Three major negative effects on the African American Community

This forum is to discuss the most negative effects on the African American

community in this country. Police Brutality, Mass Incarceration, and Poverty. These are

key elements that are holding our people back. There is a lot holding us back, but

one of these three things will ultimately link to other problems.

Police brutality has become tradition in America, its been around as long as she has.

Police brutality plays a major part because it shows a blatant disregard to the black lives

in this country. We have literally been watching our people murdered and beat on camera

with no consequences for decades. We have been subject to racial profiling and discrimination. Racist police sustain this barbarism because they know that they will get away with it, regardless of proof. The moment these officers start to fear for their lives, jobs, or retaliation, they will refrain from the mistreatment of black people. This will never occur if we do not have laws in place that enforce mandatory repercussions when the line of duty is crossed.

We (The People) have the right to propose these laws. We know what we need and deserve. Its time we fight with our minds and demand that the constitution does its job and work for the people. It's time we practice our 1st amendment right to the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition. We have the right to complain to our government and promote ideas of what should be in place. It is the U.S citizens who have the ability to reach out to federal, local, and state representatives to pursue particular bills, to be presented to congress on their behalf. Political action is imperative in order for our people to see real equity.

Mass incarceration has been a direct connection to the 1 out of 3 odds of a black boy going

to prison in his life time. 37% of the prison population are African American and are six times the incarceration rate. This can be seen in statistics given by both the NAACP as well as the department of justice. These numbers do not mean that black people are more likely to be violent or commit a crime. Statistics have proven, not only that 46-48% of criminals

are non violent, but that white people commit as much crime as black people. Studies have shown that black men get much harsher sentences than white men, leaving them behind bars for much longer periods of time.

Research has also proven that once an inmate is released from prison, the system has been designed for high recidivism. There is little to no rehabilitation behind prison walls and very few programs in place to help felons get back on their feet and transition back into being a productive member of society once released. Although its been demonstrated that educational programs and trade training reduce the chance of an individual returning to prison, there still has been resistance in enforcing this strategy. Once released, being labeled a felon stops a person's ability to get public housing, food stamps, the right to vote, and makes it extremely difficult to get a job. Former inmates are often put on parole. One of the requirements of parole is finding a job.

If they are unable to achieve this task, they will be returned to prison. Another requirement is meeting with your parole officer a certain amount of times per month. This too can become difficult if the felon has located a job and has to choose between going to work or meeting their parole officer. Missing meetings can result in going back to jail. That is just a few examples of many things that can cause a person to return to prison if they do not have the necessary help before and after being released.

Our job is to demand the justice of the people who have no voice. The right to vote being

taken away directly violates the 15th amendment, which Prohibits the denial of the right

to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Again, there are laws that

should be in place to reduce or eliminate this racial injustice. We have to point out the

statistics and call out the criminal justice system on its repression and bias.

As a people we have to come together and make it easier for our fellow brothers to not fall

victim to the systems corruption.

Lets work to buy our communities by placing black owned business in them that will employ former inmates and take our youth and drug dealers off the street. We can change the statistics if we all work together and protect our own from being targeted.

Poverty has plagued our people since the abolition of slavery in 1865. Black people were forced to relocate to flee racial prejudice and great cruelty from white Americans. This migration landed many African Americans in the same areas, isolated from the white people of the town, forming many of what we call now, urban areas. It was hard for them to get housing due to redlining and mortgage discrimination. Redlining is the practice of denying services to residents of certain areas based on the racial or ethnic background of those areas. Banks would not give out loans to these people or would practice reverse redlining which is targeting these areas to provide loans, but charge them significantly more than they would the resident of a white area. People of color were also denied proper education and good jobs. Many of the jobs obtained by African Americans was that of day laborer or at a factory.

Work was not always guaranteed to black people. They suffered the most when many of the factories closed down and were unable to find employment. They also had to deal with the fact that as time went on the city did not assist with the rebuilding or reconstruction of infrastructure, homes, and businesses as they grew old. Leaving these areas in poor condition. Unlike white neighborhoods that were always well kept. Having very few job opportunities and watching their towns crumble under the weight of time. And up until the 60's they were forced to stay there due to legal segregation.

Even after segregation became illegal, it only gave African Americans the opportunity to move away, it did not help the current conditions. So now when you see or think of a predominantly African American community it is one that would be considered "the ghetto".

What we need to do as a people is rebuild these communities and make them a place that we can be proud of. A lot of these "Ghettos" suffer from abandoned buildings, abandoned or condemned houses, empty lots, poor schools, and damaged streets. If we purchase these buildings and turn them into businesses such as, clinics, post office, grocery store, book store, or youth center we can employ our people. And if we use the empty lots and turn them into clean safe parks and neighborhood gardens we will have a safe place for our children as well as a place to grow fresh fruits and veggies to provide to the people of the community. If we take pride in where we live we can work together to plant flowers and re-grow the grass to make our home look better.

We have to care about the next family as if they are blood relatives. We have to help them refurbish or remodel their homes as well because they are also a reflection of the overall neighborhood and we are all a reflection of each other. We need black owned banks that will provide the loans that are necessary for residents to purchase homes and businesses.

It is essential that we renew the schools in these communities as well as recruit more

black male and female teachers. Our schools should have the studies that are mandatory for

any person to maintain life. Courses such as agriculture, finance and investing,

business prep, credit monitoring, and of course, math, science, health and African american history and literature. There should also be self empowerment classes to ensure that our children go out into the world with knowledge of self, self respect, self love and

self confidence. It's important that our young have pride in being African American and and view each other as brothers and sisters.

I want our schools to really be like a home away from home. I want us to challenge them but also nurture and show them kindness and genuine care so no matter what they feel safe and loved. Our kids are the future and have to continue what we start. And the best way to ensure that, is if we shine a light on each individual child and hone in on their passions and talents and encourage them to follow their dreams, but never forget where they came from and know their responsibility and value to the African American Community.

Each child should know that they are important and have a purpose in life, a mission and ancestors to make proud, who died so that they can live the best life they could, and pursue their highest potential. With the right guidance, education, care, and attention, we can raise strong, independent, knowledgeable, driven, successful men and woman.

We need to monitor what our kids watch on TV and listen to on the radio. It is vital

that we promote a positive African American image. This will further establish self worth, not only who they are as an individual but who we are as a people. There are too many images out these days that are poor reflections of our people that our kids come to look up to and aspire to be. Lets show them more pride than ignorance.

These images give them negative depictions of their peers and make them lose one another's respect and display distaste or hatred. Example: Light skin versus dark skins, thinking one is more superior than the other. Teach them that no one is better than the other, and express that bullying is shameful and degrading and should not be done and will not be tolerated.

With this mission, if we have firm dedication, unity, goals, and a structured plan we

can make this happen. There would be no stopping us.

Unity is the first step.

#publish #steps #checklist