As I’ve been posting more on social media about race in America, I’ve had people reach out asking “what do I do next? How do we fix a problem so big?” I get it! It is often overwhelming, frustrating and feels too big to attack. But change can happen! One way is for policy change and keeping people accountable.
Here’s a starting list. I encourage you to look them up, see where your cities/counties/states line up, do your own research, and hold you political leaders accountable. Please remember this list is by no means exhaustive. There’s a lot of work to be done.
POLICY CHANGE
Police Accountability and Reform
- Look up what policies your city has enacted to help decrease police violence. You can go here to read more about policies that help decrease police violence and where your city stands. Start a conversation with your city leaders about these policies.
- Require Implicit Bias Training for officers
- Instate body cameras
- Public reporting that provides an annual report, including a disparity index. Having records and tracking things like vehicles stops and arrests, along with demographic information helps to reveal disparities and can hopefully help departments address the disparities. Here’s a valuable thread to read up more.
Criminal Justice Reform
There are incredible organizations out there doing this work. Equal Justice Initiative is one of my favorites. Learn more here.
- End putting children in adult prisons: The U.S. is the only country in the world where kids as young as 13 have been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
- Support organizations who overturn wrongful convictions
- Abolish private prisons: We should have a prison system that is rehabilitative and restorative, not one that profits off of mass incarceration.
- End the Death Penalty: To quote Bryan Stevenson, “The question we need to ask about the death penalty in America is not whether someone deserves to die for a crime. The question is whether we deserve to kill.” This is also tied to wrongful convictions.
VOTING
Don’t just vote in the presidential elections, but vote locally. Mayors, school board members, district attorneys, etc are all major role players in what gets passed (from police accountability to programs helping lower income kids in school). Do the research of where your candidate stands on these issues.
EDUCATION
Continue on your personal journeys. Join groups like Be the Bridge (and read the book!). Read books like Just Mercy. If you are white, see the ways you’ve benefited from white privilege, uncover implicit bias, and find ways to use your privilege to help.
The Musings of Jamie 