"People pass by in the street," said Lemuel, "and they don't see the need--they just see a number." This was my introduction to Lemuel Davis. "Working people pass by and they ask ME for change, for the meter or a paper or whatever, and I see the need, so I give it to them."
Lemuel was born in 1950 in a small town about 60 miles from Raleigh, NC. His parents, he said in a yet noticeable Southern accent, were both alcoholics, and his mother gave him and his four siblings over to his grandmother to raise. "I was the baby boy," he said. "We lived all of us in a one room cabin, and my grandmother received $250 a month from Social Security. But you know, we were never raggedy, we were never hungry, and we were never broke."
In 1972, after a stint in the army, Lemuel came north to Philadelphia and began work as a line cook. He worked at Bookbinder's on 15th Street, and at Pocono Manor upstate. He was, he said, the first African American honored with membership in an association of Italian chefs.
In the 1980s, he owned a 5-floor building on Poplar at 15th in Philadelphia, along with 2 cars. But addiction to crack robbed him of his possessions. He's now been clean 7 years.
Lemuel recently lost his government benefits due to an arrest, but because the charges were withdrawn, he hopes to have his checks flowing to him again soon. He's been on the street for 4 months and tries to panhandle enough each day to get a room at a North Philly rooming house for the night. On days he can't, he sleeps beside City Hall.
Davis showed me a ticket he'd received from a Philadelphia Police Officer, for panhandling and failing to move on. I'm not sure what the city hopes to achieve by ticketing the homeless.
We also discussed the recent problem of "flash mobs" of young people robbing and beating people in the street. Lemuel said, "I was standing right here when a flash mob walked up. I said, 'all ya'll gotta gimme some money.' They laughed but then they started reaching in their pockets. Some gave me 50ยข, some a dollar. It's all about fear. You can't show 'em no fear. I'm from where they're from: the street. So they say, I know you, old G. And they don't mess with me."
"I'm not sure what the city hopes to achieve by ticketing the homeless."
Lemuel continues to triumph over the almighty crack industry, the almighty and judgmental government, the harsh realities of homelessness, even mindless flash mobs, and he's still here to tell about it. The city wants Lemuel to disappear. What makes them think a stupid ticket is going to defeat this quiet, big-hearted hero?
It's so much easier to punish than to help. Thank you, Charlie, for seeing the need, not just a number.
Posted by: trainwatcher | August 21, 2011 at 06:19 AM
Thx Bob, for your insight & compassion.
Posted by: Charlie | August 21, 2011 at 07:50 AM
The thought of ticketing the homeless makes me ill. Thanks for posting this.
Posted by: Jenna | August 23, 2011 at 01:47 PM
tramadol cod saturday delivery fedex Komentar
cheap Nolvadex free fedex shipping 999309
value pharmaceutical cialis HawkinsLackland
buy cheap tramadol cod Grade
soma no prescription chains
100 mg tramadol Holocaust ]
purchase valium online navigate
order pharmacy ultram tdfblomand
no prescription Klonopin overnight workmate
cash on delivery Trazodone no rx Wales
diazepam discount Worth
Acyclovir online
Posted by: ifohpbtir | December 06, 2011 at 04:06 AM
order Medrol online Next Day
Cheap Doxycycline No Prescription Next Day
Buspar online c o d CORTEZ
Amitriptyline overnight delivery fed ex STYLE
generic viagra cheap online no prescription
medrol
buying Lamictal online proliferation
Soma next day no prescription
Ambien No Prescription Overnight Cod
diazepam cod accepted reviewing
Lisinopril Online
buy Trazodone cheap no prescription meeting
order Nexium online Next Day
Posted by: nabokaveer | February 08, 2012 at 03:49 AM