Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness is a one-hour documentary about Patchogue, New York, a community devastated by hate. In 2008, the Long Island village was the site of a series of attacks against Latino residents including the murder of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadoran immigrant. The film profiles the community’s efforts to take action after the anti-immigrant hate crime. The town’s courage in facing down hate is underwritten by the belief that small actions by everyday people can lead to big changes.
This week is the Not in Our Town National Week of Action and now is the time to ask ourselves what we are doing to end hate in our own communities. Check your local listings and make sure to watch this documentary. In the meantime, learn more about ending hate in your community.
Michelle Watts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Work to Do*
August was a difficult month. In early August, there was a murder-suicide in Deerfield Township. Amanda Borsos was killed on her 17th birthday. Her boyfriend killed himself later that same day. It’s been about three weeks since 16 year-old Davon Mullins was killed by a police officer at Fountain Square. The whole city was shocked by the shooting that took place in Cincinnati’s ‘living room.’ The shock was understandable, especially considering that just the day before, there had been another officer-involved shooting at Findlay Market. These incidents are no longer lead stories on the news; and maybe that’s a good thing. After all, there are families, and officers, who need time to heal from these tragedies. On the other hand, we have to make sure that the absence of reporters and cameras don’t lull us into believing that things have changed. As the families heal, the community should take the time to think about what it means to be a young adult in 2011.There are indeed a number of challenges facing young adults and ignoring those challenges won’t make them go away.
I don’t want to suggest that every young adult in our area is an accident waiting to happen. I do, however, want to think more about how we respond to these incidents and what we can do to prevent them from happening in the first place. Typically, a community responds to incidents of violence with sadness, sorrow and talking points. Pundits bemoan the easy accessibility of guns and analyze the links between race and violence. Schools respond with ‘zero-tolerance’ policies. Parents and city officials enact strict curfews. And all responsible adults talk to each other about the plight of today’s youth. But in the midst of all of these responses, there is one critical missing element. Many times, we forget to talk to the young adults themselves. If we really want to know how they feel, what they think about their circumstances, when and where they feel threatened and how we can work together, then at some point in time, we have to sit down and have a constructive, open dialogue.
If you still aren’t convinced of the need to talk to young adults, think about what is now being called “America’s Generation Gap.” By 2042, people of color will be the majority in America. That majority will also be signifihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcantly younger than the white minority. We are in a period in which there exists a contrast in needs and priorities between a largely young, nonwhite population and a largely white older population. Policy Link states that, “For the first time, America's seniors, business leaders, and elected officials simply do not see themselves in the faces of todays young. For many, this signals less obligation and commitment to the kinds of programs and resources that would help provide a boost for the next generation.”
While the pain heals, the community has to step in and do the important work of talking to and working with our young adults. Sometimes the first step is the most important.
Michelle Watts
August was a difficult month. In early August, there was a murder-suicide in Deerfield Township. Amanda Borsos was killed on her 17th birthday. Her boyfriend killed himself later that same day. It’s been about three weeks since 16 year-old Davon Mullins was killed by a police officer at Fountain Square. The whole city was shocked by the shooting that took place in Cincinnati’s ‘living room.’ The shock was understandable, especially considering that just the day before, there had been another officer-involved shooting at Findlay Market. These incidents are no longer lead stories on the news; and maybe that’s a good thing. After all, there are families, and officers, who need time to heal from these tragedies. On the other hand, we have to make sure that the absence of reporters and cameras don’t lull us into believing that things have changed. As the families heal, the community should take the time to think about what it means to be a young adult in 2011.There are indeed a number of challenges facing young adults and ignoring those challenges won’t make them go away.
I don’t want to suggest that every young adult in our area is an accident waiting to happen. I do, however, want to think more about how we respond to these incidents and what we can do to prevent them from happening in the first place. Typically, a community responds to incidents of violence with sadness, sorrow and talking points. Pundits bemoan the easy accessibility of guns and analyze the links between race and violence. Schools respond with ‘zero-tolerance’ policies. Parents and city officials enact strict curfews. And all responsible adults talk to each other about the plight of today’s youth. But in the midst of all of these responses, there is one critical missing element. Many times, we forget to talk to the young adults themselves. If we really want to know how they feel, what they think about their circumstances, when and where they feel threatened and how we can work together, then at some point in time, we have to sit down and have a constructive, open dialogue.
If you still aren’t convinced of the need to talk to young adults, think about what is now being called “America’s Generation Gap.” By 2042, people of color will be the majority in America. That majority will also be signifihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcantly younger than the white minority. We are in a period in which there exists a contrast in needs and priorities between a largely young, nonwhite population and a largely white older population. Policy Link states that, “For the first time, America's seniors, business leaders, and elected officials simply do not see themselves in the faces of todays young. For many, this signals less obligation and commitment to the kinds of programs and resources that would help provide a boost for the next generation.”
While the pain heals, the community has to step in and do the important work of talking to and working with our young adults. Sometimes the first step is the most important.
Michelle Watts
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