Has the African-American community been in an abusive relationship for over 400 years?
Is this a ‘Boston Tea Party’ moment as African-Americans continue to struggle to become equal in American society?
Do we need to burn things down in order to move things forward?
What will happen if the police are defunded?
Are bad cops protected?
These questions were answered during KDKA Radio’s ‘Address The Unrest’ summit, which featured 6 of the most influential leaders in our region. The goal of the event was to find logical, feasible solutions in order to form a more perfect union and ease the tensions between citizens and police. The effort is one we all must push forward. Watch it here.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald expressed much hope for the future as he reflected on our past. He noted that we are in a far different time than 1968 or even a few years ago, ‘I think we are in a place that we are willing to have this conversation….there is a realization that we do need to come to an agreement.’
Education & Knowledge
The struggles with injustice and racism since slavery must be told as we draw back and educate citizens about our history, laws, and Constitutional rights. The stories of notable & historical figures of all races must be told.
Dr. James Huguley of the University of Pittsburgh Center on Race & Social Programs noted that the challenges in the black family are a function of America.
He stated that ‘the black family did not exist under slavery…for 200 years.’ Now follow that up with another 150 years of economic oppression and you understand why we see disproportionate family challenges.
In fact, Dr. Huguley added that he surveyed black middle school & high school students and found that half of them ‘do not think that people of other groups value their lives!’ What does that do to hope & aspiration?
Social Media Influencer & Lifestyle Photographer Chance Humphrey added that ‘we just need to see ourselves in education growing up.’
Esther Bush, President of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, noted that Dr. Martin Luther King was ‘not the only black man that did something wonderful in America. Maybe we are now seeing that it is all our responsibility to make change.’
Bob Schwartzwalder, President of the Pittsburgh police union FOP Fort Pitt Lodge #1, pointed out that ‘the most famous African-American that no one ever talks about is Christopher Gist. If you know Gist Street in the Hill District, He is the one who saved George Washington’ near today’s 40th street bridge. Mr. Schwartzwalder also stated that Crispus Attucks was the first person killed in the American Revolution.
Police Training
All panelists noted that defunding the police is not the answer. Some said that consistent, professionalized, values-based police training is required.
Mr. Schwartzwalder said that the police need to be more proactive in informing the public regarding high profile incidents because news, rumors, and/or misinformation travels so quickly on social media. He also noted that there are many police academies & departments ‘and until you have consistent training and consistent requirements across the board these problems will continue.’
Father Paul Abernathy of the Neighborhood Resilience Project noted that peer-to-peer accountability must come into play along with values-based policing. The Iraq war combat veteran added that restraints on or above the neck must never be used. Period.
Economic Concerns
Father Abernathy noted that as areas are redeveloped we must address the ‘extensive amounts of trauma in our community.’ Including citizens in redevelopment plans or preparing them for relocation to other communities must be part of the preparations.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, ‘If people don’t see the same amount of hope because a development in a certain neighborhood might only be open to certain people who have the educational opportunities, or have connections to be able to get the great jobs or great opportunities that are out there, then the folks that are left behind are going to feel even further alienated or disconnected.’
Conclusion
So what were the main recommendations from the ‘Address The Unrest’ panel of experts that joined KDKA Radio?
Well, the keys to preventing future generations from going through this animosity, suspicion, fear, and violence are: Education, opportunity, economic investment, reflection & reconciliation, a national, cohesive police training, and proactive & rapid distribution of information from agencies following crucial incidents.
Please watch the entire ‘Address The Unrest’ solutions summit here.
Thank you.