The Constitution vs The Civil Rights Act: Is Racial Discrimination protected free speech or a violation of law?

Congressional Candidate Rand Paul recently ignited a firestorm when he suggested that while he personally opposes racism and discrimination, he believes that private clubs, restaurants, and businesses should be allowed to make their own decisions about whether or not they would discriminate [Link to Video]. He went further to suggest that outlawing discrimination restricts the freedom of speech provided by the constitution and that if we say that that private business owners must serve people of all races, then we must also require that they serve patrons who are armed as well.

*Sidenote* Candidate Paul was NOT insinuating that the black or minority patrons would be armed, rather he was making an abstract and somewhat hyperbolic argument that if minorities have the "right" to attend any facility then gun owners should as well...

As the news cycle progressed, a cry came from conservative side of the spectrum that the claim that Dr. Paul offered a tacit defense of racial discrimination was overblown and politically motivated. Rand Paul himself has described the charges as a "red herring". However, the charges are firmly supported by Dr. Paul's previous statements. For example: in 2002, Dr. Paul wrote a letter expressing his opposition to the 'Fair Housing Act' which read in part, "A free society will abide unofficial, private discrimination even when that means allowing hate-filled groups to exclude people based on the color of their skin." He has also come out in opposition to the Americans with Disabilities Act during an interview with NPR in which he opined that issues of discrimination should be handled "locally".

But it would be a mistake to treat these arguments as an extreme position. In fact, Rand Paul has merely demonstrated his firm commitment to the libertarian philosophy. And while Libertarianism is certainly too small of a political movement to significantly impact American Policy on its own terms, the "Freedom from Government" philosophy at its core has certainly become more mainstream with the ascendancy of the Tea-Party groups and the Republican Party's anti-establishment push to the Right. A thread of this line of thinking can even be seen in the Supreme Court where the court recently used the equal protections clause of the 4th amendment to challenge the disparate outcome protections of the Civil Rights Act in Ricci v DeStephano. Shortly after the ruling, Justice Scalia reportedly said that he wished he could review the Civil Rights Act itself. Seen through this lens,  we should be clear that Rand Paul is not the issue, nor is he a monster or an anachronism, he is just someone who was willing to publicly defend and articulate the Libertarian philosophy out to its logical conclusions.

Rather than attacking him, we should challenge his argument. He has articulated the libertarian belief that the rights of private ownership should not be abridged. He has also argued that discrimination in a private business or enterprise is an act of free speech and therefore should be protected. In stating his personal disdain for racism and discrimination and his claim that he personally would not frequent a business that practiced discrimination, he alluded to the libertarian belief that the Free-Market system can and will self correct against racism and discrimination without Government intervention: That good and decent people will simply refuse to do business with people who discriminate and that combined with the cost incentive to serve minorities and others will simply 'drive the racists out of business'.

It is a sound and coherent argument, but it is simply wrong. It is perfectly logical in its abstract form. But the weakness of the argument is that it does not consider a critical and fundamental fact; Racism is irrational.

You can not craft successful social policy based solely on theoretical models because Racism is not bound by the laws of reason. Simply put, there are enough people who ARE willing to frequent those shops and businesses to provide a livable wage to the owners, and racial bias is sufficiently strong in some to lead them to forgo even the promise of higher profits through increased business. When discrimination was treated as a local issue, discrimination was commonplace. For as long as discrimination was not treated as a matter of law, discrimination flourished. The markets did NOT correct it. The markets Could not correct it. It was corrected mitigated only by the law.  To argue otherwise is to demonstrate a historical myopia and perhaps some degree of insensitivity to the real-life consequences of such a nonchalant social acceptance of racism and inequity.

If racism and discrimination are abhorrent as Dr. Paul has stated, then it's simply not enough to decry the practice when prompted. It's simply not enough to promise a symbolic solidarity that you might personally choose to avoid a business or institution that YOU had the right to frequent unfettered and without limitation, while they literally barred others from their door. If racism and discrimination are abhorrent, if you find them evil, if they are a blight on our society, then commit to stopping them. These are not theoretical issues. We can not wish them away. There is no scholarly or philosophical middle-ground. We either tolerate them or we don't.

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Video: A curious examination of race in America

Please watch both videos. They are a 2 part series from 20/20 which examined racial attitudes in America

Leave a comment; share your thoughts...

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Sound off: What do you think of the Congressional Resolution apologizing for Slavery?

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.

