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'When They See Us:' Central Park Five vs. Scottsboro Boys

SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER — History is like a pendulum.  It swings back and forth between narratives and many times those narratives swing back around. ​No other metaphor rings true than looking at African American history. Then and now, experiences are reborn and relived through perpetual rhetoric in America. From Emmitt Till to Trayvon Martin- both teenage Black boys, both visiting relatives when killed, both posthumously villainized and sparked a movement. 

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By Fernando Rover Jr.

History is like a pendulum.  It swings back and forth between narratives and many times those narratives swing back around.

​No other metaphor rings true than looking at African American history. Then and now, experiences are reborn and relived through perpetual rhetoric in America. From Emmitt Till to Trayvon Martin- both teenage Black boys, both visiting relatives when killed, both posthumously villainized and sparked a movement.

Despite their experiences being fifty years apart, how their deaths left Black America has not changed.

That is what makes discussing Central Park Five so important and so painful.

On May 31st Academy Award nominated director Ava DuVernay released her critically acclaimed miniseries When They See Us. The multi-part miniseries tracks the story of the five young Black boys in New York who were accused of gang raping a white woman jogging through Central Park. From the first accusation, to imprisonment, to release, and finally, acquittal, DuVernay assures that we witness the psychological impact this had on these boys beyond social and cultural persecution.

Much of the reception surrounding When They See Us has been strong and controversial. Many having to take breaks when viewing the series and many news outlets voicing their support of the avant-garde director taking on such difficult subject matter. The 46-year-old California native is no stranger to such subject matter, having created films on topics such as the March on Selma and the 13th Amendment and Mass Incarceration.

Upon viewing and learning about Central Park Five, it becomes necessary to revisit the story of the Scottsboro Boys.

In 1931, nine African American boys ranging from ages 13 to 20 were falsely accused of raping two white women on a train. No other evidence, other than the women’s testimony, was used to show these Black boys were guilty of such a heinous crime. Beyond the crime and trial, the Scottsboro Boys were stripped of their humanity and were not given a fair trial, despite being American citizens.

The similarities between Scottsboro Boys and Central Park Five is not one of coincidence. It is one of African American experiences in a perpetual context. Much conversations surrounding the miniseries have been about how so many years later, after the impact of being falsely accused had on the five boys, this story is still relevant? What does this say about the Scottsboro Boys case in which many of them were given 75-99 years in prison and dying before receiving any recognition?

One thing that still stands. History, like a pendulum, swings back and forth between narratives. Which direction will the narrative swing next?

This article originally appeared in the San Antonio Observer.

By Fernando Rover Jr.

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Activism

Leading with Lawmaking: Six Questions for the California Legislative Black Caucus

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CLBC members: (Top row Left to Right) Asm. Reggie Jones Sawyer, Sr., Asm. Tina McKinnor, Asm. Chris Holden, Asm. Dr. Akilah Weber.  Second row: Sen. Steven Bradford Asm. Dr. Cory Jackson, Asm. Mike Gipson, Asm. Kevin McCarty. Third row: Asm. Mia Bonta, Asm. Isaac Bryan, Asm. Lori Wilson and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.
CLBC members: (Top row Left to Right) Asm. Reggie Jones Sawyer, Sr., Asm. Tina McKinnor, Asm. Chris Holden, Asm. Dr. Akilah Weber.  Second row: Sen. Steven Bradford Asm. Dr. Cory Jackson, Asm. Mike Gipson, Asm. Kevin McCarty. Third row: Asm. Mia Bonta, Asm. Isaac Bryan, Asm. Lori Wilson and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) was established in 1967 when African American members of the California Legislature, under the leadership of former State Sen. Mervyn Dymally, came together to address issues faced by Black Californians.

The origins of the CLBC date back to 1918 when Frederick M. Roberts was elected to the California State Assembly. Roberts was the first African American to serve in the California State Legislature. In those early years, legislative efforts focused on abolishing laws and policies that restricted African Americans from fully exercising their civil, social and political rights.

During the 1960s, members believed that a caucus representing concerns of the African American community would provide political influence and visibility far beyond their numbers.

Today, the CLBC consists of 12 members.

During the 2024 legislative session, the CLBC hopes to secure funding for critical programs and organizations working to improve the lives of Black Californians.

California Black Media spoke with Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the CLBC, about the organization’s priorities, challenges and plans for the next legislative session.

What does your organization do to improve the lives of Black people in California?

The 12 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus collaboratively develop and advocate for policies addressing economic justice, education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and other issues impacting Black Californians. In 2024, the Caucus is prioritizing a reparations legislative package in response to the historic two-year Reparations study and report.

What was your greatest success over the course of the last year?

In 2023, the Caucus achieved legislative success by securing significant investments for institutions and programs supporting Black lives and advancing justice totaling more than $320 million dollars. Additionally, we introduced 10 legislative priorities, with three chartered into law.

Our nonprofit arm raised close to $3 million, funding our signature events and programs, like our annual Frederick Roberts college scholarship program, which supported 150 students this year with $3,500 awards, and our annual African American Leaders for Tomorrow program at California State Dominguez Hills.

In your view, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

Housing, education, public safety and equity across the board remain the most significant challenges.

What was your organization’s biggest challenge?

Despite our best efforts to pool resources and collaborate with strategic partners, the ongoing challenge is the insufficient funding to address the breadth of issues faced by Black communities.

Does your organization support or plan to get involved in the push for reparations in California?

Absolutely. We are actively preparing for the 2024 legislative fight for reparations. Two of our caucus’s seasoned legislators, Sen. Bradford and Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, served on the reparations task force. From the two-year study, we have created a framework to achieve legislative and budget wins as well as to work collaboratively with strategic partners up and down the state.

How can more Californians of all backgrounds get involved in the work you’re doing?

