Ten

[H2O Man]

35. Great post!

Thank you!

That tensions regarding BLM, Sanders, and black-and-white relations over-all, make it where our opposition doesn't need to manipulate right now, to cause divisions of anger and mistrust. Good lord, we are able to create them ourselves! I guess the most important question would be if we can avoid them?

Over the years, I've spoken about my close friendship with Rubin Carter. Now, this started with a black man sentenced to triple-life, after being convicted of a brutal racial hate crime against white people, becoming "pen pals" with a white teenager. We were very close for over 40 years. During that time, we were both aware that: (a) Rubin was black; and (b) I was white. And that for a variety of reasons, his being black and my being white influenced a lot of events in our individual lives. And thus, was something that we were aware of, but that did not serve as a stumbling block to our communication, or friendship.

Yet this friendship would never decrease our awareness of, or activities due to, racial tensions. Let me give you an example. Around 2003, a group of young people -- around the ages of my sons, nieces, and nephews -- approached me to request help on a case. They said that their friend, and 18 year old with brown skin, had gotten a life sentence for getting a "blow job" from an under-aged girl. I admit that I questioned if their reporting was 100% accurate.

Within a short time, when I looked into the case, I found they were accurate. Indeed, there was a two-week (literally 14 days) time period that made what might have been a perfectly legal encounter, to a felony. Although the young man -- English was not his first language -- did not understand the court process in a manner that would allow him toparticipate in a manner that protected his interests -- had no prior record, other than being at a party at age 17, where he engaged in under-aged drinking, he got a life sentence.

During the same county court season, repeated sex offenders got 3-month sentences. But they were white.

This young fellow was in Attica State Prison, while I attempted to help him. I referred the case to Rubin;'s attorney -- who was Jewish -- and long story short, it took 18 months to get him out. A little longer to correct his record. (He has not had a single legal issue since, not even so much as a parking ticket.)

That's not, of course, the last time that I was involved in a case (or set of cases) that involved racism aimed at black people.Rather, I mention it as an example of black, brown and white people -- of different religious traditions -- working together for social justice. There are so many benefits to be accrued from united efforts, that we shouldn't given in to emotions like anger, or feelings that are "hurt," and allow divisions to grow, and mistrust to fester.

If as individuals we become strands on the rope you mention, we access real power. Unlike a chain, where if one link breaks, the chain is broken as well, a rope provides greater strength: if one strand is faulty or weak, and breaks, the rope continues to serve its purpose.