Whereas, during the history of the Nation, the United States has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the world;

Whereas the legacy of African-Americans is interwoven with the very fabric of the democracy and freedom of the United States;

Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;

Whereas Africans forced into slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage;

Whereas many enslaved families were torn apart after family members were sold separately;

Whereas the system of slavery and the visceral racism against people of African descent upon which it depended became enmeshed in the social fabric of the United States;

Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the ratification of the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1865, after the end of the Civil War;

Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life;

Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as ``Jim Crow'', which arose in certain parts of the United States after the Civil War to create separate and unequal societies for Whites and African-Americans, was a direct result of the racism against people of African descent that was engendered by slavery;

Whereas the system of Jim Crow laws officially existed until the 1960s--a century after the official end of slavery in the United States--until Congress took action to end it, but the vestiges of Jim Crow continue to this day;

Whereas African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow laws--long after both systems were formally abolished--through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty;

Whereas the story of the enslavement and de jure segregation of African-Americans and the dehumanizing atrocities committed against them should not be purged from or minimized in the telling of the history of the United States;

Whereas those African-Americans who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws, and their descendants, exemplify the strength of the human character and provide a model of courage, commitment, and perseverance;

Whereas, on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged the continuing legacy of slavery in life in the United States and the need to confront that legacy, when he stated that slavery ``was . . . one of the greatest crimes of history . . . The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty and justice for all.'';

Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deep-seated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery, when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

Whereas an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs committed and a formal apology to African-Americans will help bind the wounds of the Nation that are rooted in slavery and can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help the people of the United States understand the past and honor the history of all people of the United States;

Whereas the legislatures of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the States of Alabama, Florida, Maryland, and North Carolina have taken the lead in adopting resolutions officially expressing appropriate remorse for slavery, and other State legislatures are considering similar resolutions; and

Whereas it is important for the people of the United States, who legally recognized slavery through the Constitution and the laws of the United States, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),

That the sense of the Congress is the following:

(1) Apology for the enslavement and segregation of african-americans. --The Congress--

(A) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws;

(B) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws; and

(C) expresses its recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society.

A special ceremony marking final passage will be held in the next couple weeks...

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Racism vs. Race-ism: The changing language of Race in America

I’ve always been fascinated by words… Like how the word “Dialogue” once a Noun and Verb, lost it Verb form early in the 20th Century and is now poised to reclaim it. Or how words like “enormity” used to describe an act of extreme wickedness, can somehow soften over time to now commonly describe anything that is ‘large in scale’. The process is simple enough; common usage over a long enough period of time results in a redefinition of the word. Our language is constantly shifting and reinventing itself by the words we speak…

I have also been fascinated by the power of words. I’ve marveled at how the assimilation of a given word, phrase, or slogan has the power to construct, modify, or retard mental imagery and ideas. Just think “War on Terror”, “Forced Busing”, “Tax and Spend”, “Illegals”, "Special Rights" or “Culture War”…

In a sense, words are weapons in a war of ideas. A well turned phrase can incite or pacify ones passions, inspire or discourage action, or can stimulate or halt discussion. When it comes to the language of Race, the latter pair, the ability to stimulate or terminate discussion is foremost.

There is a perceptible shift in our National dialogue on race. We are experiencing a move away from definitions that describe the relationships of different groups of people to newer definitions designed to stifle discussion by negatively characterising discussion, dissent, or protest.

Consider the word "Racism".
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Racism as: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others; a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. The definition describes a hierarchial belief system and the use of this belief system as doctrine or the basis for policy.

But this is far different from our contemporary uses of the word. I googled blogs and articles that used the word 'Racist' and found these quotes:

McCook Daily Gazette "Frankly I don't care about race the way Democrats do, but race is apparently the single issue to black Americans. So important was race, I contend that they acted as racists."

"I don't believe that the American Presidency is the place for affirmative action. Obama is the affirmative action President. Affirmative action is racism. You cannot have respect for a person who gets a job they did not earn."

Ubersite "It seems to me that black people are more racist. Just the fact that their always bitching about racism is racist. I believe fully in equality."

The articles and commentaries from which these quotes were culled suggest a new context in which racism (for the sake of clarity I will present this new idea as "Race-ism") is synonymous with race-consciousness. Thinking about, speaking about, or dealing with Race in any detailed or deliberate manner is "Race-ism". Oddly enough, in this context, comments clearly indicative of the type of hierarchial belief system the dictionary definition of the word "Racism" describes, are often passed off as non-racist or even anti-racist. This is possible because if Race-ism = Race consciousness, then claiming personal indifference towards race and racial issues would make one non-raceist regardless of the tone and tenor of one's comments. It is only in this context that people could describe President Barack Obama, a summa cume laude graduate of Harvard Law, a former Constitutional Law Professor, and former US Senator as nothing more than an Affirmative Action President, or "Barack the Magic Negro", while simultaneously declaring their statements to be non-raceist on the basis of their personal dispassion.

