Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

I am a Christian who believes that I have surrendered to God's perfect will for my life. That perfect will included discussing my life in an open book to the world. In spite of my faith and the fact that I surrendered to God's will, I am having a difficult time. I feel like a victim. I am anxious, fearful, impatient, and sad.

Although I am living in purpose my flesh and mind are wrestling with my needs and desires. I believe with my whole heart that I am living a life of purpose. I know in my spirit that I must wait on God to show up and be glorified after my divine purpose is accomplished.

I am a black female and I experienced discrimination while employed by New York State Department of Corrections. From 1993 to 1996 I was the victim of a continued hostile work environment, discrimination, and retaliation at Albion Correctional Facility. In this blog entry I am going to share my diary entries that include some of my emotions and thoughts as I completed my assignment from God.

EXCERPTS FROM -"A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation a Real or Imagined."

"Shortly after I filed my case Pro-Se (without an attorney) in 1997, God told me "You will be victorious in this matter." I believed God because with God nothing is impossible. It was with this firm belief and trust in God's promise that I was able to press on and exhaust all avenues for judicial redress.

May 24, 2001
Judge Elfvin issued a twenty-four-page court order that dismissed my Title VII case. The court order did not even mention the fact that seven of the declarations filed by the New York State Attorney General's Office contained perjured statements.

Although my case was dismissed by the district court I held on to God's promise that I would be victorious in this matter. After I got over the initial disappointment I was forced to start working on my appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

January 25, 2002
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an order upholding the decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. The Appeals Court agreed with Judge Elfvin's order that dismissed my case. I felt disappointed after I read the Appeals Court's decision. My faith was tested by the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Yet I hung on to God's promise that I would be victorious. I believed that God would be honored even more after I successfully argued and won my case before The United States Supreme Court.

I still didn't understand the fact that neither court order mentioned the perjured non-retaliatory explanations presented in the Defendant's sworn declarations filed in the district court.

The only explanation for the unjust rulings of both courts that makes sense to me is found in Exodus 7:1-6 (NIV) of the Bible:

AND the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharoah ; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

But Pharaoh shall not heaken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

June 24, 2002
The nine Supreme Court Justices have wide discretion in deciding what cases to review. The Supreme Court Justices and law clerks of the Court review nearly 9,000 appeals that are filed each year and pick about 80 to decide.

I filed a Writ of Certiorari and nine Appendix (exhibits) with the United States Supreme Court. I was aware of the almost impossibility that my case would be reviewed but I worked countless hours preparing my Writ of Certiorari. As I typed the 40-paged Writ, I held on to God's promise that I would be victorious in this matter.

November 4, 2002
Today The Supreme Court of the United States of America issued an order that upheld the Second Circuit Court of Appeals' decision not to reverse the district court's summary judgment order. I understood the reality that The Supreme Court of the United States of America reviews less than 100 of the approximately 9,000 cases filed with the Court each year. I didn't understand the fact that my case wasn't selected as one of the 80 cases for review.

After I received a copy of the "decision" I burst out in loud cries of anguish and disbelief. I cried out to God in pain and utter disappointment. How would I live when the very foundation of my faith received a near fatal blow? How could I go on with my life after experiencing such an unjust decision? How could I function in a world were lies prevail over the truth? I lapsed into something deeper than depression. I didn't know what to think or what to do. I no longer had a job or the hope of being victories in my lawsuit. I felt like a complete failure.

Fall 2004
I read the "Purpose Driven Life" and received teaching on purpose at two different churches. After I read Rick Warren's divinely inspired book it changed my life. I realized that I was victorious in my case because God's purpose for my life was revealed to me.

My divine purpose is to shed light on employment discrimination in America. I believe that this light will reveal that Congress needs to investigate, address and/or amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Amending the Act again would prevent one judge from having the absolute power to grant summary judgment motions that dismiss discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.

February 18, 2006
I was born 52 years ago today. I have chosen this day to begin my journey fulfilling the divine purpose of my birth. I know that I was born black and poor on February 18, 1954, to write "A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."

November 12, 2006
Today I am currently writing on the retaliation I experienced at Albion. I am overwhelmed with anxiety as I continue to view extensive evidence of discrimination and the failure of anyone to help me. I am in tears as I type this.

This is the day that Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial was dedicated. Oprah gave a moving speech in honor of Dr. King that reminded me that I must complete this book.

No American citizen should suffer the mental and physical anguish I experienced from New York State Department of Corrections employees, New York State Attorney General's Office and with the American Court System.

November 17, 2006
I am feeling more empowered and stronger. It has taken me 3 days (30 hours) to write about the January 7, 1996 incidents. I am using the five-paged memo titled Lost Or Stolen ID as a guide. I am so thankful that I wrote all of those documents and kept them. God knew that I would need them. I must hold on to the fact that with the vision from God comes the provisions. It is 2:19 am and I am ending my writing for today. I worked 10 hours today on the book. It was a good day.

