B6
JANUARY 16-22, 2019
In praise of Angela Davis (TriceEdneyWire.com)—If anyone deserves a civil rights award, Angela Davis certainly does. The activist and scholar has been on the front lines of the civil rights movement all of her life. She has been especially active in prison reform matters, but she has also been involved in other civil and human rights issues. When I learned back in October that she would get the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, I was absolutely delighted. I imagined the wide smile the daughter of Birmingham must have flashed when she learned that she would be honored. Everyone in Birmingham wasn’t thrilled, though. Some people in the conservative Southern town seemed disturbed that she had been a member of both the Black Panther Party and the Communist Party. Others were concerned about her support of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement) against the Israeli occupation. She has said that she stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and advocates for their fair treatment in Israel. Some ill informed people consider the BDS movement “anti-Semitic.” They suggest that any questions that one raises about Israel shows a bias against Jewish people. But Davis, a lifelong human rights activist, is concerned about the humanity of Palestinian people, as well as other people. And she is rightfully concerned, as many of us are, about the spate of laws recently passed that downright outlaw the BDS movement. According to the Middle East Monitor, a teacher in Texas, Bahia Amawl, refused to sign an oath that required her to pledge that she “does not currently boycott Israel,” that she will not boycott Israel and that she will “refrain from any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations with Israel.” Texas is among some 25 states that have
Julianne Malveaux
Commentary passed laws forbidding the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel! It will also not invest pension funds in companies that support BDS. Thirteen more states including Washington, D.C., have similar laws to the Texas law pending, pitting people’s first amendment rights of free speech against support for Israel. And Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, in the middle of a government shutdown, had the nerve to introduce national legislation that mirrors the Texas law (actually, Illinois was the first state to pass this discriminatory law). Lots of people in Birmingham aren’t having it. Though the “Civil Rights Institute” has rescinded its award to Dr. Angela Davis, there has been significant protest about the decision. Birmingham’s Mayor, Randall Woodfin, who is a non-voting member of the Museum Board and did not participate in the decision to rescind the award (the city provides the museum with about a million dollars a year in operating funds) has expressed his dismay about the decision. Three board members have resigned from the board. And Alabama columnist Roy S. Johnson has written a fiery column accusing the Civil Rights Institute of insulting Rev. Shuttlesworth and staining its own legacy. Johnson says the Birmingham Jewish community may have been the loudest, but not the only folks pushing for Davis’ award to be rescinded. Who rescinds an award after it has been granted for statements that were not recently made, but are a matter of record? Angela Davis has long been an outspoken activist, just like Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth was. Nothing had been changed from the time Davis was notified of the award and Jan. 4, when it was rescinded. The BCRI did not have to honor Davis, but their canceling the award is a special kind of insult. Fortunately, Angela Davis has a thick skin, and she knows exactly who she is. She didn’t cringe when then-California governor Ronald Reagan had her fired from UCLA for her membership in the Communist Party. She didn’t flinch when she was incarcerated for a crime she did not commit. And she will not tremble because the BCRI rescinded the award. Indeed, demonstrating the indomitable spirit that she is known for, Angela Davis will travel to Birmingham in February for an alternative event. And the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum has egg on its face. That city showed a young Angela Davis who they were when the Four Little Girls, some of whom she knew, were killed at the 16 Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. And they are showing her who they are once again. Shame and shade! Unfortunately, I’m not surprised. One of the founders of the Women’s March has demanded the resignations of Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour because they attended one of Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Savior’s Days. Marc Lamont Hill lost his CNN commentary gig because he spoke up for Palestinian rights. Alice Walker has been criticized because she supports BDS. Now Angela Davis is being denied an award. When is enough going to be enough? For the record, I support Palestinian rights. And I support Israel’s right to exist. Are the two incompatible? I think not. The one-state solution, with a right to return, and full citizenship rights for Palestinians makes sense. But Israel is not about to budge, and BDS as an attempt to influence it. States passing laws to outlaw free speech erodes the first principle of our Constitution and undercut the actions at the very foundation of our nation. Remember the folks who dumped tea into the Boston Harbor because of an unfair tax? Today that action might be against the law! (Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)
FORUM
A real difference between conservatives and liberals
