Empowering a Community to Change

"Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render different results. Tears will get you sympathy, sweat will get you change." These words from civil rights leader Jesse Jackson best describe the perspective that the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) chose to take on the sometimes less than pleasant findings in the State of Black California Report. The CLBC chose to resist the desire to elicit sympathy and instead focused on searching for effective methods of evoking change. Not only did they divide the workload amongst the eight seated Members of the Caucus, but they also reserved a healthy portion for the African American community at large.

On Thursday, August 30, 2007, the CLBC hosted the final State of Black California town hall meeting in the confines of the California State Capitol. Several legislators graced the dais, including the CLBC Chairman Mervyn Dymally, Chairman-Elect Mark Ridley-Thomas, Vice Chair Karen Bass, and Members Wilmer Amina Carter, and Mike Davis. Also in attendance were several mission minded community allies of various ethnicities, such as Assemblymembers Kevin Deleon and Anthony Portantino. The audience was composed of several hundred socially conscious African Americans, as well other community members from various ethnicities.

Following the welcome and opening remarks, the data from the State of Black California Report was presented by Michael Stoll, PhD, who is the Chair of the Department of Public Policy at UCLA. Dr. Stoll’s presentation provided a snapshot of African American life in California, and more specifically, in Sacramento, in comparison to other races. Intrigued looks crept across the faces of audience members as the statistics were read. The results showed that racial inequities are alive and thriving even in California, a state often heralded as the most progressive state in the union. In the economic, housing, health, education, and criminal justice indexes African Americans scored well below whites, Asians and Latinos in Sacramento. However the majority of the audience members were not only aware of the statistics, they lived them. Now that it was documented they wanted to observe possible solutions. Likewise, the Caucus members chose not to dwell on the grim statistics. Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass informed the audience that the CLBC had introduced a slate of fifteen legislative bills in response to the State of Black California Report. These bills were designed to target specific areas of the report. Of the fifteen, five bills successfully made it through the legislature and are awaiting signature by Governor Schwarzenegger*. These five bills call for action on issues of great concern to the African American community such as education, health, and criminal justice.

After taking a moment to celebrate their victories, the CLBC made certain that those in attendance were aware that while legislation is a step in the right direction, true change will require community involvement. For that, Mary Lee, a Senior Associate from Policy Link, shared several non-legislative proposals which can be implemented by community members at all levels to achieve change. The floor was then opened for public comment. A sense of unity filled the room as individuals from all walks of life lined the walls waiting for their opportunity to share not only their concerns but also their hopes for African Americans in California.

The CLBC has hosted several other town halls throughout the state including the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose areas. No future State of Black California events have been scheduled at this time. You will find a copy of the State of Black California Report, which includes detailed information about both the legislative and non legislative proposals, online at www.calresearch.org .

*For current information on each of the proposed bills please visit www.leginfo.ca.gov.