When we do engage the subject of Race, our conversations seem to evince a growing segregation of ideas, visions, and understandings. The chasm grows as new definitions seek to supplant old understandings and we dutifully avoid the courageous conversations necessary to repair the breach. Is Institutional Racism a lingering blight on our society that must be challenged and eliminated? Or is it a thing of the past, existing now only in the rhetorical ramblings of racial-hustlers and opportunists? The answer depends largely on who you ask.

A real tragedy of Race in our contemporary society is that it has become such a polarizing subject that at its very mention, it causes us to reflexively retreat to our ideological battle positions, thereby preventing us from truly listening to each other and understanding each others concerns. Any real understanding is impeded and we find ourselves unable to move beyond this stasis because of our refusal to 'dig deeper' and to give real consideration for opposing views. It's as though we fear that any substantive examination of the cauldron of race might uncover some degree of our own complicity thereby introducing a cognitive dissonance that would be psychologically traumatic.

"Race" is ideological "sausage"; we indulge, but with no real or sustained interest in understanding it's origins or composition. In fact, we consciously recognize that truly examining and understanding the phenomena of race would be disturbing. So instead, we ignore the deep and foundational issues, choosing to focus on the trivial, such as on how many blacks are on a specific TV show or the existence of BET. And any incident, immediate or remote, that hints at a larger underlying issue sparks an immediate and passionate response. All the while the chasm grows.

I've noted a few terms whose colloquial usages are seemingly based on new or alternative definitions:

RACE-IST = someone who talks about race or racism [see:diversity],
RACE-ISM = Any action taken containing or suggestive of a racial component or consciousness.
EQUALITY = the 'neutral' state reached no one speaks about race, racism, discrimination, inequality, or unfairness,
RACE CARD = any discussion that suggests an act of racism, racial discrimination, or race consciousness, negatively directed towards Blacks; whether modern or historical,

In its contemporary colloquial context, to even Talk about Racism, is to exhibit Race-ism.

Therefore, when groups like the NAACP protest or speak out against a perceived wrong or injustice, people are not necessarily motivated to act, nor are they motivated to make change. In fact by changing definitions, our society is insulates itself against criticisms and charges of racism by creating a virtual reality wherein inequality doesn't exist as long as nobody talks about it. (It reminds me of an old B-movie named 'Mystery Men' about a group of superheroes with useless super-powers, one of whom could turn invisible, but only as long as nobody looked at him)

But as these subtle semantic shifts move us towards a social environment that is increasingly hostile to critical analysis and societal introspection, we are really losing something of value... We've made tremendous progress in this country on racial issues in far more visceral and violent times than these. Yet progress has never come as a by-product of silence, apathy, or indifference. We've never moved forward, by simply closing our eyes and "moving on". Change is only achieved by those who are willing to look honestly and critically at where we stand, looking hopefully and optimistically at where we must go, and working passionately and deliberately to get us there. In this light, the shift in our national dialogue is clearly counter-productive.

We are faced with a myriad of solvable problems, but solving them will require our attention and it will require honest dialogue. Not for the purpose of assigning blame (there's enough blame to go around on all sides), but these courageous conversations are desperately needed so we can complete the work of designing solutions.

We need to talk about the fact that Public school districts with large minority populations receive nearly $1,000 less per pupil. We  need to talk about the recent data showing that within primarily minority school districts, approximately 78 percent of teachers do not teach in their accredited subject area. We need to talk about the fact that when white and black youths are arrested for the same crime and with similiar criminal records, minorities are three times more likely to be incarcerated than whites. We really need to address the seemingly permenant disparities in unemployment rates and the linkages to disparities in sickness and deaths from treatable diseases and afflictions as 52% of minorities are currently without health insurance...

But when race matters are equated with race-ism, when discussion of racial issues is characterized as race-ist, and when enumerating racial disparities is dismissed as the race-card, the creative conversations necessary to resolve these issues is impossible.

When will we ever talk about employment law and the 'shifting standards' that make discrimination cases virtually unwinnable? When will we really talk about immigration policy as it applies to all nations? Will we ever discuss the concept of "excess death" and it's roots?  Are we prepared to talk about why the gap in white and black unemployment rates never closes? Are we ready to talk about how teacher union contracts and how they impact the academic achievement gap?

I think THIS is what Attorney General Holder was speaking about when he spoke of our nation's cowardice in soberly and forthrightly addressing racial issues; before he too was shamed back into silence.

But what about us... Can we talk?

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Andover Middle School displays a student-made "KKK board game" during Open House

Yesterday, I received an email from a parent in Andover Kansas, which is a small town north of Wichita. She had attended an open house at her children's school and saw a "KKK board game", created by one of the students, on display. Her letter was poignant and in a few short words she crystallized the problem with such callous displays and assignments...