As I have travgan to publish eled across Al- Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick the horrible legheny County, atrocities perI have witnessed formed against and spoken to Blacks, by persons of all southern Dempersuasions, ocrats (conparticularly servatives), Black people. the northern These persons Democrats beare voters and gan to refer to too many non-voters overwhelm- themselves as liberals. In the deep ingly vilify politicians. They gener- south, colored persons had separate ally are in love with the Democratic public accommodations, denied votParty and usually attack the Repub- ing rights, right to work, lynched, licans. The voters are classified in raped and killed. The state of Penntwo categories—there are those who sylvania had more KKK chapters read, but lack the ability to compre- than Mississippi and Alabama hend, and the second and largest combined. rely almost completely on what they The label LIBERAL has been hear on the radio and television. abused and overused. For example, They have absolutely no clue why former President JFK (liberal) was these personalities expound on cer- born and raised in Hyannis Port, tain issues or if they just have axes Mass., in a house that the deed statto grind. ed no non-Caucasian could purchase On a personal level, I have been the property. Former President Jiman active participant in both politi- my Carter’s (liberal and born-again cal parties, and have privately and Christian) church bylaws stipulated publicly taken serious issues with no Blacks could join. Former Presiboth parties. I never allowed myself dent Richard Nixon (conservative) to fall in love with either party. Over was the first president to include the course of my life I have met and HBC (Historical Black Colleges) in known all of the major colored and the national budget. Republican Black politicians (there is a differ- Senator Everett (conservative) was ence) who made a name for them- the leading senator fighting on beselves with the Democratic bosses. half of civil rights during the CivThe overwhelming majority of them il Rights Movement in the 1960s. only cared about self, a minority re- In our hometown, Pittsburgh, the ally attempted to make a difference. Democratic Party (liberals) has Some of these persons were and been in absolute control since 1937, are classified as friends, associates, a total of 82 years. A vast number of professionals, civil rights advocates, persons have begun to realize that devoted Democrats who absolutely political labels no longer work—the refuse to analyze whether there is a liberals now use the term, “progresdifference within either party when sive.” it relates to Blacks. The absolute failure of those who In the early years of my political currently operate the Republican career the Democratic Party was Party locally has become a reason in known as the party of the working the minds of some colored persons people, colored people and the poor to allow themselves to become dispeople, and the Republican Party ciples for the Democratic Party, irwas known as the party of the rich respective of how they treat or misand the party that freed the slaves. treat Blacks. (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to Once Black-owned newspapers such as the Pittsburgh Courier be- the New Pittsburgh Courier.)
To Tell The Truth
Violent crime is down 23 percent since 1980, may be all-time low—So what! BDP had a Instead, the song about J. Pharaoh Doss fact-checker police harassfought propament. The reganda with frain went: You propaganda were put here to and displayed protect us, but this fact on the who protects us screen: Viofrom you? Every lent crime has time I see the dropped 23 perphrase—fact cent since 1980 check—I re-arand may be at range that refrain and think: You’re an all-time low. Notice, it says “may supposed to check the facts for us, be at an all-time low.” Why didn’t the but who checks the facts for you? fact-checker check and find out? BeAnd sometimes the fact-checker cause placing this speculation beside points out a fact that is so irrelevant the fact was designed to reverse the I’m forced to ask: So what! president’s emotional appeal. I underRecently, I watched President Don- stand the fact-checker targeted the ald Trump’s first oval office address president’s base, but as a fair-minded online. This specific upload fact person I still have to ask: So what! checked the president’s major points. Why am I so dismissive of a 23 perThere was a fact that appeared on cent drop in violent crime since 1980? screen, in the fact-check box, that Because it’s a macro-fact that’s caught my attention. First, the pres- dismissive to surges and spikes in ident said: America’s heart broke the violent crime rates during four-year day after Christmas when a young po- intervals. (Or executive terms in oflice officer, in California, was savagely fice.) The last surge was in 2015. murdered…by an illegal alien, who That year, Donald Trump was a Rejust came across the border…in Cali- publican presidential candidate who fornia, an Air Force veteran was raped, claimed America’s inner cities have murdered and beaten to death with a been devastated by violent crime, hammer by an illegal alien with a long and these cities have been historicalcriminal history. In Georgia, an illegal ly governed by the Democratic Party. alien was charged with murder for That is when—the fact—that violent killing, beheading, and dismembering, crime was down since 1980, and may his neighbor. In Maryland MS-13 gang be at an all-time low, gained traction members who arrived in the Unit- in the national dialogue. But accorded States as unaccompanied minors ing to the FBI, homicides went up were arrested and charged last year by 10 percent and violent crime inafter viciously stabbing and beating a creased by 4 percent. The FBI direc16-year-old girl. Over the past several tor acknowledged violent crime was years I met with dozens of families far lower than what it was during where loved ones were stolen by illegal the 1980s, but the FBI director said, “People say to me, ‘Well, the increases immigration. It’s self-evident to all fair-minded are off of historical lows...’ (but) How people that these incidents (a cop, a does that make any of us feel better? I veteran, a beheading, a 16-year-old mean, a whole lot more people are dygirl) were cherry-picked and com- ing this year than last year, and last piled in a manner to solicit rage, year than the year before, and I don’t confirm bias, promote a crisis, and know why for sure.” In other words, when it comes to the fact-checkers’ blame illegal immigration. The fact-checker could have refut- speculation that violent crime may be ed these examples with one word: at an all-time low, even the FBI says: So what! Random. Now, ask yourself, what’s worse, peoAll fair-minded people would have understood the president’s attempt ple that ignore the facts or facts that to get his mission accomplished, but ignore the realities people face during would not have been persuaded by the years of increased violence? (J. Pharaoh Doss is a contributor to the these random examples to support New Pittsburgh Courier.) funding for the border wall.
