Recession Not Over for Black Americans Proclaims Documentary Film Maker

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - June 23, 2014 - PRLog -- “Brutal in its honesty, riveting in its perspective!”  One of the most candid looks at the impoverishment of America to be published in years.

“Mentally Blind: Open Your Eyes” is an exposè on black culture in America that should spawn a fresh American awakening and will call you to action in the fight against homelessness. The book is now being produced as a documentary, its preview has just been released to YouTube: Visit http://youtu.be/IpJgRyKaFHk for details.

Written by John L. Brown, and released this month on Amazon.com as Edition 2, “Mentally Blind: Open Your Eyes” is as important to American culture as “The Invisible Man” by (then unknown) Ralph Ellison. Visit  http://www.amazon.com/Mentally-Blind-Open-your-eyes/dp/1463552297/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403362744&sr=1-1 for details.

A decorated Viet Nam war veteran, Brown offers a post-recession look at the continuing struggle of America’s blacks and the impoverished, who were hardest hit by the double-standards of mortgage-scandal evictions, and the hypocrisy of a drug war that releases white college kids and jails inner-city black kids; and many other topics that affect – and challenge – the social fabric, and Christian values of America.

Worthy of academic discussion, and social discourse, “Mentally Blind: Open Your Eyes” will teach you lessons about your own prejudices, heritage, and test your generosity – as it should!

John L. Brown was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1950.  He was taken in by his maternal grandmother in 1963 after being fostered by relatives after his mother died when he was a baby.  The year 1963 became pivotal for Brown as he recalls watching John F. Kennedy’s televised speech in which the President challenged the nation, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  It was after that moment that John began volunteering in the classroom and after school, cleaning, and serving food in the lunchroom. He recalls being the chaplain for his homeroom class.

Brown left high school and joined the Marine Corps in 1968 at the height of the Viet Nam conflict.  While serving in Vietnam he was exposed to Agent Orange and saw lots of combat and was heavily decorated for his service.  His honors include a Purple Heart.

After the service John moved to out west, living in Utah, Denver, and Texas. Self-taught he took up the trades of welding, ship fitting, and carpentry to earn a living. His veteran’s benefits allowed him to eventually return to school where he earned an Associate’s Degree with an emphasis in Behavioral Science from Merritt College in Oakland, California.

In 1983 he began a career with the U.S. Postal Service and retired after 17 years.

The realities of struggle and survival had become the fabric of John’s life during his foster years and became the basis of his latest project, “Mentally Blind: Open Your Eyes” – an expose about disenfranchised America.