I decided to present her letter and pictures here for public perusal and comment.

Dear Mr.Myles,

I am a parent of a 7th grader at Andover Middle School. On Thursday March 26, 2009, my children and I attended an open house. One of the displays was a set of "games" the students created using the topic of their research paper. This particular student's topic was the KKK. I was so appalled that I had to take pictures of it.

I wish they understood that it is not just "our" history but it is also theirs. And mocking and belittling what happened in our past (even if it's not intentional) is not acceptable.


XXXXX X. XXXXX  (name is redacted)

May God Bless and Keep You Everyday!

Now we as a Branch will contact the school and work through the issue; but this is 2009, at some point this must change... Given that this was a middle school, you could surmise that the student who created the "game" was probably between 12 and 14. So while it is distrurbing that he or she may have thought this appropriate, the problem is not the student, the failure clearly rests with the school.  They should have challenged the students thinking, they should have corrected him or her and explained why this was inappropriate, they should have taken advantage of that "teachable moment" and helped the student understand the real lessons of history.  But to the contrary, they chose to reinforce the students cultural and historical myopia by displaying the "game" at a public forum, an Open House, to be 'appreciated' as something representative of their body of work. I'll keep you all posted as this unfolds...

But in the meantime, please feel free to post a comment below and share your thoughts...

Tech Tags: KKK, Andover, NAACP, KKK+game, Kansas, Current+events

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The Southern Poverty Law Center reports an alarming rise in the number of active Hate Groups in the US

From white power skinheads decrying "President Obongo" at a racist gathering in rural Missouri, to neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen hurling epithets at Latino immigrants from courthouse steps in Oklahoma, to anti-Semitic black separatists calling for death to Jews on bustling street corners in several East Coast cities, hate group activity in the U.S. was disturbing and widespread throughout 2008, as the number of hate groups operating in America continued to rise. Last year, 926 hate groups were active in the U.S., up more than 4% from 888 in 2007. That's more than a 50% increase since 2000, when there were 602 groups.

As in recent years, hate groups were animated by the national immigration debate. But two new forces also drove them in 2008: the worsening recession, and Barack Obama's successful campaign to become the nation's first black president. Officials reported that Obama had received more threats than any other presidential candidate in memory, and several white supremacists were arrested for saying they would assassinate him or allegedly plotting to do so.

Click HERE to read the SPLC's full report 

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Stephen Colbert's "Courageous Conversation" on Race

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - Ablacknophobia

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Joke of the Day
Stand-Up Comedy

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A Nation of Cowards?: Pat Buchanan and Dr. Micheal Eric Dyson attempt a courageous conversation on Race

Yesterday on Hardball, Pat Buchanan and Professor Micheal Eric Dyson squared off on the question of whether Americans are 'a Nation of Cowards' with regard to the matters of race, as was suggested by US Attorney General Eric Holder. Their conversation confrontation is captured below...

I give a lot of credit to Pat Buchanan for his willingness to honestly and unapologetically state his opinions on race as he has over the years; oft times with questionable company (read: Stormfront, Council of Conservative Citizens, etc). But I really wish that Professor Dyson had dealt less with the sensational and spent a little time really illuminating the structural and institutional challenges and disparities facing our community.

I wish he'd mentioned the fact that Public school districts with large minority populations receive nearly $1,000 less per pupil. I wish he'd mentioned the recent data showing that within primarily minority school districts, approximately 78 percent of teachers do not teach in their accredited subject area. I wish he'd mentioned the fact that when white and black youths are arrested for the same crime and with similiar criminal records, minorities are three times more likely to be incarcerated than whites. Or perhaps he could have mentioned the seemingly permenant disparities in unemployment rates and the linkages to disparities in sickness and deaths from treatable diseases and afflictions as 52% of minorities are currently without health insurance...

THESE institutional elements are the issues that no one wants to discuss. This is the elephant in the room. We can argue about feelings and resentments; we even make movies about them -but who's ready to radically re-vision our institutions? Are we ready to talk about employment law and the 'shifting standards' that make discrimination cases virtually unwinnable? Are we ready to really talk about immigration policy as it applies to all nations? Are we ready to discuss the concept of "excess death" and it's roots?  Are we prepared to talk about why the gap in white and black unemployment rates never closes? Are we ready to talk about how teacher union contracts and how they impact the academic achievement gap?

I could go on and on, but I guess in the absence of a truly honest dialogue, these "info-tainment" style collisions will have to suffice...

AG Holder, I'm with you...