Check It Out
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Naomi Shelton
Commentary
Giving students the tools they need to succeed
(BlackPressUSA)—Equity has been a huge buzzword in the field of education this year. Education advocates and politicians alike have called for an increase in educational equity, but what does the term really mean? Equity is not Equality. Equity creates equality by prioritizing resources to students who need them the most. For example, think of a typical track meet. There are five runners—each in their own lane. Each runner must run one lap around the track. The first runner to complete the lap, wins the race. Now let’s use this analogy to inform our understanding of equity. Equality would mean that every runner would start the race at the exact same spot in their lane. However, the track is oval-shaped. If each runner began at the same spot, each runner’s distance to the finish line would be different. The runner in the innermost lane would run a shorter distance than the runner in the outermost lane. Sure, they would both start in the same spot (EQUAL), but the runners in the innermost lanes would have an advantage – in distance—than their counterparts in the outermost lanes. This is precisely why track meets do not operate this way. Since the track is oval-shaped, each runner begins the race in their own lane, at different, equal distance, spots along the track; ensuring that each runner, runs the exact same distance needed to complete the race. Now, think of our current public education system in this same context. Students—regardless of race, geography, household makeup—start on the same marker on the track. Some students, like the runner in the outermost lane, have to run harder and faster to get to the finish line. The barrier here is distance. In the real world, barriers include low-income, resource deprived neighborhoods, disabilities that require additional expertise, culturally negligent curriculum, outdated technology, inexperienced teachers or access to critical supportive services. Meanwhile, the runner in the innermost lane has it a lot easier. They don’t have to run as fast or as hard to get to the finish line because of their initial position in the race. The barriers here are fewer in number. In terms of education, these innermost runners attend schools in affluent neighborhoods with a surplus of resources. These students have the advantage of local tax-based funding formulas, parent lead fundraising efforts and/or private funding, and state-of-the-art technology. What we need is education reform that promotes fairness. Fairness equals equity. As Debby Irving in her book Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race states, “Equality means giving all students the exact same thing to meet the same expectations. Equity means holding people of differing needs to a single expectation and giving them what they need to achieve it.” In other words, the playing fields need to be leveled. It’s critical that our public educational system undertakes reform —changes so that each student is given what they need to succeed. Our education system should support students by allocating the most resources to students who are most in need, just as track athletes arrange themselves for fairer competition. The national education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) targets dollars to the highest poverty schools and districts. Under No Child Left Behind, schools could lose funding if they failed to meet statewide standards. But under ESSA, states cannot reduce funding by more than ten percent from year to year despite school performance. ESSA also attempts to ensure that low-income students are not disproportionally taught by ineffective, inexperienced, and/or out-of-field teachers. ESSA requires that state and district report cards include the percentage of inexperienced teachers, principals, and other school leaders as well as teachers with emergency credentials, and teachers teaching subjects out of their range of expertise. ESSA also seeks to relieve some teacher angst surrounding evaluation systems by ending the requirement for state teacher evaluation systems to focus significantly on student test scores. ESSA gives power back to the states to control education policy. Now, members of the community must hold their school leaders and elected officials accountable to implement system-wide and school-specific measures that ensure equity in our schools. Furthermore, UNCF’s 2017 community resource, Lift Every Voice and Lead Toolkit: A Community Leader’s Advocacy Resource for K-12 Education, offers step-by-step analysis of African American Education and highlights organizations that have effectively engaged in education efforts at a local level to support efforts in improving the quality of education for all students. (Naomi Shelton has experience in education related community engagement both at the national and local levels and public administration. Currently, she is the Director of K-12 Advocacy at UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. There, she focuses on national education initiatives and community engagement efforts to ensure more African-American students are college and career ready. Naomi is currently a member of the DC Public Charter School Board, appointed by Washington, D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser. Her passion is educational equity. Follow Naomi on Twitter at @NaomiSheltonDC)