Month In Review

Blacks . . . in America?

We checked the calendar. It’s not February.

We ran through our Rolodex of notable African-American historic figures.

No birthdays. No death anniversaries. And so we are left wondering just what was the impetus behind CNN’s special report series on being “Black in America.” The series premier will be followed by a two-hour report on the slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

We acknowledge CNN’s effort to chime in on the race discussion in America, though it seems it did not become such a critical conversation for national discourse until very recently.

Still, it’s nothing new. The first segment of the much heralded special report promises to be reminiscent of the “State of the Black Union” panel organized annually by author, journalist and political commentator Tavis Smiley. In fact, many of those called on for CNN’s report are regular fixtures at the "State of the Black Union’s" annual colloquy. So we do wonder why so much fanfae over this examination into what it means to be Black in America as if it were brand new.

So, are there problems, challenges and stereotypes? Yes. And we know what they are. We talk about them all the time. We tune into the “State of Black Union” when it is aired annually by C-Span. And even then, we yearn for more answers and less rhetoric.

Health disparities are rampant—ranging from a lack of access to poor treatment, erroneous diagnoses, etc., by healthcare professionals.

Is racism still a problem?

For sure. It manifests itself in pay disparities, sub prime lending practices, less-than-quality educational opportunities and inequality in the justice system. Here at The Tribune, we talk about those matters all the time. We know the naked truth, to be sure. In short, CNN, we appreciate the special report, but you’ve joined this program already in progress.
We’d like to see a report titled “What is America going to do about it?”

For instance, Smiley has written two books. “The Convenant with Black America” and “The Convenant in Action.” The first book details steps that America—all of America—can take in order to move beyond talking about what it means to Black in America and toward improving conditions. The second book actually highlights some things African-Americans are doing now to advance the goals outlined in the first book. Well meaning as it might have been, CNN’s series would have better served America and the Black folk in America if it had instead highlighted specific actions that regular people and policy decision makers must take to address the problems Black America faces.

We’ve heard from every expert and pundit on the CNN reports before. As always, they are thoughtful, reflective and insightful. But the truth is that Black America already knows the truth—hard and gritty. And still like the rest of the citizenry, we love this country. We know and abhor its faults, and we challenge them. Mostly, we go about our daily business trying to make our lives—and by extension—our neighborhoods and communities better. Like the rest of America, we shudder at the rising price of gas and at talk of a “slow” economy because we know that when these problems are thrown at America like rocks, we are pummeled with boulders.

Yes, we are Black in America. We know what it means to be so. No, everything is not well, but it is not an extraterrestrial experience. There are problems. So, what are we going to do about it? Because at the end of the CNN series, when no one is talking about it anymore—except us—we will still be Black in America.

Counting cops or counting on them, which is more important?

Like the rest of the city, we were part stunned and part outraged by the incident involving New Orleans Police Department Officer Ashley Terry at the Fan & Tambourine Club in Treme. We want to credit Police Chief Warren Riley for his prompt and appropriate response. Police officers are expected—no required—to protect and serve this city’s residents. And falling short of that requirement cannot be tolerated. Officer Terry was wrong (and arguably insane) to think that it would be OK to use her job as an NOPD officer—not to mention her weapon—to intimidate and bully for no other reason except she thought she could get away with it. Of course, we still wonder just what set her off, and when Officer Terry said that the woman in the car ahead of her didn’t know whom she was messing with—she really was trying to say that she was an NOPD officer and could do anything she wanted without being impugned, then we are terrified, indeed.

We fully expect that she and any other officers who commit similar acts will be appropriately sanctioned. But here at The Tribune, we hope the NOPD will use this incident as an avenue to address a bigger issue.

As much as New Orleans needs police officers on city’s streets, patrolling, deterring and investigating crimes and catching criminals, we need those officers to be well suited and trained for their jobs. It is certainly no secret that police forces, just as the military, can sometimes attract individuals prone to the abuse of power. And that is why these organizations work hard to weed out prospects that would use badges and guns to hurt others, rather than help.

A battery of psychological evaluations, background checks to no end and the occasional gut feeling—whatever it takes to ensure that NOPD is not just putting warm bodies on the street. At any sign—the very first sign—that an individual is not a good fit for the police force, they should be fired—bottom line.

We were lucky with the Ashley Terry incident. It was in broad daylight. There were witnesses, and the victim is not afraid to come forward. Usually bullies—bad cops included—wait until no one is looking to show us who they really are. Perhaps Terry felt comfortable doing what she did in the middle day because for whatever reason she thought it would be acceptable. Maybe she bought into the hype and bad publicity about the NOPD culture. Maybe she really believes police officers can run rampant through our city.

And that is why everything must be done to make certain these menaces to society never step foot into this city’s neighborhoods disguised as one of the good guys.

Unfortunately, the system is all too often measured by numbers. We think the Ashley Terry incident is a perfect example of why quality outweighs quantity every time. We are happy to wait a little longer to get the city’s police force to size that is needed if it means that those officers can be trusted to safeguard New Orleanians—not terrorize them.

A shining example

Temple Sinai has pulled out the welcome mat for members of Greater St. Stephens Church, which was burned in a fire in early July. What a wonderful thing! At a time when many are consumed by what separates us, this Jewish congregation has opened its doors to this largely African-American Christian congregation in the spirit of what brings them together—faith and love. And Greater St. Stephens has accepted Temple Sinai’s offer in the same spirit. We hope that everyone watches and takes a mental note. This is what you do when you see your fellow man in need—help in anyway you can.