But what do you all think? Are we as a nation ready for a truly courageous conversation? Post a comment, and let's talk about it....


Nation of Cowards Race Politics NAACP Eric Holder Buchanan Dyson

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Obama and the morning after: Why we too must change...

I haven't posted since election night... In part, I think I was taking a much needed break from blogging, but yet another part of me needed to take a little while and really savor and appreciate the moment. With the election of President-Elect Obama, came the proof; the tangible evidence of the potential we've so long described. All that we've fought for, all the meetings, all the marches, the protests, and demonstrations, were all redeemed that night as he stood before the podium as our newly elected President. Before a multi-racial audience of more than 125,000 people, Barack Obama was equality personified...


His ascension carried with it the promise that buried deep within the crumbling hallways of inner-city schools and off-the-beltway communities, there are pieces of excellence; young men and women, needing only an opportunity and the belief in their own abilities. He showed the world that genius Can be found on a basketball court and that competence and character should always trump color and condition. As a Black man, a life-long community organizer, and as an American, I was moved to tears...

But even in my admiration, I was stricken by a harsh reality. The brilliance of his accomplishment served to clearly illuminate a very troubling gap: The frightening disparity between our potential and our performance... After all, it was only in April of this year that the Editorial Projects in Education Research Foundation released its 16 page comprehensive report on Graduation Rates within the Nation's 50 largest cities. It showed a graduation rate for African American students as a paltry 53%.

I asked myself, how is it possible that at the same time we see an African American rise to the highest office in the land, we'd still see so many of our youth imprisoned by menial aspirations and self-imposed limitations... I struggled to juxtapose the images of Martin and Abernathy, Hamer, Rustin, Bethune, Medgar, and countless others opening the doors to welcome this very morning, and in the same light, seeing nearly half of our youth walking away without an education or the opportunities it provides. Ironically, on the day that the world acknowledged and celebrated our capacity to lead and make change, it became most clear that some of the most ardent unbelievers are our own children.

A few days ago; just after the election, I was asked to come and speak at a local High School to a group of African American children. I began my remarks by asking approximately 20 young men and 20 young ladies what they planned to do after High School. Each of the young ladies I spoke with, had an aspirational goal. There were future Nurses, Teachers, Engineers, and Lawyers, and even 1 Basketball player. When I turned to the young men, it was a much different picture. Among them, there was one future engineer, one future Graphic Designer, one future Sailor, one future basketball player, and 16 I don't know's.

I looked into the faces of these 15, 16, and 17 year-old young men and felt a profound sense of sadness. It was as though the meaning and significance of what had just occurred had somehow escaped them. They were clearly celebratory; but while they proudly cheered the symbol, they'd missed the substance. I had hoped that the election would have energized them to reinvest in their own potential, and that we could have talked about what it meant to live in a world without limits... But I was met by the reality that a ship so long adrift would not be so easily righted.

I brought that back to our branch and made it clear that if we hope to be of service to our community; here was the fault-line of our crisis. This must be the front-line of our efforts. So while we celebrate this moment when the world itself seems ready to believe in us, we must work even harder to ensure that our children believe in themselves.

And so it is for all of us who work in the community. There are no more excuses... No more easy explanations for unfortunate outcomes. I'm not so naive as to believe that the world has changed overnight; but I am optimistic enough to believe that by working together, we can be the change we seek.

now back to the grind.

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Johnson County NAACP speaks out on the Racial 'Journeys' receipt controversy

The owner of a suburban Kansas City shoe store says it has fired the employee who was behind a racial slur on a receipt given to a black customer.

The company that owns Journeys at the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kan., apologized Wednesday for the worker who chose a code on a computerized list of reasons for returned merchandise that said "Cust: Dumb (N-word)." A shopper had purchased a pair of shoes at Journeys but later returned them after buying a cheaper pair elsewhere. He got his money back but did not notice the slur on the receipt until he got home.

Wandra Minor; President of the Johnson County NAACP, said that the Branch has been contacted by the family and the Johnson County NAACP Legal Redress Committee and its chair, Willie Miller, are actively investigating the incident.

We will keep you posted as the issue unfolds...

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OH NO HE DIDN'T - The Mayor of Ark City performs in Blackface

Mel Kuhn, the Mayor of Arkansas City Kansas, won a beauty pageant fundraiser last weekend. Kuhn participated in the Men in Tights, drag queen contest that has become an annual fund raiser for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates. The agency supports foster children in the court system.

Kuhn named his character "Smellishis Poon," and the name appeared on programs and was announced during the event. He also had back up dancers for the talent portion, and called them his "Red Hot Puntangs."

