diversifiedminds

Boston College Black Family Weekend Speech: Blackness Without Boundaries

2017-05-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

Black Excellence on Full Display at Boston College

Good afternoon. It is great to be back. I attended my first Black Family Weekend as a high school senior in 2002. The people that I met that weekend, many of them becoming my closest friends, solidified my decision to attend Boston College. In the past fifteen years I have only missed one Black Family Weekend because of what the weekend symbolizes. The 2002 version of me would have never imagined that I’d be speaking here today. Dr. Donald Brown, is a Boston College legend. He spoke and continues to speak truth to power, and has always urged the Boston College community, to do the same. I received a message from him on Friday sending his warmest wishes to everyone. I am humbled to be speaking at an event bearing his name and hope to honor his legacy today. The theme of this weekend is blackness without boundaries. My intent is to focus on that theme and how it has been important in my life and spend some time discussing what it means as we grapple with blackness under a Trump presidency. Before I begin I want to take a moment to thank a few people. To the Black Student Forum executive board, especially Chiamaka Okorie and Jada Sanchez, thank you for the invite and congrats on executing another successful Black Family Weekend. This weekend continues the long history of black students pushing to make this university realize and recognize that our history, culture and presence is integral in making Boston College the world class institution that it is. It is my hope that those that follow in your footsteps will continue to keep this weekend alive and make it even better than it already is. To Karl Bell: I remember meeting you 12 years ago. I have watched you work tirelessly with BC students to make their experiences matter. I know the personal sacrifices that you have made because you believe in the greatness of those who walk this campus. You have served as a confidant, friend, mentor and father figure to so many people. On behalf of them I want to thank you for your continued service to our institution. You are a true example of the Boston College motto: Men and Women for Others. To the alumni in the room, thank you for coming out. You serve as symbols of what the current undergraduates can be. I urge you all to continue living the Ignatian ideal of setting the world aflame. Take some time and reach back to support the students that attend Boston College. Never forget that not too long ago we were once them. They may not admit it all the time, but they need us. And I will tell you as someone who has spent almost half of my 33 years on earth as an educator, one of the biggest lessons that I've learned is that we need them even more. I want to publicly acknowledge members of the Boston College Ahana Alumni Advisory Council. The Triple A.C. was created to promote AHANA Alumni involvement in all aspects of the university. I was asked last year to become a member of the Council. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Your leadership, friendship and belief in this university has been nothing short of a blessing. I am proud to call you all Boston College Ahana Alumni but even more so to call you friends. Would any members of the triple AC in attendance please rise to be recognized.

Blackness without boundaries, or as I like to call it, unapologetic blackness, is built into my DNA. My family hails from the Caribbean, and I grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. There is something unique about people, black people from Brooklyn. Jay-Z said it best “My swag different/I brag different”. We carry ourselves with a certain gritty confidence that makes people know without a doubt where we are from. Growing up the symbols of the black diaspora were everywhere. From the Jamaican restaurant selling jerk chicken on the sidewalk, to the brothas on the block who could trace multiple generations back to those same Brooklyn streets. From the Caribbean rhythms of Bob Marley, to the sounds of the OJays to Brooklyn’s very own Notorious BIG urging us to “spread love its the Brooklyn way.” Brooklyn became the place that solidified my blackness. And its a place that nurtures it, even today as the results of gentrification radically change the place I call home.

“Everyone sees your glory but few know your story.” Allow me to share a bit of mine. People like me don’t normally end up where I am today. I was a premature baby born to high school sweethearts. My mom was 14 and my dad was 16. I like to joke that even in my mom’s womb, patience was never my biggest virtue. Modern medicine wasn't what it is now so being born premature was a big deal. There were lots of doctors visits. During one such visit my family entered a white room, and a white doctor in a white coat walked in and ran some tests on me. White rooms are horrible for infants as I am sure some of our School Of Nursing folk can attest to. So naturally I ignored much of the doctor’s commands. Upon completion he looked at my folks and said that he didn't think that I would walk, talk or be a functioning member of society and that my family should prepare for that likely outcome.

How many of y'all have or had a praying grandmother? A woman who gets her strength from generations of black women who have come before her. A woman who may be unassuming physically, yet with a simple look or word commands a room. Well I have one of those. My grandmother was the age I am now when I was born. She came to the United States from St. Lucia as a child. Now my family name St.Omer is prominent back there. My great uncle Dunston designed the St. Lucian flag. His contributions to the arts garnered such praise that he was knighted by the Queen of England. Nobel Prize winner and poet Derek Walcott was simply Uncle Derek in my house. But all of those family accomplishments didn’t mean much to anyone when my grandmother arrived in America. But they did mean a lot to her. There was power in her name. There was a legacy that she stood on, even if others didn’t know it. Boston College, there is power in your names. There is a legacy that you stand on. The legacy of your families and the legacy of those who trodded along the stony road as Boston College students so that the path would be a bit smoother for you. Never forget that. My grandmother after graduating Cathedral High School, went on to Medgar Evers College, the only HBCU in the northeast, where she became friends with Betty Shabazz, the late widow of Malcolm X. They participated in sit-ins that helped create a women’s resource center that still exists today.

So that woman I just described looked at the doctor who had just diagnosed my life and said “you're wrong” and walked out of the office. For the next six years before I started school, she, herself a teacher would go to work, teach her class and come home and redo those lessons with me. I became her master class. I sincerely believe that had it not been for her work with me, I wouldn't be where I am today. She is retiring this year after more than 33 years in the classroom teaching kindergarten. Her passion for education, especially for black and brown children is what led me to be an educator. And it is her legacy that I stand on everyday I walk into school. A legacy rooted in knowing where you came from but more importantly giving back so that others can drink in the beautiful bounty that is blackness.

Most of the key moments in my life have occurred in educational settings. Even some of the most racialized moments. I attended a segregated public elementary school. I yearned for black teachers, but rarely had them. Sound familiar? In fourth grade my teacher asked the class what were we looking forward to most in fifth grade. I, nine years old, rose my hand and said “I’m looking forward to having a black teacher.” Needless to say, even at this young age, I had no problem being unapologetically black. I was admitted to the Prep For Prep program in fifth grade and ended up enrolling at the Little Red School House/Elisabeth Irwin High School, a private school from 7-12th grade. Now when people hear private school, thoughts of rich white kids, expensive tuition and ridiculous bat mitzvahs come to mind. While these were definitely an aspect of my middle and high school years, there were others that made it special. It was a deeply progressive school that believed in diversity to its core. When political activist Angela Davis left the South as a teenager, she ended up enrolling at the school that I attended. If it was good for her then it was going to be good for me. I attended my very first rally protesting the brutal sexual assault of Abner Louima at the hands of members of the NYPD with seventh grade classmates. A few years ago students walked out of school and marched in the streets of Manhattan in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I learned about the history of the fight for gay rights, civil rights, and the rights of other marginalized groups. My school valued my blackness and helped me solidify that foundation through the lens of social justice. I cherish that experience to this day.

I have always believed that college should challenge who you are and what you believe in. Boston College did just that. Being here pushed my boundaries. From the white kid during freshman orientation from Iowa who asked if I knew how to do the Original Harlem Shake, because obviously all black folk from New York know how to dance like Diddy, to the time in class where slavery was a topic and a professor looked at me, the only black student in class and asked me how I felt about it. Boston College taught me how to confront ignorance, biases and respond accordingly. BC also taught me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing my community to confront issues that were uncomfortable or taboo. During my junior year a movement to have the Boston College administration change its non discrimination clause to include sexual orientation gained steam. The university decided to put the vote up for referendum during UGBC elections. In an effort to dramatize the issue, there was a march organized by various students held on campus. I, as President of the Caribbean Culture Club as well as a board member of The Voices Of Imani, had to make a decision on whether I would participate in the march. Caribbean people and the black church have notoriously looked down upon LGBTQ people. I made the decision that I needed to publicly support that community and would deal with any backlash from people after. Personally I have always felt that I have no right to withhold freedom to any group of people. In the grand scheme of things black men just got their freedom relatively recently. And it's a tenuous freedom at best. Who am I to say that LGBTQ people shouldn't have the same rights that I have? I’m glad that I stood on the right side of history during this pivotal moment at Boston College.

Being unapologetically black while working in white spaces has been a tricky dance. In most of the places I have worked I am often one of few black men in the building. One of the ways that I coped with this was by prescribing to the concept of respectability politics. This only got me so far. Over time I have come to realize that my very presence as a black man is uncomfortable for some white people. It doesn’t matter if I am in a suit or if I can quote the most famous white dead authors. If they are uncomfortable with blackness then they are by extension uncomfortable with me. It has also dawned on me that many white people view comfort as a right. Black people know that comfort is a privilege. Often one that we can never fully partake in. I can not go on trying to make white people feel comfortable around me by negating aspects of my blackness. In order for me to be a fully present person, my blackness has to be part of that present. Once I accepted this I truly became free. Free to be who I am and free to push others to analyze who they were. Too often we accept the belief that there are white spaces and black spaces. My personal belief is that every space I enter can and must become a black space. Whiteness as a concept seeks to exclude people. The All-White, excuse me the Alt Right movement proves that. When we hear Donald Trump say “Make America Great Again” we all knew for whom he meant. We knew that America was never great for us. But like Talib Kweli says “life is a beautiful struggle.” Blackness at least on a theoretical level has always been an inclusionary concept. If you're down with the cause we will take you in. Creating black spaces allows for a deeper opportunity for cross cultural learning to go on. And more importantly it allows full participation in the education that I believe is vital. It allows for the freedom that Beyonce describes in the chorus of her song of the same name “I break chains all by myself/ Won’t let my freedom rot in hell/ Ima keep running/ Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.”

I hope that you will allow me the remaining time to discuss the importance of blackness without borders in our current political climate. Firstly I miss the Obama family. I miss them for not only what they accomplished but what they stood for. They stood for unapologetic blackness in all its forms. They were far from perfect. But they were like us all, beautiful black imperfection. Presidents are supposed to be the soundtracks to a nation. They are the ones whose voices help shape and mold who we are and push us to even greater aspirations. It is safe to say that the current soundtrack sounds off key. I remember election night in 2008 like it was yesterday. The first person I called was Karl Bell. Karl and I were speechless which for the two of us is a rarity. We simply wept by how far we had come as a country. Fast forward eight years later and on election night 2016 we spoke again, resigned to the fact that as the Greek tale of Sisyphus teaches us, we can push the boulder up the hill but it will always roll down to the bottom. Now is NOT the time to grow weary but the time to renew our energy and push that boulder back up the hill.

The day of November 9th will live on in our collective memories. The darkness that descended upon much of this nation due to the shocking election results shook many to the core. I walked into work and saw ashen faces everywhere. The toughest moments were having my students, all 10 years old and under ask me, what was going to happen next? I reassured them that as long as they were at school that they were safe and most importantly loved. But I knew that the results of the previous night proved to them, that safety was not a guarantee. It was the first time as an educator that I felt my words meant little.

Over the past few months I have regained my footing and realized that my biggest strength, our biggest strength is our collective voices speaking out. We must speak truth to a system that has elected a president who was supported by the KKK, who refuses decades later to apologize to the Central Park Five for calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, for boys who were ultimately proven innocent. We must speak out against a president who has selected in Jeff Sessions as the nation’s top lawyer, a man who Rosa Parks herself said was unfit to serve as federal judge because of his racist views. I have had the chance to learn about Donald Trump as a result of growing up in New York City. Nothing he has done has surprised me. The question is what do we do to ensure that he only serves one term?

We can not run away from the tough task ahead of us. Black people have stood up on this campus for our rights from the very first day we were enrolled here much like blacks fought the battles in the streets to achieve the elusive goal of equality. History has a weird way of repeating itself. We owe it to those, many whose names we will never know to keep the tradition of resistance alive. Our freedom depends on it.

It pains me to hear the discourse from many talking about the need to move away from identity politics. I am a black, straight, cisgendered man. My body is literally identity politics, whether I want it to be or not. My work whether it is in the classroom or on the street aims to create spaces where dialogue and effective action can happen.

Black Lives Matter was a rallying cry for many of us the past few years. As the madness of the Trump presidency overtakes our lives, deaths by police officers are on pace to break records. Since the death of MIchael Brown we have watched videos of law enforcement operate much like the KKK, except the robe has been their police uniform. Their biases and fear of black bodies manifest themselves in the bullet of a gun, the strike of a baton or the zap of a taser. Where once a rope and sturdy tree branch sufficed as the murder weapon of black people, guns and tasers have replaced them. Where postcards of the macabre scene were mailed off to people, we now have cell phone, dash and body cameras. Black lives have never mattered to those with the wanton authority to dispense a legal system. A system whose scales of justice bend--- like the tree branches of those lynched, unfavorably against black and brown people. Don't ever think that when we watch these videos of police killing citizens that we aren't watching lynchings. Because we are. The question is will we honor the strange fruit or will we continue to watch them spoil, over and over again. History calls upon us now more than ever to speak up, stand up, march, and be a voice of the resistance. That is blackness without boundaries.

