One Citizen Speaking

RACIAL POLITICS: EXCUSING THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHILE BLAMING SOCIETY

In almost every discussion of race in America there appears to be a number of faulty assumptions:

(1)  That racial prejudice can be defined statistically measured by incorrectly assuming that if a quantified percentage occurrence relating to a minority does not approximate that minority's percentage in the general population then it is prima facie evidence of racism and disparate impact.

(2)  That the broader behavior of a race is collectively systemic rather than the result of a summation of individual behaviors. Ignoring the fact that if the claimed systemic racism were truly systemic, the majority of law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and juries that convict black men would also be racist. And, considering the number of blacks in positions of power where this alleged incarceration issue exists, that is highly unlikely. However, it might be explained when a significant number of those individuals in power belong to one major political party.

(3)  That the discussion of race in America is not tainted by the actions of one major political party whose political power is based on identity politics, the creation of victims (including the systemic absolution for individual blame), and the promise of redress from real or manufactured grievances in return for donations, voter support, and political power.

(4)  That Blacks deserve a pass from acceptable conventional societal and familial because of historic mistreatment of ancestral family members.

So why am I not surprised that a publication aimed at individuals with an association with government activities would ask “Where Have All the Black Man Gone?”

Something is demographically amiss in parts of eastern DeKalb County, just outside of Atlanta. In several predominantly African-American neighborhoods, there are only about three black men for every five black women under age 65. That sort of gender imbalance reflects a number of factors, primarily mass incarceration and high mortality, and it’s present in hundreds of communities across the country. Nationally, the Census Bureau counts 88 black male adults for every 100 black women, while the ratio for whites is a more equal 97 men for every 100 women. [OCS: Here you see the implicit assumption that something must be amiss if the minority population percentage under measurement does not approximate the percentage of representation in the broader population. You also see that the author is providing a reason for gender imbalance: mass incarceration and high mortality as if someone simply rounded up minorities and placed them in prisons.]  Governing reviewed the latest population estimates for all black adults ages 18 to 64 in Census tracts where they totaled at least 2,000. In those neighborhoods, there were only a median of 81 black men for every 100 black women. The imbalance was greatest in 380 neighborhoods, where there were fewer than two adult black men for every three adult black women under age 65. In contrast to the numbers for adults, Census estimates show that nationally, there are marginally more African-American boys than girls under age 18.  [OCS: Again, you find a local imbalance being measured against a national population. And while it is interesting that younger black males slightly outnumber younger black females “under eighteen,” you find no mention of the proclivity and practice in this minority community of a single male having multiple children with multiple women without any stigma of historical disapproval or shame. Thus one might draw the conclusion that a smaller number of men are responsible for a larger number of children born into impoverished circumstances and lacking proper role models that would, perhaps, mitigate the greater prevalence of drugs and crime that lead to incarceration.] Communities where large numbers of black men appear to have vanished aren’t confined to a few regions, but found in states throughout the country. And disparities aren’t present just in isolated enclaves, but in many cases span entire small cities. Among these are Calumet City, Ill., and Douglasville, Ga., two suburban jurisdictions with sizable black populations, where there are about two-thirds as many black men as women. [OCS: I am unaware of any scientific law that specifies that the percentage of men and women should be at or near parity. Also one might add one single relevant dimension to this analysis. How many of these areas are governed by the single political party that is incentivized to accept poor societal behavior as a means of creating jobs and maintaining political power] The single biggest driver behind the absence of many black men is mass incarceration. A few academics have held up ratios of black men to women as a proxy for incarceration. Despite recent declines in prison populations, disparities remain massive. African-American males are imprisoned in state and federal facilities at six times the rate of white men, and about 25 times that of black women, according to figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. [OCS: Academics are fond of using any proxy that tends to prove their central thesis, even though the use of the proxy includes massive systemic errors which are almost never mentioned in the popularized accounts of their research.] Black men, underrepresented in the overwhelming majority of neighborhoods, are instead heavily concentrated in relatively few places, and those tend to be home to prisons. We identified 