Category Archives: raising black boys

This day in history — April 7, 1712 — Enslaved People Revolt in New York City

Posted on April 7, 2018 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In 1712, New York City had a large enslaved population and the city’s whites feared the threat of rebellion. Enslaved people in New York City suffered many of the same brutal punishments and methods of control faced by their counterparts … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, race, raising black boys, Slavery, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading About Dreaming on the #2 Train

Posted on April 19, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I am on a #2 train, heading uptown.  The train is delayed in the station.  An announcement: “A train in front of this one is having problems closing its doors.”  So we wait.  Recently, there was a fare hike.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther King, raising black boys, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Crimes of Bill Clinton Cannot Be Expugned

Posted on April 20, 2016 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

As Hillary Clinton sprints to the finish line, seemingly to be the democratic candidate for the presidency, I keep thinking of the role her husband, President Bill Clinton, played in the mass incarceration of the nation, specifically Black men.  Granted, … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, Politics, raising black boys, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Info at “Knowledge is Power” Community Forum

Posted on May 27, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On Saturday, May 16, 2015, Just Info staff, Moira Meltzer-Cohen and William Eric Waters participated in the “Knowledge is Power” community forum at New Jerusalem Worship Center in Jamaica, NY. There were about 50 people in attendance, a handful of … Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, crime, ezwwaters, Ferguson Missouri, Growing Up, Justice Chronicles, juveniles, Michael Brown, MIssouri, Murder, NYPD, police involved shooting, police-involved killing, raising black boys, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, Streets of Rage, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review of my book, Streets of Rage, by Isa Rock

Posted on April 6, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Easy Waters’ Streets of Rage is a must read, especially for anyone who enjoys reading a good and well written coming-of-age tale. The majority of the story takes place in 1970’s Brooklyn, in the projects and surrounding area. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, Five Percent Nation, Growing Up, juveniles, Murder, Nation of Islam, raising black boys, Streets of Rage, Uncategorized, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

About my novel, “Streets of Rage,” soon to be released….

Posted on January 28, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Streets of Rage is a coming of age story, but it is much more. It is a book about urban legends, about the mythology of the inner cities, right in the underbelly of New York City during a time when … Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, crime, Growing Up, juveniles, Murder, raising black boys, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VERY STRANGE FRUIT

Posted on December 16, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Have you ever really listened to the haunting lyrics of “Strange Fruit,” sung by Billie Holliday, who “had the kind of voice you never forget,” as Bret Primack wrote in Jazz Times?: Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Murder, raising black boys, Slavery, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Charles Barkley Should Shut Up!

Posted on December 4, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Charles Barkley the NBA “great,” in response to the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson, Missouri, stated in a CNN interview that “this notion, that cops are out there just killing black men, is ridiculous.” Remember the “I am not a … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, juveniles, MIssouri, Murder, NYPD, police involved shooting, police-involved killing, Politics, raising black boys, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

From my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats”: “Stolen Lives”

Posted on November 26, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

“Stolen Lives” They march on City Hall, Trailing a long banner, A fragile memorial, Dedicated to mostly young minorities, The fatal victims of police brutality, Of New York’s Finest. As they march they chant: “Police brutality by the hour!” “What … Continue reading →

Posted in juveniles, NYPD, police involved shooting, raising black boys, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Blue Knight Riders,” from my book, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats

Posted on November 18, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In light of the Governor of Missouri activating the National Guard, in anticipation of the Grand Jury not indicting the police officer who killed Michael Brown, I decided to post this poem from my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black … Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, Ferguson, Justice Chronicles, juveniles, Michael Brown, MIssouri, Murder, police involved shooting, raising black boys, Revolution, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment