Crime

OP-ED: Being Black in America

Published

13 years ago

July 23, 2013

By DeWayne Dickerson

I was talking to my kid on Sunday about the verdict of the George Zimmerman trial. She’s six. She asked me the most thought-provoking question I’d ever heard. “Daddy, why does the United States hate black people?” I don’t know. My ancestors were tortured into erecting this nation with salt in the wounds of their broken backs. The last time being black was universally cool in America was during the Minstrel show era of white people in blackface.

Rational folks talk about how the prosecution sucked. They couldn’t prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he was a psycho killer capable of second-degree murder. Rational folks can kiss my grits. The only truth that came out of this verdict was that, once again, the system declared a young black man’s life worthless. Is there a god, or is God into Rush Limbaugh? I don’t get what’s happening any more. All I know is that the story of February 26, 2012 has somehow managed to penetrate the souls of black folk at our core. We can no longer be the mule and the goat. We can’t break our backs for America… it’s breaking them for us!

Doesn’t matter if it’s family court, a criminal case, or a parking ticket; the Libra scales of America are hella crooked. Self-defense is an inalienable right for NRA, bible-thumping goons, but was a threat to the very fabric of our society when the Black Panthers and Nation of Islam attempted to apply that principle in the corrupt, vicious, and hypocritical court of law.

Trayvon Martin had every right to go off on Zimmerman – who at one point had lost a job as a security officer for having, an aggressive temper. It was beyond overzealous of that dude to stalk, harass, threaten, and shoot the 17-year-old who dreamed of becoming a pilot someday. The boy was aiming too high. Our society can only accept three different types of endangered Negroes: Blackie Buffoon, who can always make ‘em smile; Jiggaboo Jive Turkey, who charms us with the ability to spark catchy slang and house party dance moves; and the-minded Step ‘N’ Fetch, whose fear of Massa’s wrath is greater than his fear of God.

This may sound crazy, but given those standard options, I’m proud Trayvon went out swinging. Was he supposed to call the police instead of striking Zimmerman? Hell no! They would’ve put 40 bullets through that boy faster than you can say “right to remain silent.”

Trials are never about “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” It’s all about what you can prove. How convenient! Of course, the outrageously disproportionate amount of my people in prison on drug offenses, and all of our people on death row, got there because in every single case 100% red-handed proof was submitted! Beyond a reasonable doubt, I’m genetically exposed as another one of those evil-doers, right? Which means the answer to my daughter’s question is that the US hates black people because we’re bad guys, fiends and scary monsters, and Trayvon was growing up to be one of those villains too, right?

The killer ended up being the only living person who witnessed the entire incident. Yeah, the prosecution did suck. He presented contradictory details to authorities during his police interrogation. There was very little evidence of any furious assault by the hands of some lunatic black man-child. He referred to Trayvon as “one of these assholes” and a “punk”. He showed no sign of remorse for taking someone’s life. Despite all that jazz, we’re supposed to walk out this theatre thinking that Zimmerman was just a really dedicated block watch captain.

All but one of the jurors was white. When the prosecution’s star witness, who was on the phone with Trayvon as the incident occurred, she recalled hearing him refer to Zimmerman as a “creepy-ass cracker,” those jurors were offended. They let their ill-conceived notions of whatever the hell, reverse racism is cloud their judgment.

These are only a handful of transmissions from the post-racist society. The same place that encourages people to attend GOP presidential rallies with Obama dolls hanging from nooses. The same place that would rather incarcerate than educate its black youth. The state of the union is shaky at best, and Florida deserves a fat chunk of the blame. I still see dimpled chads in my nightmares.

Two months ago, Marissa Alexander, from Jacksonville, received a 20-year prison sentence for firing warning shots into a wall during an altercation with her husband. You don’t even have to see a picture of the woman, or know anything at all about the case, to know her race.. When you look at it that way, clearly, racism is here to stay.

The verdict of Zimmerman’s case was painfully predictable.

Dickerson has earned a Eli Coppola Memorial Book Award and New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Poetry. The 35-year-old Louisville native has been a social justice teacher, active social commentator, and community organizer for most of his life.

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Activism

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

Published

23 hours ago

May 17, 2026

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.

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Asm. Jackson Bill Requiring Anti-Hate Speech Training for Calif. Public Officials Sent to “Suspense File”

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), would add one hour of anti-hate speech instruction to the sexual harassment prevention training already required for state and local officials. The proposal applies to legislators, constitutional officers, city council members, county supervisors and school board trustees statewide and would take effect in 2028 if approved.

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of the office of Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley).

