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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 2014)
December 17, 2014 flnrtlanò ©bserucr Page 7 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the Portland Observer. W? welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. Racial Profiling: Fruit from a Poison Tree Community fabric won’t repair itself by R ep . L ew F rederick As e v e n ts have u n fo ld ed o v e r the p a st w ee k s, I ’ve struggled to put together the right words, because on some level my emotions are indescribable. I want to yell, loud, over and over. Then I am just sad. And then I realize that I want fervently not to inflame or incite. Then it starts all over again. I know too well that it’s safer to be quiet while such emotions rage. But being quiet would be wrong. E very person o f co lo r in America knows profiling. That is the context here. We know it. It is a reality that we walk out the door into every day, the first thought at the beginning of any encounter with law enforcement: “Am I going to die today?” It’s a reality that becomes a special terror when we become par ents, and our children go out into the same reality. No matter what happened on that street in Ferguson, or that sidewalk on Staten Is land, if you tell me that it w asn’t the fruit of the poison tree of profiling, I’m going to have to ask you to prove it. That might have been sorted out in trials, with the evidence for all to see. But that door was closed, those opportunities lost. How many times must this happen? Every time profiling is studied, it is confirm ed, and people like me think, “Well I could have told you that.” And yet, every case follows the same predictable trajectoiy, as if it doesn’t matter that the story has been repeated countless times. “Protect and Serve.” I yearn for a world in which we can all believe it, a world in which the tools of law enforcement are the tools of peacekeeping, and a world in which all of us can look to the uniform and badge for protection. I have to believe it’s possible. But it’s not our world now. It’s not our country now. Folks, it’snot our city now. What are we going to do about it? And “we” doesn’t just mean people of color. It doesn’t just mean civic leaders. It doesn’t just mean the Portland Police Bureau. It doesn’t just mean white people either. It means all people of conscience. We need each other, now and always. Our pain and our grief at a time like this may not be the same pain and grief, but every person of conscience feels it. There are police officers of con science. They are victims, too. will not repair itself. We either The fact is that when the fabric weave trust and respect or we of our American community is rip them apart. There is no neu tom or frayed, we are all in tral position. danger, and no arsenal or fortifi I have to believe we are cation will protect us when the better than this. I believe that danger comes from within. the arc of the m oral universe Abiding and obvious respect bends tow ard justice. I ’m frus for all hum an lives m ust be a trated with how long the arch fundam ental qualification for is, and along with our P resi the jo b of police officer. The dent, I believe that, “It bends mere suspicion that the tools because each o f us in our own o f law enforcem ent are per way puts our hand on that arc ceived or deployed as instru and we bend it in the direction ments of domination rather than o f ju stic e ....” These conditions peacekeeping and protection did not fall out o f the sky. They frays that fabric. Nothing about are the re su lt o f d ecisio n s th ese g rand ju ry p ro cesses made by hum an beings. And quelled that suspicion; in fact hum an beings, people of con these failures just-m agnify all science, can decide to change the failures that have com e them. The question isn ’t, “Can before. Every additional case it be done?” The question is, m akes it harder to evaluate the “Are we up to it?” next as anything but another Rep. Lew Frederick repre confirm ation of system ic op sents north and northeast Port pression. land in the Oregon Legisla The fabric of our community ture Racial Bias Diminishes Optimism of Latinos Growing less hopeful about future 1 by B arbara F errer M igration of L atin o fa m ilie s to America is an inspiring story of men, women and children leaving their native countries, often searching for better opportunities and safety for their families. Yet, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's recent poll of Latino families also reveals that a different narrative devel ops - frustration from racism and discrimination is wearing down Latinos over time in the United States. The newest Latino immigrants are brimming with hope, as they pursue opportunities to better educate their children, improve personal finances and find af fordable housing. Meanwhile, those and social services, but as they assimilate into American society, they enjoy the expected immigrant who have travelled a over time. and invited to fully participate teachers about academic per similar path - Latinos with gen For instance, while Latinos and engage in our society, and in formance, 74 percent had meet erations o f family roots in the respect police and cite a need making it a better society. ings with a counselor or prin U.S., as well as those with more for law enforcement, they are Here is a stunning example of ciple, 71 percent attended events education and higher incomes - deeply concerned about police how racism, or just the perception and 63 percent volunteered for are decidedly more sceptical and brutality - 18 percent said they of bias, plays out: asked how they class projects. disappointed. know a Latino friend or relative would proceed if facing difficult Still, their participation would Clearly, a significant gap ex abused by police. Moreover, an financial problems, 47 percent of increase and be broader if the ists between the life experiences astonishing 68 percent fear that Latinos earning between $40,000 schools did more to welcome of Latinos and those of many police will use excessive force and $75,000ayear said they could parents. Survey respondents other immigrants. Historically, against Latinos, and 37 percent not depend on a loan from a bank noted that m ore tran slato rs immigrants arrive on American said law enforcement officers or credit union, while 38 percent should be available, especially shores and the prospects for their treat Hispanics unfairly. But ra earning more than $75,000 also for school board meetings, PTA life outcomes vastly improve. cial bias is not limited to law had no confidence they could turn meetings and other policy-set They may harbor initial fears enforcement. Latinos also fear to this traditional means of finan ting sessions. All parents must and anxiety about finding jobs, they may face discrimination in cial help. feel welcomed in the schools housing experience of having the workplace and virtually any Energized by the hope and their children attend. their quality of life improve for place they may go in public, such promise of this nation, Latinos Our poll has identified the role each generation. as stores and restaurants. are coming to the U.S. wanting discrimination plays in diminish But that narrative is reserved For America to progress, this to be vibrant members of their ing optimism and opportunities for mostly white immigrants. must change. How can a nation new communities. for many Latinos. In reality, when For people o f color, and as the be perceived as just and fair, Furthermore, Latinos clearly one group is held back, it hurts all survey demonstrated, especially when it's fastest growing demo care about their children's fu of us; we need everyone's best for Latinos, there is a far, far graphic lives in such fear? ture. The vast majority of Latino effort to build a secure future. different reality. The longer As a nation, our first step parents are attending parent- As we learn from each other, Latinos are in the U.S., they should be to abandon talk of the teacher conferences and school we recognize that our strength is grow less and less hopeful about mythical "colorblind society" and functions, as well as volunteer our diversity. Addressing dis their opportunities in this coun instead focus on understanding ing at the schools and working criminatory practices and poli try. the diversity rooted in our com with administrators and teach cies is paving the way for a O ur poll discloses that as munities and the strength that ers. For Latino parents of pre-K better United States of America. Latinos face discrimination at can be drawn from these differ through second grade students, Barbara Ferrer is c h ie f individual and institutional levels, ent cultures. Immigrants should 89 percent attended teacher con strategy officer fo r the W.K. their fears and anxieties increase feel respected in this country ferences, 77 percent contacted Kellogg Foundation.
