The Return of Jim Crow

Anyone with a passing knowledge of the history of Jim Crow would be startled by the title of Michelle Alexander’s new book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. I mean, really, how could Jim Crow conditions exist in 2010? I know that post-racial America is a myth, but Jim Crow like conditions in America, at this moment? Surely, Alexander is just using an alarming title to sell books. She might even want to heap shame and guilt upon potential readers. Or maybe, she could be on to something. Well, if you are anything like me, you would probably ask yourself some of these same questions. The first time that I saw the book, I thought that she was making an extreme and unsubstantiated statement. But the haunting image of black hands gripping the bars of a jail cell kept drawing me back. I opened the book and I opened my mind and by the time I finished, I was shocked, saddened, and amazed that in 2010, there are indeed black and brown people living under Jim Crow-like conditions.

Alexander’s book focuses on the system of mass incarceration and her argument suggests that the War on Drugs is actually a racially biased war on poor people of color. Alexander’s premise, underwritten by impeccable research, argues that the crisis of mass incarceration has much to do with racism and racial perception. In short, she suggests that African Americans are perceived to be more criminally active than whites. She states, “African Americans are not significantly more likely to use or sell prohibited drugs than whites, but they are made criminals at drastically higher rates for precisely the same conduct. In fact, studies suggest that white professionals may be the most likely of any group to have engaged in illegal drug activity in their lifetime, yet they are the least likely to be made criminals”(192). This statement, like many others throughout the book, is uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable for a number of reasons, perhaps because at some point in time we may have all been guilty of feeling the same way. If you don’t believe her statement about racial perception and if you don’t believe me, try watching any local news broadcast and gauge for yourself the extent to which we are asked to buy into racialized perceptions about race and criminality.

Alexander’s message is powerful to read and even more powerful to hear. She shared her thoughts last month during the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission’s annual Human Relations Summit. At the talk, Alexander admitted that at one point she refused to believe that mass incarceration could be the new Jim Crow. But once she opened herself to listen to the stories of those trapped in the system, she had a powerful awakening. Her personal moment of reckoning came after working with a young man in California who shared his experiences with police officers that he accused of planting drugs. She didn’t want to believe that his story could be true, but she soon began to hear more about allegations of corruption within the ranks of the Oakland Police Department.

Alexander is intent upon convincing her readers to understand the parallels at work in the racial dimension of mass incarceration. Alexander states,

What has changed since the collapse of Jim Crow has less to do with the
Basis structure of our society than with the language we use to justify it.
In the era of colorblindness, it is not longer socially permissible to use race,
explicitly, as a justification for discrimination, exclusion, and social
contempt. So we don’t. Rather than rely on race, we use our criminal
justice system to label people of color ‘criminals’ and then engage in
all the practices we supposedly left behind. (2)

Think about it. Could this really be true? I guarantee that you will be asking yourself these very same questions. If you still aren’t convinced, keep reading. Alexander goes on to discuss that once these men are locked up, serve their time and get released, that they are essentially locked out for the rest of their lives. Alexander goes on to discuss the many ways in which you are locked out, even after you serve your time: “Once you are labeled a felon, the old forms of discrimination-employment discrimination, housing discrimination, denial of the right to vote, denial of educational opportunity … are suddenly made legal.”(2)

Over the course of the book, Alexander supports her claims with a range of evidence from law enforcement, the court system, and the people who are locked out. She doesn’t offer many solutions, indeed any solution would involve a mass movement; however, she does remind us to reconnect with our compassion. People make mistake and in America, we like to believe in second chances. But how fair is it to discriminate against someone so much so that the proverbial second chance becomes more myth than reality? Today is Human Rights Day and the theme is focused on human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. Take some time today to think about the powerful intersection of race, poverty, mass incarceration and legalized discrimination. Think about how many of us have needed and been granted a second chance. And finally, think about how mass incarceration means so much more than overcrowded jails. Stay tuned for more on the collateral damage that is caused by the racial dimension of mass incarceration. If you don’t want to advocate on the behalf of criminals, maybe you can advocate on the behalf of the children they leave behind.

Home for the holidays

Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like home. I’ll be home for Christmas. Every year around this time, we are bombarded with images of home and the family. But before we get too caught up in the symbolism of the season, let’s pause and ask ourselves what would happen to your picture of home if you are living in a jail cell and your family is in hiding?

Bernard Pastor might be able to answer that question for you. Bernard, 18, is a graduate of Reading High School. In high school he was an honor student and a star soccer player. He was also voted best-dressed by members of his graduating class. He wants to attend the seminary and work as a pastor. However, Bernard is also undocumented and right now his dreams are on hold as he sits behind bars at the Morrow County Jail in Mount Gilead. Earlier this month, he was involved in a minor traffic accident and after questioning he was arrested. His deportation hearing began shortly thereafter.

Bernard was brought to the United States at the age of 3 and has lived in the U.S. ever since. His family fled Guatemala because they feared persecution after converting from Catholicism to the evangelical Pentecostal Church. They family’s application for asylum was denied. Rather than face an uncertain and unsafe future in Guatemala, the family stayed in the United States. He has lived in Arkansas and for the last six years he lived in Reading. Bernard’s parents and siblings are currently in hiding.

Sadly, Bernard’s story is not uncommon. Thousands of immigrants who were brought to this country as children face deportation after graduating from U. S. high schools. These students, many of whom have no other memories of home outside of the United States, live in fear of deportation. Even though they want to serve their country, current laws prevent them from doing so.

At this very moment, we can help Bernard and show our support for others like him by supporting the passage of the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) is a bipartisan federal legislation that was first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001 and re-introduced in the Senate and in the House on March 26, 2009. The passage of the DREAM Act could change Bernard’s life. The law allows young immigrants who have lived in this country for at least five years, graduated from high school, and are of good moral character the opportunity to earn citizenship if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning.




To learn more about the DREAM Act and what you can do to urge our elected officials to move on this legislation, visit dreamactivist.org. You can also show your support by signing a petition to keep Pastor at home.

A vote on the DREAM Act could happen as early as today. Let’s act now to help keep Bernard’s dream alive.

