Support Judge Olu Stevens and Stop Jim Crow Juries
When I received the following notice from Dr. Boyce Watkins, requesting that I join in the fight to support Judge Olu Stevens, it did not require any consideration on my part as to what my next move would be. There are so many different modalities through which blacks find themselves under attack, and the Private Prison Industrial Complex is one of the most pernicious machinations being used against the black men, black families and the black community in general. As it has been pointed out in a number of exceptionally conceived literary works, such as “Slavery by Another Name” and “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” mass incarceration has become “big business” in a nation that leads the free world in incarceration by a substantial margin.
In my latest book, “The Mis-education of Black Youth in America: The Final Move on the Grand Chessboard,” I go into detail about how mass incarceration is being used to enrich white private business owners and their shareholders. I also elucidate the fact that these entities have gone to great lengths to lobby politicians for stricter and more intensive sentencing guidelines that ensure that the prison population continues to grow. Black men are disproportionately impacted by this through a number of different machinations, including the school-to-prison pipeline — where as early as 5-years-old, young black males are targeted, isolated and labeled to increase their chances of becoming incarcerated.
What Judge Olu Stevens has illuminated is just another mechanism within the finely tuned Mass Incarceration machine — “Jim Crow Juries!” The use of all-white juries to increase the risk of conviction has been a common practice for more than 100 years. While a person is supposed to be judged by a jury of their peers, this is rarely the case, and there is a number of reasons for it, some of which we can control. I personally commend Judge Stevens for having the courage to stand up and not only speak out against this practice, but to take action.
As can be expected, those on the other side of the table have responded in a hostile manner, attempting to have him disqualified to sit over more than 200 criminal cases that would pass through his courtroom.
The opponents of Judge Stevens suggest that he is biased, and therefore, incapable of being impartial in cases in which his office is involved. This issue has been placed before the State’s Chief Justice, John D. Minton Jr. for the purpose of removing Judge Stevens from overseeing any criminal cases.
Those who are aware of how I operate understand that I am not one that is big on empty protests — protests that are not underwritten by economic impact or financial sanction. I agree with Dr. Boyce Watkins in that we must stand with our brother to ensure that his rare courage does not cause him to be removed from a position in which he is so desperately needed; however, I believe that it is important that we make our dollars speak for us as well. Yes, there must be solidarity in the effort to support Judge Olu Stevens, but there must also be solidarity in the implementation of focused spending for the purpose of influencing public policy.
Any businesses that are expecting the black dollar must prove their allegiance to black progression. We can no longer be so easily appeased by political rhetoric and casual promises. There must be an immediate and intense financial response any time that hostile activity towards blacks is identified. There will be less of a need to protest when we begin to take calculative action in the way of focused spending that is designed to protect our interest, while increasing our economic prowess. So, take time to read Dr. Watkins’ request to join in the fight to support Judge Olu Stevens(below), but make sure that you are considering how you will spend your money in a manner in which it sends the message that you want delivered to the powers that be.
Keep in mind that a focused spending agenda functions as a dichotomy. Not only does it impact those who oppress us, but it helps to build our financial strength and subsequent influence in our world. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace, Ph.D.
Support Judge Olu Stevens
| Hello everyone,
I wanted to reach out and inform you that we are holding a rally on behalf of Judge Olu Stevens, the judge in Louisville, KY who faces severe penalties for speaking out against the use of all-white juries to convict black defendants. According to nearly every academic study imaginable, African Americans are far more likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison than any other ethnic group in America. One of the primary reasons that so many black people find themselves behind prison walls is that most of us do not have fair access to a jury of our peers. Instead, we are often presented with either a plea deal or a jury that is far more likely to convict black defendants than white ones. I stand with Judge Stevens and his fight to challenge this poisonous and destructive form of justice. As Judge Stevens prepares for a hearing on Tuesday, I am joining a rally to be held in Louisvlle, KY at the time and address below: The Fly Cubicle If you are in the area, please come out and show your support. If you can’t make it, please support Judge Stevens by visitingSupportOluStevens.com. You can then sign a petition and also follow updates on his case. If you’d like to see an interview with Attorney Kimberly Bunton on the case, please visit this link. Most judges and attorneys inside our court houses don’t have the courage to challenge the system in the way that Judge Stevens has over the past month. Let’s use this opportunity to speak up on behalf of our loved ones who’ve been victims of these unfair and racially-biased processes. The victory is ours, but we must pursue it. Let’s not be afraid. Until we meet again. Stay strong, be blessed and be educated. Sincerely, Dr Boyce Watkins |