Michele Denise Bowie (née Hambright) (born August 10, 1965) is an American consultant and activist for people with mental illness, occasional singer, writer, and business woman. She is the CEO and president of PCI, a business consulting firm out of Atlanta, GA and Chairwoman for Omega Publishing Corp. In 2003/4 She tackled a hate crime and the controversial "N" word all the way to the Grand Jury and won!
Michele holds a degree in Human Resource Management from American InterContinental University (class of 2005), and a degree in Human Resource Management from American InterContinental University (class of 2006). She is in her final course as a Doctoral Learner at Capella University, Minneapolis, MN, during which time she and her peers were privileged to have such distinguished guests such as American Statesman Colin Powell speak on leadership and public service at their university. While Michele was raised as a Southern Baptist she and her husband consider themselves accepting of all faiths and spiritualities of others. As Christian followers themselves, they express a Non-denomination Christian Philosophy under the teachings and ministries of Dr. Creflo Dollar and Joel Osteen. Presently she and her family reside in Alabama.
<big>Awards and Nominations</big> Some of Michele's top accolades include induction to chairwoman of the Business Advisory Council in 2004 and a nomination of Woman of the Year by the NRCC that was printed in the Wall Street Journal In 2005. That same year PCI was given a generous space for three months in the prestigious Colony Square building in Atlanta, GA for the company’s debuted “Adopt-A-Family” Christmas fundraiser which raised over $75K in gifts and food given out to families in the local community. In 2006 Michele was selected by Congressman Tom Reynolds and the NRCC Business Advisory Council as Republican of the Year for her leadership in Georgia’s community.
<big>The "N" Word Had Justice For A Day</big> In 2003, Michele Bowie set a little known precedence against an old Hate Crime in Cobb County Georgia. What began innocently enough as a trip to the Cumberland Mall with her eldest daughter to get a battery for a cell phone turned into a nightmarish journey down the South’s past where the lines between blacks and whites were once too taboo to cross. Before embarking on her story, it is important to understand one important element about this remarkable lady's character, and that is her professionalism. She may not get the award for Ms. Congeniality or warm fuzzies, but Michele Bowie is described as Ultra-professional and she cares where it counts most, not the superficial kind. Perhaps that is what makes a story like hers so compelling and endearing. This is a woman that stops to listen to others; she fights tirelessly for her causes; and takes the time to help others without looking for a reward. Her story bridges the color barrier, making people cheer for her regardless of any preconceived images about race or gender. On July 26, 2003, Michele Bowie and her teenaged daughter had stopped by the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia to get a battery for her cell phone. They were causally making their way to the AT&T kiosk. Unbeknownst to them a disgruntled customer also had the same direction in mind. Michele describes her first encounter with the rather agressive male that pushed past her as just an obnoxious, rude mall patron. She clearly saw that he was a large man, appearing a good 4 inches taller than she and her daughter, and of a much stockier build. He also seemed very angry. As she would in most instances like this one, she decided to keep some distance between them and remained on the other side of the counter while the man verbally lashed out at the sales girl. In hindsight, she wondered if she should have just left. The man was shouting odd things like all African-Americans/Black people were against him and "they" were taking his rebate, indicating the African-Americans/Black people working at the post office in his rantings as well. At that point Michele said she looked down at the display, keeping her features straight. Her background was in human resources, so she knew the importance of not antagonizing the man. Nevertheless, someone giggled softly, possibly her daughter standing nearby. Whatever the case, the next words uttered out of the man’s mouth were: “What you laughing at, Nigger?”