I am glad to see that college aged folks are leading this new social media driven social movement. I love the young generation because they have achieved something that it took me a long time to achieve. Frankly they don’t care what older folk think about them. Some older folk might see that as disrespectful. I urge those that do to remember that older folk said the same thing about you when you were young. Young people have been the ones to start every social movement. Women have often been the ones to sustain them. The power of technology to galvanize large numbers of people to collectively act by merely tweeting or updating statuses is important. Black Lives Matter wouldn’t have caught on had it not been for twitter. Phalando Castile’s death might have gone unnoticed had his girlfriend not have the mindset to broadcast it for the world to see on Facebook live. Activism comes in many forms. Not everyone is comfortable protesting publicly but everyone has the power to use social media as a tool. In this day and age we can not look at social media activism as invalid. Doing so would ignore the many successes that black people have been able to accomplish using it. The power harnessed via social media, when aimed positively can change the world, not just domestically but internationally as well.

My life's work has been about working with young people of various races. I believe that the success that I've been able to achieve with them has come from the realization that respect is a mutual thing. White students want the same care that black students do. They want nothing more than to be heard by older folk. By listening and learning about them, what their hopes and dreams, interests and quirks are, and allowing them to learn the same things about me then our relationships became stronger. By being unapologetically black with students, then it gives them the freedom to be their authentic selves with others.

In closing I would like to leave you all with two suggestions that have helped shape my life. First, consider what your legacy will be. Everyone is guaranteed two dates. The date when God brought us into this world, and the date when we are called home. In between those two dates is where our life really matters. What will you do with those days to make this world a better place. How will you be remembered? It is my hope for each and everyone that you will live a life of service to others. A life unapologetically black. And I also hope that when God greets you at the gates of Heaven She will look at you and say “You have done all that you can do. Now its time to rest.”

Lastly I have been asked by many people what keeps me going, even when things have been bleak. The answer is simple. I work with people younger than me. Looking at the world through the eyes of children allows me to remain forever young. Their boundless energy, unyielding optimism and thirst for what is right and fair have been my heartbeat since I began as an educator at the tender age of 17. Somewhere in your lives find that same energy. My hope for you is best articulated in the following verses and chorus:

May God bless and keep you always/ May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others/ And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars/ And climb on every rung

And may you stay forever young/ May you Stay forever Young

May your hands always be busy/ May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation/ When winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful/ May your song always be sung

And may you stay forever young/ And may you stay forever young

My Remarks to The Boston College Caribbean Culture Club

2015-11-13T10:51:00.001-05:00

Good evening. It is an honor to be here with you all tonight. I remember listening to Boston College alum Steve Pemberton speak during Black Family Weekend’s Black Excellence Gala. In his speech he described how Boston College became his home while he was a student. I know exactly what he meant. From the first day I stepped onto campus as a high school junior in 2001 I instantly felt a connection. During my four years here I made it my home. With that said I want to thank you all for inviting me back home tonight. I don’t know how it is in your homes, but in mine things are said that make you laugh, make you cry, make you think and challenge your beliefs. I hope that my homecoming will accomplish that as well.

If my name looks familiar to many of you that’s because I am the alum who wrote in to The Heights a few weeks ago. One of the students on campus had deep reservations about the way that The Heights covered Ta-Nehisi Coates on campus talk. I have been a fan of Coates writing for quite a while. He has helped refine my view on race and privilege. Historically The Heights has had a mixed reputation reporting on race related issues. This time I was impressed with the contextual framework that the reporters used in writing the review. As I read the dissenting letter, details of which I won't repeat tonight, I was shocked but not surprised. I knew that a large segment of the student body was going to be upset by the misguided, offensive and historically naive viewpoint of the writer. I did what I normally do in those situations. I started writing. The support that I received from alumni who read my words was tremendous. But the people that I wrote for were the current students. I hope that the words that I sent helped speak your truth. If it made things a little bit easier then I have done my job.

I submit to you this evening that the relationship that AHANA people who are affiliated with Boston College have with the institution is very similar to the relationship that AHANA people have with the United States of America. I love Boston College. Nothing makes me more proud than hearing the band play of our fight song while watching a sporting event. Nothing makes me swell with pride more than when I see people wearing Boston College gear. Nothing excites me more than talking about how impactful this university has been to my personal and professional development. I have friends that will last until I leave this earth because I made the best decision of my life in 2002 to become a Boston College Eagle. But as proud as I am, and continue to be of this institution, I cannot ignore the issues that make Boston College sometimes a difficult place to be at. I love Boston College so much that I will continue to critique it. Loving criticism has been the backbone of political and social change and we are seeing the impact of this approach more each day.

I love America. I firmly believe that the opportunities that I have had would not be possible in any other country in the world. A stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner gets me every time. Nothing warms my heart more than knowing that the First Family that occupies the White House finally looks like many of the families I know. But as proud as I am to be Caribbean-American, and I am in equal parts both, I must also admit that I am not always proud of the history and present conditions that exist in America. I make the assertion to you that Boston College is a microcosm of America. Figuring out how to make it at as an AHANA person at this university has helped me learn how to navigate being an AHANA person in America after I left.

My family hails from the beautiful islands of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada on my father’s side and St. Lucia on my mother’s. I consider this a made in America combination. My parents, both native Brooklynites were high school sweethearts. I was born, raised and currently reside in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Brooklyn has long been considered by many to have the largest Caribbean community in the United States. On any given morning traditional foods can be smelled and music from every island can be heard pulsating through my neighborhood. Even with current changes as a result of gentrification there is still something uniquely Caribbean about Brooklyn. It is a universal location that ties all Caribbean people together.

The first ten years of my life I lived at my paternal grandparents house on the weekends. During the week I attended a gifted program at a segregated public school and lived with my mother, grandmother and great grandmother in a housing project. The ironic thing about that was that I didn't know it was a housing project until I moved out. Many people have deep stereotypes about the projects. All I knew was that I had a roof over my head and a community of people just trying to make it surrounded me. Was there violence? Absolutely. But it was also the mid 80s and early 90s. Violence in New York was rampant with murders topping 2245 in 1990 compared to last year’s 328. The housing project that I lived in helped shape my life and I am proud that I lived there.

Beginning when I was 11, I permanently moved into my grandparents’ house. I was also selected to be a part of the prestigious Prep For Prep program and received a scholarship to attend a progressive private school in Greenwich Village. When I say progressive I really mean it. Not only was my school’s motto “A Leader in Progressive Education since 1921” but my school was one of the first in America founded by an openly gay woman as well as one of the first private schools in New York City to have black students. Political activist, scholar and author Angela Davis is even an alum. Every morning I would wake up in my working class neighborhood and take the train to a school that was directly across the street from multi million dollar brownstones and a school where some of the most influential and talented New Yorkers sent their children. It was during this time that I began examining the concept of privilege, class, race, sexual orientation and overall equality. By the time I graduated high school I was irrevocably changed by my experiences and knew that I wanted to dedicate a portion of my life to addressing issues of diversity while also challenging institutions to do the same.

My paternal grandmother instilled in me a deep pride and belief in my Caribbean heritage. I am the oldest of seven, five boys and two girls. As soon as I could walk my grandmother would take me to the West Indian American Day Parade on Eastern Parkway, or as Caribbean people call it, Carnival. To most Americans the first Monday in September is a day to celebrate the end of summer and pay homage to the labor force. To Caribbean people Labor Day is a time to celebrate our culture. Taking us to the parade was my grandmother’s way of saying, this is our heritage, and this is our pride. Never forget it. Every Labor Day I make it a duty to attend a Caribbean event in Brooklyn. I do it in her honor and fully believe that she looks down on me, proudly knowing that her example lives on in her grandkids and that we are passing it down to my nieces and nephews.

My entire life has been about cultures clashing. I love curry just as much as I love fried chicken. Biggie Smalls was the soundtrack of my youth just as much as Beres Hammond and Machel Montano. On one hand I went to this amazing school but on the other hand I lived in a fairly conservative Caribbean neighborhood. Respectability politics is a big deal in our culture. Members of my community couldn’t comprehend how I went to a school where I was allowed to call teachers by their first name. They couldn’t understand how I could have gay friends or be taught the history of the gay rights movement in American History class. They expected kids to be quiet and obedient. I was none of those things. At school I had to expose people to the food, music and history that made Caribbean culture so amazing while learning about foreign concepts such as Bat Mitzvahs, vacation houses and The Beatles. The whole thing was challenging to me. I wanted to be accepted at home and at school. My family helped me figure it all out. They would routinely tell people that if they had a problem with my education that they can gladly pay for me to go to another school. And if they weren’t willing to do that then they could keep their opinions to themselves. Needless to say no one wrote a check. The support I had at home made me much more confident at school. It wasn’t always perfect but I was able to manage a lot better. Support systems are vital.

So how does a Caribbean-American boy from Brooklyn who attended a progressive private school end up at Boston College? And what was my experience like? I had the opportunity to see BC on an overnight visit during the spring of my junior year in high school. I fell in love with the beauty of the campus and passion that the students had. I was especially impressed with how connected AHANA students were. There seemed to be a true community of people who cared for and about each other. Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Howard Singer, visited my high school during my senior year and remembered meeting me in the spring. I knew that I had to apply. September 11th occurred on my third day of senior year. I heard the planes pierce through the air and watched the buildings collapse. My school was less than a mile away from the Twin Towers. I do not talk about that day publicly because over fourteen years later it seems like yesterday. The pain has never left me and I am sure that it never will. It was clear to me that for my own sanity I needed to leave NYC for college. The first acceptance letter that I received was from BC. In it was a handwritten note from Howard Singer, congratulating me on my hard work and welcoming me to the class of 2006. How could I not attend?

As soon as I arrived on campus as a freshman I jumped right in. The independence that I felt was refreshing. This was the first time in my life that I didn’t have my six younger siblings and family to answer to. I took full advantage of this. Alums who attended BC with me knew that whether it was a party or whether it was a social justice issue I was never far behind. What I quickly realized was that I needed to make this place my own. The only way that I could do that was by becoming politically and socially active, especially around issues of race and diversity on campus. The very first organization that I joined was the Caribbean Culture Club as a freshman representative. The older members of the board took me in and helped me figure out how to really be a Caribbean Boston College student. What I loved the most was the chance to connect with students who were passionate about Caribbean culture, even if they weren’t Caribbean themselves. I ended up serving as treasurer, president and student advisor because the club meant so much to me. At the same time I discovered other clubs and organizations that nurtured me in other ways. The Voices of Imani became my spiritual and musical home and being a first tenor was a great joy. I firmly believe that had it not been for Voices, I would not have made it through Boston College. I rediscovered God and spirituality through the choir and used that to push me through some challenging times. And there were many.

I remember returning to school from break a few times, and while trying to swipe into my dorm, I realized that I could not get in. The reason was because I had an outstanding balance on my account. Remember when I mentioned that AHANA community and how we picked each other up? I realized the importance of it when I had to ask friends to swipe me in. But the worse part was asking them to swipe me at the cafeteria until my account was settled. Yep you heard right. I remember literally asking people to essentially feed me. I know someone out here can give a similar testimony. At the end of the day I knew that I could depend on my people to hold me up and I gladly returned the favor when they needed it.

I would like to look at my journey at Boston College through the lens of my presidency of CCC. 2004 was a uniquely momentous year. Facebook and Gmail debuted. Boston College was in its last year in the Big East conference. Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same sex marriage. A political unknown named Barack Obama delivered a speech a few miles from here that would be the building block to his historic presidency. Everything I just mentioned occurred all in one year. With all of that swirling around I was elected president as a junior. I will let you in on a secret that no one knows until today. I did not want to be president that year. My goal was to be president my senior year. Unfortunately the other board member who would have vied for the presidency was on her way to study in Brazil. I guess this was God's way of giving me a challenge. He never gives us more than we can bare.

My focus as president was to change our reputation as the party organization. Please believe we took our partying seriously. At one event people broke into the RAT through a loading dock. We collaborated with five other colleges and packed a downtown nightclub on a Thursday, complete with an internationally known dancehall DJ from Miami. We would even charter a bus to Montreal every November for a Caribbean conference that was nothing more than an all weekend cultural party. So yes our reputation was earned.

But I wanted more from us. We ended up collaborating with other clubs on campus to host the off Broadway show “Platanos and Collard Greens”. Collaborating with other groups was vital to our success. It allowed us to showcase solidarity among groups and allowed our platform to be way bigger. Our similarities were more than our differences. I learned that there is power in creating coalitions amongst those groups.

During the presidential election cycle we were also one of the first intercultural organizations to publicly request that our members vote on Election Day 2004. Many people asked me why did I push for a more political agenda. Caribbean culture and history is intrinsically political. Whether you are from Trinidad and Tobago and have learned about the large-scale struggle for civil rights in the 1970s, or you are from the Spanish-speaking island of The Dominican Republic with its long history of dictatorship by El Jefe, Rafael Trujillo. Whether you are from the Creole speaking island of Haiti, and its revolution led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, our culture is political. I was glad that I was able to move us to focus on political activism while still maintaining our reputation as a fun organization.