Reclaim Your Dignity … Reclaim Your Life

Michelle Alexander’s new book, The New Jim Crow, wants the world to know that mass incarceration and the ensuing legalized discrimination that former prisoners face may lead us to a ‘human rights nightmare.’ The book is intended to ‘stimulate a much-needed conversation about the role of the criminal justice system in creating and perpetuating racial hierarchy.” In the book, Alexander traces the history of Jim Crow as a network of laws and policies that are designed to ensure the subordinate status of a particular racial group. She argues that the vestiges of Jim Crow exclusion are ever-present in contemporary practices of mass incarceration. Alexander’s definition of mass incarceration focuses not only on the number of incarcerated individuals, but
‘also the larger web of laws, rules, policies, and customs that control those
labeled criminals both in and out of prison. Once released, former prisoners
enter a hidden underworld of legalized discrimination and permanent social
exclusion. They are members of America’s new undercaste.’
Alexander will discuss and sign her book tomorrow, November 18, 2010 at Cincinnati City Hall. The Amos Project with the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, Cincinnati Human Relations Committee (CHRC), and the Faith Community Alliance of Greater Cincinnati is sponsoring Reclaim Your Dignity … Reclaim Your Voice: A Human Relations Summit. A panel discussion on civil rights will follow Alexander’s talk. For more information and to RSVP contact CHRC at 513.352.3237.

Immigration: Hope v. Hate

Have you ever had a really intense nightmare? You know the kind of nightmare that seems unbelievably real, so real that once you finally wake up you thank your lucky stars that it was just your imagination and you’re relieved that the real world isn’t so bad after all. Well, I’m awake, but I am far from relieved because the toxic state of public discourse on the immigration debate is absolutely nightmarish.

The ongoing
anxiety
about the immigration debate is fueled by an intense apprehension about the changing face of our nation. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants. But for some, that nugget of historical truth is hard to digest. Among the first immigrants to the land that would become America were Europeans in search of economic opportunity and religious freedom. Perhaps the Thanksgiving season is the perfect time to think about immigration because the Pilgrims themselves were once new arrivals.

I am open to debate about the nature of immigration reform; indeed, an open free exchange of ideas is one of America’s most important privileges. However, those discussions that are marked by hateful, racist rhetoric do nothing but chip away at the principles of productive dialogue. Just last week, TN Rep. Curry Todd
made headlines during a Fiscal Review Committee Meeting. Representative Todd was upset that the state’s program that provides free health coverage to children under the age of 18 was not verifying the immigration status of pregnant women. He voiced his anger by stating, “They can go out there like rats and multiply, then, I guess.” When the Associated Press questioned him about his remarks, he said that ‘anchor babies’ might have been a more ‘palatable.’

The ugly side of the immigration debate hit close to home last week when Fox News cited Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones as one of America’s Top 10 ‘Toughest” Immigration Sheriffs. Despite the fact that the enforcement of immigration laws is squarely within the domain of the federal government, Sheriff Jones is proud of this distinction. Sheriff Jones told Fox that, “People are fed up with immigration and our government doesn’t seem willing to stop it,” so he wants to sue the country of Mexico.
Yes, he read that right. Sheriff Jones wants to sue Mexico in order to seek compensation for costs associated with the arrest and incarceration of Mexican citizens.

The words and actions of Todd and Jones are turning the conversation about immigration reform into an absurd spectacle. The struggle about immigration isn’t entirely about borders. The struggle is about who will be allowed to access the American dream of opportunity and success. History has allowed us to celebrate the legacy of Ellis Island. If we allow the language of hate to shape the immigration debate, will future generations remember us as a nation of fear-mongers or fair-minded individuals? The decision is ours.
Tomorrow is the National Day of Fasting and Prayer for Immigration Reform. Learn more about this day and the efforts of the faith community to unite in prayer for a common purpose, “to pray for an end to family separation due to deportations, to lament the broken system, and to ask God for guidance on the way forward.” There will be a local prayer service in Cincinnati, followed by a breaking of the fast with some great authentic Mexican food at Su Casa in Carthage , 7036 Fairpark Avenue , Cincinnati , 45216. Check out the attached Facebook page for more details and to RSVP: Cincinnati Fasting & Prayer Gathering. Let’s put our hope into action and work toward engaging in a respectful, productive discussion about immigration reform.

VOTE!!!

Well, Election Day is finally here. Thanks in large part to the 24-hour news cycle, this election season feels like it’s been going on since January 2008. Now is the time to make sure your vote counts. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to get to the polls and cast your vote. There is no other way to say it; today is your day to make a difference.

The Color Purple

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 is Spirit Day, A Global Day of Remembering, in which people are encouraged to wear the color purple as a reminder of the recent suicides of gay youth.
Spirit Day is the creation of Canadian teen Brittany McMillan, who wanted to do something to honor the lives lost. This day is also an opportunity to show our continued support to LGBT youth.

Blog Action Day 2010

Blog Action day is an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day. This year, 4,000 bloggers will be blogging about the world’s water crisis. JUST Cause is proud to be a part of this important global conversation. For more information on Blog Action Day, visit blogactionday.change.org.

Got water?

When I am thirsty, I grab a bottle of water. When I invite family and friends to my home, the water flows freely. When I shop for groceries, a package of bottled water is usually one of my purchases. I am like millions of other Americans who drink bottled water on a regular basis and have helped to make bottled water big business. More than half of Americans drink bottled water and about a third of the public consumes it on a regular basis. Currently, the bottled water industry makes about 4 billion dollars a year in sales.
But like everything else in life, all ‘good’ things must come to an end. My love affair with bottled water is over. The United Nations General Assembly played an important role in my decision. Access to safe and clean drinking water is a human right, but 890 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water. Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. In the United States, we drink an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. We consume all this bottled water even though many of us have access to safe tap water. Add to that, Food and Water Watch states that 17 million of barrels of oil are need to produce all the plastic bottles that we use each year, and only about 86% of those bottles will be recycled.
In Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Thomas Friedman urges the adoption of an ethic of conservation. In other words, this ethic of conservation would consist of a “deeply ingrained habit of always looking to minimize our impact on the natural world” (Friedman 2008). It’s a great idea and it’s one that I will put into practice in my daily life. Doing so is more than just a trendy way to be green, it’s about taking steps to create a culture of sustainability.
As Americans, we are fortunate that our water supply is not as stressed as those in other parts of the world; however, we cannot continue to take access to clean water for granted. There is a finite amount of water on the planet, and considering that population increase, climate change, and a host of other socio-economic factors will impact our supply, it’s about time we pay more attention to the state of our collective water supply. If you think that Cincinnati is immune to water concerns, read this dispatch from the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center: ijpc-cincinnati.org/news/who-will-control-cincinnatis-water .
And finally, water.org has a few more facts to quench your thirst for knowledge:
● 2.5 billion people don’t have a toilet.
● $25 brings one person clean water for life.
●More people in the world have cell phones than access to a toilet.
● The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any way claims through guns.
For more information, visit water.org and change.org.