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

After a hearing on May 6, the Assembly Appropriations Committee ordered Assembly Bill (AB) 1578 to the Suspense File, delaying action on legislation that would require California public officials to complete anti-hate speech training.

“It’s time for us to continue to work on and finally go on the offense when it comes to hate racism and xenophobia to make sure that all people are able to live in the state of California with the dignity and honor that they deserve,” said Jackson, who also chairs the Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate and Xenophobia.

On April 16, the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization voted 16-5 to advance the measure to Appropriations. Jackson has said the bill is part of a broader legislative package informed by findings from the Commission on the State of Hate and aimed at addressing hate in public spaces, workplaces and institutions.

In the California Legislature, a bill is placed on the “Suspense File” when it has a significant fiscal impact on the state budget — generally costing the state $150,000 or more from the General Fund or $50,000 or more from a special fund. Bills sent to suspense are held by the Assembly or Senate Appropriations Committee and reviewed later in a single batch hearing, where lawmakers decide which measures move forward, are amended, or quietly die without a vote.

Jackson said the training would focus on the real-world consequences of inflammatory rhetoric.

Supporters, including the Alameda County Office of Education, say the training would help elected officials better understand how language can perpetuate bias.

“In the current political climate, where discourse can often become polarized and inflammatory, it is more important than ever for elected officials to receive specialized anti-hate speech training,” wrote Lucy Carter, director of policy and governance for the Alameda County Office of Education, in a letter supporting the bill.

Opponents, including the California Family Council, argue the term “hate speech” is too subjective and could suppress political disagreement.

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Advocates Rally at State Capitol to Demand Heat Protections for Incarcerated People; More Funding for DV Survivors

On May 4, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) spoke at the Survivors Speak California Rally at the State Capitol to advocate for AB 2499, which focuses on heat and health protections in state prisons. The three-day event was organized by Californians for Safety and Justice, a project of the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network.

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Crime Survivors Speak at the California State Capitol was a multi-day advocacy event held May 4–6 that called for increased support, services, and funding for crime victims. Organized by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ), the gathering brought together more than 200 survivors and family members to advocate for legislative reforms. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

In July 2024, Adrienne Boulware, a 47-year-old mother and grandmother, died from complications related to extreme heat exhaustion while incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, according to her family.

Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) hopes his legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 2499 — also known as the “Adrienne Act” — will help prevent tragedies like Boulware’s death in California prisons.

“It is no secret that our state prisons have aging infrastructures that have inadequate ventilation systems,” Gipson said. “It should come as no shock that indoor temperatures in these facilities exceed 90 degrees, which means it gets really hot.”

On May 4, Gipson spoke at the Survivors Speak California Rally at the State Capitol to advocate for AB 2499, which focuses on heat and health protections in state prisons. The three-day event was organized by Californians for Safety and Justice, a project of the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network.

Boulware’s family attended the rally in support of the measure, which would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish a pilot program to address extreme heat by July 1, 2027, in at least three prisons across different climate zones.

Boulware’s daughter, Michela Nelson, said her mother frequently complained about heatwaves during the summer months. CDCR stated that Boulware’s death — she was also known as “Twin” — appeared to be related to pre-existing medical conditions rather than extreme heat.

“My mother was not just a mother of four and grandmother of 12. She was a mother to many inside and outside of the prison,” said Nelson, the eldest of Boulware’s children. “My mother didn’t die because she was sentenced to death. She died because she was left in conditions no human being should ever endure.”

AB 2499 would formally create the Climate Justice in Prisons Emergency Response Act. The legislation would require CDCR to develop a long-term plan to install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and shade structures in existing facilities.

The Survivors Speak California Rally coincided with other advocacy events at the Capitol supporting survivors of violent crime.

On May 5, Jazz LedBetter and other advocates rallied nearby to urge lawmakers to include $100 million in the state budget for domestic violence and sexual assault services.

Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) served as keynote speakers. Both lawmakers have publicly shared their own experiences as survivors of assault.

LedBetter, a survivor of human trafficking, is also an author, activist, and artist who uses her experiences to advocate for human trafficking prevention. She shares her story of survival, addiction, and recovery in her self-published book, “Harlot Heart: Tributes To Triumph.”

“Take a moment and think about someone finally reaching out for help, and there’s no one here to answer,” LedBetter said during her presentation on the east lawn of the Capitol.

Advocates said the funding is needed to help close a gap caused by a sharp decline in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.

“I am here because I am proof of what happens when someone gets support. Don’t let this funding (shortfall) be the reason someone doesn’t make it out,” LedBetter said. “The difference between survival and unfortunately common sad stories is whether or not someone is there (to help) when it matters the most.”