Down for the Cause: Why Black Interests Are Not Being Met
Right this moment a black person is somewhere lamenting some political, social, or economic need that black people, as a community, are not having met by government. Regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location, black people are not just concerned with the overarching business of the “people” of the United States but are also worried about their own community and where they believe they are being overlooked.
Unfortunately, most strategies used by individuals and also black or urban-targeted organizations are outdated, reactive, and lack particular direction or expertise. From the “nappy-headed ho” Don Imus incident to the most recent flap about Harry Reid’s comments regarding Obama’s complexion and speech patterns, blacks are discussing what’s being said rather than what is or what could be done. Furthermore, black people do not seem to be pursuing positions or entrepreneurial efforts that would assist black people in gaining advantages in the long-run.
For example, there is a detrimental deficiency of lobbyists, lobbying firms, trade associations, think tanks and researchers to staff them in the black community. Over the years these institutions have become the premiere places from which information is collected for inclusion in Federal and State legislation, Federal Rules, and even articles published via media outlets large and small. These institutions typically serve predominantly white constituencies (though they may have black members), and largely employ them as well.
To bring this to a ground level, say you are reading an article about the statistics regarding a successful black woman’s likelihood of getting married. You notice that there is a statistical breakdown of the location and marriagibility of black men but none for black women. You also note that though the numbers show what percentage of black women are single but fail to show how many of the successful black women even want to get married or have been married previously but now are widowed, divorced etc.
The (sub)standard reaction to this has been to blame the media for shallow reporting. Some may even accuse the media of undertaking a widespread effort to cause panic in the black community (cause they have time and resources and interest in that *scoff*). But others, like myself, would say that if there were black think tanks dedicated to the issues of marriage and family in the black community (a good example of this would be something akin to the Heritage Foundation, an organization that has been wildly successful in advancing its agenda) those numbers could have been readily provided to the media with proper context and messaging.
But alas, such a Foundation does not exist.
Another good example is the conversations surrounding the healthcare debate. I have heard numerous black people complain that the bill lacks the sort of provisions that would assist the black community in overcoming some of the gaps between the care they receive versus what whites receive. Many have blamed this on the “healthcare lobby” which, admittedly like all other ‘lobbies’ is lacking in color. Would black people have supported President Obama’s stance on lobbying if blacks had their own firms and were actively involved in decisionmaking? Moreover, would President Obama have worked so hard to reduce the influence of special interest groups if those special interests were more diverse?
I can’t help but wonder how the black community, with such a high number of purported “thinkers” and politically conscious members can suffer from a dearth of people participating DIRECTLY in advancing the type of research and governmental influence (lobbying) efforts necessary to help black people enter the coming age and serve both their foreign and domestic interests. And I still struggle to understand why long-supported and, in many cases, government subsidized, organizations such as the NAACP and others have failed to make related transitions.
As I write this article encouraging black folks to become BETTER political participators, President Obama is simultaneously attempting to both reduce the influence of lobbying firms (full-disclosure, I don’t agree with his position) and extending the government’s collaborative efforts with stakeholders to build policies that advance America as a whole.
However, because of the lack of black-focused groups, his administration will be hard-pressed to implement the types of policies most black people would support because there are very few to provide the information (i.e. make it easier and thus more feasible) for the administration to do so.
There are already many people who believe that President Obama has done “nothing” for black people thus far in his presidential term and that he should “already know” what types of legislation and regulatory action would be beneficial to the black community. I can also assume that these same people believe President Obama could undertake these efforts alone, that members of Congress alone write legislation, and that a fat man wearing a red outfit delivers gifts on December 25 of every year using a wooden sleigh pulled through the brisk night-air by cervids he calls by name.
Sadly, this is not the case. For every rulemaking effort, every legislative turn, and more, the public via established groups and organizations provide comment, research, and feedback. Government employees, executives, program managers, and legislators are all a part of the process, but are not, and could never be the process in its entirety. The feedback and information provided by think tanks and the like can not only steer policies but also help avoid unintended consequences.
A good example of an unintended consequence that could have been avoided with proper research would be the legal sentences for cocaine vs. crack possession and distribution. Black people, including the Congressional Black Caucus supported harsher sentences for crack offenders because they thought locking up violators would assist in diminishing the crack epidemic by taking those most likely to support it off the streets.
