This past Thursday through Saturday, I was fortunate enough to attend my first Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference in its 43rd iteration. This was truly an informative, formative and transformational experience. I learned so much and got to meet others committed to positively impacting American society. Some of the sessions and hearings I attended included: “National Town Hall From Poverty to Prosperity: Confronting Violence, Restoring Opportunity and Investing in Our Youth”, “How to Engage and Build International Response to Local Issues: Human Trafficking, HIV/AIDS and Economic Empowerment”, “Criminal Justice Issues Forum Mandatory Minimums: Rethinking Failed Sentencing Policies and Targeting Money Laundering and Major Drug Traffickers” and “The Youth PROMISE Act: An Evidence Based Approach to Juvenile Crime Prevention”. The common theme was desperately needed criminal justice reform and its potential to positively impact the nation’s black population.
Category Archives: Crime
The Black Man Continues to be a Target in America
About three weeks ago on July 14, I acknowledged my 43rd birthday.
I say acknowledged instead of celebrated because for several years now my birthday has become a time of reflection, not celebration. Birthdays are very special to me, but for the past three years my birthday has been a bit muted. July 14 will never be the same for me.
Fighting Racial Disparities
Well before the verdict in the Zimmerman trial, African Americans have been all too aware of disparities in not just the judicial system, but also in healthcare, education, and employment. There is a vast difference in the way in which African Americans are looked upon and treated; especially those of a poorer socioeconomic status.
The Trial and Conviction of Trayvon Martin
One day when I was a mere child sitting in the barbershop and waiting my turn, an elderly gentlemen said to me, “son, there are three things you should never forget. Never forget about God, never forget where you come from, and never forget that you are a black man. If you forget about God, he will remind you, if you forget where you come from, people will remind you and if you forget that you are black, the world will remind you.” More than 20 years later, those words have stuck with me. I may have faltered on the first two once or twice but as far as the color of my skin is concerned, society has reminded me of my blackness time and time again.
America’s Unique Gun Problem
Following the latest mass shooting in Newton, Connecticut, the discussion around gun control has re-emerged. Unfortunately, throughout the discourse, we tend to lump all of America’s issues with guns into one realm. However, that is just not the case.
In this country we have two distinct problems with gun violence. For the sake of this post, the two problems that I have identified are titled the “Connecticut Problem” and the “Chicago Problem”. The “Connecticut Problem” refers to the frequently occurring mass shootings. The majority of these shootings are happening in what we have traditionally viewed as relatively safe locations, such as schools, malls, and universities. The shootings are mostly being executed with semi-automatic assault style weapons with large ammunition magazines.
Rethinking Violence
Recently, I took time to watch a “Frontline” documentary on gang violence in Chicago, a place I spent time growing up. Although it has been decades since I was an elementary school student on Chicago’s South Side, my mind conjures up candy-coated recollections that are probably unlike the realities of the times. Those images are perhaps why the documentary was so difficult to watch.