, the first amendment and due process for allowing “evidence” against me to be admitted under 404b based on the prosecutor’s allegation that I was politically and socially motivated (indicated by my political and social activity, which was 100% legal). The allegation was that it was likely I committed the illegal act of forgery because it promoted my political goal of having the election recall go forward. This was nonsense.
Question number two was whether I was ever charged with a crime. The only statute that was the basis of the felony counts (168.937) set forth a penalty provision for forgery that is prohibited by other sections of the election code and does not set forth a substantive crime that can be the basis of a prosecution.
The scale of Lady Justice is imbalanced, especially against people of color. We must continue to fight against this grave imbalance to ensure a humane, just future for people of color, the homeless, the poverty stricken, for the whole weary and for the beaten populace of America. All across our country, we must continue to speak truth to power. We must demand that justice be served for all people.