Today, we know that those rules have resulted in a conviction rate of black men disproportionate to the amount of black men who actually use or distribute drugs. Additionally, there have been issues with the execution of justice as well as arrests and other parts of the adjudication process.
I’m 100% positive a black think tank dedicated to judicial issues could have predicted that such legislation would have resulted in racial misapplication by looking at the history of black people’s involvement in the criminal justice system and the subsequent impact (recidivism, legal representation etc) on the community. They probably could have even suggested alternative legislation that would have helped end the crack epidemic that depleted so many black neighborhoods and families.
I have spent my career in Federal and State government, lobbying, and on the campaign trail. Over the years, I have watched black people show great passion for diversity and equal opportunity programs. As a result, many pursue jobs with limited advancement where the impact of their work is nearly singular and certainly more personal rather than broad-based. Examples of these positions would be human resources, teaching, civil rights, counseling, and other people-oriented jobs. Nothing is wrong with pursuing these careers or spear-heading your own efforts to own related-firms. However, until black people become key players in the political parts of the process, your value to it is the equivalent of watching Keith Olbermann and tweeting and emailing links to articles you agree or disagree with. In other words, you’re not very useful in the long run.
This shallow participation in and knowledge of our system of government and where, of course black folks fit into it, is part of the reason that black people are struggling to determine where they fit into President Obama’s priorities, and, arguably more important, the priorities at their local level of government (affordable housing anyone?).
I wish I had the answer for how to make widespread change of this nature, and also how to do it given the fairly small population of black people in the United States. I have seen firsthand the overlapping historical circumstances that make it difficult for black people to enter and be promoted within the types of institutions on which this article is focused. Further, some of the greatest black political minds with whom I’ve come into contact in my career (including me!) are working diligently toward national interests—not national black interests.
So, no, I don’t have the answer. However, I figured it was worth pointing out that while most black people wonder why they aren’t winning, I wonder when we’ll get into the game.
EXCELLENT article. Probably among the best blogposts I've read thus far.
Seems like the majority of the people who do the loudest complaining, have the least knowledge of how anything actually works in regards to government. You cant do anything by yourself and if you try, you will fail and possibly embarrass yourself in the process. You make some great points about what the lobbyists, etc. bring to the table & the lack of "diverse" representation. I do have to wonder if we'd all be so apt to applaud Obama's plan to reduce their input to policy were that the case. Personally, I do applaud it because I think their amount of influence is parasitic & that the parties they represent have benefited WAY too much within the last decade. I doubt that would change with regard to a more representative color scheme.
Also, IMO, the reason you dont see much in terms of ACTUAL results in terms of participation is because people talk about race issues just to hear the sound of their own voice. They never extend the conversation beyond useless finger-pointing and chest-thumping. When people start having conversations about race that people of ANOTHER race are actually allowed to participate in, THEN I'll take them seriously. But as long as all they're about is "blame whitey," we will continue to lag behind, sitting in the bleachers while the real players take the field.
Social statistics are generally a by-product of broader studies geared towards comprehending a particular phenomenon of the population at large. Usually, it's difficult to get funding for more narrow studies (e.g. focused specifically on the black community), a direct result of the general public's apathy toward the plight of the African-American. The cure for this apathy is, of course, education...which inexorably brings us back to Twitter. :-D
@ Choqlate I TOTALLY disagree. We have no idea how difficult it truly is to get funding for certain types of research b/c there has been no concerted effort on the part of specific political organizations to raise funding via other avenues beyond the obvious. Has anyone asked black churches to contribute, for example? That’s why my argument is centered around the function of organizations that are lacking in the black community. Those organizations, via their mission would be 1. To decrease apathy around their particular issue, 2. To raise money and 3. To develop and distribute messaging and research to influence policies. Further, your example of how research comes about is very incomplete. @ and1grad I agree with your statement that people who talk the loudest about these issues are typically those who know the least about the way the system works. Watching Rachel Maddow does not make you a political analyst!
Great post! I do think that many of our civil rights organizations have failed us post –civil rights. I often find myself looking at the NAACP and Urban Leagues across the country as nothing but many a replacement for college extra-curricular activities for lots of young blacks using them as a vehicle to network rather than change. There is not a lot of new thought going on in those meetings, mostly passing down of things we know we need to do. When I was in my mid 20’s I joined HAUL-YP (Houston Area Urban League- Young Professionals) and was severely disappointed in not only the attendance but who was attending. Not nearly enough and a lot of people just trying to pad their resumes and network. No one was trying to start the revolution and as a newlywed I quickly ended up choosing being a wife and building a home over sitting in a class or meeting learning about stuff I could Google.
