Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in

Why Didn't Los Angeles Social Workers Save Dae'von Bailey?

Dae'von Bailey, 6, told his teachers someone was beating him. The schools reported it to the Department of Children and Family Services. The boy still remained in his South LA home. He lived with his little sister and the mom's boyfriend. She wasn't caring for him because she had some "issues" to take care of. None of her children were in her possession. Over the years, people called social workers and the child abuse hotline multiple times suspecting the boy was being battered by the boyfriend. The allegations of abuse were investigated. Social workers reported the evidence was lacking. No action taken despite the phone calls and the kid having broken nose. Sounds like red flags to me but Dae'von's case was closed.

Last Thursday, Dae'von Bailey was found beaten to death. The boyfriend is suspected of the murder. He is on the run.

When Dae'Von's mom decided to handle her "issues." County authorities gave the okay for Dae'von to live with mom's boyfriend. The LA Times reports that the LAPD are stumped by this decision because the b.f. was convicted of narcotic crimes and rape.

As I said yesterday the novel Push is a never-ending tale. I am so angry about this story. This little boy did all the right things telling grownups that someone was hurting him. And NO ONE rescued him. NO ONE. I'm tired of these women having babies they know they can't care for. That's what condoms and birth control are for! I'm tired of reading about pathetic women who allow their lovers to abuse their kids so they can keep a man. I'm sick and tired of people taking their rage out on children because their defenseless. I'm tired of our jacked up system where social workers are understaffed and overworked. A system that allows a 6-year-old child to live with a rapist, drug user and possible batterer. I'm tired of social workers who see kids like Dae'Von as just another case. Because of neglect he's not a case anymore, but a corpse. A poor, black boy from South LA cries for help and what does the the system do? Leave him to die. I'm tired, tired, tired of these stories. But I better save my strength because I know I'll probably be reading the same story in a day or so. It will just be a different kid.

The only good I see out of this madness is maybe little Dae'Von, who didn't ask to come to this world, and lived a hell on Earth for all of his short 6 years, can finally rest in peace.

Watch the ignorance news story here

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE

Comments

  1. this is soo sad. why is the continually happening? i spanked my daughter with a belt and cps swooped down and removed her from my custody and i have been fighting like hell for the last two years tryna get her back. then, this little boy TELLS them he is being abused and they give him to a rapist? what happened to being live-scanned? someone need to sue child protective services for gross negligence. oh, and for spanking my daughter with a belt, on her behind i might add, i am now register in the national child abuse database. my own child!

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  2. I feel your rage!! There is no excuse for this. I personally feel that these women should be spayed!! Yes spayed like animals. They have no right to bring defenseless children into this world if they are not willing to care and nourish them! Before bringing my daughter into this world..I thought long and hard about it. Why because like you said a baby doesn't ask to be brought into this world and he or she will need every ounce of love, energy and time we have to grow up in this messed up world!!

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  3. I could literally feel your rage and I'm with you 100%..Having loved Push when I read it several years ago, I too hate how this is a never ending issue. It breaks my heart that when children try to stand up to abusers, adults don't protect them. The protocol, the standard of procedures, etc for handling these cases needs to be revamped and I truly feel there are some ppl who need to be relieved of their duties. If you take the oath to protect and have some authority or power to make the changes..use it! So sad what kind of world children are being brought into every day.

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  4. I am so sadden by this that I'm crying as I type this. What infuriates me the most is that someone was told but they chose NOT TO SEE!! I can't believe that this is how we allow children to be treated. Breaks my heart.

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  5. @ Anonymous-Wow! What state do you live in
    @Carenada--Girl, I cracked up when you said she should be spayed. But seriously, I agree something needs to be done about this. I'll keep you posted on the story.

    @Eye of the Storm--interesting point.

    @Yvonne--it broke my heart too. Interesting point. Did the county really choose not to see the problem. If so why? Too much work in the system? Or was the case a few marks short on the checklist of being labeled abuse?

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