January 16, 2014

Part 1: Black America 

      To simply write  paragraphs providing descriptive words to illustrate the disturbing 2010 statistical data below, would not adequately characterize the stark realities in the manner necessary to illustrate the racism and inequities that continue to face the Black American family most  notably, the Black American male in this country, today, at this very moment in time.

• 29%  of Black American men  live in poverty - Increases to 45% for minors

• 23% ages 20 -24 and 12% of Black American men ages 25-44 are unemployed, which is twice the rate of unemployment for white men.

• The United States imprisons Black American men at a rate four times greater than the rate of incarceration for African men in South Africa.

• With approximately 2.3 million people in prison or jail, the United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world.

• Black Americans are 13 percent of the general population, but over 50 percent of the prison population. 

• Black Americans are incarcerated at a rate eight times higher than that of whites

• By the age of 19, one in six will  have  been arrested

• Approximately forty-six percent of jail inmates in 2002 had a previously incarcerated family member. One-fifth experienced a father in prison or jail.

• Black-American children are nearly nine times more likely to have a parent in prison than white children

• For the Black American male the average life expectancy is 64.6 vs. 72.9 for white men

• HIV infection mortality rate for the Black American male is 72.9% vs. 52% for white men

• Homicide: gang-related, poor, urban areas leading cause of death; Black males 15-34 yrs old, the second leading cause for males 25-44 yrs old, 8 times higher than white males

• Alcohol, substance abuse and depression the most significant mental health problem for Black American men, 

• Suicide is third leading cause of death for young Black American males

• 44% Black American males are illiterate

• 40% – 70% high school dropout rate, which is the highest dropout-or “push out” rate of all racial & gender groups in the country

• Past 20 years the number of  Black men receiving college degrees has not increased (3% of all students w/4 yrs degrees are Black American males)

•  Black American men are worse off today than they were 20 years ago

      This particular post does not even address the numerous oppressive and racist policies and laws which continues to devastate the Black community.

Part of addressing the disproportionate number of Black children in the foster care system, is assessing the role of the father. Experts at some of our renown institutions such as Columbia, Princeton, and Harvard, have shown that an enormous number of our Black American men, that were provided less than standard educational opportunities, “are becoming ever more disconnected from the mainstream society”, and as with many other societal issues, this is happening to a greater degree than to whites or Hispanics (Eckholm, March 2009).

From an historical lens let’s view the Black American family structure. Although there are differing opinions, one remains steadfast.  The effects of slavery continues to impact the Black American family system today. Traditionally in numerous instances, the Black American female was the head of the family for a number of reasons including high male mortality rates, economic conditions and the separation of slave families. 

        Before WW II Blacks were not afforded access to services and continued to rely on their own community for support.  The Black American family had reconstructed their family base and their extended family network, all of which were and in numerous cases still are deeply rooted in their religious communities.

Because AFDC was federally legislated during the 1950's, the inclusion of Blacks in receiving government subsidies was supported and mandated by the US Constitution.  In turn, the requirements that needed to be met in order to receive AFDC benefits, underscored the devaluing of the male headed household by legislating socio-economic oppressive policies that excluded the male presence in the family home, in order to qualify for benefits. In addition, another qualifier would require that the Black father’s paternity rights would be withheld so that the women and children could receive monetary, food and medical benefits in order to survive.  The underlying goal was to promote the separation and ultimately the eradication of the Black American family system.

The lens of hypocrisy and the mindset of the wealthy white elite is to preserve and construct barriers through prejudicial laws, social and economic policies in order to maintain command over the minority races.  These policies not only endorse hopelessness, but also creates a dependency on society thereby supporting the dominate cultures oppressive control over the Black community through economic and social segregation, and degradation.

In essence, Black men are worse off today than they were 20 years ago therefore, how does my white community dare place blanket expectations onto the Black male to become an active participant in their family’s life, when they are not “privileged” to become an active participant in their own life. As a white American woman I demand justice for our Black children, Black families and Black men. Yes, I stated "our"... you can no longer exclude groups of people simple because you believe you (we) can! 

The Black community has the right to access their support and resources that they deem appropriate for their Black males, Fathers and their families. The US is their country, and like it or not, was built on their backs.  Why don't we want Black males to be  empowered to identify their own needs in order to foster a more positive view of himself as a human being, Black Man, Black Father and a member of his Black American Country? I think we ALL know the answer to that one! 