We encourage all Californians to support Black legislators and join the movement to advocate for a better California for all, ensuring fair, just and equitable representation. Participation is crucial for creating positive and transformational change in California.

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Activism

Prioritizing Equity and Accountability: Six Questions for the African American Community Empowerment Council

California Black Media spoke with Michael Carter, Chief Consultant at the AACEC, about the organization’s successes, challenges and the impact of its work on California’s Black community.

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Photo courtesy California Black Media.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Caucus

The African American Community Empowerment Council of California (AACEC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring government accountability in enhancing the participation of California’s African American communities in the state’s prosperity.

A basic tenet of the council is that California’s economic power can only be maintained by acknowledging what makes California strong: the strength of its diversity and the state’s commitment to inclusion.

California Black Media spoke with Michael Carter, Chief Consultant at the AACEC, about the organization’s successes, challenges and the impact of its work on California’s Black community.

What does your organization do to improve the lives of Black people in California? 

We have adopted pillars focused on economic development, educational improvement, judicial reform, homelessness — issues that plague our community.

Black Californians make up the largest segment of the state’s homeless population. You have a lot of efforts to address the problem, but the question is: how much of that is getting to our community and improving the lives of Black folks?

So, for us, the bottom line is how do we help the African American community? We are not only interested in African Americans, but that is our focus.

What was your greatest success over the course of the last year? 

The Council has made a concerted effort to hold meetings with the Governor and his appointment secretaries to increase judicial appointees throughout the state and within State government to achieve equity in representation. The results of these efforts have been fruitful so far.

We are also extremely proud of Pastor Amos Brown, Co-Chair of the AACEC and Co-Chair of the state reparations task force, and the recently published report on reparations.

In your view, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face? 

Our community could be better informed on developments and opportunities. We need to find out strategies on how to do that. Black-on-Black crime has had a devastating effect on our communities and not only the issue of safety, but there’s the impact on businesses in the communities as well as housing prices.

What was your organization’s biggest challenge? 

The difficulties are getting results. We recognize that the state’s budget is $240 billion annually for the general fund. Working to make sure the African American communities are benefitting from state programs is our constant and biggest challenge.

Does your organization support or plan to get involved in the push for reparations in California?

Our focus is to make the task force’s reparations recommendations a reality and create solutions for what essentially is a generational event. We are ready to unify around solutions for reparations and to see where that will take us.

How can more Californians of all backgrounds get involved in the work you’re doing?

We have monthly meetings that are open, and our registry is approximately 100 members. They are open forums. You can see first-hand what occurs with our membership. To get involved, sign up online at AACEC-Cal.org. 

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Activism

OPINION: How to Have a Happy New Year in 2024

Just before the Christmas holiday, Donald Trump was on the campaign trail in Iowa denouncing immigrants. “They’re ruining our country. And it’s true, they are destroying the blood of our country,” he said. Trump, the phlebotomist, was talking about the southern border, but the arrivals aren’t just from Mexico, or Central and South America. Increasingly, the border crossers have been Asian, particularly from China and India. He’s talking about all of us “others.”

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Photo: iStock photo image.
Photo: iStock photo image.

By Emil Guillermo

This holiday season, I extend to you the gift of history.

But, first, consider the stark contrast in the recent immigration-speak between the two candidates who will more than likely be contesting for the U.S presidency in 2024: President Joseph R. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.

There’s Biden. Then, there’s that other guy, the twice impeached, quadruple-indicted, former president who seems intent on driving the U.S. into full-speed reverse mode.

That would be the desire of Donald Trump, who as Liz Cheney says, has America sleepwalking into dictatorship.

Don’t think it can’t happen. Seventy percent of Republicans say, despite Trump’s criminality, they would rather see him return to the White House, according to a recent New York Times/Sienna College poll.

Good for them, bad for America.

There’s still enough time to reverse the reversal before Trump actually debases American democracy.

TRUMP’S VIEW ON IMMIGRANTS

Just before the Christmas holiday, Donald Trump was on the campaign trail in Iowa, denouncing immigrants. “They’re ruining our country. And it’s true, they are destroying the blood of our country,” he said.

Trump, the phlebotomist, was talking about the southern border, but the arrivals aren’t just from Mexico, or Central and South America. Increasingly, the border crossers have been Asian, particularly from China and India.

He’s talking about all of us “others.”

Compare Trump’s hate speech with the public statement Biden made on Dec. 17.

That day, President Biden honored Chinese immigrants by remembering the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first and only major law that barred a specific national group from immigrating to the U.S.

Even when the Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943, some restrictions remained. Chinese may not have faced wholesale exclusion, but Chinese immigration was limited to just over 100 people a year. The racist quota was in place until the Hart-Cellar Act gave the U.S. the immigration reform needed in 1965.

“The Act, along with racism and xenophobia in other parts of American life, was part of the anti-Chinese “Driving Out” era which included the Rock Springs and Hells Canyon Massacre,” Biden added.

In Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1882, at least 28 Chinese miners were killed and 15 injured by angry White miners who feared the Chinese were taking their jobs. Rioters then went on to burn down 80 homes in Rock Springs’ Chinatown.

Five years later in 1887, Oregon’s Hells Canyon Massacre, also known as the Snake River Massacre, saw 30 Chinese laborers gunned down by a gang of White horse thieves.

No one was ever held to account.

President Biden cared enough about that history when he remembered the anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

“Today, there are those who still demonize immigrants and fan the flames of intolerance,” Biden said in his statement. “It’s wrong. I ran for President to restore the soul of America. To bring people together and make sure we give hate no safe harbor.”

You want a Happy New Year? Let’s put the present in an historical context and keep moving forward, with undeniable clarity — together.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a micro-talk show on YouTube.

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