How the Black community failed Judge Fanon Rucker
I turned the TV off after catching the first few minutes of the local
10’oclock news. The poll results listed at the bottom of the screen showed that
Judge Fanon Rucker was losing by a fairly large percentage. I’m not sure at
this point, how many precincts had reported. I went to bed. I knew better than
to make the assumption that Judge Rucker would lose because in the past when I
went to bed and assumed that my candidate had won or lost – I’d wake the next
morning and it was never what I thought. If I thought they won, they’d lost and
vice versa.
I said a big prayer for Rucker and dozed off to sleep.
I rolled over in bed around 2 am As I punched the button on my laptop and
hit the TV remote. I saw the slaughter. Judge Rucker didn’t just lose – he got
slaughtered. My eyes aren’t worth a
damn,
so I was not sure if the numbers at the bottom of my TV screen were correct. I
sure hoped they weren’t. I thought the numbers were Rucker’s opponent 70%.
Rucker 30% WTF. Ouch.
I forced myself to go back to sleep. It was either that or cry. The next
morning I went to Judge Rucker’s
Facebook
page. The condolences/words of encouragement had
begun to roll in.
As a
writer, I was at a loss for
words. I didn’t post
anything. Instead I
“liked” other people’s post. I noticed that Judge Rucker had yet to post
anything.
I was glad I had not attended his watch party at Mixx. It was no way I could
have faced the man that I’d first met at another night club about 4 years
earlier. I was a hot mess of a mother with a son who would very soon be
sentenced to more years in
prison than
he’d been alive. Someone at the club mentioned that the guy with the Heineken
was a judge.
I approached Judge Rucker and poured my heart out to him about my son’s case
which he was familiar with as it was all on the damn news. With tears and
red
eyes, I asked the judge if my
son had come before him with this case, how many years would he give him.
“Seven,” Judge Rucker said as he lowered the Heineken from his lips.
I don’t know if Judge Rucker was telling the truth, but I do know from the
look in his eyes that he recognized my
pain,
and that meant the world to me.
Over the
years, I have run into Judge
Rucker at community
events, and I can
count on my one hand the number of men that love and uplift our communities.
Judge Rucker is one of them. Most recently he spoke at
a voter pre-rally that I organized. And if there are angels on
earth Judge Rucker is one of them. Well spoken, well groomed, attractive in
a Lawyer, Godly way.
I personally know at least a dozen
black women that want to marry him, and at least twice as many that want
to bleep him because he’s a judge.
But that’s not what this post is about.
This post is about a great man that lost a judges’ race because a large
population of our community did not get out and vote.
Early on
Wednesday, my
kinder,
gentler Republican friend texted me this. Jean Schmidt lost. Because we are
both political
junkies, we had texted
back and forth all day on Super Tuesday. I knew what my friend really wanted to
text was that Fanon lost. Even though he is a Republican - he was really
rooting for Judge Rucker. I sent him this text back. “Good morning.
Yeah, Wenstrup handed Jean’s “ass” to her.
Also, the great Judge Rucker lost Racist
county-wide elections. Yeah, I said it that was
some bullshit.”
Jean Schmidt
First, I knew it was a state race, but I was texting early.
Secondly, I knew that my friend hated when I
blamed anything on race. To prove to me that it wasn’t race my friend who’s
good about looking up election results, went to various counties
throughout the state of Ohio that he knew were black areas. He told me that
Judge Rucker had lost in black counties and Hamilton
County. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
I became angry and outraged. I try never to blame my people. When in doubt,
blame it on racism
and the racist white man (not to be confused with good
white liberals and decent white conservatives). But the reality and
according to my
friend's research (which
at some point I will double check) Our people - the blacks didn’t turn out.
And that’s why I say – how the black community failed Judge Rucker.
I'm sure when Judge Rucker goes to the United States Supreme Court (yes, US
Supreme Court), he'll look back and laugh at the lost - but
for now, I'm sure it hurts
.
Shaking my
MF head. Good night.
FBKs an unapologetic eBook
writer. Her 19-year-old beloved son is serving a 20-year
sentence for a bank robbery that he committed to pay for college tuition, and
it’s real fked up.
___________________________________________
Dear Supporter, (email from Judge Rucker)
Since announcing my candidacy for the Ohio Supreme Court last November, I have traveled all across Ohio and have met remarkable people who have now become friends and supporters of the message that Ohioans deserve a Supreme Court:
That is representative of all the people affected by its decisions,
Whose Justices' professional paths are paved with experience in many areas of the law, and
Most importantly, that exercises its affirmative responsibility to take steps to ensure public trust in the legal system.
While we didn't succeed in getting the votes we needed, no one should be deterred or unhappy. We worked extremely hard and convinced a lot of Ohioans that representation on the Court is an achievable goal. The campaign has received tremendous support and great positive feedback. In this, my first State wide campaign, I was identified by the largest paper in the state as "the future of this Party" and received endorsements by College Democratic groups as well as County Democratic Parties large and small.
None of this would be possible were it not for the dedication of our campaign team and volunteer core: Carla Walker, Richard Moore, Bernadette Watson, Eric Kearney, Jenny O'Donnell, Tylon McGhee, Tanner McFall, Laurie Housemeyer, Tiana Rollinson, Felicisa Evans, Jaladah Aslam, Gigi Traore, Mike Wright, Daniel Rajiah, Nathan Waller, Kevin Johnson, Duane Weems, Luke Davis, and Strickland Drumright. They worked tirelessly over the last couple of months and I appreciate their commitment to the campaign.
To those who supported with online posts, phone calls, text messages, and contributions, I am extremely grateful for your time and compassion. Thanks also to Tim Burke, Chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party for his advice, encouragement, and guidance.
I look forward to continuing my work on the Municipal Court in Hamilton County and to my continued engagement in the Greater Cincinnati community or beyond.
Thank you again for your support throughout this journey and God bless.
Fanon A. Rucker
Judge