During the year that I was president, Boston College was undergoing its own political revolution. BC had a reputation as an unwelcoming place to LGBT students and faculty. It did not help that the statement of non-discrimination did not include sexual orientation, even when other Catholic universities did. To some this meant that BC condoned discrimination of LGBT people. That year BC decided to put a referendum up for vote during UGBC elections asking students if the non-discrimination clause should be changed. Campus was definitely in its feelings on both sides. What culminated was a march attended by over 1000 students that began on campus and extended to Comm Ave. At the end of the voting period over 70% of students who cast their ballot supported changing the policy.

This was a really challenging time for me. Caribbean people have long held very conservative views as it came to sexual orientation. Personally I have always felt that I had no right to withhold freedom to any group of people. I mean let's be completely honest. In the grand scheme of things black men kind of just got their freedom relatively recently. And it's a tenuous freedom at best. Who was I as a cisgendered, straight black man to say that LGBT people shouldn't have rights? But I wasn’t just representing myself. How could I balance the views of many of my constituents and still remain true to my own core belief? I decided that I would do what I felt was right and deal with any backlash later on. On the day of the march I ran into the president of ASO, Chikaelo Ibeabuchi who now serves as Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and we decided on the spot to march together. We didn’t think of it as a big political statement. We were really great friends. But looking back on it it was. Here we were two AHANA leaders, representing large constituencies who may not support us marching. But we did it anyway. I am glad that I was on the right side of history that fateful day.

May 22, 2006, graduation day, was one of the most emotionally charged days of my life. Senior Week was all that I could imagine. There were memories made and some that I’d rather forget. We partied till the sun came up. We danced on mod tables. And we drank like it was marathon Monday for a week straight. But nothing beats the morning when the entire senior class watched the sun rise over the parking garage. It’s a quintessential Boston College right of passage. I hugged and cried with my friends, as we all knew that the work, long nights, battles with administration and good times were over. As I said my goodbyes to them and this campus I knew that life would never be the same.

After I left Boston College I entered the field of education. I have had the chance to work at independent schools, charter schools, non-profit and other community based organizations. Along every step of the way I took the lessons that I learned at BC with me. Here’s another secret. The working world isn’t much different than college. You will experience everything that you have experienced here in your professional life. Learn the lessons now so that you will be prepared for them later.

I want to leave you all with three themes to think about. Firstly view your education as a revolutionary act. Schools such as Boston College were not designed with people like us in mind. Boston College for most of its history was an all-male, all-white college. People came here and fought so that you all could be here. It is your duty to continue that fight so that the journey will be better for you but more importantly for people coming behind you. It is never too early to begin thinking about what your legacy will be after leaving the hallowed halls of Chestnut Hill. Boston College believes in the Ignatian ideal of “Setting the world aflame.” Please make that your legacy. Let that be your saving grace.

Secondly do not fit in when God demands that you stand out. I had the privilege and honor of working in the admissions office for four years while I was a student. Boston College does not accept students, especially AHANA ones who merely fit in. Too often many students arrive to college and feel like they have made it. Let me be blunt with you all. You have not made it. Your journey and life’s work is just beginning. Complacency in the face of adversity leaves everyone poorer. Take a stand and leave here knowing you were part of change, even if it was incremental.

And lastly embrace being a Boston College student. I have had the chance to see all types of academic institutions in my life. There is nothing like being a Boston College Eagle. This place is unique. The motto of Ever to Excel and the mission of creating men and women for others are real. While it may not always be perfect, this place is yours. Do not leave here feeling as if you were not full-fledged members of this university. If you do then you are wasting time, effort and a lot of money. Furthermore if you are here and remain silent on issues that affect this community as a whole and people that look like you in particular then what did you come to Boston College for? 75% of your time is spent outside of the classroom. Please invest some of that time in making this university the best it can be. Because then and only then can you walk across that stage on graduation day and say that you've done all that you can.

Ladies and gentlemen we are gathered here at a time when there is deep political and social upheaval on college campuses not seen in this country since the 1960s. Marginalized groups of students are taking bold steps to publicly question the actions of schools and administrations. Last week students at Yale, a bastion of bucolic beauty asked their university for answers. This week we have seen the power of students and administrators standing up for each other in Missouri and making history. Over the last year students at Harvard University have publicly told their college that I Am Harvard. And Boston College students have pushed the envelope here in acts of public protest as well. I believe that there is a common thread that connects the struggles of students in New Haven, Cambridge and Missouri to you all here at Boston College. It is the same thread that connects people protesting in the streets of cities around the world screaming black lives matter and I can't breathe. It is the same thread that throughout American history has led us to the streets screaming I Am Somebody as we sang we shall overcome while the hoses and the German shepherds tore at our flesh but never quieted our steady resolute voices. It is the same thread saying on one hand that we support the work and efforts of law enforcement but we will not support flagrant abuse of that power especially in our communities. Yes Black Lives Matter because historically they have only seemed to matter when we are financially beneficial. You as Boston College students must not sit idly by as your fellow peers at this university and in the streets beg for recognition. Do not sit in the comfort of the Boston College bubble. People fought so you could be in that bubble. What will you fight for?

In conclusion I want to urge you all to reach out to members of the faculty and staff. The long lasting relationships that I forged while a student have stood the test of time, even now as I get ready to celebrate my ten-year reunion. There are people here who believe in you and who want to see you succeed both as students and as leaders. Dan Bunch, Joanna Maynard, Inez Maturana Sendoya, Paul Bonitto, John Mahoney, Howard Singer, Richard Paul, Christopher Darcy and David Altenor are just a few of the people that, have enriched my life and continue to do so after all these years. Connect with them and others. As a result your experience and your lives will be enriched.

I would be remiss at this moment not to thank Karl Bell for who he is and what he has meant to this institution. I had the chance to meet Karl on his first day at BC. I walked into the Student Programs office as an overly confident senior. Someone looked at me and said “Akim have you met the new guy yet”. In strolled Karl. I was doubly surprised since there hadn’t been many men and definitely none of color in that department. We instantly clicked. It was as if I had found a long lost friend. When I graduated Karl was one of the first people to find me and we promised we would keep in touch. I never imagined it would last this long. I have watched this man from the Midwest make Boston College his home. I have seen him tirelessly give all that he has. A few years ago after a successful black family weekend Karl and I shared a really deep moment. Karl confessed that when he began working here he was scared. Scared that he would not be able to live up to the standards of Boston College. It was an "aha" moment for me. Here was the confident man who seemed like he had it all in control admit to me that he lived in fear of failing. I shared with him that everyday I was here I was scared as well. Scared that I couldn’t cut it. Scared that I wouldn’t adequately represent the people who looked to me for leadership. In this human moment for both of us God shone his grace. Karl and I talked about having this event years ago. Even though he can’t be with us tonight I know he is proud of all of you for making this possible. I hope that I was able to make all of you proud as well. I can honestly say that Karl is much more than a friend. He has been that older brother and father figure to many. When he returns next week, stop by his office and tell him thank you for all that he does. Then find another person who has shaped your journey here and tell them the same thing. We do not walk this journey alone. We do not fight the good fight without people supporting and praying for us in the background. When you see these men and women on evenings and weekends, remember that they are sacrificing time away from their families and friends because they believe in you. I am reminded of the gospel with the following words “Oh my living will not be in vain, oh my living will not be in vain, if I can help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain.”Video of the conclusion of my remarks

My Remarks at Regis High School's Diversity Day 4/30/15

2015-05-04T12:50:00.000-04:00

Good morning Regis High School. As Mr. Garcia mentioned my name is Akim St.Omer. It is my deep honor to be with you on this special morning. I am a graduate of the best Jesuit college in America, Boston College, a place where the ideals of Jesuit education helped fundamentally shape the person that I am today. As a result, it always feels like I am coming back home when I enter a Jesuit institution. With that, I thank you all for welcoming me into your home this morning.

Before I begin, I want to extend sincere thanks to two members of the Regis staff. Mr. Garcia, thank you for having me here this morning. When we began exchanging emails back in January and I recommended American Promise to you, I never expected that just a few short months later I'd be here discussing issues around this movie to the entire school. Your work and continued focus on equality, especially in education, will no doubt leave its mark on the world in general, and Regis in particular. I am confident that this work will make this school even better than it already is.

Secondly to Ms. Rodriguez. I have had the honor of knowing you since 2002. We entered Boston College as idealistic, unapologetic New York teenagers and Yankee fans, which can be hard in a city dominated by Red Sox nation. Like all college freshman we came in expecting to change the world. I would like to believe that we left a legacy behind when we graduated. I watched you take on leadership roles to improve the lives of under represented members of the Boston College community. Your selfless personality has impressed me over the years. But your friendship and belief in me are what I cherish to this day. Thank you for connecting me to Mr. Garcia and know that you will always have a brother in me. And Regis know that you have an amazing person in Ms. Rodriguez.

When I think of the movie American Promise, a movie that I highly recommend everyone watch in its entirety, there are many aspects of the movie that intrigue me. The movie is about the impact of socioeconomics and race at a predominantly white institution. But the movie at its core is also about relationships and how people of different backgrounds navigate them in a fair and equal way. The question that I asked myself after watching the movie was “What is the American Promise? Can we say, that as a country, we have fulfilled that promise and if not what is the role of schools to make that promise a reality.”

I was born and still live in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn. The area that it is now is not the area that it was in the 80’s and 90’s. I often tell people that growing up I couldn’t get my white friends to visit me at my house because their parents thought that it was too dangerous. I don't fault them for this belief. Stereotypes of black neighborhoods are rampant. The infamous Crown Heights riots had occurred but only a few years prior. But even though my neighborhood had its rough moments there was love and a sense of community that made for a beautiful experience. Now almost twenty years later those same friends are my new neighbors. Time sure has changed.

The first ten years of my life I stayed at my paternal grandparents house on the weekends. During the week I attended public school and lived with my mother and grandmother in a housing project. The difference was like night and day. Beginning when I was 11 I moved into my grandparents house and was awarded a scholarship to attend Little Red Elizabeth Irwin, a progressive private school in Greenwich Village. Every morning I would wake up in my working class neighborhood and take the train to a school that was directly across the street from multi million dollar brownstones and a school where some of the most influential and talented New Yorkers sent their children. It was during this time that I began examining the concept of privilege, class, race, sexual orientation and overall equality. By the time I graduated high school I was irrevocably changed by my experiences and knew that I wanted to dedicate a portion of my life to addressing issues of diversity while also challenging institutions to do the same.

When I arrived at Boston College there was a lot that needed addressing. Students of color accounted for less than 20% of the student body. The campus climate was also not a welcoming place for members of the LGBT community. As someone who spent his high school years as an ally to that community I felt a need to be supportive of their goal of achieving equality. The way I have always looked at things has been like this. I as a black person, very recently received equal rights under the law. Even with those rights there are clear moments when it feels like those rights can be trampled on and taken away. Who am I to believe that others shouldn’t have the same rights that I do.

Many of the ways I fought against injustice were private and many were public but it was my hope that they would make a difference. Today Boston College boasts a 32% student of color population and is a place that is becoming much more welcoming of LGBT people mirroring the trend around the nation. There is still a lot of work to be done to make Boston College the place that I know it can be. And I take no credit in any of the goals that have been accomplished. I’m just glad that I was part of the struggle for change.

If we look at the history of America, the concept of an American Promise is one that is literally as old as the country itself. Our forefathers came with nothing more than an idea and a hope for a better life. Over the course of the history of America this hope and idea became the American Dream, the story that is told throughout the world and one that every immigrant population that makes its way to the shores of America believes in. It is the story of Horatio Alger. It is the belief that with hard work and determination anyone can accomplish anything. It is the words in The Declaration of Independence that:

“we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

It is the quote made famous by Emma Lazarus etched in eternity on the Statue of Liberty:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of our teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, the tempest-tossed, to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

I submit to you today that while the poetic language and idealistic view is great, the American Promise that we believe in is a myth.

If we dig deeper into the history of America and study various marginalized groups it becomes very clear that the American Dream is more of an ideal than a reality. At every point in American history there was a group that was viewed as less than equal. Whether it was the slaves brought across the water in the transatlantic slave trade, the Japanese held in internment camps, Irish people confronted with Irish need not apply signs when looking for work, and now Latino people who are able to pick our fruit, cook our food but are denied the right to become legal citizens. At every twist and turn in this beautiful struggle of creating a more perfect union inequality was present. Inequality is as American as Apple pie and police brutality.

Now I would be negligent if I didn’t take a few minutes to share my opinions on what we are seeing going on around the country. Let me begin by stating that I do not support riots. I do not support riots when large groups do It after winning or losing sporting events and I don't support them in this instance. But just because I don't support them does not mean I can't understand why they occur.

What we are seeing in Baltimore, South Carolina, Ferguson, Staten Island and other cities is directly related to the inequalities that exist. Poor people often feel helpless. They have access to a lower quality of education as a result of public school funds being tied into property value. They don’t have adequate after school and athletic programs as a result of cuts to school budgets and a focus on standardized testing. They don’t have access to good paying jobs because they have poor education and many of the jobs have left the community. So what does that create? It creates the need for illegal activities to make money thus causing police to heavily patrol those neighborhoods. And often when police commit acts of violence on the citizens that they are sworn to protect, they are rarely ever punished. Understand that everything is connected.