Arkansas City (or Ark City as it is more commonly known) is a small town approximately an hour or so south of Wichita. The relationship between the Wichita Branch and Ark City is relatively new, but substantial...

A year ago, Ark City was served by a small NAACP Branch known as the Cowley-Sumner Branch. The branch fell below their required membership numbers and was in danger of losing it's charter. Rather than see the branch lose it's charter, we applied to the National Office that we'd be able to temporarily annex the Cowley-Sumner Branch, its membership and its territory; at least until such time as they were able to rebuild their infrastructure. So perhaps unbeknownest to many within Ark City, they now fall within our jurisdiction.

Yesterday morning, when I learned about the Mayor's weekend performance I placed a call to City Hall in Ark City and requested a meeting with Mayor Kuhn. Mayor Kuhn returned my call a little after noon and offered to come to Wichita to meet that evening.

I was joined in the meeting by branch members Dr. Maaskela Thomas and Paulette Goines who added some clear and critical perspective.

Now to be clear, our intent was not to offer absolution; we would not be "Al Sharpton" to his "Don Imus". Rather, I requested the meeting with the modest goals of making accessible to the Mayor the level of offense and outrage his performance had engendered, and to impress upon the Mayor our perspective that this performance, when viewed with other key indicators, appears to be emblematic of a larger problem and perspective gap.

These issues were highlighted by an interview that appeared in the online version of the Ark City Traveler newspaper in which the Mayor reportedly said, "I don't give a damn what people think. It's a bunch of bullshit" and later remarked, "All this PC is bullshit".

We met for about an hour and discussed the performance, his rationale, the context, the history, and the outrage, in some detail. And while I don't believe that his antics were born of racial hatred or animus (Think "Family Guy") It became increasingly clear that there certainly are larger and more pertinent issues that need to be addressed.

*We discussed the fact that the town of Ark City has never had an African American department head in its 130 year history. *We also discussed the fact that the town's Human Relations Committee was recently downsized from a 20 member board to 5 members, shifted from monthly meetings to quarterly meetings, and was completely de-funded. *And yes, we discussed the fact that he could appear in blackface at a banquet before a cheering crowd, and actually win a trophy for his performance...

As we made our way through the discussion, we described to the Mayor the degree to which people were hurt and offended by his actions. And while he had previously told a reporter from the Ark City Traveler that he wouldn't apologize, I think we were able to convey the fact that this was not merely a harmless act to which some overly sensitive people took offense. We directly challenged the notions and arguments of equivalency, and Mayor Kuhn seemed to understand and accept the fact that he had done something that truly warranted a public apology. In response, Mayor Kuhn offered this statement:

"It has been brought to my attention how offensive this was and I absolutely agree that it was shortsighted of me not to see that in the first place. I am sincerely sorry and I sincerely apologize for the offensive nature of my actions. This was not CASA, this was of my own volition, and I take full responsibility for my actions. The buck absolutely stops here". - Mayor Mell H. Kuhn

We then asked Mayor Kuhn if he would commit to an ongoing conversation/relationship with the Center for Community Support and Research (formerly known as the Self Help Center of WSU), and he agreed. Through this effort, we will work to identify and address the systemic and structural issues of race and perspective in Ark City.

This will be a "Work-in-Progress" for quite some time... but we'll keep you posted as developments arise.

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LIVE Webcast: Race and Genetics - The Future of Personalized Medicine

Health disparities between some racial and ethnic groups have persisted despite programs aimed at reducing those differences. Recently, attention has turned to the potential of personalized medicine, the use of genetic or molecular information to make clinical decisions. However, there is not widespread consensus about the use of race in developing new medical technologies.

On Wednesday, August 20, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s live, interactive webcast series, Today’s Topics In Health Disparities, will discuss the potential of race-based medical solutions for improving health care and reducing racial/ethnic health disparities. The webcast on “Race and Genetics: The Future of Personalized Medicine” will take a closer look at efforts to study the interaction between race, genetics and health.

The panelists will discuss the efforts underway to develop medications to treat diseases that disproportionately affect certain racial and ethnic groups, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of using genetic markers for race in medical decisions. Other topics to be covered include which genetic factors are being used to personalize medicine and what pharmaceutical companies are doing to target the drugs and treatments they offer to certain groups. Questions for the panel can be submitted before or during the webcast to ask@kaisernetwork.org.

PANELISTS:

• Richard Levy, Ph.D., president, Levy Consulting, and former vice president for scientific affairs, National Pharmaceutical Council
• Dorothy Roberts, J.D., Kirkland & Ellis professor, Northwestern University Law School
• Clyde Yancy, M.D., medical director, Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, chief, Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Baylor University Medical Center, and president-elect, American Heart Association
  

The discussion will be moderated by Marsha Lillie-Blanton, Dr.P.H., senior advisor on race, ethnicity and health care for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET
Add this event to your Outlook Calendar (Please note that all times are ET).

