Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jan 2002
Source: Herald-Sun, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002 The Herald-Sun
Contact:  http://www.herald-sun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428
Author: Angela D Forest
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/racial.htm (Racial Issues)

AUTHOR URGES SUCCESSFUL BLACKS TO AID LESS FORTUNATE

DURHAM -- Despite the civil rights movement, the majority of black 
Americans have not prospered, according to prominent political writer 
Randall Robinson, who urges successful members of the black community 
to recognize their obligation toward those trapped in poverty and 
violence. Robinson spoke to more than 60 people at Barnes & Noble 
bookstore Wednesday night about his recent book, "The Reckoning." 
Generations of black men and women are growing up without 
opportunities for positive advancement, ignored equally by the 
government and wealthier black Americans, he said.

"[Classism] is something the black community doesn't like to talk 
about," he said. "Our community is driven by class as much as any 
other community."

Black leaders are quick to decry discrimination against black people 
stopped by law enforcement while driving, but say little about a 
prison system that incarcerates thousands of black men each year 
because it doesn't affect them, Robinson said.

Robinson's book explores the lives of three real people, Peewee 
Kirkland, New Child Lynch and Mark Lawrence in their struggle to 
overcome blighted neighborhoods, inferior schools and the American 
criminal justice system, which one in three black males will enter at 
some time. Kirkland was a white-collar criminal and Lynch sold drugs.

"They were capitalists just like the Enron capitalists," Robinson 
said, generating laughter from the audience. "The Enron people will 
pocket tens of millions of dollars and likely walk away with it. 
Peewee went to federal prison with nothing in his pocket. . The 
system is not blind; it distinguishes quite clearly between black and 
white and brown."

Robinson said although black people make up 14 percent of drug users, 
they represent 35 percent of all drug arrests, 55 percent of 
convictions and 75 percent of prison admissions.

Prisons not only help revive poor rural communities, the rise in 
private detention facilities have made investors rich. The criminal 
justice system today is nothing but a kind of modern-day slavery, he 
said.

More money should go toward strengthening public education rather 
than expanding the number of prisons, Robinson said, with the federal 
government taking a lead role in eliminating poverty.

On that note, Robinson criticized black people who praised former 
President Clinton as he worked to push millions off welfare with 
little assistance, devastated the economies of the Caribbean and 
"added more prisoners to the federal prison rolls than the Reagan and 
Bush administrations combined."

He also took to task the religious community for not promoting strong 
spiritual values against the modern way of life in America that 
embraces materialism and greed.

If society thinks it can continue to ignore the Peewee Kirklands and 
Child Lynches of the world, it is horribly mistaken, Robinson said.

When Robinson asked Kirkland how someone could kill another human 
being without remorse, the young man replied it didn't make a 
difference whether the gun was pointed at himself or someone else.

"Life without meaning or opportunity or a future, no society can 
survive long without that," Robinson said.

Sanford resident Hazel Foye said she heard Robinson speak about two 
years ago at a genealogical conference in Washington, D.C., and found 
him just as impressive Wednesday.

"I think he's very knowledgeable. He makes you think about things you 
hadn't thought about before," she said, while seeking to buy a copy 
of Robinson's latest book so he could sign it. "In Washington, he 
emphasized the importance of black people knowing their roots. It 
helps you to get to know yourself and where you're going."

A native of Richmond, Va., and a Harvard University graduate, 
Robinson is founder and president of TransAfrica, an organization 
that influenced changes in U.S. policy toward the Caribbean, South 
Africa and Haiti. He has also joined with prominent black lawyers 
Johnnie Cochran and Willie Gary as well as intellectuals such as 
Cornel West and Manning Marable in introducing lawsuits next month 
that will seek financial payment to black Americans whose ancestors 
were slaves.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh