Guilty until proven innocent?

"When you pass laws that make it easier to imprison people in cases where the state doesn't have enough evidence to prove the crime everyone knows they're actually prosecuting, you undermine the integrity of the justice system. The "flaw" that led to the Casey Anthony verdict is pretty straightforward: The state failed to prove its case. And the government must prove its case, even when all of America is 100 percent certain of the defendant's guilt, because we want to be sure the state will always also have to prove its case when we aren't so certain..." -Radley Balko: Why 'Caylee's Law' Is a Bad Idea.

So many of my friends and family have had opinions about the justice system falling about as a result of the Casey Anthony acquittal in the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony last week.

I didn't follow the trial and don't care about the woman. I'm sad that a child is dead, but there are thousands of missing children who don't receive any attention by Nancy Grace and ABC News.

But the only thing from the trial that interest me is this debate about guilt and what that really means. For many Black Americans, the idea of being innocent until proven guilty as our American justice system pronouces, isn't a reality. Each year, hundreds of men are incarcerated and convicted with faulty evidence and sometimes biased juries. In many cases, a lack of evidence doesn't matter in convicting someone. And while many Blacks are afforded all of the rights of the American justice system due to bias, it is amazing to see the justice system in a sense do what its supposed to do: make the government prove a person's guilt rather than unilaterally impose it.

If you ever need a reason as to why our government is required to prove that a person is guilty, read up on the case of Cory Maye in Prentiss, Mississippi.

Dolla - Role Model

Rapper Dolla’s killer was recently acquitted of murder charges. I was not a fan of his music, and I thought that he would fade into "one hit wonder' oblivion like many of the other artist that used the T-Pain autotune chorus in 2008. I recently saw a post on 2dopeboys that featured an unrelased song that DJ Shabazz (Dolla’s friend/DJ) decided to release that goes against the negative lyrics that Deputy District Attorney Bobby Grace says the jury may have been influenced by in their decision.

I think that we become to engulfed in the idea that rap music is 100% reality that we forget that much of it is hyperbole and that it has become a business. Many of the men and women who are rappers and depict this hyper masculine lifestyle AREN'T INVOLVED IN MANY OF THE STORIES THEY DEPICT. Its the same argument we heard when rappers Tupac Shakur and Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." died. This same argument of "well their music was violent, maybe they deserve negative treatment" is ludicrous and negates artistic freedom as well as the personal protections that are supposedly granted to all citizens. I think that regardless of where you stand on the "life imitating art/art imitating life" debate, you can agree that those who are murdered deserve to have their killers brought to justice regardless of what their profession, beliefs, or background may be. To suggest that Dolla's music (or even appearance, because I've met college graduates with multiple tattoos) makes his murder acceptable or  expected is saddening and shows that their is a double standard for the lives of Black men in America.

It's a Secret Society, all we ask is trust?(Obligatory Michigauma post)

I have a problem with elitism. Not because I don't understand or share in many of the privileges that are associated with being elite in a particular sphere, but mainly because the idea that something that I have or do doesn't make me inherently better. I can't reconcile that just because I graduated from a good school, have a good job, in a fraternity, club or I live in a different neighborhood that I'm better than you or deserve to be treated better or that you deserve to be treated worse because you're not apart of those thing. I'm from the 'hood. I went to both the worst high school and the best high school in Detroit in 4 years. My parents often worked 2 jobs on top of going back to school. Not only did I have legal problems in one of the most affluent college communities in America, but I've seen the dramatic effects the law when race is interwoven. Anything can happen to you and everything can be taken away. Nothing is guaranteed. That idea of entitlement is the basis of ALL the oppressions that we see in the world. Again: while I am the benefactor of few privileges in our society, it is important that we do recognize these and work to eliminate the oppression and controls that are based around these.

Which, in a round about way, brings me to the Order of Elites (Angell) at the University of Michigan. Everyone will argue that their problem with members of the community of color is centered upon their racist, homophobic, and sexist history and their minimization of this past (minimizing an abuse or disrespect is almost as powerful as the abuse/disrespect itself). But I think in addition to these deficiencies of the organization, its important that we don't buy into the idea that because we've made it we can ignore a history or participate in an institution that continues to be dysfunctional. How can you stand for change, when you participate in destructive behavior or sit on the sideline and watch? I believe people can change, but if you have participated in destructive behavior before in life how can you change or learn from that behavior without accepting its previous faults and working to change its future (in perception and in the lives of others)?