79 such Census tracts with more than twice as many black men as women. [OCS: It appears to me that the gravity feed model of site selection would suggest that one would build prisons where they are needed and in proximity to the largest number of inmates. Especially if those that govern the prison system want to encourage family connections and visits as part of the rehabilitative process.] Black men are further subject to high mortality. Homicides drive up rates, along with higher risks of dying from diabetes, kidney disease and sepsis than other men. In all, the latest average life expectancy at birth for black men, 71.5 years as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, trails the expectancy for white men by nearly five years and for black women by more than six years. [OCS: One might naturally expect that men living in or near areas of criminal activity might be subjected to the consequences of increased crime. And that disproportionate drug or gang related impact would be directed significantly against those participating in those activities. As for physiological issues relating to traditional high-salt, high-sugar, and high-fat diets, that too can be explained by factors having little or nothing to do with mass incarceration. One might want to examine prison diets and available medical care as legitimate issues to be studied – but those studies might conflict with the operational practices of those that govern the prisons (again examining whether those that govern are affiliated with a single political party.)] But mortality and incarceration rates alone don’t explain why so many black men seem to be missing in communities. Alford Young, a sociology professor at the University of Michigan, notes that they frequently lack permanent addresses. Women, particularly those with children, are likely to obtain support services, and thus to get counted, while black men are not and may become homeless. Young also says a subset prefers to be mobile and undocumented, mostly stemming from fears of law enforcement. “It’s really a challenge with official counts to make sense of where black men are,” he says. [OCS: Here is an alternative and complementary reason for the missing black men, you simply cannot count those who are mobile or do not wish to be counted, for whatever the reason. I might suggest that a great proportion are not afraid of traditional law enforcement per se, but those who are seeking to bring them before the courts on domestic issues such as domestic violence, the determination of parentage, or simply to collect child support in arrears and to enforce parental responsibilities. And, lest us not forget that it was the consequences of “The Great Society’s” welfare programs that drove men out of the house as a condition before a woman could collect welfare benefits for herself or her children. It did not matter whether or not a man in the house was the father of one or more of the children. Again, a consequence of one particular political party.] The ramifications of all this are far-reaching. Partners and families of the “missing men” face a host of negative social and economic consequences, such as a shortage of income and assets. Huge numbers of women have ties to incarcerated family members: One in every 2.5 black women has a family member in prison, more than three times the number for white women, according to a Scholars Strategy Network report. For children, research suggests growing up with an incarcerated parent increases the likelihood of learning disabilities, behavioral problems and other challenges. [OCS: What the academics never seem to adequately explain is why women knowingly have children that they cannot support in the absence of a primary breadwinner and in the absence of social welfare benefits. A woman who is forced to care for her children, cannot always work. Hence, the solution of that one particular party is to institute nationalized babysitting in the form of “guaranteed child care for all.” Another Band-Aid on a festering wound that demands a thorough cleaning, antiseptic, and not just a bandage.] But the consequences of all this extend beyond families. The absence of adult males means fewer constructive relationships for local children and fewer resources for communities in general. “It’s not simply large numbers of men not being present around their children or their partners,” Young says, “but what it means in a community context to be invisible.” [OCS: Please spare me “It’s for the children” nonsense. If this were literally true, there would be societal restraints on having children you could not afford or to properly care for. Whenever I heard “it’s for the children,” I immediately think of unfunded pension liabilities, unionized workers, and the skimming of billions of dollars from those whose allocated funding is being stolen by politicians belonging to a certain political party and their special interest friends who fund their campaigns, provide voter support, and generate media attention.] <Source>

If you are really interested in the subject, you may wish to read my 2008 blog post “The African-American Disorder: Failed Leadership” which is a book review of a book written by Dr. Lenton Aikins, a civil rights attorney and a well-credential academic whose education includes a B.A. and MA in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles, a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California, and a J.D. Degree from Western States University College of Law. The post explores not only Dr. Aikin’s book but my own thoughts about race.

