Publications
The CARES Act Risks Becoming a Caste Act
Black people are over three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than other racial groups. They are more likely to contract the virus, less likely to receive adequate healthcare related to the virus, and more likely to die from the virus. Yet, the inequitable ramifications of COVID-19 extend well beyond health care. COVID-19 impacts employment, small businesses, and voting. The most vulnerable and marginalized among us, including the elderly and incarcerated, have received a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic.
March Madness and college basketball’s racial bias problem
The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most-viewed sporting events in the United States. In 2019, nearly 20 million viewers watched the championship game, and each tournament game (67 total) averaged about 10 million viewers. Over 17 million people completed a March Madness tournament bracket for the 68-team tournament. Among youth, basketball is one of the most-played and most racially diverse sports. The NBA does well too. In fact, a racial breakdown shows that the NBA is the most racially diverse major U.S. sport.
Bad apples come from rotten trees in policing
In policing, people always talk about “bad apples.” Well, bad apples come from rotten trees—law enforcement agencies imbued with structural racism. Structural changes are desperately needed in law enforcement. I think they start with restructuring civilian payouts for police misconduct.
The killing of Ahmaud Arbery highlights the danger of jogging while black
Unsteady cellphone footage follows a jogger – an apparently young, black man – as he approaches and attempts to run around a white pickup truck parked in the middle of a suburban road. Moments later he lies dead on the ground.
MY ARTICLES
Five things John Lewis taught us about getting in “good trouble”
Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” John Lewis made this statement on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 1, 2020 commemorating the tragic events of Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday occurred on March 7, 1965 as peaceful protesters were beaten by law enforcement officers for crossing the bridge.
Did the 1994 crime bill cause mass incarceration?
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, commonly known as the crime bill, was sponsored by Joe Biden 26 years ago. It is often blamed for extending tough-on-crime policies that overly criminalized Black Americans. Is this narrative warranted? The issue is complicated, but we’ll do our best to make some sense of it.
Why police department insurances are the key to progress on police reform
Democrats and Republicans are at a stalemate on police reform. On June 24, 2020 the Republican JUSTICE Act led by Tim Scott failed to pass in the Senate. On June 25, 2020, the House of Representatives passed The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
Why Juneteenth is a rallying cry for reparations
They’re lucky black people are looking for equality and not revenge.” Kimberly Jones made this statement following the killing of George Floyd. Lebron James echoed her sentiments stating, “Kimberly I’m here for you!!!! And more importantly I hear you and will make change for US!! I will not stop until I see it.”