Regis High School I am tired of having to march for another person of color killed by law enforcement. I attended my first protest as a 12 year old protesting the brutal assault of Abner Louima by the hands of the NYPD. I am tired of having to continue attending rallies and protests to this day. But what makes me even more tired is that other people aren't as tired as I am.

What we are seeing by young people who are performing acts of civil disobedience is a public cry for help. Some may say that it is lawless rioting. I say that if it wasn’t for the fact that people have taken to being disobedient there would be no attention paid to those who feel hopeless. Countless times non violent forms of protest get no coverage. It is often only when things get a bit out of hand does the national media pay any attention.

Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that “rioting is the language of the unheard.” I urge you all to take a stand and become the voices that are heard. Many of you may not look like Freddy Gray or Tamir Rice, but you all know someone that does. So when you see reports of rioting and the faces look black and brown think of that person that you know and the circumstances that would lead people to act out in such a public way. All lives matter regardless of race. Everyone’s lives are important. The more we stand up when people are victims of police misconduct regardless of who they are then the better we will be as a nation. The more we begin to address the underlying causes then we will hopefully see these incidences decrease.

When I look at American Promise there is one thing that disturbs me. Idris and Seaun are good guys. Genuinely good guys. They both received great educations from fantastic schools. They are artistic and athletic and in touch with their emotional sides. They have no criminal records and come from loving families. Regardless of these facts there will always be a sizable portion of this country that will see them as black first. And they won't see good aspects of blackness. They will choose to see the negative stereotypes. I can assure you that I myself have done most things right in my life and know for a fact that if I walk the streets of this very city I won't be able catch a cab, old women will clutch their bags, I will be asked in a department store if I can help someone find an item and unfortunately cops will look at me with a gaze that is more accusatory than protective.

Now let me be very clear. I love America. Nothing gives me goosebumps like a stirring rendition of the National Anthem or makes my eyes water more than when I see the return of a fallen soldier to the mournful sound of bagpipes. I cried when Barack Obama won the presidency and believe in the ideal of what it stands for. With all that being said I believe in being constructively critical. Constructive criticism is fundamental in making things better. But constructive criticism should always be done from a place of love.

There were many times along my college journey when I was fighting issues of inequality when people would say to me "if you don't like it here why don't you just leave." It's a common refrain. I submit to you that the reason people fight for equality is not because they hate where they are but it's because they love it so much. Every movement that has occurred in America has been done out of a genuine love and a belief in the American Promise. It is said that justice is what love looks like when it speaks in public. Regis I urge you to speak a holy justice in the true tradition of Jesuit education.

I have laid out a pretty strong critique of America. Now what is the role of a school and you students and staff to address these issues. Students you are the ones that make the school what it is. You are the lifeblood. The power that you have to own your educational experience is beyond your wildest imagination. Use that power for good. Stand up in the face of inequality whether it occurs in your neighborhood or in the very halls and classrooms of Regis High School. Stand up for equality when its convenient and comfortable to do so. But truly stand up for it when its uncomfortable. King also said that “in the end we will not remember the words of our enemies, but we will remember the silence of our friends." Don’t be silent.

Attending a religious school can be difficult and what I'm about to say may not be popular. But do not let religious beliefs be justification for allowing intolerance and prejudice to occur. In history religion has been used as justification for slavery, segregation, misogyny and more currently in justifying inequality for the LGBT community. Do not let that happen. Remember that everyone serves a mighty God. And the God that we all serve never makes mistakes. Live your life in his image and his honor and let the judging be done by Him when it’s our time to go home.

Faculty and staff, your job is so vital in the struggle for equality. Every single day you have the power to shape and mold the next generation of men. And you have the unique power to do it in the form of a strong Jesuit tradition. Take that role seriously. Be to these young men what you want them to be in the world. When issues of inequality occur in your presence ask yourself what would you expect your students to do in the same situation. And act on it. Push your students to be better today than they were yesterday. And while you push them, also push yourselves. Have that be your daily goal. It will undoubtedly create better students, a better school and importantly a better you.

In closing I often think of the words of the great Jesuit theologian St. Ignatius of Loyola. He would tell his Jesuits as they were embarking on missions to "go set the world aflame." Regis High School as we sit here today the world needs you to set it aflame. Aflame with the undying light of equality and justice. I urge you as you walk out of here today to do just that. This beautiful, imperfect country needs you. Let that be your American Promise. To live by the ideals that St. Ignatius set for us all. In doing that it is my sincere belief that you will push us to a more perfect union, one that serves to be a country where its citizens can live with liberty and justice for all.

The Commencement Speech I Wish I Heard

2014-05-21T17:44:00.001-04:00

Invited guests, families, friends and most of all members of the Class of 2014. We gather on this momentous day to celebrate the hard work and dedication that you have exhibited these past few years. You should be proud of all that you have done.

Graduates take a moment to honor your families and friends who have traveled far and wide to be with you on this day. Whether it was the phone call to mom or dad just to hear their voice (though we know you won't admit that). Whether it was the call to grandma and grandpa when you were in need of reassuring words or the occasional deposit into your account. Or whether it was the aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family members that cheered you on from the sidelines. This is as much their day as it is yours. Stand up, turn around and give them a public standing ovation for being the wind beneath your sails these past few years.

Often times at graduations people hear how amazing they are. It is often said that the graduating class has accomplished more in their time at a school than any class before them. It is often said that they are the greatest. I am here to tell you don't believe the hype. Every single one of us that have graduated have heard the same theme. I hate to break the news to you. But you are not great. Some may say that this is a harsh assessment, and one that shouldn't be said on this day. I say there is no better time to hear the truth than now.

Greatness is accomplished in deeds and actions, not words. If we look in the annals of history, the men and women who we consider great are considered such because of the works that they have done. We do not remember the schools that Mother Teresa, Harriett Tubman, Ghandi or King went to. We do not follow their examples and learn about their efforts because people called them great. These people led lives of service to themselves and to others. Their greatness was manifested in what they did not the titles they attained.

The price of greatness is responsibility. I ask you have you paid your price of admission to be called great? If the good Lord called you home at this very minute and asked you what have you done to change the earth you lived on, what would you say? Odds are not enough. And honestly that's fine.

Graduates this is your time to use the potential that you have to prove that you are great. At this particular moment in history there is more opportunity to have a wide ranging impact than at any other point. Technology and social media, start-up companies and think tanks are opening up all over the world. Harness the skills and power that you have to use these tools to shape and change the world we live in. If the hashtag #justicefortrayvon and #arabspring can help create movements and campaigns in the United States and in the Middle East then surely the power that you have is infinite. But go deeper. Don't just become hashtag activists. Find a cause that you can put some solid time into and fight for it. Your nation and world depends on it.

Along this journey to greatness remember that there are those who will look to you for inspiration. They may be people in your families or people in your community. Take some time to connect with them. As the saying goes "there but by the grace of God go I." It is a humbling moment when we realize that our success is inextricably tied to the success of others. If we achieve success and do not pass it on then what good are we here for? Help the young man and woman who but for some good preparation and a little bit of luck could have been you. It is your duty.

So while I don't see greatness in you right now, what I see is an ocean of possibility that will one day flow like a river to a field of greatness. It is your task to make that field green with the promise that you have. Your greatness will one day become reality. But graduates ask yourselves the ultimate question: Are you ready to put in the work?

Nelson Mandela And How He Changed My Life

2013-12-05T23:25:00.000-05:00

It was February 11, 1990, ten days after my sixth birthday. Even at that young age I was aware of politics and justice way beyond my years. I thank my grandmother who was herself deeply involved in equality herself. She having attended Megdar Evers College with Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's wife years before. On the television in front of me I was watching Nelson Mandela walk out of jail after 27 years. As a young boy I knew that I was watching history and would never see something like it again. This man was important to me even at six years old. Years later it became clear to me why he was.

As Mandela continued his path to the presidency of South Africa and beyond I marveled at what he was able to do. His work on ending apartheid inspired in me the belief that being a servant of the people and aiming to create equality was not only noble but necessary. As I navigated the worlds of predominantly black and brown schools and then predominantly white schools Nelson Mandela's work became even more salient. His example of leadership more profound. The reason for that is because the United States of America has a history so closely tied with South Africa that one could not be amazed and feel a personal investment with his greatness. Apartheid is kindred spirits with slavery and Jim Crow. The anti apartheid movement siblings with the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela are cut from the same cloth. And at this moment they are all holding court with the ancestors.

Nelson Mandela beyond any man has shown me what leadership and sacrifice truly looks like. I can not imagine spending 27 years in jail and coming out more steeled and more passionate about changing the lives of people. Last year I picked up A Long Walk To Freedom. I picked it up knowing deep down that Mandela didn't have long to live. It was my way of wanting to keep his life alive and hear from the man himself about his life and journey. I have read more books than I can count. This book ranks right up there with any that I have read. It put everything into perspective. And I recommend it greatly.

His life is a living testimony to the words of the great theologian St. Ignatius of Loyola to set the world aflame. The flame of Nelson Mandela will burn for eternity. It will continue to be a shining light, a beacon in the treacherous oceans of inequality and injustice. He has irrevocably changed the course of this world. And his impact on this 29 year old man has irrevocably shaped who I have become and who I will forever be. Madiba thank you. You may have departed this earth but you will not die. The great ones don't. They live on in the lives of those they leave behind. They live on by those who continue the work that they did. They live on because the inevitably of death is too small to hold their impact back. Sleep well King and allow your princes and princesses to continue what you have done. As your chariot carries you home may the angels that await you in heaven greet you warmly. You are truly free now Madiba. Long live the King.

What Happens to a Dream Deferred: The George Zimmerman Verdict

2013-07-15T11:26:00.002-04:00

The 3/5 Compromise was a compromise reached between Southern and Northern states in 1797 that essentially counted every black person as 3/5 of a human being for representation purposes in Congress. It was one of many legal ways that blacks in America knew that they were not valued as whole members of society. How much more egregious and blatant could one be in this regard than by explicitly stating that you are only 3/5 whole. Since the passing of this doctrine there have been many ways, some legal and some not that still upholds the belief that blacks, especially black men are not whole members of society. From the passing of segregation laws, to the lynching of many, to the unfair treatment of blacks in every avenue of American society. It is clear to many that equality is truly an elusive dream. What happens to a dream deferred? We saw partially what that looks like on Saturday night by the ruling in the George Zimmerman trial.

I for one do not blame the jury one bit. In fact I feel deeply sympathetic to the task that these six women had to undertake. From a legal perspective, based on what was presented to them, they had no choice but to find George Zimmerman not guilty. There in lies the true problem. The laws in this country are skewed to favor whites than they are for blacks. Let's not sugarcoat this one iota. If you are a white person in this country and you find yourself in a courtroom, you are more apt to get a verdict in your favor than if you are black. I do not need to invoke evidence here, because of how simply overwhelming this fact is. If George Zimmerman were a black man, we can almost guarantee the outcome of this trial. Not only that. We can probably say for certain that the way the case was handled from the night of the killing would probably be handled completely different. Do we really think a black George Zimmerman could saunter into a police station uncuffed and walk out without being charged? If you believe that then I guess you believe that blacks and Latinos also get treated fairly when it comes to drug arrests as well. But I digress...

I believe from the very start that Trayvon Martin was on trial and not George Zimmerman. Throughout the course of the trial, every course of action was taken to discredit who this young man was. From his smoking marijuana, to his academic issues at school, to the fact that he was out on a rainy night. None of these points lives up to the final judgment that was ultimately handed down by a vigilante neighborhood watchman. Unfortunately this is not surprising. What Trayvon's death and this trial showed was that he was a soliloquy to every black and brown body, whether they are male or female. Your life will matter less in the eyes of this country and in the eyes of the law. The blood that he shed on that fateful February night was not just his blood. But it was the blood of an entire people, long pained by the oppression of a country that values them less than others.

Where do we go from here and how do we make this a movement and not a moment? I wish I had clear answers. It begins with protest. The act of protest is a visible showing of one's grievances with something. It is important that protest occurs on a consistent basis across this country. When a people's voice goes silent, then that is an affirmation that one is resigned to let the chips fall where they may. We can not and should not let this be the case. We must remember that protest is what even allowed for George Zimmerman to be arrested in the first place. But protest without a goal is counter productive. Clear demands must be made on the federal government to press civil rights violations against George Zimmerman. Jurisdictions around this country must begin to end controversial policies that target people of color unfairly. Clear ideas and hopes need to be articulated in a non-violent manner. Protest was a driving catalyst for social and political change in the 1960's in America. It can once again be that force today.

But at the end of the day we have to deal with the emotions that surround the verdict that was handed down. We have to wake up every day and pray that one of our own kids, students, brothers and friends will not die senselessly at the hands of others like them who are hurt and in pain. We have to hope that they are not killed by cops who judge them wrongly. And now we have to hope that they do not get killed by civilians who can claim self defense even when they initiated the confrontation. This can be almost too much to cope with.

Every morning I wake up hoping that my four brothers all between the ages of 15-26 return home safely. I hope that I don't get the call saying that I have to identify their bodies at the morgue. I hope I don't get that call saying that someone took their lives. This is the hope that many families, educators and friends hope for those in their lives. And it shouldn't be a mere hope. It should be a God given right. Unfortunately it isn't. And every day I ask God why is it so. Why must a people bear the pain of so many of its young men taken before their prime, often as a result of a system that devalues who they are? There are no clear answers. But there are clear things that can be done to address the issues that surround the problems.