Bottom line…

The Democrat Party, the party of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, anti-civil rights movement, and the KKK has done more harm to blacks than any other systemic cause. They practice identity politics and believe they own the black vote.  They  project all of the party’s historical and current shortcomings on the GOP – a party that lacks the cojones to call them out and fight back against their egregious assertions.

Even those who are calling for “reparations” cannot explain how any amount of money, affirmative action, or universal childcare can remedy the societal problem of out-of-wedlock children or the lack of parental responsibility by black males. For those who decry “mass incarceration of black males,” perhaps we should look at the black community which accepts criminal activity as the norm and refuse to aid the police, even on a confidential basis, when they have credible and specific knowledge of criminal activity. The fact that the gangs dominate the community while black leaders demonize and denigrate those who are trying to keep the community safe, is another symptom of a dysfunctional community – not a dysfunctional society.

BOOKER & HARRIS: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PLAY RACE CARD -- UNFIT FOR OFFICE

Two prominent progressive social democrats and declared candidates for the Democrat party nomination for the presidency, couldn’t wait before they jumped the shark and played the race card. Labeling the alleged attack on Empire actor Jussie Smollett as a “modern-day lynching.”

The Tweets, both Cory Booker and Kamala Harris playing the race card …

The facts (he was charged, not convicted) from the Chicago Police Department…

EDDIE JOHNSON, CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: As I look out into the crowd, I just wish that the families of gun violence in this city got this much attention because that’s who really deserves the amount of attention that we are giving to this particular incident. This morning, I come to you not only as the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department but also as a black man who has spent his entire life living in the city of Chicago. I know the racial divide that exists here, I know how hard it has been for our city and our nation to come together. I also know the disparities and I know the history. This announcement today recognizes that 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career. I’m left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile? How can an individual who has been embraced by the city of Chicago turn around and slap everyone in this city in the face by making these false claims?  Bogus police reports cause real harm. They do harm to every legitimate victim who is in need of support by police and investigators as well as the citizens of this city. Chicago hosts one of the largest Pride parades in the world, and we’re proud of that as a police department and also as a city. We do not nor do we ever tolerate hate in our city, whether that hate is based on an individual’s sexual orientation, race or anything else. So I’m offended by what has happened and I’m also angry. I love the city of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, warts and all, but this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve. To make things worse, accusations within this phony attack received national attention for weeks. Celebrities, news commentators, and even presidential candidates weighed in on something that was choreographed by an actor. First, Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic, and political language. When that didn't work, Smollett paid $3500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago's reputation through the mud in the process. And why? This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. So he concocted a story about being attacked. Smollett surrendered to authorities and was arrested in Chicago. He faces one felony count of filing a false police report. He was back on the Fox set of Empire to finish the season’s final episodes.

You will note that the Chicago Police Superintendent, Eddie Johnson, a progressive socialist democrat, is doing more than reciting the allegations and apparent facts from the police viewpoint. He appears to be grandstanding -- especially when surrounded by the other doofuses at the podium -- and convicting Smollett in the court of public opinion although he adds the line "That said, Smollett was treated as a victim throughout this investigation until we received evidence that led detectives in another direction."  By all rights, any expanded statement should have come from the District Attorney's office, not the Police Department. 

Bottom line…

Both Kamala Harris and Cory Booker have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not qualified for the Presidency of the United States because of the narrow-minded vision of race and the tendency to see everything through the self-serving prism of racial identity.

As for Jussie Smollett, it is the progressive socialist democrats who do not believe in "innocent until proven guilty," but, as we saw in the Kavanaugh hearings, the progressives are quite eager to move directly from allegation to sentencing with nary a heartbeat in between. Except, of course, in the defense of illegal aliens.

Even though he appears guilty, let Smollett experience his constitutional rights of "due process" and his trial and conviction by a judge or jury of his peers.

I am wondering when his stint in rehab will begin and if he has already booked the ministers for his redemption tour? 

We are so screwed.

-- steve