My Brother's Keeper: Addressing the generational cycles of racism

[sheshe2]

snip

More insidious in their assumptions is the idea that centuries of oppression in this country have no impact on the minds and hearts of many young people and their families. To ignore that is to ignore our history. Lifting them up individually is also a way to address the systemic issues of racism. As President Obama said yesterday:

None of this is going to be easy. This is not a one-year proposition. It’s not a two-year proposition. It's going to take time. We're dealing with complicated issues that run deep in our history, run deep in our society, and are entrenched in our minds.

I am reminded of one time years ago when I was meeting with a philanthropic foundation's program officer to ask for funding for a program that worked to help students (mostly black boys) succeed in school. I had included some of the African American staff who worked directly with students in the meeting and they were explaining how so many of these young men are surrounded by fathers/uncles/brothers who were either in prison or had spent significant amounts of time there. The program officer commented that these young men must feel ashamed about that. The staff quickly chimed in to correct her - saying that many of them actually wear it as a badge of honor and see their own destinies as leading them there as well.

Recognizing that reality is in no way an attempt to blame them for it. From slavery to Jim Crow to the war on drugs, our country's history is littered with attempts to tear black families apart and terrorize black men. It should come as no surprise to us that those policies have created cycles of despair and hopelessness among many African Americans. The question then becomes, what do we do about that? It is initiatives like "My Brother's Keeper" combined WITH efforts to make systemic changes that are needed. As President Obama said:

We need to give every child, no matter what they look like, where they live, the chance to reach their full potential. Because if we do -- if we help these wonderful young men become better husbands and fathers, and well-educated, hardworking, good citizens -- then not only will they contribute to the growth and prosperity of this country, but they will pass those lessons on to their children, on to their grandchildren, they will start a different cycle.

[url=http://postimage.org/][img][/img][/url]

President Obama and Christian Campagne walk into East Room for "My Brother's Keeper" event.


Read More: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-brothers-keeper-addressing.html

[ProSense]

1. Thanks for posting. Here's an ACLU comment:

What Does It Take To Truly Be "My Brother's Keeper"

By Dennis Parker

<...>

In an address yesterday President Obama made it clear that there are too many "Kyles" being pushed out. The president set the stage by defining a problem – "Boys and young men of color — regardless of where they come from — are disproportionately at risk from their youngest years through college and the early stages of their professional lives."

He then went on to outline the broad contours of "My Brother's Keeper Initiative", a program seeking to harness the resources of the federal government, the private sector and a number of philanthropic foundations to address the lack of opportunities available to young men of color in the United States. The details of the initiative have not yet been announced. As with any ambitious undertaking, it is on those details that the ultimate success of the program will depend. But although numerous questions remain, the president's announcement was encouraging.

Most encouraging was the fact that the president's statements were a frank acknowledgement of the inter-related and complex factors which disadvantage young men of color. Although the president has been faulted in the past for avoiding the particular, harmful role that race plays in American society, yesterday's address left no doubt that he recognizes that the obstacles to "ladders of opportunity" in American society were ones that were, "in the aggregate" more likely to confront Black and Latino young men. And the consequences of those barriers were clearly laid out. It was clear that higher suspension, expulsion and arrest rates for students of color lead inexorably to fewer life opportunities in education, employment and the opportunity to participate fully in the nation's civic life. Equally clear was that although the effects are felt most harshly by young men of color, the problem is one that affects everyone and that the nation as a whole suffers. His assertion of the importance of recognizing that "my neighbor's child is my child" was particularly moving in light of his recognition of the presence in the White House of the families of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, both of which lost children in a manner that raised questions about the extent to which the lives of young men of color are valued in American society.

Most heartening was the president's description of the issue of lack of opportunity for children of color as being one of the most important faced by his administration. It is hopeful that this emphasis will lead to the elimination of the barriers which limit young people of color and prevent us from being the greatest country that we could be.

- more -

https://www.aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/what-does-it-take-truly-be-my-brothers-keeper

[sheshe2]

2. You are welcome.

Thank you for the additional remarks from ACLU.

and

We must also be careful that the needs of girls and young women of color are not ignored by ensuring that these types of opportunities include them as well. Finally, while every effort is made to encourage young people of color to embrace values that will lead to success, we must recognize that many of the barriers they will face are external.

They are our future, ProSense. All the children are.

[Cha]

3. Kick for now, she..

thank you!

[sheshe2]

4. Kick!

[William769]

5. Kick & highly recommended!

[freshwest]

6. So good and so needed! He is truly a transformative president, more than I ever hoped in 2008. And

this part right here bears being repeated until everyone knows:

More insidious in their assumptions is the idea that centuries of oppression in this country have no impact on the minds and hearts of many young people and their families. To ignore that is to ignore our history.

I wish I could set that in huge letters so it would be heard!

[sheshe2]

11. Thank you freshwest.

Yes, this indeed needs to be repeated over and over.

[votesparks]

7. Another perspective

[Redford]

8. Opportunity without personal responsibility won't work either

[adirondacker]

12. It seems to work for the Wall Street boys just fine. nt

[votesparks]

13. First, you have to have opportunity

The whole "responsibility" meme ignores the systemic racism institutionalized in America, largely through the War On Drugs, which is used as a new form of continued Jim Crow. It also plays on the theme that black men are not responsible.

Obama "We can reform laws BUT parents and kids will have to take responsibility" . . . same old bullshit. No substantive changes in the system and too little money to mean anything -- $200 million dollars over 5 years, that is $40 million dollars per year. With 6 million black boys under the age of 19, that means they plan to spend approximately $6.00 per child.

[Number23]

15. Wait... so are you saying this initiative won't do anything?

You are trashing it before it even gets off the ground??

[sheshe2]

10. Snarky video. nt

[Number23]

14. Obama mentioned personal responsibility as well as "tearing down barriers"

To me, that shows that he understands that there are structural problems (racism, white privilege (oh noes!!) and other issues) as well as issues of personal responsibility that need to be addressed before black people can get where we need to be.

But I appreciate this guy's point and am really glad that he said what he said.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. This is one of the best things President Obama has done.

The program should have the full support of every Democrat present here today.