Category Archives: Urban Impact

On this day in history, May 3, 1946 — Black Teen Survives Louisiana Electric Chair

Posted on May 3, 2018 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In 1945, a black sixteen-year-old named Willie Francis was sentenced to death in St. Martinville, Louisiana. Willie was convicted of killing Andrew Thomas, a fifty-three-year-old Cajun pharmacist, and the case revealed many flaws in the state’s justice system: Willie’s jury … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, race, raising black boys, Streets of Rage, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

In the Line of Duty

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

The heroes are dead and nothing else matters Under a gray sky the women are dressed in black At the grave site hearing homilies paying homage to heroics Their sobs background music to pontificating politicians Under a gray sky the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioner Broken Windows, Commissioner William Bratton, crime, Justice Chronicles, Murder, NYPD, Poetry, police-involved killing, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latter-Day Heroes and the Drug War

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

There was a time when heroes Died on Holy Quests Nowadays they die For meaningless drug arrests Just fulfill the quota Undercover in the field “Buy and bust” the mission Awarded the Gold Shield Quasi-military honors If in battle die … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioner Broken Windows, Commissioner William Bratton, crime, Justice Chronicles, Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD, Poetry, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

In the Line of Duty (From my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats”)

Posted on December 21, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The heroes are dead and nothing else matters Under a gray sky the women are dressed in black At the grave site hearing homilies paying homage to heroics Their sobs background music to pontificating politicians Under a gray sky the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioner Broken Windows, Commissioner William Bratton, Ferguson, Ferguson Missouri, Justice Chronicles, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Michael Brown, MIssouri, Murder, NYPD, police involved shooting, police-involved killing, Politics, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PROSECUTORS, POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, THE CONSTITUTION, THE KKK, POSSES, AND THE RULE OF LAW

Posted on December 11, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I’ve been thinking about when state prosecutors fail to do their jobs in police-involved killings of unarmed individuals, that is, fail to get indictments – though we all know, those of us who have studied the criminal criminal justice system, … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, Martin Luther King, Michael Brown, MIssouri, Murder, NYPD, police involved shooting, police-involved killing, Politics, Slavery, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | 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