Black males and Black leaders being apart of Secret Societies and being social justice oriented are diametrically opposed. I don't think that it's the equivalent of someone being a criminal or soulless as some people have put out there, but I do think its a problem. I do believe that if you make a mistake, you have to fix it or take the steps to change (and learn from it). Step out on the integrity you possess. I do think that for the people that are in this organization for 2010 (and I'm speaking as a former President of an organization affected), action has to be taken, either by the person whose in this organization to make the steps in changing the perceived and actual behaviors of the org (by that I mean, be transparent and use this so called prestige to force the hand of those involved) or if you can't do that, then accept the consequences of those attempting to rectify this situation.

Lastly, I care alot about HEADS as a student organization and the gentlemen who was inducted into Pride 2011. HEADS and this gentlemen specifically have lifted me up in my darkest hours and helped make my time at UofM some of my brightest days. I realize that I am biased in some of the thought processes that I've had during this breaking news, but I do believe that we can't being to fix these huge social problems of oppression and marginalization by ignoring them nor can we fix it by tearing down members of the community who've made huge mistakes.

Welcome To The Future - Reevaluating myself for a new year

Many of you are waking up from your drunken stupor or watching the Oregon/Ohio State game on ABC. Welcome to a new decade, a new year, and hopefully a renewal of a new you.

2009 was perhaps the hardest and most disappointing year of my life, but I am focused on making 2010 (twenty ten) a renewal of my life, principles, values, and goals. Resolutions are not meant for just this time of the year, which is why I never do them, but I am convince that if today is the first day of the rest of my life, then I want to start now.

In six days, I will be 23 and I want this 23 year of my life to be the best year of my life. So I've thought of a few things I can do to help make it that.

1) Be Direct and upfront on everything.
Not saying what you mean or what you want at first is the worst mistake I've made in my life. It also pushes you needs to the backburner for those of everyone else. If you want to date someone, say that. If you want a job, say that. If you don't want corned beef for dinner, then say that. Let you're opinions and positions be heard without being overbearing.

2) Finish what I start.
This has a deeper meaning to me because this year I will complete two things that have haunted me. But in the grander philosophical scheme, it means that whatever I start and whatever I choose to do it must be done. I slacked on gaining those 10 lbs in Oct, so I have to hit the gym asap. Quiting will no longer be in the vocab.

3) Be wavy.
For the first time since Sophomore year, my hair is wavy. Colloquially, it also means being top-notch. I've never been a slouch with clothing, but this year I will not slack on personal appearance or articulation. You have to represent yourself the way you want to be seen.

4)Love thy neighbor & pray for thy enemy
I can't harbor the ill feelings and anger that could be my downfall. I will love unconditionally and live life carefree as I did before. I'll be conscious of who's in the circle and surroundings but I'll treat everyone as I expect to be treated and loved. I'll also hope for the best for even you that may dislike me. I can't do anything to change you mind about me, so why not hope that you live life as best as you can.

5)Ball
I have to save more money. I'll take advantage of that 401k offer, add a CD, stocks and other goodies and also clear up some of this debt (oddly I have a very small amount of debt like under $2000 but it still bothers me.) But you can't be a baller without giving back. Tidthe and doing my community work is also apart of the grand scheme in being the financiall/spiritually sound person I need to be.

What are you Resolutions?

Oh its time for the Stop The Violence Chants....

For days I've avoided watching the Derrion Albert video like it was the plague. I couldn't bare to watch this young man be killed on a medium so trivial and insensitive as Youtube. For days, I thought that watching this video could do me no good, when I've knowingly seen people shot at and other atrocities within my own community. I didn't want to watch another young man, so full of potential and full of precious life, be snuffed out like a flame. But finally I submitted to the trend and watched the video.

This week in the media and within our own personal circles, those who are asking and pleading to "stop the violence" are apart of a trend of silent acquiescence using this terrible and tragic moment as a chance to minimize and offset their guilt for doing nothing ever to actually stop the violence. Why does it take Derrion Albert's life to realize that Black on Black male violence in America is a problem? Why is it that we're still asking a question that was posed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other Black scholars and thinkers years ago? Does it take handheld videos of each death to actually make an impact?

My overall problem is not that people are outraged; they should be. My problem isn't even the fact that celebrities, media, and everyone else are calling for an end to the death and destruction that we see in our inner cities. My biggest problem is that I am worried that his death and the call for an end to inner city gang violence is a trend, which will end once this story goes away. Periodically, the media fires us up with specific cases of murder in our poorest communities often perpetrated by other young & impoverished men (be they Black, Latino or the wave of Asian gangs). But what each of us fail to conceptualize is the fact that with these singular documentations of lives cut short are THOUSANDS of other deaths that the media and we ourselves ignore. Everywhere were there is a community of poor Black, Latino, or Asian young men, there are violent deaths caused by gangs and present grieving communities asking "Why was this vibrant life cut so short?" This summer in Ypsilanti, another young man, someone I actually met, was killed for trivial reasons. It is happening right next to you and it is happening at a rate far greater than what young black males die of natural causes.

This does not mean to mitigate or trivilize the death of Derrion Albert, but I hope that with your new found outrage, you aren't trivilizing his death either.

Actually go forth with that outrage instead of use it for a PR stunt. Challenge someone's thinking in regards to the value of life. Take young man aside and mentor him as to believing in themselves and striving for more than what their surroundings present. Yes, racism and economic discrimination, and horrible schools in minority areas are real life threats too and they are partly to blame for these deaths. But if we stand back and do nothing with our youth and allow them to kill eachother, then we are also to blame.

The Failure of Black Orgs and Black Events

Take a look at a note one of my friends, Jene wrote on Facebook.

This is something that A LOT of organizations are feeling. You can argue that its this post- Prop 2 environment where people feel disconnected to the community or you can argue that in a Recession era, people are more focused on what they can do for themselves. I don't believe either argument. We simply as a collective of campus leaders aren't investing the time in cultivating the next gen of student leaders. Its not our faults. But there is more that we can do ourselves.

Probably the most difficult thing about this is that in cases where the information is actually useful, you still won't get a turnout. Its like the old saying "you can lead a horse to water but can't make them drink". We'll at Michigan it seems you can't even lead people to the water for themselves. One of the things I think the next group of campus leaders will absolutely need to do to communicate its message to the incoming class as well as the '12 is create new medium for advertisement and interpersonal connection. Quite frankly, Facebook and Emails are played out. Maybe we should return to the methods of personal flyers and phone calls reminding people to come out to an event.

So do we need to take on the role of being "Our Brothers/Sisters keepers"? Yeah...

Quite frankly...we are spread to thin.

There is something exciting about Festifall as a sophomore or freshman when you see all that you have to choose from. You put your name on a ton of email lists only to find that as your college career progresses, you just can't do it all.

Now there are those of us who let our apathy, concerns for our own orgs, or perhaps ill feelings keep us from campus events even when we have time to go, but the honest to goodness truth is that there is just too much going on. We are all selfish, don't support each other, and there simply are not enough people to go around and continue like we do. The more and more things happen the more and more people cannot seems to have a large crowd for events they say "actually matter". I'm just wondering at what point do we stop pubbing so hard and having ten events on the same day and say enough is enough. Do we really dislike each other so damn much we can't figure out how to do this? Why do we consistently put on the same event ten different ways instead of just doing it together? Why do we hold events when we KNOW another one is going on and then just try and out pub people? Why in the hell can we make to events that don't benefit our intellect, spirituality, academic well being, etc in any way, but don't miss a beat on a party, pagent, show or anything else of the sort? Competition is no longer healthy when it chokes the life out of the people who are competing. I'm tired of it. Not angry, but quite honestly very tired. We've all got too much to do. Too many jobs, too much homework, and too many classes. We are sick, struggling, and stressed and don't have anything to show for it because we can't even make the events we slave for as big as they should be. That and we're so busy doing what we think we have to (running around like chickens with our heads cut off) we can't even be happy...or healthy. One of my friends said the best decision she made was going ghost from the black community. That's a damn shame! Its awful that people have to disappear just to be ok. That and we're so sectioned off there are people active in orgs that I have never seen before in my life!!! Now...by no means do expect to know every black person on campus, but I am tired of talking about the good ol days (which apparently began to die my sophmore year and are no where to be found anymore). I am not ranting, I am honestly, sincerely, and humbly asking anyone who reads this or is tagged to share this with people and actually think of what can be done. Respond! I don't care if you think I'm full of it, don't have a point, or agree completely, but at the very least...please talk about it! Because if something ever happens and we need it each other...it might be too late to deal with by then. We need each other now...and don't even know it.

