"We are in the middle of a new civil-rights era in this country. It's centered around economic equality, gender equality, LGBT equality and yes racial equality. In this moment, racial equality is focused primarily on a particular phenomenon which includes bias, criminal justice and the use of force by authorities against black bodies. This phenomenon has crystallized the sentiments of and galvanized a generation," said New York Times columnist and bestselling author Charles Blow.
This was the main message that Blow conveyed during his Chicago Public Library Authors @ the Library lecture—Mechanisms and mythologies conspiring against the marginalized—May 26 at the Harold Washington Library.
Blow, who revealed that he's attracted to both men and women in his book, "Fire Shut Up in My Bones: A Memoir," has been an op-ed columnist for the New York Times since 2008 where he writes primarily about politics and social justice issues.
Following words of welcome by Brian Bannon, Chicago Public Library commissioner, and an introduction by Andrea Zopp, Chicago Urban League president and CEO, Blow told the approximately 200 people in attendance that he's never had this much media attention ahead of any of his speeches.
"There is a thin line between high pressure policing and oppressive policing. Most police officers aren't bad actors but neither are most citizens. Most people are just trying to get home for dinner with their families. Furthermore, policing is a chosen profession. There is no draft so to be held in high esteem police officers must be held to a higher standard," said Blow. "Prejudice is a societal poison. Each of us is in danger of ingesting it and many of us do. We are constantly making judgments but most of us aren't wearing a holster and a gun."
Blow noted that since the shootings of individuals such as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Jordan Davis, Tamir Rice, Renisha McBride and many others the nation has been engaged in a discussion about race. He noted the slogans #BlackLivesMatter, #ICantBreath and #NoJusticeNoPeace have allowed people to enter these discussions in ways that they might not have been able to do in the past.
Blow explained that the New York Times reported there is an epidemic of missing black men in the U.S.( 1.5 million ages 25-54 ) due to incarceration and urban death. He said that Chicago has 45,000 missing black men, second only to New York City. Blow said that to keep these figures in context it is important to note that there are only 7 million African-Americans in the U. S.
Blow said that although a majority of American's believe that the crime rate has gone up the statistics have shown that it has actually gone down from the highs of the 90's and early 2000's. He said that people continue to associate people of color with crime.
"Police forces are disproportionally white relative to the local populations that they serve … This continues in part because of a cycle of mistrust and abuse of power," said Blow.
Blow noted that there is no amount of parental wisdom or personal abilities that can completely guarantee ones survival when police are involved, especially among African-American men.
During the Q&A session, Blow was asked how people can keep this issue at the forefront of the media attention. Blow said that social media has been an important tool for getting the message out about racial injustice and encouraged everyone to keep exposing that injustice on social media platforms so it doesn't fade away.
Blow's lecture was presented as a part of the library's One Book, One Chicago programming in partnership with the Chicago Urban League in commemoration of the late Mayor Harold Washington.
A reception featuring hors d'oeuvres and desserts by Food Evolution: Catering & Special Events took place following Blow's remarks and Q&A session.