Michele said she looked up to find the man staring directly at her. She recalled how it all seemed so surreal, so quiet, like a slow motion movie picture without sound. “I remember even looking behind me to see who he was looking at. Surly it was not me,” she said, clearly reliving that moment. But he had been looking at her, and his next terrifying words more than proved it. “Yeah, Nigger, I’m talking to you" and "I’ll come around there and kick your ass, Nigger.” “It took me a few seconds to regain some of my composure. I was frightened. Not just for me, but for my daughter. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before. I always tell my children don't go looking for trouble. But the main thing is, if it does find you do not ever become the problem. No matter what always try to remain calm. Emotionless—even when you want to scream and attack. I could not believe that that was how I was feeling. That I was feeling such rage at another human being. I wanted to attack him for humiliating me—for saying such ugly words...No, one word...the “N’ word to hurt me. It was used to reduce me to feeling like I was nothing. But more than that it was used to get a reaction out of me that was primitive to my nature. Instead, I took a deep breath and refused to let him have that part of me. I would not let his hatred win or have that kind of power over me. I am more than that word [the "N" word].” Punching in the numbers on her cell phone she said she prayed the thing would work. Calmly she looked at the man and said, “There will be no ass-kicking here today. This is 2003, not 1960 and I’m calling the police.” For all her bravado, however, the man did not retreat as she hoped. He rather boldly started toward her. Michele said she would never forget what he said because it represented a mentality, not just a behavior: “Call the cops. This ain’t New York, Nigger. This is Cobb County and nothing is going to happen.” Her daughter stepped between them, yelling at the man to leave her mother alone. He threatened to hit the girl, calling her the same ugly racial slurs. Michele said she pushed her daughter behind her. That was also when she noticed the younger men had stepped out of the stores adjacent to them. They stared at the man, their baggy pants hanging, and their eyes flat and cold. They were just as ready as he for a fight. In fact, she said she noticed that a large crowd had gathered as if waiting. For what she did not really know. But it was a tedious, scary time. The man that had istigated the air of violence also seemed to notice them too, the younger men. Michele thought that perhaps that made him rethink the situation and not the fact that her cell phone had worked and she had called 911. In any event, he began walking away. But for Michele, something in her would not let him just walk away. With the 911 operator on the line, she followed him. They had made it to the upper floors to the opposite end of the mall when two police officers finally arrived as did the mall security. Whereas one of the officers wanted to make an arrest the other talking with the man did not. Michele was advised that she could go to the magistrate’s office and file charges, which she did. The magistrate heard the case, and was issued for Terroristic Threats/Acts (F) and Simple Assault. [http://pbs-4u.com/State-vs-JW/criminalwarrant.jpg A hearing was set for August 20, 2003 and the charges were changed to Disorderly conduct (M) and Aggravated Assualt] (F) Michele consulted with her attorney but did not hire them, instead she subpoenaed the mall security, the police officer, and the salesperson at the AT&T kiosk to prove that the verbal assault on her and her daughter was without provocation. The Judge was irate with the police for not making the arrest at the scene but Michele defended the office by stating that it may have turned into a mob if an arrest were made. The man, whose name was James Watts, was arrested on the spot in court. The Judge called him the worst kind of coward. Mr. Watts was charged with Terroristic Threats/Acts (F) and Aggravated Assault. Later, The State of Georgia would pick up the case so it would no longer be Michele Bowie vs. James Watt. Now it was The State vs. James Watts. Consequently, the case was also handed over to the Grand Jury where Mr. Watts' was indicted on the charge of Terroristic threats (F) and Simple Assault, the felony charge carried a sentence of five years. One of the winning points to the Grand Jury in Michele Bowie’s favor was thought to be her description of being called Nigger as an act of violence and terroristic threat; not just simple name calling. She said, “If I call a dog a bitch, then that is the correct use of the word. However, if I an in an argument with another woman and I call her a Bitch, it is meant to provoke an angry response to violence.” When asked about her fear of Mr. Watts having a gun or knife and why she followed him through the Mall she responded: “Yes, I was afraid, but not so much for myself. I was afraid for the next man, woman or child he might run into. As a citizen, I felt responsible; I could not let that happen.” Somewhere in the Grand Jury, a lone female voice shouted, "You go, girl!" Michele said she smiled afterwards and never loooked back. Regardless of the negotiations and appeals she was certain to follow, on that day of [http://pbs-4u.com/State-vs-JW/gjsubpoena04.jpg January 22, 2004 sitting in front of the Grand Jury she had won a small victory against the "N" word in Cobb County Georgia.] The "N" Word Had Justice For A Day ~SA