Make it Better

Huffington Post has declared that America is having an ‘Education Moment,’ fueled in part by the Obama administration’s ‘Race to the Top’ initiative and the new school reform documentary, “Waiting for Superman.” The focus on school reform is long overdue and I am relieved that its time has come. Let’s hope that a key element of reform will focus on school violence, most notably anti-bullying initiatives
Every September we see a range of feel good back- to-school stories, but this September was different. This past month the news was dominated by stories of young men who were driven to suicide after having endured vicious gay bullying, both in school and online. Between September 9th and September 30th, nine males committed suicide throughout the nation. So, as we commemorate LGBT History Month, we absolutely have to take time to remember 15-year-old Billy Lucas from Greensburg, IN, who committed suicide after being bullied by years. Classmates knew of the abuse and commented that many questioned his sexual orientation and picked on him because of the way he talked and dressed. Just last week, 13-year-old Seth Walsh died from injuries he sustained after he tried to hang himself. Like Billy, Seth also endured years of torment because he was gay. Asher Brown, a 13-year-old Houston area student, shot himself in the head after enduring years of torment. Asher’s parents contend that that they informed the school that their son was being bullied, but that their complaint fell on deaf ears. However, the school claims that they never received any complaints. Perhaps one of the most widely known stories is Tyler Clementi. Tyler, a freshman at Rutgers, jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate used a webcam to broadcast live images of Tyler with another man. Sadly, these are only a few of the names of the young men whose lives have been cut short.
Schools and communities have to begin to do the hard work to ensure safe spaces for all of our children. We can begin by asking if we are sending the right messages to our youth. Considering that we live in the world of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ can we really expect children to trust us when we say we are committed to creating safe spaces at home and school? If we attend churches that attempt to ‘pray away the gay,’ should we be surprised when children feel lonely and alone?
Writer and activist Dan Savage has launched a new campaign that aims to reassure gay youth that they are not alone. The Make It Better Project and the YouTube series, It Gets Better provides web-based resources and support for gay youth throughout the nation. Make It Better is also organizaing a week of action from October 5 – 11 to remember victims of school bullying. To learn more visit http://makeitbetterproject.org/.
In the meantime, let’s take the time to listen and to care. We can start to make it better right here at home.

Stop the madness

This October marks the fifth anniversary of LGBT Month. Equality Forum will commemorate the month by celebrating the lives and achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered icons. The site will feature a new icon each day of the month and you can view the gallery at equalityforum.com.
The U. S. Department of Education is recognizing the month and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will give welcoming remarks at the Department’s first LGBT History Month event. Ora Alger, president of the LGBTA Employees at the Department of Education said it best by stating, “For a community deprived of its history, GLBT History Month teaches heritage, provides role models, builds community, and recognizes extraordinary national and international contributions.” But in the midst of these milestones, teen suicide, school violence, and gay bullying are painful reminders of how far we have to go to make diversity and safe zones more than just empty phrases that appear on school web sites.
Follow this link to learn more about how you can help put an end to bullying in our schools: http://gayrights.change.org/petitions/view/stop_the_suicides_help_put_an_end_to_bullying_in_schools.

There’s still time …

The month may be coming to a close, but there is still time to learn more about one of the most pressing issues of our time. September is Hunger Action Month and you can join the fight against domestic hunger by visiting, http://hungeractionmonth.org.
Just last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released a set of statistics that represent an astonishingly dismal picture of poverty in America in 2009. Nearly 44 million people Americans lived below the poverty line. The numbers get even more disturbing when you think about how the most vulnerable Americans, our nation’s children, are impacted by poverty. About 36 percent of black children and 33 percent of Latino children were poor in 2009. Nearly 38.5 percent of all families headed by single mothers were also poor. If we honestly believe that children are the future, then these record-breaking numbers should serve as call to action to learn more about the ways we can fight both domestic hunger and poverty.
If children don’t eat, children can’t learn. The Cincinnati Public School system has recognized the link between healthy eating and effective learning and is offering a free nutritious breakfast to all students who want one. The universal breakfast campaign is one important step toward feeding our children and feeding our future.
To learn more about hunger and poverty in Ohio, visit the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (oashf.org) and the Children’s Hunger Alliance (childrenshungeralliance.org).

A little hope goes a long way

By now, most people have expressed their relief that some of the most egregious provisions of AZ 1070 were struck down. While it’s hard to call this a victory, there is still a bit of room for some cautious optimism as the nation tries to move toward the goal of comprehensive immigration reform.
Importantly, Judge Bolton’s ruling places the work of immigration reform in the hands of the federal government. The tension between states versus federal rights has been a central debate for centuries that dates back to post-Revolutionary America and the Civil War. That being said, it’s not unusual to see states jockey for greater control of their sociopolitical destiny. What is unusual is the extent to which this battle has been marked by hatred and vitriol. Sheriff Arpaio’s ‘offer’ to house detained immigrants in tent jails is just one of the latest absurdities in the struggle for the future of Arizona (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpai_n_667844.html). Now is the time for the current administration to put rhetoric into action and craft a sensible reform agenda. Doing so won’t be an easy task, especially considering a recent report on deportation rates, but there is still time for us to work for the type of change we want to see (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072501790.html).
The will of the people has been at the heart of this struggle. Images from immigration protests in Arizona and throughout the nation serve as reminders that activism and social protest are alive and well in the nation. Just as there are a number of states considering ‘Arizona-style’ reform, there should also be a number of activists preparing for ‘Arizona-style’ protest. This may indeed be the Civil Rights movement for a new generation. The lessons learned then and now can serve as a reminder that sometimes we have to protest in order to progress.
As everyone calls for a ‘national conversation on race,’ let’s instead opt for a local chat about immigration. Let’s talk to our friends and neighbors about race, difference, and immigration. We can use the time between now and November to talk about Ohio immigration legislation and our capacity to vote our way to a comprehensive plan. During our respective chats, we also have to talk about the wave of violence facing some members of the immigrant population (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/nyregion/31staten.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion).
The time for change is upon us and the time to act is now.

BREAKING NEWS: Arizona Immigration

Read the decision and injunction here:

http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/azd/courtinfo.nsf/983700DFEE44B56B0725776E005D6CCB/$file/10-1413-87.pdf?openelement

Shirley Sherrod, SB 1070, and the politics of fear

Tomorrow is July 29, 2010. In some ways, the day will be like any other late July day: hot, muggy, and long. However, this particular day will be historic for all of the wrong reasons because the infamous Arizona immigration bill is scheduled to take effect. The bill that essentially legalizes racial profiling and endorses discrimination has already precipitated an exodus from parts of Arizona. Watch a recent news report from an Arizona station for more on the ways in which this bill has created large-scale social and economic upheaval. (http://video.theweek.com/video/Hispanics-already-leaving-Arizo
For some, the exodus could be a measure of progress. For others, this departure is a sure sign of the chaos caused by the controversial law. Whatever your vantage point, I think that we can all agree that this is not the type of reform for which we all hoped.
If there is a need for more evidence of our national fear of racial difference, we don’t have to look any further than last week’s Shirley Sherrod ‘controversy.’ Only an intense refusal to engage in an honest discussion about race could turn a speech on transformation and class unity into a speech about fear and reverse racism. Although the enforcement of Arizona’s immigration law and the Sherrod affair may not seem to have a lot in common, taken together, the two moments actually point to our collective problems and potential in race relations.
Sherrod’s life was shaped by two periods in our shared racial past: the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement. After her father was killed in a dispute with a white farmer, she committed her life to working for change. Her work for social and racial justice continued when she married one of the founders of SNCC. Her narrative is important for any of those who may believe that civil rights are only black and white issues. A number of recent articles point to the absence of African Americans in the immigration reform movement. Some would argue that immigration reform is not an issue of interest in the African American community. Well, think again. In the 1990s, an average of about 40,000 Africans annually entered the United States. Further, foreign-born Africans increased from 400,000 in 1990 to 700,000 in 2000. Granted, there are far more immigrants of Latino descent than those of African descent, but the need for comprehensive immigration reform impacts each and every one of us.
A recent Washington Post article points to the death and destruction that occurs on our national borders. Officials have found an overwhelming number of bodies found in the Arizona desert (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072203067.html). So many bodies are being found that the Pima County Medical Examiner was stacking them in a refrigerated truck. How many more immigrants have to die before we agitate for the change that we want to see? Gustavo Torres, an Hispanic leader in Maryland, was among those who marched for immigration reform in the nation’s capital. His words serve as a powerful reminder of the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and the role of interracial cooperation. In an interview with a Telemundo news anchor, Torres states: “We are learning what our African-American brothers and sisters did in their struggle for civil rights. When politicians who have made promises don’t do what they said they would do, we are going to pressure them. In a civil manner, but we are going to escalate this struggle.” Likewise, the Chicano Civil Rights Movement serves as yet another important reminder of the power of the people to effect momentous change.
Each of has a role to play in working for comprehensive reform. If you need another reminder of the senselessness that takes place in the absence of reform, look no further than the death of Samuel Baez-Rosa in Middletown, Ohio. Baez-Rosa was beaten when he refused to hand over cash to two robbers. Witnesses are few and far between because they are reluctant to talk to police because of their immigration status (http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/man-woman-sought-in-baseball-bat-death-812356.html). Our communities cannot become witnesses to a new wave of racialized violence.
For some, tomorrow may come and go with little fanfare. However, for those invested in comprehensive reform, tomorrow is a powerful reminder of the long road ahead. There are as many as 17 states considering Arizona-style reform … let’s take Ohio off of that list.

UPDATE
Judge blocks key parts of Arizona immigration law. See, e.g.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R45C20100728?type=politicsNews

TELEMUNDO PROVIDES EXTENSIVE, IN-DEPTH COVERAGE SURROUNDING LAW 1070, FROM ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO

Direct from the heart of debate, Telemundo presents “Enfoque con Jose Diaz-Balart,”
the special “Arizona Hora Cero” and “Noticiero Telemundo”

MIAMI – July 23, 2010 – Telemundo, a leading producer of high-quality content for Hispanics in the U.S. and audiences around the world, today announced the broadcast of a series of in-depth special programs highlighting the developments around Law 1070, two weeks before its possible implementation in Arizona. “Enfoque con Jose Diaz-Balart,” the special “Arizona Hora Cero” (Arizona Zero Hour) hosted by Vanessa Hauc and “Noticiero Telemundo” will broadcast directly from the border state to bring viewers all the details surrounding the controversial law that’s currently being debated by the Federal Government:
- A special edition of “Enfoque con Jose Diaz-Balart,” Telemundo’s weekly public affairs program, will present a forum titled “We are America” from Phoenix on Sunday, July 25, at 11:30AM ET/10:30C. The forum will feature four lawyers with different backgrounds to inform Hispanic viewers regarding what they can and can’t do when faced with a legal situation in the United States.
- The same day at 4:30PM ET/3:30C, Vanessa Hauc will host “Arizona Hora Cero” (Arizona Zero Hour), a news special including a series of reports and debates on the immigration issue, in addition to exclusive interviews with singer Jenny Rivera and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The program will also feature segments from the concert “Voces Unidas por America” (Voices United for America) held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the LULAC convention (League of United Latin American Citizens). With the participation of Cristian Castro, Ozomatli, Pee Wee and Luis Enrique among others, the concert joined the efforts of non-government organizations and other activist groups to support immigrants since the passage of Law 1070.
- For a full week, “Noticiero Telemundo con Jose Diaz-Balart” will broadcast live from Phoenix, July 26 - 30, providing up-to-the-minute reports should law 1070 go into effect. “Noticiero Telemundo” airs nightly, Monday through Friday at 6:30PM/5:30C.
With live broadcasts and special programs directly from the scene of events and coverage of all angles of the issue, Telemundo has been the most important source of news for Hispanics from the moment Law 1070 was approved.

****PRESS RELEASE from LULAC National Office, 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 Washington DC 20036, (202) 833-6130, (202) 833-6135 FAX ****

From Civil Rights to Immigration: Making a Contribution

By: Dr. Troy Jackson

Fifty-five years ago, in July of 1955, a seamstress from Montgomery, Alabama penned a letter to Myles Horton, the director of the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. The labor and civil rights training institution had provided the woman with a full scholarship for a two-week training institute. Her note read, “The Highlander Folk School seems like a wonderful place. I am looking forward with eager anticipation to attending the workshop, hoping to make a contribution to the fulfillment of complete freedom for all people.” The author? Rosa Parks.

Less than five months later, Parks made more than a contribution, when her arrest for defying the city’s segregation laws on a city bus led to a year-long boycott. But the story begins with one woman longing to make a contribution.

Sadly, during the civil rights movement, most sat on the sidelines. Many black clergy and business leaders wanted to avoid the controversy and backlash and danger that was part and parcel of getting too involved in the movement. If most African Americans were cautious, the vast majority of whites were either too apathetic or afraid to join the struggle. In fact, many whites opposed civil rights and desegregation, all in the name of preserving their privileged way of life.

Thanks to our selective memory, informed by the many white clergy who descended on Selma in 1965 to march for voting rights, we forget that even the church was often deathly silent when it came to racial justice. In fact, when some tried to integrate all-white congregations in Mississippi, they were arrested so the congregations could preserve separate worship services.

Thankfully, there were many like Rosa Parks, who actively made “a contribution to the fulfillment of complete freedom for all people.” They were never in the majority, but their sacrifice brought significant transformation to our nation and inspiration to the world.

In 2010, as we face growing economic insecurity and uncertainty in a culture often driven by fear, a growing number of political leaders have sought to build and further their careers through attacking undocumented immigrants. The recent legislation in Arizona has inspired attempts to copy the anti-immigrant legislation in states throughout the nation, including Ohio. Sadly, many polls show at least tacit support for these laws by a plurality of Americans.

In the face of opposition and a growing culture of hate and fear, we can take inspiration from Rosa Parks and the generation of men and women who radically transformed this nation. Even a minority of people who are committed to the struggle for justice and dignity for all, including undocumented immigrants, can turn the tide in the coming months and years. In Cincinnati, throughout Ohio, and around this great nation, we need a new generation who will join Rosa Parks by committing to “make a contribution to the fulfillment of complete freedom for all people,” including undocumented immigrants.

Immigration in the news …

Despite oil spills, the economy, and the World Cup, immigration reform is on still at the forefront of the news. As the guest bloggers have pointed out, the current system is broken. Check out what others have to say about one of our nation’s most pressing issues:


Obama’s Latino Backlash
Has President Obama broken his promise, or is there still time for him to create the change we need?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-28/univisions-jorge-ramos-obamas-immigration-promise/

SB 1070 is Spreading Like the Plague
This sad situation just keeps getting worse as other states join in the inequity of Arizona-style reform.
http://www.theroot.com/buzz/sb-1070-spreading-plague

Arizona Governor: Most Illegal Immigrants are Smuggling Drugs
Governor Brewer speaks, need I say more?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/25/jan-brewer-drug-smuggling_n_626258.html


Hillary Clinton: US Will Sue Over Arizona Immigration Law
All may not be lost.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/18/hillary-clinton-u-s-will-sue-over-arizona-immigration-law/


Why So Few Blacks Join Immigration Rallies
Now is the time for a new Rainbow Coalition.
http://www.theroot.com/views/why-so-few-blacks-join-immigration-rallies

Stephanie Beck Borden, district director for Reform Immigration FOR America, guest blog

Many people hold complex, and sometimes contradictory, feelings and ideas about immigration. Recent public opinion polling bears this out. America’s Voice recently found that most Americans support both Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration law at the same time they also support proposed federal comprehensive immigration reform legislation with a path to eventual citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Overall then, opinion research shows that rather than a newfound wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, most Americans support Arizona’s law as well as support for national comprehensive immigration reform is driven by a desire for action by Washington on a problem that has been left unattended for too long.
For years now, Americans of all political persuasions have agreed that the current immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. We need effective border security, accountability for employers and rationality in the process to immigrating to the U.S. Reform Immigration FOR America is a national campaign that launched a year ago to work with grassroots organizations, faith communities, labor unions, small business owners and community leaders to advance just and humane comprehensive immigration reform. The campaign supports the following principles:
• Immigration reform must promote economic opportunity. We must renew our commitment to helping all low-income Americans improve their job prospects and move up the economic ladder towards the American Dream.
• Immigration reform must be comprehensive. Unless we tackle the broken immigration system as a whole, we will fail to solve the problem at hand.
• Long-term reform requires long term solutions. The factors shaping immigration are not just domestic; the issue transcends our borders. As such, how we as a country approach our relationships with other nations matters. We must deal with the domestic aspect of this issue and work in partnership with other countries over time to develop long-term strategies.
Here in Cincinnati, nearly 500 people participated in a march through downtown on Saturday, June 5. They gathered to express their outrage over the legislation signed into law in Arizona that effectively requires police officers to racially profile people.
Fr. Jorge Ochoa, a Catholic priest with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, rallied the crowd, telling them it’s time for Senator Voinovich, Senator Brown and President Obama to….well…..lead and take action to fix the broken immigration system. Civil rights attorney Al Gerhardstein recently won a $100,000 settlement from Butler County in the wake of actions by Sheriff Richard Jones’ staff during a workplace raid. At the march, Mr. Gerhardstein outlined the risks to the counties and the state, as well as the costs, of pursuing a path similar to Arizona’s.
The march wound through downtown, passing the federal building, Senator Brown’s office, Fountain Square and concluded at Senator Voinovich’s office. There, a high school student spoke of his dream to become an engineer but facing stiff challenges because he came to the US with his parents when he was just a toddler. Now, despite going to church, working hard in school, speaking perfect English and getting good grades, college is almost a pipe dream for him. And for his 14 year old cousin who wants to go to college as well.
Just and humane immigration reform will address safe and effective border security. Common sense reform will ensure that greedy, bad-actor employers can’t continue to drive wages down and pit workers against one another while corrupting the system against their competitors. Rational reform will lay out an earned path to citizenship for immigrants in the country without proper status, requiring them to register with the government, get in the back of the line, pass a background check and pay back taxes. Comprehensive reform will also take a realistic look at workforce needs and develop a way to a workable process to meet the needs of employers for workers.
The current system is broken. We need federal elected officials to take action on a rational reform that reflects or national values of fairness and moves us all forward together.
****Stephanie Beck Borden, district director for Reform Immigration FOR America.****

Arizona law, Ohio bills signal disturbing trend

By Michelle L. Watts • June 7, 2010

This article first appeared in The Sunday Enquirer, June 6, 2010.


BRIDGES for a Just Community understands the full range of complexities associated with comprehensive immigration reform and the protection of our nation's borders.

Our national leaders are charged with the difficult task of drafting and enforcing immigration reform policies. BRIDGES unequivocally supports our nation's rights to limit the number of immigrants permitted to enter our country each year.

Likewise, we support our nation's right to deport those who violate our immigration laws.

However, the passage of the controversial Arizona immigration bill signals a disturbing trend in the immigration reform movement.

The Arizona law requires immigrants in the state to carry proof of their immigration status. It also mandates that police can question anyone they believe to be in the United States illegally. Such a law begs racial profiling, resulting in the harassment of both documented and undocumented persons.

Current Ohio Senate bills (SB150 and SB35) are similarly troubling - both seek to make significant changes to the current state immigration laws.

The new legislation would require employers to check a prospective hire's legal status or risk significant fines and penalties and permit local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws.

Enforcement of Ohio's bills would give employers an incentive to discriminate against anyone they believe to be foreign-born, the risk of a fine for noncompliance is just too great.

Ohio cannot afford to enforce policies unseen since post-Reconstruction America when African-Americans were forced to carry "papers" to show proof of employment.

Our national and state policies must not implicitly encourage the mistreatment of immigrants or citizens who are believed to be foreign-born or who happen to speak English as a second language.

We call upon our elected representatives to be mindful of the full consequences of the Ohio Senate bills and encourage all in Greater Cincinnati to examine the purposes underlying local and national immigration reform efforts to discern between policies designed to responsibly manage immigration and those designed to intimidate persons of a different national origin.

BRIDGES pledges to continue its work to achieve inclusion, equity and justice for all immigrants and foreign-born citizens in the United States.


Check out this link: http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/crime/immigration-suit-against-sheriff-settled-for-100k-663732.html?imw=Y

"The Link Between Crime and Immigration"

By LEO J. PIERSON
Originally Posted at Ohio Action Cricle: Ohio's 1st and only research based immigration blog.

When I was asked to write the first post in a BRIDGES blog series on immigration, I was thrilled to accept the offer. Given Arizona's new draconian laws, and since I have had to have this discussion with many people recently, I thought it prudent to kick off the series with a frank discussion on Crime and Immigration. It is the case that native born citizens often believe that immigrants bring crime (especially violent crime) with them to their host communities. It's what many of us immigration researchers refer to as the holy trinity of anti-immigrant sentiments: Drugs, Litter and Violent Crime.

One excellent example of this is in the film 9500 Liberty, where one native born woman claims that her 83 year old grandmother no longer feels safe enough to take her trash out at night because of the presence of a newly arrived (and presumably violent) Latino immigrant population. Taken from my own research, I captured the following quote during a brilliant interview with a native born resident living in a new immigrant destination: "The ethnic groups that are living here have changed. The crime rate is high now versus even 5 years ago. I would feel comfortable when my children were small. Not any more!" (actual crime rate decreased in interviewee's community over the cited time period).

For the reasons that are highlighted in such public discourses, this is an excellent discussion for us to be having in more public settings. Put in the form of a question, one asks: is it true that increased rates of in-migration bring increased rates of crime—especially violent crime?

Based on commonly held beliefs, the answer is not what most would expect it to be and thus requires a bit of explanation.

While it is true that larger urban areas—which are the principal destinations for most newly arriving immigrants—have higher crime rates than the average small town in Ohio, when we look at the numbers over time, what we find is that of all the variables that lead to this "social fact," there is no (as in 0) correlation—i.e. relationship—between increases in violent crime rates and increases in patterns of in-migration.

In fact, recent research suggests a causal inverse relationship between the two—that is to say, over the course of time, increased rates of in-migration partially explain observed decreases in rates of violent crime!

A just released study* by Tim Wadsworth, a sociologist at the University of Colorado, shows that between the years 1990 and 2000, the U.S. urban areas that experienced the largest rates of in-migration also experienced either significantly decreased rates of violent crime or significantly smaller increases when compared to similar urban areas that experienced lower rates of in-migration. These findings might begin to help us understand why many law officials in Arizona have flatly contradicted Arizona politicians by stating that there is no "crime wave" on our side of the border. In fact, when we look at the numbers, Arizona's violent crime rates (including the border zones) have declined significantly over the past decade, even as their rates of net in-migration have gone up!

There are various explanations given in the research literature on immigration to suggest why this might be the case (While Wadsworth's research could not test the theories, it does lend them plausibility). One oft-given reason is that—contrary to popular belief—the choice to immigrate to the U.S. is not an individual decision. Rather, the decision to leave one's home for a new destination of opportunity is one that is made collectively. Decision making involves both immediate and extended family members, as well as friends and "community elders."**

The idea is that if home societies are deliberating on who to send to a new country in order to find work and new opportunities, those who are sent are not hardened criminals; they are trusted members of their home communities. Indeed my own research—though tangential to this particular topic—does directly imply the validity of such an argument.

So to the question: are immigrants also most often violent criminals? As many academics have long suspected, the answer is NO, and now we have the data*** to prove it. In actual fact, negative stereotypes rooted in false ideas of criminality serve to further stigmatize already economically, racially and culturally marginalized immigrant communities.

The outstanding thing about the Wadsworth's data analysis is that it indicates one other important point. Not only is it the case that immigrants do not contribute to increased rates of violent crime, but it seems also to be the case that immigrants positively contribute to decreasing violent crime in the communities in which they—quite literally—settle.****

About the Author: Leo Pierson is a sociologist and instructor at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. His research focuses on local and state immigration policy and conflict in the U.S. Leo is also the Ohio State Director of Civil Rights for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
__________________
*Wadsworth, Tim. June 2010. Is Immigration Responsible for the Crime Drop? An Assessment of the Influence of Immigration on Changes in Violent Crime Between 1990 and 2000. Social Science Quarterly. Vol 91 (2): 531-53.
**For interesting discussions on immigrant decision making processes see Peggy Levitt's work on The Transnational Villages. See also Saskia Sassen's insights in Chapter 6 of Territory, Authority, Rights.

***"Computing estimates based on the pooled cross-sectional time-series models discussed above suggests that, controlling for a variety of other factors, growth in the new immigrant population was responsible, on average, for 9.3 percent of the decline in logged homicide rates, and that growth in total immigration was, on average, responsible for 22.2 percent of the decrease in logged robbery rates." (see p. 549 of above cited article by Wadsworth.
****Special thanks is owed to Tim Wadsworth, of the University of Colorado, for directly providing me with his journal article, which I heavily leaned upon in order to write this post. In the concluding remarks of his article, Tim asks that his and other such research "play an important role in challenging the public discourse as we begin to shape new immigration policy for the 21st century." It is the sincere hope of OAC that in the "strong and slow boring of hard boards," we might begin to help accomplish precisely this task.