 I had the honor of hearing Tim Wise speak at West Chester University. Tim Wise is an  American anti-racism activist and writer.  Tim has earned the respect of numerous renown Black authors, educators, and philosophers of our time such as Michael Eric Dyson, Cornel West, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante to name a few. More on  Tim Wise

  

January 14, 2014

Pennsylvania Chapter

16th Annual Conference

  Temple University

April 11-12, 2014

CONFERENCE THEME:

Occupy Education: Empowering the 99% 

The New Year began with many new an exciting possibilities for the up coming year! Presenting at the 16th Annual Conference for the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), is indeed a distinct honor! Obviously I am a tad nervous because I want to represent  the topic with reverence and respect. The following is a short blurb (short for me) about the issue at hand that needs to be a major focus in this country.

The disturbing “school to - prison pipeline” social science phenomena continues to occur across the country.   Whether it is the disproportionate rate of children of color who are being placed in the child welfare foster care system or who are disproportionately more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, there appears to be common denominators attached to each phenomenon. The majority of these children are African American/Black, students living in poverty, and those with special needs.  

The outcomes for African American/Black children involved in the child welfare foster care and public school systems, appears to coincide with the disproportionate rate of African American/Black youth, who become involved with the juvenile justice systems and then move onto the adult criminal prison system. Exploring the causality which impacts these outcomes, is a crucial part of developing a resolution. 

Across multiple sectors, professional systems are not producing results as good as they can be. Although well meaning, professional belief systems dominate families and attempt to take over their responsibilities and this has proven to be ineffective, with the youth suffering the consequences. This is also detrimental to the family system but can be changed by working differently with minority youth and families.

Families know their families best and need to be the voice for their family group. Empowering families and their cultural communities to join together as a collective group in the decision making process, is the first step in remedying the identified concerns. Only then, can the family group collaborate with schools and government mandated agencies in order to create a respectful, culturally responsive, family centered, and youth focused solution to the issues impacting the youth.The most difficult aspect is modifying the professional belief systems  in regard to how we work with families. Turning over the actual decision making responsibilities to the family is a form of giving up institutional control. 

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) practice is strength based, culturally responsive and family centered approach to decision making. Its roots originated in New Zealand to address the disproportionate rate of Maori’ children placed in the foster care system thereby ultimately at risk of losing their cultural identity. The FGDM practice was then applied to the Juvenile Justice system in addressing criminal behavior and community restitution.  

FGDM is an engagement practice which can be implemented within the school system and/or community, in addressing disciplinary as well as a variety of  other issues by focusing on non-punitive responses to misbehavior, with the goals of strengthening relationships, increasing personal responsibility, and problem-solving from a strength based and solution focused perspective.

FGDM is a  decision and case planning construct highlighting a values driven process. In continuing to dismantle institutional racism, implementing a family and culturally based decision making process, will strengthen important democratic principles.

"Power can be taken, but not given.       
The process of taking power is empowerment itself"

                                               ~ Mike Doolan

             

January 10, 2014

POVERTY & OPPRESSION 

The delivery of human services to those who were disadvantaged originated through the Church of England and then their government. There was no way out, once poor and residing in deplorable work houses you were well aware of your fate.  The lives of the poor continued to be regulated by others and they were treated as though their poverty was self-inflicted. This perception rings a bell of truth for the contemporary view points of why the poor remain in poverty. The stigma, degradation and slavery mentality continues to cement the building blocks of poverty today.  The mindset of the wealthy is viewed from the same lens of hypocrisy in order to maintain command over the minority classes, in fear of losing global positioning based on social, political and economic control.  What is also offensive is the comparison one can make to England's social service delivery with the contemporary public assistance program. 

The government guidelines in receiving and maintaining public assistance eligibility, revolves around the gross income of all family members who are working. Moreover, those who do work or retain employment, are criminally prosecuted if the job and income received is not reported. In addition the audacity to develop a policy that requires all monetary GIFTS to be reported, is by far the most nonsensical day dream of the century!  Are you serious..talk about the Grinch! Back in the 1970's don't think for one second that I reported money MY MOTHER gave me.

Dr. Amy Glasmeir makes a valid point when she communicated that there needs to be a new way to measure poverty. The current threshold is measured and is maintained in the President’s office however; the thought is that it needs to be moved to an independent authority or an organization that helps improve the lives of those in poverty.  The current poverty measure does not adequately represent the current economic and societal conditions of the day.

