African American
Related: About this forumNO Ashley Williams, you are NOT a Superpredator
Dear Ashley Williams,
I personally thank you for your work and your activism, as it is making a difference.
20+ years ago, this country was experiencing major issues of drug and gang violence. It was in the era of crack cocaine, drug cartels, and gangs selling drugs on the city streets. It created violent havoc in many urban neighborhoods all around America. Children could barely walk to school, or sleep in their own beds without bullets whizzing by their bedroom windows or coming through their walls. The neighborhoods were not safe for those who had no where else to go. Parents residing in the most violent areas were deeply worried and feeling helpless, and young children were traumatized and scared.
I remember clearly how the local and national media sensationalized these crime incidents, and helped promote more fear in the citizenry who did not live in those neighborhoods. The various networks promoted day in, day out, that what was needed were get-tough-on-crime policies. With GOP and Reporters labeling Democrats as "Soft on Crime". Republican politicians, who held both chambers of congress, partnered with the media to mold public opinion into making the entire country believe that it was going to hell in a hand basket, and then some. Yes, and as you know, this country was racist then, as it is still racist now.
Were Superpredators anyone but gang members and drug dealers who were committing crimes such as robberies, car jacking, drive byes and shootings? Well my recollection as a 36 year old wife and mother then, is that, that is who they were. I was raising my own young Black family, living in West Oakland, California. I will add that I was fortunate enough not to live in the areas that most suffered the violence. But I did work in an East Oakland neighborhood on 35th Avenue and East 14th St., now MLK Avenue. I saw the neighborhood people that hung out in the street, as they transformed a little more everyday. I specifically remember one young woman, seemingly healthy and youthful one minute, shockingly turn into an old and damaged addict in just a few short months. Those were the times as they were.
That is why I know that you are not a Superpredator, nor have you ever been.
You are not a gang member nor a drug dealer. you are most likely a student, and a passionate young Black Activist wanting some answers, that is what I believe. Someone sickened and enraged at having to watch racial social injustice unfold, that more can now clearly see. My own daughter was on the ground at Ferguson, MO, from day one. She organized protests of the workhouse jails there. I witnessed her passion grow with each passing day. I even attended a meeting with her of an activist planning session while I was in St. Louis visiting.
I am simply answering the question you asked Hillary Clinton last night, although I'm sure she will answer you herself as well.
Now, let us ask about this crime bill passed into law in 1994.
Was that Crime Bill that President Bill Clinton signed, after two vetoes, a good bill? No it wasnt.
Did it do far more damage than any good? Yes it certainly did, and time has told that story.
Did Bill Clinton apologize for signing this bill into law? Yes, he did.
Was that enough? Most likely not.
Did numerous legislators on both sides of the aisle vote for it? Yes they did.
Did Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders vote for it? Yes, he did.
Did he apologize for it? If he hasn't, he should.
Did Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton promote the bill? Yes, she did.
Did she apologize for that? If she hasn't, she should.
No matter how small or large anyone's role was in it, yes, they should all apologize,
to all of those many negatively affected over these years.
And furthermore, those running for office should have solid and sound criminal justice reforms as part of their platform, done in a way to insure that the wrongs from the past continue to be corrected.
And to be honest, the others that share the blame and need protesting against, is our News Media.
They were chief collaborators in the sensationalizing of various crime events at that time, and were the ones responsible to shape public opinion.
Not only did the local and national media sensationalize crime incidents, but they had the duty and the opportunity
to ask several important questions about the crime wave, that they were frightening people about. But the media never did ask these questions and instead helped promote tough crime policies. They are AS responsible as everyone else, so I pray that the BLM shows up in newsrooms. Because if they are exempted, they will have learned nothing at all for their part.
So in a sense, many more are guilty than are raising their hands, because this was done as a nation, and it was done in our name.
Respectfully,
A Black Hillary Clinton Supporter
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)A black woman who lost a cousin in 1991 - a young man on his way to American University and near graduation from the University of Rochester - To a young man putting a bullet in his face that the law finally caught up to in 1995. He (the young black man that shot and murdered him) was getting in with a crack dealing gang.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)It was devastation in too many neighborhoods....
especially the projects!
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Not even in a bad part of the city of Rochester.
Bringing his girlfriend some Nyquil and Orange Juice.
His dad passed away last year.
But for years - he drank himself to near death between April 6th and April 20th.
Couldn't handle the trauma.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)obamanut2012
(26,079 posts)FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)It is clear, that we continue to make mistakes as a country....
and racism is by far the worse....
But also, the News media is never held accountable,
which is why I hate them most of all!
obamanut2012
(26,079 posts)No matter what the instance.
all american girl
(1,788 posts)Cedar Rapids. There would be reporting on tagging..."does this mean the gangs are moving into Iowa," with fear in their voices. I would be shaking my head. This was around 90-91, if I remember correctly. The media was just awful, and they haven't got any better.
Amazing post! Thank you.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)I enjoyed writing it....although it saddened me more than anything.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)Yes! I lived during those times as a young woman in D.C. and we were scared. We were pushing our black Congress people to do Something. The prevailing thought was the crime should continously grow and we should kill each other. I remember it wasn't just black gangs but, believe it or not, the Russian mob dealing and supplying arms in the U.S. to gangs There were so many bad guys, including the police mowing people in cruisers down and killing innocent bystanders with impunity until we protested that and stopped it. It was a mess with and I remember more Dems voted for the bill, including most of our black leaders, than Republicans.
And they should all apologize, as you've said in this brilliant piece, because there absolutely no clean hands where this is concerned.
Thanks for writing this. Perspective is always necessary.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)and the Mexican Gangs....and their grafitti everywhere!
Tough times....
and a bad bill for sure!
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)Yeah, you've got to have been around for at least awhile to understand how the law was corrupted or do some research for pete sake.
Thanks, FrenchieCat
radical noodle
(8,000 posts)and we saw primarily white gangs, not black; and I saw the super predators as white. In fairness, I doubt that they realized what the consequences of the law would be at the time.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)of the law. If I were omniprescient I'd certainly would not have been for it in the least. One must have lived in the barest of integrated places or born way afterwards not to realize that gang meant al kinds of people, including the police.
When we emigrated, we lived in Newark, NJ, where I first heard of grown-up gangs, the Chingalings, a Latino group, besides us kids referring to each other as "my gang" or "your gang." They were a bunch of cool dudes, always throwing block parties and such. My bestfriend in the neighborhood and Catholic school was a Puerto Rican girl whose dad and uncles were Chingalings. So I at least knew some were just a club and diverse in nature and others were nefarious. And see, I knew of no white gangs except West Side Story but understood they existed, besides the Italian mob.
So to think by the '90s, saying super predators meant black to me is ridiculous when even the Russian and Italian mobs were in on the action. Different times and different perspectives. I, like you, trust mine
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)That's what I remember.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)At one point, considered The Murder Capital of the World.
The Polack MSgt
(13,189 posts)Thank you for this
brer cat
(24,568 posts)"So in a sense, many more are guilty than are raising their hands, because this was done as a nation, and it was done in our name."
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)[img][/img]
mhatrw
(10,786 posts)Last edited Sat Feb 27, 2016, 12:48 AM - Edit history (1)
I remember those times well. No politicians had an ounce of courage lest they be called "soft on crime." It was a great race to the bottom to see who would call for drug possession to result in life in prison.
Clinton and the DLC ramped up the prison industrial complex to the great benefit of a few sick people who got rich on the misery of an entire generation of black males.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Maybe the white Democratic voter is just as fear filled and easy to manipulate as the white Republican voter? Why don't you think they thought for themselves in the 1990's?
Number23
(24,544 posts)You don't have to keep coming in here insulting black people and black posters.
If you can't stop, I will block you. This is easily the 4th time you've been asked this and we won't ask again.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,234 posts)Frenchie, you've done it again.
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)Last edited Fri Feb 26, 2016, 04:18 PM - Edit history (1)
threw one group under the bus for another. Give me a break.
radical noodle
(8,000 posts)What a thoughtful and impressive post.
Bravo!
Cha
(297,270 posts)INdemo
(6,994 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)That's the most disturbing thing ever - a Trump supporter.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)I just asked you why you support Hillary?
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)What the hell are you talking about?
Get off this Hillary vs Sanders nonsense.
This is the African American Group.
We have a direct threat to our lives - it's Donald Trump.
Now get with the program and realize-
He is going to be their nominee.
And blacks and Hispanics have to stop that monsters ascension.
So if you intrude in this Group - you are going to hear about Trump.
Its not all about YOU YOU YOU and what YOU WANT ANSWERS TO in this Group. We have bigger issues than that petty bullshit in GDP.
No one back here owes you a God damned explanation.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Number23
(24,544 posts)than Sanders would be on his best day.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)but she is also a Bernie Sanders supporter and evidently an operative.....
Nothing wrong with it, but this incident wasn't orchestrated by BLM alone,
as it was most likely coordinated to benefit the Sanders campaign....
gain Black votes in SC.
Number23
(24,544 posts)I am concerned about her acquaintance with Cornel. That is far more problematic.
Ashley can support whoever she likes. But her comments about super-predators when it was very clear who Clinton was talking about when she used that term is just weird. It's like these people running around screaming "stop calling me a racist!!!1" when no one came close to doing so.
Cha
(297,270 posts)Desperate, disingenuous ploy to get votes in South Carolina.
Thrilling @burdentruth
For all of you jumping on the "super predator" nonsense.... #ImWithHer
10:22 AM - 26 Feb 2016
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