To me it boils down to both apathy and the inability to “rally the troops” for lack of better words. I think a lot of people thought Obama would change things and rally the troops, but the reality is that Obama is not just OUR leader, if at all; he is the leader of the nation, a big difference even in “post-racial” America. The harder question is how you go from nothing to something quick enough to affect change on a community who needed it yesterday. As blacks many of us are not interested in contributing our wealth in an effort to help Lil KeKe see there is more to life than doing the Southside or even little McKinley to learn there are other things to do professionally than be your standard Doctor or Lawyer. When it comes to professional opportunities we just are not as schooled as others about the many different ways there are to make a buck. And quite of few of us accidentally ended up being what ever it is we are now as grown –ups (I most certainly never muttered the words I want to be a Project/Product Manager when I was 7. A lawyer and Diana Ross, yes!) If I had a nickel for every time my family and childhood acquaintances ask me what it is I do and why do they pay me so much to do it, I’d invest it in creating one of those think tanks you’re talking about. Anywho…
Often, many of us are worried about securing our own first, which I can’t say I see a problem with, I believe we must first establish wealth, and then invest it in changing the landscape of our communities. However while we are establishing wealth, we need to be laying the groundwork on how to invest so the investment both benefits community and our bottom lines, I hate to say it but money talks bullshit walks. I think there would be more traction better minds and better results if money were involved. I do not believe fighting for any cause, means we must get nothing in return financially, like you said look at the white firms and think tanks out there, those people are making money while making changes.
Anyway I’m gonna stop blogging in your comments, what we really need is a plan(s) on how to change the things we want to change. If you are passionate about any of the myriad of problems that are plaguing the Diaspora today, make a plan, share that plan, twerk that plan, ask people what you need to make that plan to happen. Show how this plan will make a better place and fund that plan and provide a return on investment for those that help fund that plan. This is 2010 there are so many bright minds that are just a tweet, e-mail, BBM, text or phone call away. Do informational interviews write business plans about the revolution and then get funding to make it happen. Again, great post, a good way to get people thinking about solving the problem(s) instead of just preaching from the mountain tops.
-OG
I don't agree with your implicit premise that there is a cohesive black community to begin with. Other factors such as class and income are more important in predicting what needs individuals will express. That said, I do agree that some of the ideas you have are useful. Once upon a time, the NAACP served that role in providing the media a place to go to gather facts and perspective. They have since lost their relevance, in part because of the growing importance of the factors cited above, and left a void waiting to be filled. I think that will happen eventually, but there will be multiple organizations in the space, not just one. For example, many black people of middle or upper income designations hold fairly conservative social viewpoints, but there is no political representation for them because the political powers with that perspective also hold other viewpoints that are abhorrent or incompatible with the beliefs of the black middle and upper class. Sooner or later, someone will step in to get their donations and give them a cohesive voice.
Rainmayun I don't believe that there is a cohesive black community and I agree that multiple organizations would have to fill the space. Umbrella organizations aren't all that effective as we've seen. I do think that regardless of whether you are socially conservative (as most blacks are no matter their socio-economic status) or politically liberal, I do think that there are many issues in which the outcome of research would bond us in a particular direction. In other words, right now we are speculating about social conditions, when you have more concrete numbers and examples to deal with things come into perspective and people can more easily determine where their opinions differ and where they don't.
Orig_glamazon you made some great points as well esp. re: grown up jobs and the role of organizations like Urban League. So I don't mind long comments. The other day someone asked me about why I think that black people sort of "end up" in certain careers and that is such a layered question. It bothers me that more of us aren't pursuing our passions in many cases b/c we don't have proper mentorship and guidance.
So I had a whole long comment typed that reflected my knowledge on the issue from the standpoint of being an actual researcher, and not just an observer speculating about how the system worked from the outside in...and then my computer went to sleep (low battery). lol
But rather than chop 'n' screw my thoughts to fit in a comment box, I'll just post a response at The Explanation Station (eventually...lmao).
Good topic though, I'm glad you raised it.
I have no words that would not echo your exact sentiments so whats the point of me saying anything other than BRA-Fukin-VO! Excellent!