The fierce urgency of now and the long game
I think a lot of what prompts conversations like the one going on between Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jonathan Chait comes down to whether or not we prioritize the fierce urgency of now or the long game of systemic change.
I thought it might be interesting to listen to the voices of a couple of other black men who articulate each of these approaches. On the former, here's Daniel Beaty.
Back in the 1980's we abandoned the War on Poverty and beefed up the War on Drugs. As a result, we are now seeing the 3rd and 4th generation of too many black boys growing up waiting for that "knock, knock"... struggling with whether or not prison is simply written into their destiny as well. Unfortunately, they face that question in the fierce urgency of now and don't have the privilege of waiting until we implement the long game of systemic change. And so Beaty talks about the power to change this world one little boy and girl at a time.
But...you might say...Daniel made it. Ah, yes. But listen to what Geoffrey Canada says about that.
snip
Anytime someone suggests that President Obama's My Brother's Keeper initiative is not enough, I agree. That's why his administration is also working on things like ending the school-to-prison pipeline and the war on drugs.
More: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-fierce-urgency-of-now-and-long-game.html
Daniel Beaty just knocked the wind out of me. Riveting and electrifying.
= new reply since forum marked as read
By D.L. Chandler - Apr 4, 2014
The Justice Department announced Thursday morning the creation of a new center that ties in with President Barack Obama‘s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The National Center for Building Community Trust and Justice will serve as a bridge between law enforcement officials and communities of color in hopes to eliminate racial bias and other damaging factors.
The announcement took place in New York at the Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) Office Director’s Forum, with associate Attorney General Tony West taking the podium to detail the center’s goals and plans. The gathering included several political figures and community leaders, such as Rev. Al Shaprton and West’s fellow Justice Department colleagues...
From West’s speech:
It’s in that spirit that I’m pleased to announce today a major new Department of Justice initiative aimed at enhancing public safety by strengthening relationships between law enforcement and communities. Under a solicitation released this morning, we are committing up to $4.75 million to establish the National Center for Building Community Trust and Justice.
This initiative – which will be jointly supported by our Office of Justice Programs, COPS Office, Civil Rights Division, Office on Violence Against Women, and Community Relations Service – will expand our base of knowledge about what works to improve procedural fairness, reduce bias, and promote racial reconciliation. It will help communities address the challenges arising from suspicion, distrust and lack of confidence in our law enforcement agencies...
http://newsone.com/3003532/police-and-black-community/
From the link in the article:
Today the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) convened law enforcement and civil rights leaders on the topic of building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This first in a series of events from the COPS Office is designed to answer President Obama’s call to action to support men and boys of color in his My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.
...COPS Office Director Davis said, "Law enforcement plays a central role in looking after the safety and well-being of everyone in the community, actively ensuring the public has access to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Davis continued, "Law enforcement has a unique opportunity to play a major leadership role in changing the historic paradigm of inequity when it comes to young men and boys of color and our criminal justice system."
The President’s initiative, My Brother’s Keeper, is a call to action to invest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to build ladders of opportunity and unlock the full potential of boys and young men of color. During the forum, Tony West, Associate Attorney General of the United States and the Department’s third ranking official, announced the creation of the National Center for Building Community Trust and Justice in response to that call. The National Center for Building Community Trust and Justice includes goals to explore, advance, assess, and disseminate information about strategies intended to enhance procedural justice, reduce implicit bias, and support racial reconciliation in communities of color. The Department intends for this initiative to build on initial work in these areas by considering, testing, and refining strategies to expand theories about procedural justice, bias reduction, and racial reconciliation throughout the criminal justice system.
Davis said, "Not only do I welcome the creation of this new Center; I also thank Associate Attorney General West for choosing this event as the forum for this important announcement. This will help strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the communities they serve, especially communities of color." Davis continued, "I am not the first to point out that the disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic young men who are involved in the criminal justice system brings to question the very legitimacy of the system and undermines family and community stability."
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2711
The justice system grinds too many people down, takes huge chunks of their time and energy from their family and communities, keeps people off balance, is suspectible to racism by applying unequal charging, sentence, incarceration, parole and fining schemes.
Early intervention is key without criminalizing youth and denying them the chance to learn and obtain gainful employment. POC have been at the breaking point for years. But I'm coming at this backwards:
I didn't watch the video until after I posted the articles and pictures and my own comment.. Tears for Daniel Beaty and the millions like him whose families have been torn apart! Those can't grasp the centuries of pain, should take heed, NOW.
Another meet-up media will not cover. Millions of voters in 2008, 2012 and this year in Virginia, organize off the media plantation and the online communities:
Obama Is Attending the 2014 NAN Convention, Will You?
By NewsOne Staff - Mar 26, 2014
Al Sharpton’s National Action Network organization will host its annual convention April 9-12 in New York City. It’s slated to be big with tons of panels and President Obama delivering the convention’s keynote speech on the last day. But we can’t help but wonder: with all the conventions put on by civil rights organizations every year, are you interested in attending NAN’s?
NAN’s 2014 annual national convention is taking place April 9-12 in New York City at The Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. The organization holds the event every April, not just to commemorate the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, but to honor his legacy and “proactively engaging in dialogue that will spawn change.” Sessions at this year’s convention will address issues of civil rights and social justice including: gun control, education, health and wellness and economic justice. The convention is set to kick of with the ”Keepers of the Dream Award Gala” where, again, President Obama will deliver the keynote remarks.
Check out the convention’s detailed program and register today. Let us know if you’ll be attending, and what you think in general about conventions like the National Action Network’s.
http://newsone.com/3000179/obama-is-attending-the-2014-nan-convention-will-you/
