The Dred Scott Decision
Did you know that our Supreme Court once ruled that people of African ancestry are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word citizens in the Constitution and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States?
Low Literacy Rates and Crime
85% of all juveniles who interact with the juvenile court system are functionally low literate. Did you know that not only are low literacy rates associated with higher rates of crime, but they also make it difficult for individuals to break the cycle of poverty and dependence on welfare?
The War On Drugs: A Racist & Ineffective Approach
Not only did the war on drugs disproportionately affect the African American community, it also turned out to be a rather ineffective approach to combating drug use. Despite stricter laws and increased incarceration rates down through the years, drug use has not decreased in the United States.
Black Wall Street (Tulsa, Oklahoma Massacre)
Black Wall Street was located in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This area was the home to over 100,000 African Americans who had previously been slaves. These people came to Greenwood looking for a new life and they built this community from the ground up.
Deputy U.S. Marshall Bass Reeves
I’d like to introduce you to the story of Bass Reeves. I’m not saying that the Lone Ranger was inspired by his story, but I am telling you that out of all of the rangers operating to the West of the Mississippi, Bass Reeves was the baddest of them all.
What Does Defund the Police Mean?
The question I want to dive into for this week is a very serious question as it has become a VERY hot topic that is driving everything from the creation of laws to the running platforms of political parties. That question is simply “What does defund the police really mean?”
The Miseducation of White Privilege
When I go in to teach some of my Cross-Cultural Literacy Sessions, I’ve found that there are some words and phrases that I need to be pretty careful with using, or I literally risk losing the ear & heart of many of the white people that I am trying to help navigate this world of race & culture.
Why Do Black People Make George Floyd Into A Hero?
When I think of a hero, I think of someone who has an ability, or power, or something life-saving that I wish I could do, or be like. A hero is someone that I would want to pattern myself after, and I don’t know many people that are running around saying, “I want to be like George Floyd.”
Were Race Relations Better 15 Years Ago?
I was in conversation with a white guy and he made a statement in which he said he “believes race relations were actually better 10 to 15 years ago.” So here’s the question: “Were race relations actually better 10 to 15 years ago?”
2 Keys to Reaching People
I want to talk to you about the two things that I believe are very important keys to working in inner-city environments and have made all the difference in the world for me personally when it has come to reaching people. These two things would be consistency and relationship.