"Young black men who feel angry because of the verdict, its ok to cry. We often say it isn't. But cry today. Cry for Trayvon. I did." This was what I posted on twitter yesterday. Allow the anger to come out. Let the tears fall. Cry for your fallen brother. But at the end of that much needed tear session, dry your eyes, stand up strong, join with others and make a tangible mark on a movement greater than yourself. Do it for Trayvon and do it for the unfortunate numbers of Trayvon to follow. Do it so the prayer and hope that everyone says for you as you leave the comfort of your own home every morning is answered.

Marathon Massacre: How a NYC graduate of Boston College feels

2013-04-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

I am a Boston College alum. I wear this badge of honor with the same pride I do being a son of Brooklyn. My affiliation with the best college town in the country means a lot. That's not to say that the rivalry, sometimes in fun, sometimes quite serious, between New Yorkers and Bostonians weren't real. But what was even more real was the mutual respect I felt between the two sides. As young people who ventured to Boston for college, it became more than a city where we attended school. It became a home away from home. We met the people who would become family. We met the professors that would inspire in us change and growth. We met administrators who would irrevocably change who we were and what we wanted in our lives. Boston symbolized not only home, but rebirth. We became the men and women we hoped college would help develop.

The Boston Marathon as a college student was the most awesome day on the calendar. Marathon Monday as it is called was a full day party. As a student at Boston College, we had the unique privilege of having the marathon run through campus. Our mornings would begin at 9am. We would wake up, have breakfast, imbibe in a few alcohol beverages and line the route to cheer on the thousands of runners who would pass us by. Eventually we would end up in the Mods, playing music, partying, eating and participating in joyous revelry that only Boston area college students could understand. Almost without fail, the sun would be shining, new friends would be made and the day would be grand.

Unfortunately that all changed yesterday, when the day that we as students love so much, became a place of carnage. Twin bombs let off in the middle of Copley Square maimed dozens and took the lives of some as well. I was nothing short of hurt and pained at this. I just got back from Boston at 2am Monday morning from a weekend of growth and development at Boston College's Black Family Weekend and Boston College's Day of Service. I was near the Copley area Saturday night. I know what it looks like to experience terrorism in the worst way, on what should be a great day.

I was taken back to the dark day of 9/11 when I heard the planes (having originated from Boston) pierce the skies over lower Manhattan and crash into the towers less than a mile from where I attended high school. It reminded me of the carnage that people of all ages and stripes should not have to see. Unfortunately Boston and New York are reunited again in a canopy of pain that feels all too familiar. Boston know that New Yorkers stand with you, angry, hurt, but stoic. Know that your adopted children who you took in as college students and raised well feels your pain in a very real sense. Know that the act of cowardice will not keep you down. Stand up and give a hearty Boston cheer to those that decided that hate would conquer love on that beautiful spring Monday.

The marathon will come back next year. And I know that many of your children will return home to run and cheer it on. And frankly that's the best way to overcome tragedy. As the saying goes "weeping will last a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Here's hoping for many more joyous mornings for my second home.

Inauguration 2.0: The Moral Argument for Diversity

2013-01-22T16:06:00.001-05:00

Advocates for diversity across many areas of the political, social, economic and religious sectors have long been argued the moral necessity for diversity. Equality was vital for the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement and as of late the Immigration and Gay Rights Movements. Moral diversity was on display in its most vivid degree yesterday at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

On Tuesday January 20, 2009 I was amongst 1.8 million friends and family on the National Mall celebrating the almost unimaginable election of the nation's first black president. It stands in my mind as one of the most seminal moments in my life. Four years later it was time to celebrate the validation of that election, epitomized by the re-election of our nation's 44th President. The profound nature of the moment was no less palpable than it was four years ago.

I decided to stay at home and watch the inauguration with my grandmother and great grandmother. The chance to watch this historic event with two women who have lived through some of the darkest moments in American and world history put a tremendous amount of things in perspective. America inaugurating the first black president of the United States on the same day we celebrated the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. was incredibly surreal. I sat in the living room with two women who were alive to remember Martin Luther King's life and death. I sat in the room with two women who were afraid to embrace the candidacy of Barack Obama not because he wasn't qualified to hold office, but out of fear that he wouldn't be elected by white America and/or his life would be in danger. I sat in the room with women who were now so proud of his accomplishments that it was as if they themselves had won the presidency.

As the day and the pomp and pageantry of this country's seamless transition of power began, diversity was at its core. Looking at the podium, the multiracial tableau of a newly established America was on display. From Myrlie Evers nod to the Civil Rights struggle of her late husband Medgar Evers, to the magnificent choir from my home borough of Brooklyn bringing our President to tears, to the first Latina Supreme Court Justice delivering the oath of office to a sitting Vice President, to a Latino preacher giving the invocation in both English and Spanish, to the first openly gay and Latino poet to give the inaugural poem, right down to the people in the stands. Everything about the moment beckoned to a new day in this country where scenes like this will be the norm.

As Barack Obama began to take the oath my grandmother said that President Obama reminds her of me. While some may say that this is simply a grandmother's love for her eldest grandson, the life and story of Barack Obama more represents the life and journey that many of my friends and I experienced. Americans are always shown stereotypical views of black and brown people. Very seldom are images of black people who have attended top tier schools and colleges, who are as educated if not more than many, who dedicate their lives to the betterment of others either in community service or education are shown. But in fact many of my friends have very similar stories. To see our President exude and prove that we matter has always been a source of tremendous pride for many.

"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall, just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone, to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth."- President Obama

The inauguration address was nothing short of magical. I have always viewed the struggle for women's rights, Civil Rights, and gay rights as inextricably connected. Freedom for one group is tantamount to freedom for others. Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall are all seminal moments in the history of marginalized people in the United States. People who are marginalized simply for not being part of the perceived group of power. Marginalized for simply being created in a likeness of our Heavenly Father that at times in history was not accepted by large swaths of society. Seeing those battles be connected to the movement of a man, a King, by the most powerful leader of the free world was extremely validating. It showed that the struggle for equality has transformed, it has grown, it has changed. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated that 'the arch of justice bends toward freedom." After listening to the President's inauguration it can not be ignored that the arch is now bigger and that the justice we should all seek as citizens and members of this body politic called America must continue. I applaud the President for making the moral argument of this century while still articulating the moral obligation to help all citizens via quality social programs and a good education.

As the day went on and the president and his family were together, pride swelled in me even more. The first family is an example to people of all races and socio-economic classes to look up to. They break the mold of how families are shown in society. The love that they have for each other shows that no matter the position, no matter the challenge, family is important. The president himself continues to break the mold for black men. He proves that black men can be emotional, can hug, and even more importantly, can cry. Collectively and individually the Obama family continues to break molds that will undoubtedly change views of and for people of color.

Overall yesterday was a day that could ultimately not only change the future of this country but equally the future of this presidency. Barack Obama laid out a vision both verbally and non verbally that aims to make his presidency more resembling the work of King than the work of Lincoln. While that's a lofty goal, it is my hope that the next four years brings about some of the change that the President articulated. Then and only then can we continue to achieve the more perfect union we perpetually aim for.

An Open Letter to Frank Ocean

2012-07-05T15:53:00.002-04:00

Thank you sir. On behalf of people everywhere who have had to live in shame and secrecy because of who they are and who they love. Thank you on behalf of heterosexual people like myself and countless others who support the rights of those who may not be heterosexual to live as freely as they deserve. Thank you for showing another way to be black and masculine in a society often expecting black and masculine to be defined by the most nefarious of traits known to man. Thank you on behalf of people everywhere who believe in the creed we say with arms over our hearts in our American Pledge of Allegiance "with liberty and justice for all." Simply thank you.

Yesterday, on a day that we celebrated our American Independence, you celebrated your own. You decided that at a time when the public's views on same sex relationships are beginning to shift, that it was your time to stand up. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to make that choice. Being entrenched in the hip hop community, which for its entire existence has been adversarial to LGBTQI people must have made it hard to be your true self. There is still no guarantee that you will be positively accepted in the community. We must all remember that after country music singer Chely Wright came out as a lesbian woman that she had a very hard time making it in the music business. So the financial as well as professional risks are great. But you stood your ground and made the decision nonetheless. It is said that "justice is what love looks like when it speaks in public." For your selfless bravery and ability to speak about your love in public in hopes of achieving justice for a larger community thank you sir.

I no doubt believe that the impact of your announcement will send ripples through the black and brown community as well as the music industry. It has long been rumored that many hip hop artists have been rumored to be gay or bisexual. While some of those rumors may be just that, rumors, many of those artists possibly may have been. Your coming out, but more importantly the response that your announcement will garner, will either allow others to follow in your footsteps, or go deeper into an increasingly dark closet. I pray for the former.

What your announcement will do for black culture is yet to be seen. Many black and brown people who oppose LGBTQI rights are fans of your work. There is no doubt that at this very moment they are conflicted. I for one believe that the conflict is a beautiful one. I have long believed that people who are against equal rights for LGBTQI people would have a very different view of them if they knew personally someone who identified as a member of the community. Often the bonds we create with our artists allows us to feel as if we know them. How can they deny your right to exist now when a few days ago they were bumping your work and identifying with your music. I believe that what will rise out of the ashes of this internal conflict will be a more accepting and tolerant view of you as a man, and by virtue other members of the LGBTQI community. I know that hopes springs eternal, but here's to hope.

Your ability to refine masculinity in this new century is awe inspiring. Noted novelist Norman Mailer said "masculinity is not something given to you but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor." There can be little doubt that by this definition that your masculinity can not be denied. You publicly confronted your truth in one of the most honorable and eloquent ways I can think of. I salute you.

I hope on this day and at this time we publicly and privately consider how we view those around us. The battles that others face often are never known to us. Frank your battle is the battle of millions of people around the world. You sir found a way to make it known who you are and what you are. For that, may the creator who created you and us all in their likeness continue to bless you on this journey through life. Hopefully those living in the shadows today woke up feeling a little better that someone else was able to be honest about who they are. And even more importantly hopefully they will use this moment as a beacon in the dark ocean of bigotry and homophobia as a way to find their way home. Then and only then will the truly American ideal of "liberty and justice for all" be truly more than an ideal.

Nicki Minaj and Rosenberg: The internal battle between "authentic" and "unauthentic" music

2012-06-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

This past weekend New York's Hot 97 radio station held their annual Summer Jam concert in New Jersey (yes there is clearly some irony in throwing a concert for a radio station based in NYC in the neighboring state, but I digress). Entertainer and hip hop star Nicki Minaj, herself a Queens native by way of Trinidad (big ups) was supposed to be the headline act. It was going to be Nicki's first chance at headlining one of the most iconic, (though of late dwindling in national prominence) concerts in her own home town. Hours before Nicki was to take stage with her Young Money label mates, one of the morning radio hosts of Hot 97, Peter Rosenberg, better known as simply Rosenberg, made the commentary that Nicki's music wasn't "real hip hop" (the irony of this white Jewish man questioning the authenticity of a music form created by black and brown youth in the streets of the Bronx in the 1970's isn't lost on this writer, but again I digress). Nicki upon hearing about this public rebuke of her art was told by her label owner and fellow rapper Lil Wayne to not perform at the concert. Needless to say she was too happy to oblige. What struck me most about this whole brouhaha, while petty to some extent, is how the idea of what is real hip hop has hindered the growth of the art form.

Hop Hop was born out of the history of black and brown youth feeling that the music, culture and people around them were not talking to their experience. Out of that need to be heard and expressed came about the most fantastic musical artistic forms to grace this country and world within the past thirty plus years. As the music became older it has been so infused (read taken and used by many) so well that it is the as symbiotic with American culture as apple pie and racism. What has been a large issue is what does that growth look like, especially to those who want to maintain the "authentic" caliber of hip hop." Allow me to quickly dispel the myth that there is an authentic sound to hip hop or blackness. The idea of authenticity within the black and brown community is one of the most ridiculous ideas that continues to permeate culture. Toure, pop culture writer and critic in his book "Who's Afraid of Post Blackness" makes the argument that blackness is more diverse now than it ever has been. No one has ownership over the correct way to do blackness. Black people who like to go to brunch and attend wine and scotch tastings are no more or less black than those who like to stay on the block and listen to music at insane volumes. Blackness has to be a collection of all things possible since black people by nature are all things possible. What concerns me about the authenticity argument among black people is that often times it is some of the most nefarious of activities that are associated with being authentically black. This is deeply concerning for those who want to envision a blackness that entails a broad and realistic view of what people can be.

This authenticity dilemma is especially troubling in music. I liken those who believe hip hop should remain authentic to parents who have children and expect them to always stay the same. People grow and change over time. Music has to as well since it is created by people. I have friends my age who still only listen to Biggie and Tupac and Jay-Z and have called other artists unauthentic. They fail to appreciate the breadth of how much we have changed as a culture over the past twenty years. Music has become more global, with the infusion of European club music, Latin beats, Caribbean rhythms and African bass lines all joining forces in hip hop. This melange is what makes the art form still vibrant and amazing. There can be little doubt that this growth has made the music more appealing to various cultures.