WHERE: View the live webcast at www.kaisernetwork.org/todaystopics/20aug08 .

HOW: The panel of experts will take your questions via email. Submit questions before or during the show to ask@kaisernetwork.org. If you have never viewed a webcast before, please test your media player in advance of the live webcast.

Today's Topics In Health Disparities is a series of live, interactive webcasts devoted to addressing a range of issues relating to health and health care disparities in the United States. Each discussion features a panel of experts tackling current issues in health disparities and answering questions from webcast viewers. Previous shows have addressed topics including the influence of immigration policies on health care decisions, federal legislative efforts to address health disparities, and what it would take to eliminate the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS among African Americans. See www.kaisernetwork.org/todaystopics for more details.

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Reflections from the 4th Annual NAACP Leadership 500 Summit

I'm just leaving Arizona on way my home after attending the 4th annual NAACP Leadership 500 summit. The annual summit was started as an effort to gather young professional leaders (ages 35 - 45) from around the country to share ideas and best practices, and to have a real dialogue about the future of activism and the movement. This year's summit was phenomenal. The speakers were timely and informative and each brought useful information that we can and need to incorporate into our work within the NAACP. While I had intended to post yesterday about the events I had attended, the day seemed so full that this is the first moment I've had to really stop and share.

Friday began with an early morning breakfast session keynoted by Dr. Robert Michael Franklin; President of Morehouse University and NAACP Life Member. Dr. Franklin highlighted the importance of networking and maximizing our outcomes by working together and taking advantage of the unique skills and abilities each of us bring to the table. He polled the room and showed that the attendees were almost equally representative of the Public Sector, Private Sector, Non-Profit, and Church communities, and he challenged us all to commit to being collaborative in our efforts. He also brought forward 7 initiatives that he recommended that the NAACP should champion.

A Call to Renewal & Reconciliation
This would be a call to the Churches, Non-profits, business community and the black community as a whole to take a critical look inward at the status of our community and our culture and to forgive one another

A Call to Conversation
This he described as a call to engage the community to engage the community in dialogue about the status of our families and relationships.

A Call for Collaborative Leadership
This would be a call to the Organizations, Churches, Civic Leaders, and concerned community activists and Grass-Roots folks to lay aside our differences, then to move forward together, unified in our purpose.

A Focus on Vision & Planning
This is to ensure that while there will necessarily be times when we must react to crises, we must not allow ourselves to become reactionary in our methods or our focus. rather we should be visionary and look to address issues before they become crises.

Increased Accountability
That we, and particularly our youth, should hold us accountable for our efforts and outcomes.

A Focus on Sustainability and Fundraising
That we should look towards implementing sustainable practices and develop new and reliable sources for organizational funding.

& an effort to Document and Celebrate our own successes
and that we should become more effective and deliberate about documenting our efforts and outcomes so that we may provide both a record and a blueprint for those who come after us.



Dr Franklin's presentation was followed by a Special General session on the status of African-American Women in America. Serving on the panel were Shonta Chambers; National Board member of the American Heart Association, Cheryl D Broussard; CEO of Cheryl Broussard and Co, and the author of Sister CEO: The Black Woman's guide to starting your own business. Vivian Stringer; Head Coach of the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team and Author of Standing Tall: A Memoir of tragedy & triumph. & Terrie M Williams; President and Founder of the Terrie M Williams Agency and Author of Black Pain: It just looks like we're not hurting...

This was a very informative and also incredibly personal and emotional session. I was able to video several portions of this session and as soon as I can get a moment to edit and assemble the clips, I will begin posting them here on the blog. Keep checking the Video bar near the bottom of the right hand column. But clearly the highlight of the session was the presentation by Terrie Williams who dealt with the issues of mental and emotional health. (part 1 of her talk is now posted in the video bar near the bottom of the right-hand column) As she spoke, women in the audience began share their own personal testimonies of having dealt with low grade depression, the expectations of others that you would always be "the strong one" and the need to wear so many hats in society. (Wichita Folks - keep watching for her name, as I intend to bring both Terrie Williams and Cheryl Brussard to Wichita to be a part of our Local Call to Renewal & Discussion as suggested by Dr. Franklin)

After those two Powerful sessions, LN Rock (the African American Political Pundit) and I sat down with Stephanie Brown; the NAACP National Director of the Youth and College Division, and talked at length about integrating Internet Advocacy into the NAACP program. Stephanie was excited and on-board and I certainly look forward to working with her in establishing unit level blogs throughout the Association that will allow us to control our own message and define our own brand. We have committed that when we get to our Centennial Celebration in New York City, we will have no less than 200 NAACP blogs in operation.

