Writing about the Jena controversy in the New York Times today, Orlando Patterson, the highly regarded black sociologist at Harvard, notes the highly disproportionate amount of black incarceration and asks a good question: “How, after decades of undeniable racial progress, did we end up with this virtual gulag of racial incarceration?”
After giving a nod to several politically (and in this case probably actually) correct explanations, he then states:
But there is another equally important cause: the simple fact that young black men commit a disproportionate number of crimes, especially violent crimes, which cannot be attributed to judicial bias, racism or economic hardships. The rate at which blacks commit homicides is seven times that of whites.
If this sounds familiar to Discriminations readers, it’s because it is remarkably similar to what Roger Clegg wrote in the much-maligned guest post below. As Roger observed in an email (entirely justifiably, in my opinion), referring to some of the comments on that post, “I guess [Patterson is] a Confederate-flag-waving bigot, too.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/opinion/30patterson.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print
September 30, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor
Jena, O. J. and the Jailing of Black America
By ORLANDO PATTERSON
Cambridge, Mass.
Quote:
“Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and other leaders of the Jena demonstration who view events there, and the racial horror of our prisons, as solely the result of white racism are living not just in the past but in a state of denial. Even after removing racial bias in our judicial and prison system — as we should and must do — disproportionate numbers of young black men will continue to be incarcerated.”
John Rosenberg writes:
>>>”If this sounds familiar to Discriminations readers, it’s because it is remarkably similar to what Roger Clegg wrote in the much-maligned guest post below. As Roger observed in an email (entirely justifiably, in my opinion), referring to some of the comments on that post, “I guess [Patterson is] a Confederate-flag-waving bigot, too.””
Actually, the more interesting question to me would be why you’re quoting Orlando Patterson? I get the fact that you cherry-picked his criticism of the level of African-American criminality, but I didn’t think Patterson would be FIRST guy you’d pick for the Rosenberg Dodgeball team:
>>>”For years Americans have complained about government programs for the disadvantaged that do not work. Now, however, we are on the verge of dismantling affirmative action, the one policy that, for all its imperfections, has made a major difference in the lives of women and minority groups and has helped us achieve the constitutional commitment to the ideal of equality and fairness.
In utilitarian terms, it is hard to find a program that has brought so much gain to so many at so little cost. It has been the single most important factor in the rise of a significant, if still economically fragile, black middle class.”
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1DC1F3AF934A3575BC0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
This is timely piece, despite it being 12 years old, and Patterson is actually quite balanced in his presentation.
But back to Jena. Patterson writes MORE after your pull quote:
>>>”The circumstances that far too many African-Americans face — the lack of paternal support and discipline; the requirement that single mothers work regardless of the effect on their children’s care; the hypocritical refusal of conservative politicians to put their money where their mouths are on family values; the recourse by male youths to gangs as parental substitutes; the ghetto-fabulous culture of the streets; the lack of skills among black men for the jobs and pay they want; the hypersegregation of blacks into impoverished inner-city neighborhoods — all interact perversely with the prison system that simply makes hardened criminals of nonviolent drug offenders and spits out angry men who are unemployable, unreformable and unmarriageable, closing the vicious circle.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/opinion/30patterson.html
Of course, many predatory right-wingers and anti-affirmative action types may read Patterson, and use his words to bludgeon blacks further in their race to erase “race preferences.” Upon reflection, Patterson’s writings illuminate a different point…that there is a “anti-black male machine” at work in America fueled by sources both within and outside the black community.
Notice the language–
Patterson doesn’t simply employ the “just whack-blacks” attack-philosophy of “professional black conservatives” celebrated by the right winged media and blogosphere.
Oh no…while certainly dishing out harsh criticism of facets of African-American culture, and admonishment for some of the more negative black attitudes, Patterson ALSO waylays white conservative politicians and executives in the WMPS for not only designing the vehicles of black destruction, but greasing the wheels with hypocrisy, racially biased laws and injustice.
You simply can’t CREATE and SUPPORT a system designed to negatively impact African-American men, and then complain when it WORKS.
His disdain is CLEARLY “equal-opportunity,” and that fact alone may be too much for those who demand lock-step obeisance to ideological platforms.
Come to think of it, I might PAY to see Roger Clegg and Orlando Patterson have a little chat. He has some FASCINATING things to say about the Confederacy and the old South.
John Rosenberg writes:
>>>”If this sounds familiar to Discriminations readers, it’s because it is remarkably similar to what Roger Clegg wrote in the much-maligned guest post below. As Roger observed in an email (entirely justifiably, in my opinion), referring to some of the comments on that post, “I guess [Patterson is] a Confederate-flag-waving bigot, too.””
Actually, the more interesting question to me would be why you’re quoting Orlando Patterson? I get the fact that you cherry-picked his criticism of the level of African-American criminality, but I didn’t think Patterson would be the kind of guy you’d pick first for the Rosenberg Dodgeball team:
>>>”For years Americans have complained about government programs for the disadvantaged that do not work. Now, however, we are on the verge of dismantling affirmative action, the one policy that, for all its imperfections, has made a major difference in the lives of women and minority groups and has helped us achieve the constitutional commitment to the ideal of equality and fairness.
In utilitarian terms, it is hard to find a program that has brought so much gain to so many at so little cost. It has been the single most important factor in the rise of a significant, if still economically fragile, black middle class.”
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1DC1F3AF934A3575BC0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
This is timely piece, despite it being 12 years old, and Patterson is actually quite balanced in his presentation.
But back to Jena. Patterson writes MORE after your pull quote:
>>>”The circumstances that far too many African-Americans face — the lack of paternal support and discipline; the requirement that single mothers work regardless of the effect on their children’s care; the hypocritical refusal of conservative politicians to put their money where their mouths are on family values; the recourse by male youths to gangs as parental substitutes; the ghetto-fabulous culture of the streets; the lack of skills among black men for the jobs and pay they want; the hypersegregation of blacks into impoverished inner-city neighborhoods — all interact perversely with the prison system that simply makes hardened criminals of nonviolent drug offenders and spits out angry men who are unemployable, unreformable and unmarriageable, closing the vicious circle.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/opinion/30patterson.html
Of course, many predatory right-wingers and anti-affirmative action types may read Patterson, and use his words to bludgeon blacks further in their race to erase “race preferences.” Upon reflection, Patterson’s writings illuminate a different point…that there is a “anti-black male machine” at work in America fueled by sources both within and outside the black community.
Notice the language–
Patterson doesn’t simply employ the “just whack-blacks” attack-philosophy of “professional black conservatives” celebrated by the right winged media and blogosphere.
Oh no…while certainly dishing out harsh criticism of facets of African-American culture, and admonishment for some of the more negative black attitudes, Patterson ALSO waylays white conservative politicians and executives in the WMPS for not only designing the vehicles of black destruction, but greasing the wheels with hypocrisy, racially biased laws and injustice.
His disdain is CLEARLY “equal-opportunity,” and that fact alone may be too much for those who demand lock-step obeisance to ideological platforms.
Come to think of it, I might PAY to see Roger Clegg and Orlando Patterson have a little chat. He has some FASCINATING things to say about the Confederacy and the old South.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158243039X
–Cobra
How does one even begin to discus the problems of Blacks in America and the disprportionate number of black men in or with a prison record without citing it’s cause…RACISM; Last week an hour-long French tv program aired a documentary about the staggering number of rapes by American troops in France and Germany committed by GI’s. As you might have guessed, most of those tried and found guilty and often executed were black soldiers. This predates hip hop, Isiah Thomas and O.J.. We can never examine the plight/situation of the Black community without first looking at the root cause …RACISM!!!