Vision Quest 2010: Immigration in America

In American Indian tradition, the Vision Quest is a rite of passage that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. During the quest, the young adult searches for guidance and prepares for a new direction in life. Now fast forward to 2010 for a different type of coming of age moment, one that asks all of us to engage in a serious and mature discussion about the future of immigration reform in America.

In a 1998 interview published in Revolutionary Worker, (http://revcom.us/a/v20/980-89/987/zinn.htm), the late historian Howard Zinn talked about his vision of a diverse society. Zinn’s approach called for a transformation in the way that we look at the world: “If you don’t have a vision, for instance of a world without national boundaries, you are not in a position to really evaluate very specific things, like should Congress pass this immigration law, or should we pass that immigration law, should we restrict immigration this much or immigration that much. But if you have a vision of the kind of world that you want, then it becomes clear what your attitude has to be towards immigration, which is people should be able to move: there shouldn’t be such a thing as a foreigner, an alien, an immigrant.”

While everyone may not agree with Zinn’s vision, it is important to envision the type of world in which you would like to live. Is it one that legalizes racial profiling? Is it a world that bans ethnic studies? Is it a world that appreciates difference? We at JUSTCAUSE are happy to bring you our first-ever blog series on immigration in America. For the next few weeks, we will hear from a range of voices about immigration and immigration reform in America. Now is the time for us to embark upon our own quest to learn, to listen, and to develop a new narrative for our world.

A Home Run for Cincinnati

For the second year in a row, Cincinnati hosted the Gillette Civil Rights Game. The Civil Rights game was founded in 2007 as a way to honor the activists and leaders who have made significant changes in our nation, as well as the role of baseball in breaking barriers both on and off the playing field. The weekend’s festivities included a roundtable discussion on civil rights and sports, a youth baseball summit, the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon, and three great games against the St. Louis Cardinals. To top it all off, the Cincinnati Reds are now in first place in their division!

But the weekend was more than just fun and games. The roundtable, “Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement” was something akin to a celebratory challenge. The panel was moderated by Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree and included such notables as Joe Morgan, Zina Garrison, Marvin Lewis, Barry Larkin, Reggie Williams, and Michele Jones. And last but not least, the legendary Hank Aaron was on hand to make the closing remarks.

In the midst of the celebration of the achievements of Jackie Robinson and other activists, the panelists acknowledged that as a nation we still have a long way to go before we achieve a truly level playing field. Hall of Famer Joe Morgan was a part of the “Big Red Machine” and is now back with the Reds working in community outreach. Morgan reminded us that the game of baseball can truly change lives and urged the audience to support youth baseball initiatives in our communities. Former Bengals’ linebacker Reggie Williams reaffirmed the position of athlete as activist by voicing his critique of the Arizona immigration law. Even though each panelist brought a unique perspective, they all shared the same sentiment that we all have an opportunity to create change in our communities.
The audience for the roundtable was a diverse mix of white and black, young and old. The audience was also a reminder of how far we have come as a city. In some ways, the residual effect of the social unrest of 2001 still hangs over the city; however, the roundtable was an important reminder that there is much to be learned from engaging in the difficult conversations about race and inequity. Conversations about the past are powerful for what they can teach us about the here and now. Jackie Robinson once said that “the right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time,” and his words are as true now as they were then. So in the spirit of Jackie Robinson, let’s do our part to level the playing field.

No home for hate

Guess what? Cincinnati has been in the news lately. Unfortunately, the attention was for all of the wrong reasons. Media outlets from North Carolina to California picked up the disturbing story of the John Johnson beating, the man who was brutally attacked because he is homeless. Johnson was attacked by a group of skinheads, three of whom are active military personnel, at a homeless encampment last month. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s blog, Hatewatch, even wrote about the attack. Our city has seen four reports of these crimes in the last year and each offense is more violent than the last. We may not like this type of attention, but it does give us an opportunity to learn more about hate crimes against the homeless and what we can to prevent these crimes from becoming even more frequent.

This latest attack is part of a disturbing trend in our nation. The National Coalition for the Homeless states that from 1999 through 2008, in over 200 cities and in 46 states, there were 880 acts of violence against the homeless. These attacks resulted in 244 deaths of homeless people and 636 victims of non-lethal violence. Further, a 2008 report from the Coalition and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty ranked Ohio among the top five states in reported crimes against the homeless. The report is available at nationalhomeless.org.

Before we let the weight of the statistics force us into emotional paralysis, there is a lot that we can do to encourage lawmakers to do more to protect Ohio’s homeless population. Representative Mike Foley is planning to sponsor the Homeless Hate Crimes Bill. If passed, one convicted of a committing a crime against a homeless person would receive a harsher sentence. Now is the time to encourage other lawmakers to do their part to deter these senseless crimes. In Soul of a Citizen, Paul Loeb writes “Community involvement, in other words, is the mirror that best reflects our individual choices, our strengths, and weakness, our accomplishments and failures. It allows our lives to count for something.” This is our time to let our concern count for something. Stand with BRIDGES in support of the Homeless Hate Crimes Bill.

Let’s not let hate find a home in Cincinnati.

This is for the GREEN in you

“It is the worst of times because it feels as though the very earth is being stolen from us, by us; the land and air poisoned, the water polluted, the animals disappeared, humans degraded and misguided.”
Alice Walker

Earth Day 2010 is upon us and if you are anything like me, it has you feeling a lot of different emotions. I feel grateful that Mother Earth is still here and kind enough to give us some absolutely beautiful spring days. On the other hand, I feel guilty because I don’t always take my own coffee mug to Starbucks. Wait, I guess I should feel guilty about even going to Starbucks. But back to Earth Day … this day is ripe with opportunities for each of us to sit back and think about our commitment to greening our lives.

When Earth Day started 40 years ago, the world was not that much different from the world of today. There were anti-war protests, high unemployment for people of color, and the like. But in the midst of these issues, a group of committed 20-somethings developed a grassroots campaign to bring attention to the declining health of our environment. Four decades later, the movement has grown and Earth Day events are celebrated throughout the world. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed Thursday, April 22 International Mother Earth Day and acknowledges the need for a global commitment to the greening of our world. Locally, there are events planned throughout weekend and we could certainly use the extra time to renew our commitment and actually do something to help ease the burden that we are placing on Mother Earth.

I plan to curb my consumption, walk more, and text less. I plan to actually stop and smell the roses and take my reusable cup with me wherever I go. I also plan to think more about how the green movement will impact disadvantaged communities. For some areas, the green movement seems to be stalled. Many communities of color lack access to safe drinking water. Larger numbers of communities of color live in urban areas where city water systems are more likely to be fluoridated than in some suburban and rural water systems. Fluoridation chemicals can cause a range of health problems including premature births and learning disabilities. For more about the top environmental issues affection urban America, check out http://www.thegrio.com/news/the-top-ten-environmental-issues-affecting-america.php.