February 3, 2007
"I have almost completed the chapter of this book titled "My Summary Judgment Motion - Retaliation." This has been a difficult chapter for me to write. The emotional pain of reliving every aspect of this ordeal is almost unbearable. Vivid memories including the initial discrimination at Albion, the failure of supervisory staff to correct it, the retaliation that I experienced, New York State Division of Human Right's no probable cause ruling, New York State Attorney General's filing of perjured declarations/affidavits, and Judge Elfvin failure to appoint counsel to represent me during my lawsuit are crushing my spirit and my resolve to complete this book and to fulfill my divine purpose.

I have gained strength, confirmation, and encouragement from various religious broadcast and sermons. In my determination to fulfill the divine purpose of my life I typed and saved a document titled "Confirmation of Purpose from Religious Broadcast". At 12:40 a.m. I pulled up the document and read part of sermon from Bishop T. D. Jakes.

Bishop T. D. Jakes on September 20, 2006
"Man has nothing to do with God's promise. People don't have to approve it. You must know that God blessed it he that has begun a good work in your life will fulfill it until the return of Christ.

Fear the controversy but do it any way. Man has nothing to do with God's promise. Don't abort your baby you may have pain, not have friendships. Pain is an indication that birth is getting close."

I am crying now as I type this. I truly fear what may happen to me after my book is published. I fear for my life but I know that God's perfect will for my life will be fulfilled.

After reading Bishop Jake's sermon I accepted his challenge and his confirmation of God's promise to me. I will complete this chapter and this book because it is an assignment from God. I love you Lord and I surrender to your perfect will."

CONCLUSION

The horrible experience of my Title VII case still causes me to shed tears. Only God knows how many other whole human beings have suffered, cried, and prayed to be treated according to the rules, according to the law, and according to the United States Constitution.

Thank you Holy Spirit for this revelation and the fact that I feel better now. I feel better because I realize that I suffered and am still suffering so that other people will not have to endure or experience my ordeal of discrimination and retaliation.

Vera Richardson

May 5, 2008

A strong racial divide currently exists in this country. Many white people believe that black people unfairly play the race card. On the other hand racism for many blacks in America is real and very painful.

One definition of racism - discrimination or prejudice based on race. America can no longer deny or ignore the living legacy of racism. Recent events in America that support the fact that racism has once again raised it ugly head in this country includes: The Jena 6 case and the September 20, 2007, march in Jena, LA, police brutality based on racial discrimination still runs rampant in 2007, black women are called ‘nappy headed hoes' on national television, after a black man enrages a white man, he no longer sees him as a hyphenated American, he sees him as a ni----who ‘fifty years ago would have been upside down with a fork up his a--.'

Racism and/or race relations in America are being used in an attempt derail the Presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama. I believe that nothing happens in this world by chance. It is a divine moment that Senator Obama is just months away from being a President for all Americans.

It believe that this is also a divine moment for me because I have written and published a book for just this time in our history. "A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined" is a powerful tool to show Black, White, and all Americans that discrimination and racism is real and a daily struggle for some black people.

It also divine timing that former governor of New York State Eliot Spitzer's true character has finally been exposed. I was lying in bed watching CNN when the news anchor announced the breaking news that Governor Eliot Spitzer was accused of being involved in a prostitution ring. According to the Associated Press Spitzer's involvement in the ring was caught on a federal wiretap as part of an investigation opened in recent months. Spitzer is the poster child for hypocrisy.

Spitzer's staff at the New York Attorney General's Office filed false summary judgment declarations to deny me a victim of discrimination and retaliation my day in court. By filing perjured declarations in federal court NYS Attorney General's Office denied me an American citizen my constitutional rights of due process and equal protection under the law.

New York State Attorney General's office with its Civil Rights Bureau should be held accountable for its actions in my case. That agency can't be allowed to enforce the anti-discrimination mandates of Title VII with other employers and file perjured declarations in a case where New York State Department of Correctional Services and New York State Department of Civil Services are the defendants. The poor, women, minorities, and the mental ill expect the New York State Attorney General Office to protect the Civil Rights of all New York State citizens.

On May 28, 2005, an Erie County, New York Assistant District Attorney reviewed my documentation of multiple perjury allegations against New York Attorney General's Office and various New York employees.

After his reviewed he referred me to the United States Justice Department. I contacted the United States Justice Department and at their telephone request e-mailed extensive documentation on May 29, 30, and 31, 2005.

In July 2005 Jane Wolfe and Allison Gioia both United States Justice Department attorneys, reviewed my perjury allegations and direct evidence supporting the allegations. The United States Justice Department informed me that they were referring my case to the FBI for an investigation. I telephoned the FBI and was told that they could not confirm or deny the fact that my allegations were being investigated because of confidentiality rules.

One of the main facts of my book is that the America judicial system including the United States Supreme Court failed me in this case. A system that has failed and continues to fail many minority citizens not only in criminal cases (i.e. the recent not guilty verdict of the police in NYC) but also in civil cases.

Vera Richardson