Saturday kicked off with a presentation from Micheal Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Roberts Companies. Mr. Roberts (also an NAACP Life Member) is one of the most successful businessmen in the country overseeing a Hotel enterprise, Lofts, Shopping Centers, Communications Towers, privately held television broadcasting networks, cabinetry companies, and even small charter jet services. He spoke to us all about the need to take action, forgetting about fear or failure. He even challenged us all to Stop thinking out of the box, because to do so, you first have to accept the parameters of th ebox. He stressed that we should become "actionairres" who think, plan, and execute without regard for artificial or imposed limits.

We then had a townhall meeting which dealt with the topic: Race & Religion in American politics. The panel consisted of Mr. Randall Pinkett - business mogul and winner of the last season of "the Apprentice" with Donald Trump, Rev Otis Moss III - successor to Rev. Jerimiah Wright as Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Odora Obi Nweze - Florida State NAACP President, Roland Martin - Reverend, Author, journalist, and CNN Commentator, Tara Wall - Journalist for the Washington Times and former Director of Outreach Communications for the Republican National Committee, and yours truly!!!

The final banquet was keynoted by our newly named President and CEO Benjamin T. Jealous. President Jealous spoke at length about his vision for the association and all were duly impressed. I had a brief opportunity to speak with President Jealous as well, and we talked about ways that the NAACP can further incorporate methods of Internet Activism through NAACP blogs, networks and collaboration with existing Black Blog networks like the Afrospear. President Jealous was clearly on board, and asked that I hold him to his word that we will work together on making this happen. Working together with Stephanie Brown (the Director of Youth and College) LN Rock (the African American Political Pundit and New Member) and with the full committed support of our Vice Chair Roslyn Brock and our new President and CEO Benjamin T. Jealous, I believe we are about to see a true refinement and positive expansion of our protest methodologies.

And in between all these events, there were even more workshops on Education, Civic Engagement, Political activism, the role of the Church, and a seminar on the etiquette of business Golf.

Over the next few days I will post a number of pictures and videos from the summit and links to additional information on the presenters. Kudos to Vice Chair Roslyn Brock for an excellent and informative summit, and we will work our hardest to see that next year's summit is even bigger and better.

Tech Tags: NAACP, Leadership+500, Roslyn+Brock, Randall+Pinkett, Roland+Martin, Tara+Wall, Otis+Moss, Micheal+Roberts, LN+Rock, Kevin+Myles, Robert+Franklin, Terrie+Williams, Cheryl+Broussard, Hazel+Dukes, Benjamin+Jealous

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Representative Russell Pearce Proposes Ban on Student Groups Based on Race at Arizona Campuses

Russell Pearce, a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, has introduced legislation that would bar students at state-operated universities from forming groups or associations based in whole or in part on racial classifications.

Under the proposal, groups such as the Black Law Students Association, the Black and African Coalition, the Black Business Student Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, the NAACP, or other groups based on race, would not be permitted on the campuses of the University of Arizona or Arizona State University.

The bill authorizes the state to withhold public funding from colleges and universities that do not comply with the provision.

What is Most bizarre is that the provision was not introduced as a stand-alone bill but rather was amended onto a routine Homeland Security bill. That his amendment was not germane to the original bill was apparently not enough to stop the Arizona House Appropriations Committee from passing it on Wednesday. It still awaits a vote by the state’s full House and Senate.

The Complete text of Representative Pearce's proposed amendment to SB 1108 can be found by clicking [HERE].
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I guess I shouldn't be surprised though. This is the same Legislator that introduced HCR 2041 - the companion bill to Ward Connerly's attempt to eliminate Affirmative Action. Only Representative Pearce takes Ward Connerly's stance a step further by introducing this 'gem'. Representative Pearce's bill contains a provision that:

Requires that an injured party’s race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin are not to be considered when seeking remedy for violations of anti-discrimination law.

Now tell me, if you can't consider the race of an injured party in a discrimination case, then how can you ever prove racial discrimination? The Answer? You CANT... Pearce's bill would "end" racial discrimination in Arizona by making it illegal to investigate the claims... This would be funny if it weren't so sad...
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Rep. Russell Pearce (R) Distr 18
House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington
Room 114
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone Number: (602) 926-5760
Fax Number: (602) 417-3118
Email Address: mailto:rpearce@azleg.gov


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... somebody ought to give Representative Pearce a call...
Arizona NAACP'ers, let me know if there's anything we can do to help...

Tech Tags: Arizona+Legislature, Russell+Pearce, Affirmative+Action,

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