I have spent some time traveling the world and noticed the impact of hip hop. In the tropical climates of Antigua, to the French communities in Paris, to the slums and cities in Kenya, to the streets of Montreal, hip hop has its own flavor and culture that continues to grow. There is no doubt that these countries understand the value of making the music representative of their own cultures. No one can dare say that their music isn't hip hop because it definitely is.

Maybe what we need to do is appreciate music for what it is and drop the title of hip hop and rap altogether. Maybe then artists like Nicki Minaj will not have to be ridiculed for their work being unauthentic. But frankly until black people come to terms with the push and pull of the authenticity debate as it relates to the entire culture, then the argument will permeate to other aspects of culture, at the clear detriment to the community at large.

Trayvon Martin: What his Death Means for Everyone

2012-03-19T12:54:00.005-04:00

I cried last week. One of those cries that you lock your room, get on your knees, pray to the heavens and ask the God you pray to why this happened...again. One of the cries that you hope no one walks in on because you won't be able to adequately put into words why you hurt. I hurt for Trayvon Martin, Ramarley Graham and all of the brothers and sisters who have been killed at the hands of white men and never receive justice.

Call me racially incendiary right now. Frankly I don't care. The fact remains the same. A white man, followed a black boy who had no weapon, after being told by dispatchers to stand down. At the end of the confrontation, young Trayvon was dead, and a white man walked away without barely a slap on the wrist. Again...

Some may say that Zimmerman is Hispanic. It is imperative to remember that one can be a white Hispanic as well as a black one. But frankly the race of the assailant has less to do in this story than the race of the victim. Furthermore what truly is important is the impact of race and the way it impacts people regardless of their skin tone. I would be hard pressed to believe that if it were a white teenager in a hoodie, that the results would have been the same. The impact of race on people of color will always disproportionately affect them. Simply black and brown bodies are not valued in the same way that white bodies are.

A few weeks back, young Ramarley Graham was followed into his own house by police who weren't properly trained in street undercover operations and was shot dead in his own bathroom. The most they found on him was a bag of marijuana. "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Often times that isn't the case. Yet again we have another black boy killed by a white man and nothing happened to the white man in charge.

I am tired of saying again. I am tired of seeing young men who look like me and my brothers, students, friends, family, co workers and the like being killed. I hate it when our own people do it equally as much as when white people do it. But I am incensed when it happens by those that do not look like us and they are able to get away. Parents, families and friends are left wondering why. And very often no answer can be found.

I wake up every morning hoping that my brothers come home at the end of the day. Praying that they don't get killed by someone that looks like them and someone that doesn't. I tell them often how to interact with people in authority, whether its assumed or given. I have the same conversation with former and present students. I let them know that it makes no difference whether you attend Yale, Cornell, or a city university. Your skin tone will be the first thing that authority figures see or take into consideration. Depending on how the situation is handled will make or break whether you live. Its simple as that.

The worst part is that there will be more Trayons. There always are. There will be more men like his shooter Zimmmerman, who are so caught up in racial biases that they will kill innocent black men again. There will be more families crying and burying students because they don't know why their child died. The war on black bodies is an all out assault. We must fight the war in our own communities and unfortunately amongst the communities supposedly in place to protect us. And this is why I cry. I cry because the war is simply too big to fight, too tough to battle and often ends with way too much collateral damage. I just hope in this case, even for a brief moment in time that justice can be served. Unfortunately I will not hold my breath. Because as history has shown, justice never truly is served.

Herman Cain: Why His Candidacy is an Insult to Black America

2011-11-04T01:30:00.006-04:00

Allow me to share a secret that is often said in black and brown communities. Parents often tell their children that in order to be successful and rise up in America, they must aspire to be better than white people. And when I say better I mean better in every way. Better in intellectual ability, better in style of dress, better in mannerisms, simply better. This edict is told across socioeconomic lines, from the barrios of Los Angeles, to the projects in the Bronx, to the shacks in Alabama. It is a clarion call for black and brown people to strive harder and push themselves further than their white counterparts. Then and only then, it is believed will they ever be able to be on equal footing. This being the case, Herman Cain is an insult to every black and brown parent who has told their children to be better.

During President Obama's rise to the presidency there was a feeling amongst many people, regardless of race, that there was something intrinsically good about his candidacy. Here was a man who had superior intellect, amazing rhetorical genius, a pedigree that allowed him to be one with the brothers in the hood, while at the same time comfortable in a room full of the smartest and most successful minds in the world. Here was a man who clearly listened to his mother and family, who I am sure instilled in him the edict of being better than those around him, regardless of race.

When I look and hear Herman Cain speak I ask myself, where has this country come in the past three years. While I admittedly know very little about Cain's academic pedigree, there is nothing in his presentation that says to me that he is worthy of the highest office in the land. Some of his statements would be laughable if not for the fact that he sincerely believes what he is saying. Not to know the President of Uzbekistan is one thing, but to refer to the country as "Ooze becky becky becky stan stan" is not only disrespectful to that country, but also disrespectful to the office of the Presidency. To not know that China has had nuclear weapons since the 1960's and make the statement that they are now beginning to aquire the means to make said weapons shows a wanton disregard for basic world history. It is as if he revels in his stupidity and lack of knowledge and clear unpreparedness to be on the world stage.

Why does he continue to rise in the polls? I sincerely believe that the Republican party, comprised predominantly by white people have some deep issues that they need answered. Some people say that Cain's rise is a "flavor of the month" move by the GOP who aren't enthralled with any candidate on the ballot. Let's not be so superficial. I believe that the rise of Cain speaks to two angles of the Republican party. There is a clear anti-intellectual movement amongst the base, indicative by the rise of Sarah Palin and now Cain. I believe that there is also a huge racial component when it comes to Cain. Republicans have for too long wanted to court a viable black candidate. By courting a viable black candidate they could then begin to sing the song of inclusion, even though the main musician would be but one face in an overwhelmingly white crowd. Cain plays well to both of those visions.

What Repblicans need to begin to realize is that Cain's candidacy inevitably hurts race relations in the United States. To many people, regardless of racial background, his candidacy is a mockery and a display of minstrelsy in the highest order. Among black circles Cain is referred to as "Uncle Ruckus" the character from Boondocks, not only because he has a striking resemblance to him, but because like the character from the cartoon series, Cain's views are at best comical and at worst are antithetical to the success of people who have long been disenfranchised in this country. Watching his rise (one that continues even though he has been accused of sexual harrassment) tells black and brown people that what our parents told us growing up isn't true. If you flip flop on the truth and show no real gravitas or intellectual capacity to debate and voice your thoughts then maybe some good old conservative person will support you. If you show that you can appeal to the senses of a conservative party that has alienated racial minorities for the past thirty years, then they will say that racism is a thing of the past, essentially ignoring how their own policies have continued to institutionalize it.

I had a visceral reaction to watching Cain sing at the National Press Club in Washington DC this week. At first I wasn't sure what it was that made me bristle and literally get nauseus. It then dawned on me. Watching Cain sing harkens back to the days when blacks, men in particular, had to literally perform for their survival. Minstrel shows were prevalent in the early 1900's and were often the only way that black actors could make a living to support themselves. Replace the venue, time and occassion and I ask you what is the difference between a minstrel show and Cain's candidacy. I guess the curse of Cain is inevitably a curse on all of us.

Homicide Rates Jump for Blacks in NYC: What does that mean?

2011-03-09T18:25:00.002-05:00

In today's edition of the New York Daily News it was revealed that for the 2010 year the homicide rate for black people jumped 31% while the homicide rate for whites dropped 27%. There is a lot in this data that is shocking on its head. One of the main things that shocked me is the fact that 25% of NYC's population is Black while 67% of the victims wee black. Even more shocking was that black males between the ages of 15-29 make up 3% of the city's population but a whopping 1/3 of all homicide victims. Having this data is sobering and informative but the larger questions we need to answer are why is this data so and what do we do with it?

It is clear by this data that black people killing black people is an epidemic. The fact that the Centers for Disease Control labeled gun violence and deaths amongst each other as a national epidemic, not unlike cancer and AIDS is sobering. I believe that the economic downturn that occurred over the past few years has acutely affected the black community, especially among black men. Black men, especially those in the 15-29 demographic face considerable economic and educational hardships that white people as a general group do not face in the same ways.

One of the large issues that exist as well is the lack of gun control laws in NYC. It is literally easier to procure a gun in NYC than it is to find a job. High powered weapons, extended magazine clips and weapons that do more damage at a quicker rate are all over the place. I believe that as long as purchasing gnus remains a deregulated industry then the rates of murder, especially amongst black people will continue to be high.

I am willing to believe that the murder rates from 2010 should serve as a sober reminder of just how much of a crisis black on black violence is, especially amongst the younger segment of our population. In certain African countries, generations of younger people are being wiped out by the AIDS epidemic. In America, it is safe to say, that a generation of young black men are being wiped out by gun violence. Where do we go from here? Who knows?

Vybz Kartel and the Deeper Impact of Skin Bleaching

2011-02-09T00:53:00.004-05:00

Now I am sure that all of you who follow dancehall music have been paying attention to the recent controversy surrounding dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and the images of what appear to be lighter skin that have circulated in the media. There is so much that can be said about these images but what I want to focus on is the larger message that is being said by Mr. Kartel's actions.

Now let's be clear. The idea of bleaching one's skin is not new to the black community. Since slaves came to the new world there was a systematic way that blacks were brainwashed to believe that white skin is better. Whether it was the story of Ham that were told to blacks to justify the institution of slavery in a religious context, to the clear favoritism that was shown to lighter skinned slaves, often referred to as house slaves, much of that impact filtered down through generations of black existence in this world. It's of utmost importance to remember that the reason slaves had different skin tones was primarily due to slave masters and slave wives sleeping with and raping slaves.

The creation of skin lighting chemicals came about during the early 1900's. Over the course of the century these chemicals became more and more popular. Towards the latter part of the century bleach creams became very popular in Africa and in the Caribbean. I myself was surprised to see how pervasive these chemicals were on my travels to Kenya in 2000. Not only were they popular but they were marketed on African television much like hair care products and perms are marketed toward women of color in the United States (there is a clear similarity that is not lost on me here).

I believe that the impact of slavery but more importantly western ideals of beauty sifts through peoples psyches and souls like osmosis. It is so strong that often times we don't even see it. There is something deeply concerning when a man or woman who has been blessed with whatever skin God gave him decides that he wants to be lighter and more white. It happens too often. But even sadder is the fact that younger people look up to more famous people who do this and thinks its ok. I can only hope that the discussion that is being had surrounding Vybz creates a larger discussion around beauty and what it truly means.

The Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell: What it Means for Diversity

2010-12-23T17:37:00.002-05:00

I know its been a while since I have written. Sometimes life comes in the way but I am back and in full effect. There has been so much to write about but I feel this is the perfect time to come back on the scene.

Yesterday President Obama signed legislation banning the military policy historically known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I could not be more happy for this development, not only for those in the LGBT community but for this country as a whole. I was a child when President Bill Clinton passed this legislation. As a young kid I didn't know what it really meant at the time. As I got older and began to make my own opinions about things in life, this was one of the most blatantly hyprocritical pieces of legislation that America had on its books. There is something very wrong with a country that is supposed to be founded on the premise of men and women being created equal having a law on its books that didn't allow for members of its armed services to participate fully and equally in the ranks of its military. To ask a man or a woman to potentially die for a country and a principle that didn't fully recognize their humanity is incredibly hard to fathom. What made this policy even worse was that we often ask our servicemen and women to go into battle in countries that already view America as a negative country. How could this be.

In the battle for full and equal human rights in the United States of America, the repealing of DADT will be looked at as just as significant as the passing of major Civil Rights legislation during the 1960's. Often times people try not to equate Civil Rights in the 1960's with modern day movements, but there is no doubt that they are all related. Even listening to our President yesterday, I could not help but feel that we were on the right side of history much in the way that many who were alive during the Civil Rights Laws being passed felt that they were on the right side of history. I believe that we as Americans can all feel that the goal of equality and the creation of a more equal union while still a way off, is closer to reality.

Glenn Beck and his Disingenuous Rally

2010-08-28T18:39:00.003-04:00

Let me be clear from the onset. I do not believe that the Tea Party is intrinsically racist. Nor do I believe that Glenn Beck is intrinsically racist. But I do believe that there are elements of the Tea Party and elements of things Glenn Beck has said in the past that could lead one down the path to assume that both are racist.

With that said I have a problem with Glenn Beck's rally in Washington DC today. I fully support his right to have a rally and march, much in the same way that I would support any organization wanting to do the same. I have supported the Nation of Islam's Million Man March and have even supported the rights of KKK members to hold rallies as well. But what concerns me the most is the clear co-opting and usage of Martin Luther King Jr. as a central image in Glen Beck's rally today. The reason I feel that the use of King is in poor taste is because much of what the rally claims to be simply is a perversion of everything King stood for.