It appears that throughout history the person in need of any type of public assistance, is chained to a negative stereotypical description of what a person of poverty should look like. They may be described as the Appalachian poor, inner city African Americans, the immigrant Mexican, all uneducated, drug addicted, lazy, or unmotivated to work hard in order to get ahead. As poverty may have generational roots, it also appears that the governments control of minorities most notably the Black community, along with their prejudicial, stereotypical mindset are rooted as well.  

      The funny thing is, that throughout the years the mass media portrayed the "typical" Welfare recipient as young Black females with multiple children however, the reality was and currently still is, that the percentage breakdown reflects that there are many more white families who receive public assistance than Black families! Surprise, surprise.

The realities of relying on Public Assistance, provides the benefit recipient with the hard core realization that they cannot get ahead strictly on their own without the support of extended family and they need to follow the rules of the game.  The major internal shift occurs as a benefit recipient, which results from an accumulation of degrading experiences which in turn, can quietly subvert one’s self-esteem, trust me I know from first-hand experience!  Experiences such as standing in line for welfare cheese, or buying groceries with actual paper food stamps, resembling play Monopoly money from the 1970’s and 80’s, or attempting to locate a participating doctor or dentist who accepts a medical assistance card or receiving baby formula at the public grocery store with WIC coupons.

Now in today's  world of of the Green House affect all benefits are placed on a handy, dandy little plastic debit looking cards! These are all examples of the forms of insidious psychological coercion applied by the dominate white culture.

Over the past 40 years, it appears that there are a couple of significant changes that have occurred regarding the cycle of poverty in this country. One recognizable change is that the lifestyle and stigma of poverty appears on the surface to have become somewhat more civilized so to speak, which in turn, makes it easier to ask for assistance.   However, this does not imply that the underlying message of oppression does not continue to resonate throughout society. 

        Although it is easier to seek out assistance in modern times, there is a catch. The catch being that the requirements that are needed to apply and maintain any type of public benefits, can be a little bit more than just overwhelming and cumbersome! Couple this with any type of mental health issues and/or cognitive deficits, not to mention if you have a substance abuse problem and/or you are a victim of domestic violence, etc. then your benefits might be cut off for not having the ability to follow through on the instructions given. Multiply the numbers of public programs as well as, the sets of requirements and time lines for each program and you have numerous packages of expectations placed on the benefit recipient to adhere to.  Maneuvering through the bureaucratic system is in and of itself an entirely different beast all together.

Why is there a historically based persistence to place blame on the poor and then to turn a blind eye? One important and positive aspect that was lost in history, was the value of meaningful social responsibility of the wealthy for the vulnerable population. Only recently, when the recession became a reality in the U.S., and affected large segments of the financially secure and wealthier populations, did glimmers of empathy begin to illuminate. There are many upper class professionals that are affected by the current economic circumstances, who now publically proclaim that their circumstances are out of their control. When describing their financial downward spiral, they also associate the cause to be societal factors including the turn of the economic tide.  Echoes of tolerance also began to be heard for those who became unemployed and bankrupt for the first time in their life. Although there is indeed, a level of sympathy for these sectors of the population, it has been forgotten that these times are crushing the working and non working poor as well as the so-called middle class.

In addition to the working poor and middle class, stories began to appear about the unprecedented number of home foreclosures, which forced many highly professional middle aged adult children, to move back to their aged parent’s home because they had spent beyond their means.  Also, interviews with seniors who lost their earned fortune who are now reduced to working at Wal-Mart, all became subjects of a major response from society and a spotlight placed on their situations, by featuring news stories in the evening and Sunday shows.

What happens to the elderly women receiving social security benefits, who is experiencing sub-zero degree frigid temperatures in her heatless home, which ultimately results in her death? Her 5 minutes of fame on the evening news is nothing more than a quick blurb as if its importance were nothing more than a factual news obituary at best! 

    Tolerance is taught to children in school yet the actions are never modeled. Until society refuses to allow social and biological classification, as well as oppressive policies and laws, one would hope that a humane level of empathy would be extended to those who have simply lived and experienced poverty as a way of life. Society needs to refrain from passing judgment as if poverty were nothing more than a self-determined condition. 

             Wake The Hell Up America!