Whatever the case...there isn't anything uniting us anymore.....

I ran out of tagging space...please share this....

Rhianna/Chris Brown: Ending Violence against all women

i am not perfect. there have been things in the past I have done to perpetuate the system of violence and oppression against women in our society via passively or actively. Consciously, I have yet to grow to be that man who is fully committed to social justice and one day I hope to be. I also hope one day to be the man who does not allow/act out the oppression and violence against women that we see with Chris Brown and Rhianna. Although, I do not agree with much of the stance the media/facebookers/and some other artist have taken, I do believe that this is probably one of the worst times in both of their young lives.

I also feel that we as americans simply cannot judge him until all of the fact are in. I'm sorry, but it is innocent until proven guilty.

But that doesn't mean that he should have the same privileges as others and we should be aware that although he is only accused, the mere notion of being accused is a problem and makes women who have been victims uncomfortable if they are constantly reminded of his/their incidents.

Anyway long diatribe. But if you are interested in an actual column about the incident as well as what men can do to end violence against women, check out DaveyD's blog.

Dear Summer

As internships come to an end and the last grill is fired up, one sad thought comes to mind: summer is almost over. For many, this sad thought means that school will soon be starting up and the weather will be cooler. For me, the change in season means a snap back to poverty and responsibility. Fall means the start of my obsession in college and professional football and basketball. While I myself tried to ball out of control last summer (I did succeed), this summer was more catered towards personal, economical, and professional growth.

Sean Bell would be 25 yesterday...

By now, you've heard of the 2006 incident surrounding New York City Police that resulted in the death of an African American man named Sean Bell as he was leaving his Bachelor party. If If you haven't heard about this incident, shame on you. Most of the news media has talked little about the specifics of the police officers firing upon this unarmed man and his friends 51 times. Some aspects of the media, including Wikipedia and the NY Times, even place more of the emphasis of the incident on the fact that Bell and his friends had been arrested on separate occasions within their life. Much of the media attention also fails to mention the fact that Bell was shot 31 times by a single officer and the officers failed to identify themselves to Bell's party. For most of us, if we really think about it, we realize that you can't shoot a person 51 times without reloading multiple times.

Well, if you know these details then you also know that all 3 police officers in the incident were acquitted recently. Not only were the officers found not guilty, but since November 2006 when the incident happened, there has been no sort of administrative disciplinary action.
One part of the rationale of the State Supreme Court in finding the officers not guilty in the murder of Sean Bell is that they considered the witnesses, including Bell's 2 friends who were also injured in the assault, testimony that wasn't believable. What type of testimony is believable in the eyes of a city government that has rarely convicted members of a police force that have committed similar atrocities in the past (Also in case you wondered, search for the documentary "Every Mother's Son". It is a testimony of other murders by NYPD officers, this time against men of different races and ethnicities).

My biggest question to everyone reading this as well as the New York Supreme Court is what does it take to consider a human life, especially the life of a black male, valuable in the United States? Where is the line drawn that says a black man in the United States can get justice? If our background and upbringing are bad, is that justification that I could be killed by the police if they see fit? More importantly, who's going to explain to Sean Bell's daughter that her father isn't there in her life not because he didn't love her or her mother, but because of the actions of those who are sworn to protect us?

For most Black males, to live till 25 is not a guarantee and in many areas it is against the odds placed upon us by statisticians and the whatnot. For many of us, we live in a society that sees black men as either a threat, entertainment (rappers, actors, and athletes) or a burden on the nation's economy with the idea that we are all drug dealing welfare recipients just waiting to impregnate countless black females who are also drug dealing welfare recipients.

It may sound corny, but today cherish your life and enjoy what you have. As this case proves to me and to many other Black males throughout the country, in the right place and time, our lives are expendable.