Glenn Beck stated that it was merely coincidental that his march fell on the anniversary of King's famous I Have A Dream Speech. He then took this point further by saying that since it was a coincidence that maybe it was divine powers that aligned the event and the symbolic day together. Are you serious? Glenn Beck claims to be a historian and to his credit is very well versed in dates and history. There is no way that one can believe that he was unaware of the significance of August 28. Furthermore do not forget that August 28 holds significance to the current president as well since August 28,2008 on the 45th anniversary of MLK's speech he officially became the Democratic nominee for President and delivered his acceptance speech to a crowd of close to 100,000 in Denver. I am 100% positive that Beck knew of this. Denying that he was unaware of any of this history seems short-sighted at best and down right lying at most.

My bigger problem with the rally is that it perverts what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. MLK never would have supported the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan as is proven by his increasingly outspoken views on Vietnam before he died. While he probably would have supported the troops and wanted to see them come home, his view on war in general would have been much less enthusiastic than Beck and his supporters want to portray. Furthermore much of what King believed in was creating a diverse America whereby people of all races could live in an equal society. There has been nothing in Glen Beck's past that seeks to unify people of different ethnicities. Remember this is the same man that stated on television that he believes that President Barack Obama, who is himself half-white, has racist views toward white people. King himself must have rolled over in his grave upon hearing not only this blasphemy, but the blasphemy that today's rally claimed to represent.

I spent some time looking at footage from today's rally and the March on Washington in 1963. Above anything what seemed to stand out was how different the crowds looked. Today barely a person of color could be seen amongst the crowd. In 1963 while the vast majority of the crowd was black there was a sizable white population as well. This to me clearly shows that Beck is not fooling anyone when he claims that he as well as the Tea Party are not racist. While the movement itself may not be, the elements that are in it definitely are. If that wasn't the case then people of all colors in sizable numbers would stand out publicly and privately in support of it. Frankly that has not been the case.

I have no issue with Beck holding his rally. But all it seems to show is his disgustingly tacky, potentially racist, and perverted way of looking at not only this country's present and past but ultimately the future of what he wants America to look like. If only Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive to see what was going on....

My personal apology to Shirley Sherrod: A Teachable Moment

2010-07-22T11:51:00.007-04:00

I would like to apologize to Shirley Sherrod. Not on behalf of this country that is so obsessed with race that we don't take the moment to look at the larger context of what a person says. Instead once we hear slightly offensive commentary we take it at face value and not look at the entirety of a person's statement or being. I don't apologize for an Obama administration that is so race sensitive that they were willing to fire a woman who did nothing wrong except for showing the true nature of humanity by learning from her past experiences and letting it shape her future. I don't apologize for the conservative media that has tried since the beginning of this presidency to use race as a prevailing factor in attempting to undermine not only the Obama agenda but Obama himself by using Jeremiah Wright, Henry Louis Gates, the New Black Panther Party, The Tea Party and now Shirley Sherrod to appeal to the inner racial stereotypes that we all tackle and fight each day. I apologize for none of these groups or people. I apologize for myself. As a person who has seen the effects of people jumping the gun and taking words and actions out of context, I should have been more keen on catching this when it occurred on Monday. Unfortunately I was not. I supported Ms. Sherrod's initial resignation much like Ben Jealous of the NAACP and many other groups, both for the advancements of all races, and those against. And for that simple moment of lapsed awareness on my part I am sorry.

I can only hope that at the end of this ordeal we as a country can learn how deeply ingrained race and racism is in our hearts, minds and actions. Even those of us who fight day in and day out to transcend the negative implications of its effect on us often times lose the battle. I believe that what Ms. Sherrod said was one of the most honest depictions of what racism can do to people at certain points in their lives. I for one have had moments where I have done and said things that was not indicative of my true feelings of and for other groups and people, but were said in anger of what I and people like myself have experienced for hundreds of years. Does that make these actions correct? Absolutely not. But have I learned from them and with time been more accepting, caring and careful of how I look at situations? Absolutely. At the end of the day I dare anyone of any race, political agenda, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other demographic to tell me that they have not had similar moments. I will stand before them with complete conviction and call them liars. Because it is human nature, on a subconscious, or conscious level to have these emotions at times. It is what we do with these moments that ultimately judges our individual and collective character.

Ms. Sherrod comes from a family with a painful and historic journey. Her father was murdered by the KKK when she was young. Her husband was a founder of SNCC, one of the most important groups during the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Sherrod herself helped obtain money for black farmers who were oppressed by the same department that she works for. Yet with all of these trying times in her life where she could simply exist in a cloud of hate for people that do not look like her, she was able to transcend that. We can all learn a valuable lesson from her, her speech to the NAACP and her subsequent actions since this issue broke last week.

Let this be a lesson to us all. Let us learn to continue to work on our own issues, with the hopes of being able to transcend the painful past of our history, while not forgetting it, but embracing what it means today. Most importantly let us learn that looking at the complete picture of things serves us all well in the end. Thank you Shirley Sherrod for all you have done and will continue to do in the advancements of all people. And for those who do not see it this way may the goodness in all humanity, find in you the good graces that you can not find in it.

Jesse Jackson and The Merits of the Slave-Owner Sports Analogy

2010-07-12T10:26:00.002-04:00

Jesse Jackson sure has hit a nerve with his most recent press release about the open letter that Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert released criticizing Lebron James. On the surface Jesse Jackson may seem to be a bit far-flung in saying that Gilbert is acting as if Lebron James is a runaway slave and he is a slave master. But digging deeper reveals a level of uneasiness with the way the situation has been handled that has even left me wondering about a lot of things.

I have always believed that modern day sports has clear similarities to slavery. While athletes, more often than not black and brown ones, make exorbitant amounts of money, their livelihoods are often inextricably tied to the whim and fancy of owners, almost all white, who are making considerably more money. If athletes fall out of favor with ownership they are often shipped out without any consideration of how that may impact their lives. I see no difference in this sort of ownership and what occurred during slavery when slave owners would own the rights to their slaves and sell and barter them as they seemed fit. Please realize that the slave owner dynamic is not something that only exists in sports or can only happen with people of color. In almost any profession where you are beholden to an owner of a company this dynamic can occur.

Please lets not forget that the value of the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped by almost $200M since Lebron was drafted by them seven years ago. In more general terms looking at the racial makeup of athletes in any professional sport aside from hockey, the percentage of people of color playing on the field is extremely high, while the number of owners, executives, and coaches are fairly low. While the NBA has done a very good job diversifying its management rankings proportionate to the players, there is still work to be done.

Going back specifically to the comments made by Jackson, there is one segment that is worth exploring. Jackson states that "by saying that he (Lebron) has gotten a free pass and that people have covered for him way too long, Gilbert suggests that LeBron has done something illegal or illicit." This is an interesting aspect to be discussed. For all intents and purposes while Lebron was a Cavalier, no one ever had negative comments to say about him. I find it very interesting that the day he decides that he wants to leave, there now is this maelstrom from the Cavaliers organization that Lebron is somehow a bad guy or is complicit in some behavior that is wrong. While Gilbert may not like his decision, his comments are simply out of touch with the reality of the situation.

Furthermore Jackson makes an outstanding follow-up to those who may defend Gilbert calling James out by stating "if he believes that LeBron quit in games 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals, then, why did he fire the coach? If he believes that LeBron intentionally quit...why did he pursue him and offer him an additional $120 million to stay in Cleveland?" It seems that as bad as Gilbert wanted to paint Lebron as, he was still ready to hitch on to the bandwagon of his prized horse and ride him yet again. Or should I say he was ready to get Toby back to the plantation because he knew Toby could reign in more cotton than the rest of his slaves. I guess Toby saw better pastures on the other plantation in South Beach (I am only being partially sarcastic.)

I compare the Lebron James situation to the Brett Favre situation. While I believe there are clear differences in each, the level of passion, and subsequently the level of hate that the Cavs fan base feels compared to the Packers fan base is very different in this situation. At the end of the day the result was the same. Brett Favre was the face of Packer country for over a decade before he unceremoniously exited the franchise and ultimately played for the archrivals. While he is clearly disliked in Green Bay, I do not feel as though he is hated nearly as much as Lebron is. There needs to be some level of understanding why Lebron's jerseys are being burned in effigy while Favre wasn't. Why is the owner of the Cavs more angry than the owner of the Packers? Essentially both players did the same thing. But by no means is the reaction of each side similar at all.

Whether you agree with Jessy or not the fact that his comments struck such a strong nerve this morning is proof enough to me that there is some validity in his arguments. People do not get upset unless deep down there is a reason for that anger. Lets not just throw away Jackson's commentary. While it may sound ridiculous on its surface digging deeper allows us to have a more robust conversation on how vestiges from our past inherently impact our present and help shape our future.

The Rise in Interracial Marriage: What It Means for America

2010-06-25T16:57:00.003-04:00

There was a recent study that surveyed the number of interracial marriages in the United States. Not surprisingly the numbers of interracial marriages have increased dramatically. According to the data 13% of new marriages are between people of opposite races. This trend seems to be increasing across all racial lines, even amongst racial groups that historically have been more hesitant than others to marry outside of their race. On its own this is great. Looking at the much bigger picture is crucial.

Amazingly it has not been that long since interracial marriage was illegal in the United States. Miscegenation laws as they were called many years ago were in place in parts of the United States until 1967. Before then it was illegal to be in an interracial marriage and often times people were thrown in jail or forced to move to places where it was legal. In just 43 years things have changed quite a bit.

Interracial marriages still have quite a huge level of taboo. Even though many more people are deciding to date and marry outside of their race, there is still some discomfort to many people, especially in certain communities. The burden that interracial couples must face should not be lost by their increase in presence.

At the end of the day the rise in interracial couples directly shows the rise in acceptance of people of different cultures. Every single person that decides to enter an interracial relationship, or decides to accept others for being in one is making a direct statement about what they hope diversity should be like in America. It is only through acts like these are we ever going to be able to begin to break the racial and cultural divide that exists to this day.

I believe that the rise of interracial marriages is one of the most important sociological developments in the past 40 plus years. The benefit of interracial marriage is that it creates broadening of people's viewpoints, accepting of different cultures and also intermingling in different areas. But by no means is it an easy go for anyone involved. But in the long run the benefits definitely outweigh the hardships.

Rand Paul, The Negative Side of Conservative Extremism and What it Means for the Republican Party

2010-05-24T01:45:00.004-04:00

In one of the more shocking moments of recent political theater, Rand Paul, current candidate for Senate from Kentucky has went from the darling of the Tea Party Movement and is now the albatross hanging from the neck of the Republican Party in less than 24 hours.

Rand Paul who is an ardent Libertarian much like his father Ron Paul was supported by the Tea Party Movement during his run for the Republican nomination for Senator. His views are very radical. The Tea Party Movement decided to align themselves with his candidacy for clear reasons. His viewpoints were on the fringe of what is expected, especially when it comes to government and its limitations or lack thereof on citizens and private businesses. He was able to make a huge push and win the nomination due to much of the anti-incumbent fervor that exists in the nation, as well as the push for more extreme candidates and views to come to the forefront. This is especially true for the conservative segment of the electorate. But a funny thing happened on the way to the nomination.

On Wednesday, the day after Paul won the nomination, he appeared on the Rachel Maddow show (coincidentally the same show where he launched his campaign). This time things went very differently. Maddow pressed him on his view on the Civil Rights Act, and although Paul said he is against discrimination, he made a point to wax philosophical about key segments of the law that banned private businesses from segregating their establishments. Paul also did not agree with key segments of the Americans With Disabilities Act that allowed for governmental protection for people with disabilities.

In what can only be described as misery loving company, Paul then said that he did not like the way that the Obama administration was attacking BP. Paul stated that “I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business. I’ve heard nothing from BP about not paying for the spill. And I think it’s part of this sort of blame-game society in the sense that it’s always got to be someone’s fault instead of the fact that sometimes accidents happen.” Comments like this shows just how out of touch Paul is with the larger viewpoints of most Americans. BP is getting blame across the political aisle and to say that criticizing them is "Un-American" may be one of the most ass-backwards comments I have ever heard, especially due to the increasing evidence that shows they are to blame for much of the disaster in the Gulf.

Common sense would say to most people that saying you are against segments of two of the most transformative pieces of legislation ever passed by the American government would be stupid. Common sense would also say that the President is un-American for calling out a big business for its handling of a disaster is equally stupid. I guess common sense increasingly is leaving the table in our discourse. I believe that Paul is such a political novice that this did not occur to him. I also believe that he comes from a segment of the electorate that is so radical in its ways that his views simply aren't in line with much of mainstream society. And frankly this radicalism falls on both sides of the political spectrum and should be called out as such. I believe that anarchists, Libertarians, Evangelical Christians, Fundamental Muslims among others all sleep in the same extremist bed and should be called out as such.

The larger problem with Paul and the GOP is that they are now connected forever. By supporting him as a candidate for Senator of Kentucky, what Republicans are saying not only to voters in that state, but to the larger country is that as a party becoming increasingly extreme is the trend. Very few people in the GOP have come out and said just how out of touch Paul is. To be silent on his views is to condone them. Essentially that is what is occurring. I remember when Michael Steele was chosen to lead the GOP. Steele had grand ideas of how the Republican Party could do a better job of reaching out to various segments of the American populace that have long felt abandoned by the Republican party, primarily younger people and non-whites. Rand Paul is just another example of how verbal rhetoric quickly meets blatant reality. What makes this case all the more interesting is that in the process not only were people of different races left out, but people with disabilities (many who happen to be military men and women) and people who are suffering to rebuild their lives after a man-made disaster. I have always believed that when people show you who they are the first time, you should believe it. Unfortunately with the GOP this is not the first time at all....