The greening of our world is a movement in which we can all participate. For the green movement to succeed, it has to be more than just a trendy cause cèlébre. The success of the green movement will depend on our collective ability to understand that environmental devastation impacts each and every one of us and sometimes that impact is felt most by those least equipped to deal with it. The earthquake in Haiti and the volcano in Iceland are two very tangible reminders of the way in which environmental instability can bring our daily lives to a screeching halt. Let’s use this moment to think about how these events impact poverty, class, and privilege.
This movement is about saving the land, but it’s also about making the land safe for all of us. This movement is about helping each other learn new ways to live efficient and productive lives. This movement is also about urging our elected officials to work on behalf of environmental justice, not corporate profit. This movement is very much about recognizing the larger scale impact of climate change, not just in Cincinnati and not just in America. On this Earth Day when we have recently lost Civil Rights icons Benjamin Hooks and Dr. Dorothy Height, let’s remember the spirit in which they fought for change and do our own part to help ourselves.

I am turning off my Blackberry and shutting down my computer. I am determined to take this day and the rest of the weekend to do my part. It’s my turn to send Mother Earth a Happy Mother’s Day card!

A Different Kind of March Madness

At this time of year, almost everyone seems to be caught up in the annual hardwood induced euphoria of March Madness. The month of March has come and gone but the madness continues.

Just a few weeks ago, Wal-Mart shoppers in Washington Township, New Jersey were surprised to hear a calm, male voice on the store system announce, “Attention, Wal-Mart customers: All black people, leave the store now.” The incident was thoroughly denounced by all concerned parties and is currently under investigation as a possible bias crime. A 16 year old was arrested and has been charged with harassment and bias intimidation.

A new study from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) reports that Hispanic students graduate at lower rates than their white peers at similarly ranked colleges. This report is another reminder of the troubling racial and equity divide that persists in secondary and post-secondary education.

And finally, a new television show premiered on cable network, FX. It seems that new shows premier every day, but this one is different. Justified focuses in large part on a fictional white supremacist group in Harlan, KY. Like Justified, Sons of Anarchy also centers on the exploits of a less than savory all-white motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming, CA. The show features a number of characters who belong to white supremacist groups. At first glance the presence of these shows may seem like any other moment in popular culture; however, there may be a more troubling side to the presence of these shows. A recent Newsweek article, “Primetime Supremacy" points to a connection between the shows and the nation’s anxieties. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), membership in white-separatist groups has been on the rise. SPLC attributes the rise to ongoing anxiety about the current administration, the economy, and illegal immigration. Is this an example of art imitating life with which we should be concerned?

Since these events don’t take place in our area and don’t seem to have a direct impact on life in the Queen City, should we be interested in any of these events? Are these isolated incidents or do they signal that we are thoroughly mired in a culture of intolerance and incivility? How can we discuss these and other issues as they appear in our own community?

The mission of BRIDGES is to bring people together. The mission of this blog is to bring people together to talk about the issues that affect us throughout this region and our nation. So tell me, are the Wal-Mart shoppers sensitive or was this an incident of racial bias? Are colleges and universities failing in their efforts to create inclusive communities? Is Justified just a drama or a reflection of our cultural moment? Are we really living in a ‘post-racial’ world or are we still refusing to speak honestly about difference and diversity in our community?

Talk to me … I want to hear from you.

A word from the President:

Welcome!

As President & CEO of BRIDGES, I've been given the privilege of inaugurating our BRIDGES Blog. I am honored by this invitation. But, as the 25-year CEO of BRIDGES, clearly I'm not generationally predisposed to this form of communication. In fact, I was forced to resort to Wikipedia for guidance (learning that "blog" is the contraction of "web log" and often refers to regular entries of commentary, running conversations, on-line diaries, notice of events, etc.). The varieties of blogs appear to be endless and clearly some blogs are antithetical in their tone and narrative to the values of BRIDGES and to the principles of civil discourse. We believe, though, that people can disagree, agreeably, and that readers can read, reflect, and learn in addition to posting their opinion.

The BRIDGES Blog is an experiment. Can we invite open commentary on controversial social issues without contracting the "hate viruses" that have contaminated some of the blogs of local, major media? Can we solicit community sentiment and deeply held personal opinions on contentious topics while discouraging personal attacks and encouraging discretion and civility? Yes, will it be possible for us to successfully maintain a level of blogging that approaches an authentic, mutually respectful "dialogue?" We don't know and are eager to find out.

To help frame the purview of this particular blog, let me state the mission of BRIDGES... "Bringing people together to achieve inclusion, equity, and justice for all." All matters related to intergroup prejudices (including any and all of the so-called "isms"- including racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, religious intolerance), discrimination, social injustice, bigotry, hate crimes, are appropriate. The work of BRIDGES reaches into all sectors of society-government, education, religion, arts, business, health & human services, and, historically, has focused on police-community relations, interfaith relations, and multi-cultural education and equal educational opportunities for all students.

In the realm of public policy, BRIDGES has a present interest in immigration reform, disparities in access to and quality of healthcare, economic inclusion & justice (e.g., the hiring of ex-felons), and church-state relations. Topics and commentary related to these sectors, program areas, and policy concerns are invited. In short, if you have a topic or concern related to human relations, we would like to hear from you.

Now, let me start the ball rolling. I recently read a very unsettling yet eye-opening book by Chicago journalist Richard C. Longworth, titled Caught in the Middle: America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism (2007). Longworth does a comprehensive analysis of the Midwest's steady decline in the global marketplace over the past half-century and the uniform failure of the ten Midwestern states he surveyed, including Ohio, to regain competitiveness. One answer to the decades of exodus of so many Midwesterners to the sunbelt and coastal states, Longworth opines, is for the key economic engines, the bigger cities, to put out a welcome mat for new immigrants. I agree with Longworth -that the economic future of the Cincinnati region will be dependent upon our success in recruiting and retaining immigrants (in addition to retaining our best and brightest young talent through job creation and enhanced cultural and social diversity.)

The question I pose- are we a welcoming place for new immigrants? If not, what's it going to take to get there, to have a hospitable environment of acceptance and opportunity for the growing numbers of Hispanics, Asians, and Africans who've been arriving this past decade?

Robert C. "Chip" Harrod