Black Unemployment So Bad The UN Investigating: What This Really Means

2010-05-16T18:49:00.004-04:00

In a recent article on www.racismreview.com the United Nations may investigate the incredibly low numbers for black employment in the U.S. The United Nations governing body is making the claim that the U.S. government is not living up to its commitment set up under previous human rights agreements. Among other absolutely sobering statistics listed in the article, the rate of unemployment for black men is at 20.2% in comparison to 9.6% for white men. These rates may be worse because the percentage does not include the numbers of people who simply stopped looking for employment. The rate of pay for black men is also lower than white men. The rate of unemployment is not monolithic. It goes across the spectrum of black life from the young, old, college educated, high school educated, urban or rural.

If the facts in this report are true, there are some serious things that need to be addressed. Systematically and socially blacks have been at the bottom of the employment ladder since Slavery. It is often said that when America catches a cold, black America has the flu. This report and subsequent investigation by the United Nation only proves that point further.

The first systemic issue that needs to be addressed is how we properly educate black people from elementary school to college graduation in hopes of gaining employment during those years and beyond. I believe that as long as education continues to be one of the most segregated and imbalanced facets of American culture, then we can not be surprised when black unemployment mirrors that. How can we expect black people to be adequately prepared for work that in today's market calls for more education, if the level of education blacks attain is not on par with whites.

Secondly the issue of black incarceration, especially amongst males needs to be on the forefront. The amount of black men in prison is completely disproportionate to their percentages in the general population. More often than not the reason for incarceration stems from non-violent drug offenses. When inmates are released, it is often very difficult to find employment based on felony convictions. The laws in the U.S. need to be overhauled so that they can be more fair to people of color. Laws also need to be reformed so that when inmates do come out of jail that they are able to obtain employment. At the end of the day the system becomes very circular. Someone gets locked up, serves their time, gets released, can't find a job and get locked up again. This cycle is ugly and often is the norm.

Blame needs to be spread around not only amongst larger segments of society. Black people can and should take their fair share of the blame for the unemployment issues that are prevalent. Black people often blame others when they do not push ourselves to be better and do better. If they do not strive for excellence and success then they can not expect it to be given to them. Black people need to create economic opportunities for others in their community as well. When black people do this, then they will not need to be dependent on others.

The issue of black unemployment is a long and deep one. The causes of low employment is very cyclical and multifaceted. There is more than enough blame for everyone to take some ownership. But at the end of the day the larger question must be asked and hopefully answered. What can we do, as a larger society to make sure this issue is addressed? It is beautiful that there are instances where black people achieve huge successes. But that needs not be an aberration, but the norm. But on a much simpler scale black people do not need huge examples of success. Simply all they need is an opportunity to make a livable wage and be fully functioning participants in creating their own American Dream. Is that too much to ask for?

Arizona Strikes Again: Now Education is Under Attack

2010-05-10T18:19:00.006-04:00

What is really going on in Arizona? As if creating an immigration law that can be perceived as racist wasn't enough, now the Arizona Legislature has decided that schools that teach courses about various races will lose state funding.

The exact wording of the document states that schools will lose funding if they "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

Now there are some major issues with this policy. Of course I fully agree that if there are teachers and schools that are promoting overthrowing the American government they should lose funding. What American wouldn't agree with a policy like that? But I believe that comparing acts of treason to courses that "advocate ethnic solidarity" is completely ridiculous and frankly racist. Under this law if schools teach the history of anti-government groups they can be grouped with schools that teach the history of the Black Migration, Harlem, Chinatown or Latinos. Where is the correlation?

History and Humanities classes already lack much true discussion of peoples of color as is. It often feels like the histories of non-white people from around the world, and even people of color that were of vital importance to the making of America are often overlooked. I often found myself struggling to find instances in American History classes both in college and before that dealt with non-white people. This caused so much frustration for me and many of my peers that we fought for changes to the core curriculum at my university. My story is not unique at all. Many of my friends went through the same struggles and decided on taking similar actions.

I find that it is completely offensive for Arizona to want to ban classes that teach the histories of diverse people. It seems that in 2010 there should be more classes of this nature and not less. In an increasingly diverse country where very soon white people are going to be outnumbered by non-whites and where people of color have been vital to the history and creation of this country, history classes of a diverse nature need to be enhanced. These classes not only benefit the student of color who doesn't hear about people that look like him often, but can be just as beneficial to white students as well. It can create an understanding of the world and other peoples that they may not have the chance to see or experience. Proper education can create more tolerance and understanding. But I suppose Arizona, the last state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. as a holiday, and the state that is implementing an immigration law that can discriminate against people of color continues the pattern of racially oppressive politics with this educational policy. Unfortunately the ones who suffer the most are the children. That is truly the saddest part.

Blacks Running as GOP Candidates: Is this good or bad?

2010-05-06T21:23:00.002-04:00

While I was sitting down watching Hardball with Chris Matthews, he had a segment on the resurgence of black people running for congressional seats as Republicans. There are currently 32 black people running for Congressional office as Republicans. This number is the most since Reconstruction. I believe that this resurgence has both good and bad aspects to it.

On one hand its a great thing that blacks feel comfortable to run as Republicans. It shows that we have come a long way in our history that while it is a story that this many are running, its not as big a story as it would have been a few years or decades ago. I believe that the election of Barack Obama as President and the selection of Michael Steele to head the Republican National Committee both have played a huge role in blacks wanting to win political office, and believing that they can. While blacks have run for political office in the past and have done well, especially in regions that have a solid black population, the election and selection of both Obama and Steele have opened up the doorways for blacks to run for office in places where they may not have felt they could do well in the past. At the end of the day this is great!

Where I have major issues with blacks running for political office as Republicans is that I do not feel that the Republican Party has been kind to people of color. Black people are not one monolithic voting block. Though it is fair to say that as of late blacks have voted almost exclusively for Democratic candidates. According to CNN's exit polls 96% of black people voted for Barack Obama in the election of 2008. While there are many reasons that this occurred, it is undeniable that the reputation of the Republican party has alienated people of color in ways that has been detrimental to the party. On issues that most concern people of color, from affirmative action, economy, war, race relations and prison reform just to name a few, the Republican party have long stood in opposition to what most people of color support.

This is not a new phenomenon. Historically blacks began migrating to the Democratic party during the 1930's during the Roosevelt era. This coincided with the creation of politically liberal ideas that more black people fell in line with. This alliance became more solidified during the 1960's when the Republican Party became the party of the South. Many believe that it was during this time that the alliance became etched in stone.

The current state of the Republican party does not appeal to the vast majority of blacks. This was no more evident than the comment made by Michael Steele at a recent discussion held at Depaul University. When asked why blacks should vote Republican Steele commented "You really don't have a reason to, to be honest -- we haven't done a very good job of really giving you one...For the last 40-plus years we had a 'Southern Strategy' that alienated many minority voters by focusing on the white male vote in the South." If this is not the most telling statement from one of the leaders of the Republican party, I don't know what is.

I fully support blacks running for office, in any capacity. It is vitally important that people of all ethnic groups get involved in the political process. The Republican party has many redeeming qualities historically that can serve as huge appeals to segments of the black populace. But at the same time it is important to see where the party is today. To me there is no greater proof at where the Republican Party is than by looking at the past two conventions held in 2008. The Democratic National Convention was a mosaic of all that America has racially and otherwise. Conversely looking at the Republican National Convention was nothing like that. Where were the delegates of color? They didn't exist. If the delegates of color don't exist then there is a huge reason for that. Maybe getting some new faces of color into the GOP will be a huge help for changing the face of the party. Unfortunately this may not be the case.

Arizona Immigration Policy: What Have We Come To?

2010-04-22T22:15:00.006-04:00

Imagine this scenario: You are walking down the street and a police officer asks you for your identification and proof of citizenship. You are unable to prove that on the spot. You are then arrested for being illegally in the country and thrown in jail. This may sound like Nazi Gernamy in World War II. Unfortunately if Arizona passes the new anti-immigration policy, this will be the new America that we live in.

The new Arizona Immigration policy is one of the most blatant examples of racial profiling I have ever seen. For those of you who may not know, this past week Arizona lawmakers legalized the strictest anti-immigration ever passed in America. If signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, police officers would have the right to stop people and ask them to show documents proving that they are in America legally. If they are not, then they can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Furthermore it makes it a crime for anyone to willingly harbor an illegal immigrant.

I believe that there needs to be new comprehensive immigration policy that seeks to strengthen America's borders and creates a system whereby illegal aliens currently in the United States can achieve legalized status, this bill is not the way to do it. While there are 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona, there has to be a better way to address the situation. Arresting and throwing them in jail, making it a crime to possess them in your house among some of the other measures, is too similar to what occurred in World War II.

Another aspect of the bill that is problematic is the fact that police officers would be the one responsible for enforcing the law. As many people are aware, relationships between police officers and communities of color, especially Latino and black communities have always been strained. Creating a system whereby police can merely stop you if they think you are in the country illegally creates a huge problem. Let us all be honest. Most of the people that police officers will assume are illegal will look much more like Barack Obama and less like John McCain. What this policy essentially does is make it completely legal to racially profile people. What happens when you stop someone who is legal in America, based on the opinion that you assumed they were illegal? How do you prove in a court of law that the Civil Rights of the person stopped were not violated, especially if it is considered legal under state law. This can not go on.

I wonder what would happen if I walked the streets of Arizona. I have a Muslim first name and a French last name. I look African-American, but could easily be mistaken for a dark-skinned Latino. But the fact of the matter is I am a born American. Who is to say that the next person who looks more white than me, but who happens to be illegal will be stopped? If we are honest, the odds of that happening are very slim. And furthermore why should that person be stopped? What crime did that person commit so egregious that they should end up in jail and furthermore kicked out of the country.

America is supposed to be a country that welcomes immigrants and should never seek to forget that crucial part of its history. Lets create a system where we can continue to live up to that ideal. Lets not create a Gestapo state, where it feels as if we are in Nazi Germany. The words on the Statue of Liberty should be read by every member of the Arizona legislature who voted for this policy.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Words to live by!

Bigotry In Washington: What Does it Mean and What Must We Do

2010-03-23T01:57:00.015-04:00

This weekend was a throwback to the days of the 1960s that we often have seen on television and could not have imagined we would ever see again. I suppose we have traveled back in time to the days when being racist, bigoted, and anti-semitic have returned. As a young black male I have read stories of behavior like this. Never in my wildest dreams would I expect this to occur in 2010. And its not because I don't believe that racism and bigoted feelings do not still exist, but because I assumed people had more decency to do it behind closed doors. I guess I was wrong.

What occured Saturday in Washington DC stands as one of the most disgusting forms of public behavior that this generation of Americans have ever seen. Young children, who live in a much more diverse and accepting world than any of their parents could ever dream of did not deserve to see this. Black and white kids who play with each other every day did not deserve to see this. GLBT people who have families and interact with others often and Jewish people who have fought so long and hard for equality did not deserve to see this. It goes to show that our work is never done.

It was shocking to see people calling lawmakers and icons in American history such vitriolic names. This touched a nerve that has not been touched in me in a long time. And frankly it was at that moment that I realized that Health Care Reform became much more than a simple bill and more of a moral imperative, much in the way the Voting Rights and Civil Rights Acts have become many years ago. Seeing the image of John Lewis, Nancy Pelosi and others walking hand in hand reminded me of many Civil Rights Era footage. The only thing missing was a black and white screen and strains of We Shall Overcome in the background. History never fails to repeat itself now does it?

I have no problem people speaking their minds and standing up for what they believe in. But hate speech stands no place in American political or daily discourse. It only alienates people and puts everyone farther away from the common goal of making this country better than it already is.

Those that practice hate speech need to be made examples of. We need to make a stand, speak out and call them out on their actions. Many like to say that people who make these comments are ignorant or naive. It is almost as if we are excusing their actions by making it seem that they know no better. I for one will not stand for that anymore. Hate speech is hate speech. Racists are racists. Bigots are bigots. If you have the audacity to be as insulting as you were on Saturday, then you should be able to own up to what you really are on this day.

From the day that President Obama won the election, hate speech was on the rise. I have said that much of the oppositions arguments have been steeped in racism and bigotry. I believe that Saturday was proof. For the longest while the entire debate that has gone on has not been about socialism. It hasnt been about communism. It has and will always be about conservative (mostly white people) being afraid of change. Afraid of change not because change is bad, but afraid of change because they fear the loss of their power and status in life. Funny thing about this is that often these same people are not rich or even afluent in society, just simply average people who understand and see the face of America changing and are unsure what to make of it. I believe that this ugliness will continue to bear its ugly head but as Obama showed this weekend, we must continue to try and shape our more perfect union. It is our moral imperative to continue to knock them down, call thruth to power and continue striving for the equality that we clearly need. And here is hoping that we do so with even a fraction of grace that John Lewis and others showed this weekend in the face of such hatred.