Fourth of July Post

Like anyone with a brain in use, I am extremely grateful for the freedoms I enjoy every day. Of course, there are things that are horribly wrong with what is going on in America, but that does not negate the uniqueness of the life we enjoy in America. I consider complaining about what’s wrong without offering any proposed solution useless at best.

The decision to go from two UCC posts per week to one was in part predicated upon the need to at least make an attempt to put some thoughts in writing which might be of value in successfully addressing some of the problems.  Among the many areas which need attention—and one with which I am completely familiar and to which I am deeply committed--are the problems we are facing in the Inner Cities.  I have spent decades working with abused, neglected and incarcerated minors, and received infinite returns from these children.

  The recent violence in the Inner Cities is the result of many social factors.  I can only speak to the ones with which I am familiar. My career path has been a combination of being a law professor and working with extremely high risk youth.  At Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall, I was responsible for delivering a three day intensive curriculum to minors immediately after lock up and prior to their release into general population.    I worked with thousands of minors at Central and co-authored the curriculum for the three day federally funded EXCEL program.  Prior to working in institutions, I spent five years in the group home system.

I have learned so much from my work with this population that I can’t quantify it.  I have received infinite benefits personally from working with these children.  I fully understand and believe that most of them can be reprogrammed to become free, happy and productive citizens. If this population could be lifted up, all of society would benefit greatly.  As discussed in the post, these children are socialized into a world and mindset which makes all antisocial decisions logical. I know for a fact that they can be taught otherwise and reprogrammed.

A huge contributing factor to Inner City violence is the result of the failure to simply educate the most needy children in America—children in lock up, on probation or otherwise at extremely high risk.  These children get older, more bitter, more angry, and it doesn’t take much for them to blow up.  If they had education and a realistic hope for a job and a decent life, everything would change.  

The good news is that the most hardcore of this population move in and out of detention centers where, for the first time in their lives, they can actually be educated.  I have seen miracles when a child gets a diploma or a job.  All of this can be accomplished through the Juvenile Justice system.  This would be a very significant step toward moving in a positive direction.  No new money required, just teachers who are competent and care enough to work hard every day and who have administrators who do the same.

That would give a new meaning to Independence Day for many who deserve it.

Physical Revolution or Social Revolution: Still Time to Choose

‘Everyone needs to get out of here NOW.  Detroit is rioting!  They are headed this way’.  Those were the words I heard over the loudspeaker in the summer of 1967 as Detroit erupted in violence.  I was participating in a swim meet 20 minutes from the downtown area, as the riots moved toward our location. I remember getting out of there as fast as I could—just like everyone else—and trying to understand what it all meant. I knew it meant anger, but I also knew, it meant much than that.

            One of the most memorable events from that experience occurred when visiting a friend’s home shortly after the riots.  While in his garage, I witnessed my friend’s father—a well respected local doctor—holding a loaded rifle.  He told me he was ready to kill anyone who didn’t belong in his neighborhood.  ‘Shoot first and ask questions later’. That’s what he said. I wondered how many others like him there were.  Regular folks a few weeks ago, but now rifle bearing ‘protectors’. Polarization was in the air.

            Fast forward to 1992.  At this point in my life, I was functioning as a teacher in the maximum security units at Ventura County Juvenile Hall.  This transition occurred after five years in the California Group Home system for abused, neglected and incarcerated minors, followed by a two year stint as a correctional officer in a medium security juvenile detention center.  I was now familiar with the minds that erupted in Detroit in 1967.  The reality is that I was far more than familiar—I was intimately aware of the minds, bodies and spirits of the youth that I was working with.  I now understood the pain that had been inflicted on these young lives at such a young age, and the connection between that life pain, hopelessness, and the violence in the streets.

            While working at Ventura County Juvenile Hall, I received word one evening that ‘Los Angeles is in flames’.  This time it was the Rodney King riots. This time, I knew the feeling and this confirmed what I believed ten years earlier—if we, as a Society, do not make some changes—all hell is going to break loose.  One doesn’t need to be a historian to understand that when people are kept down for too long, and the population in question is of sufficient size, there is going to be an eruption.  I knew more was coming and am surprised it has taken so long to arrive, but it has either arrived or is on the doorstep ready to come in.

In 1997 I went to work in the maximum security units of Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall and was deeply immersed in the lives of some of America’s angriest and most violent youth.  I had the responsibility of working with new admissions to the facility—in a living unit classroom—during their first three days of lock up.  These children had not been charged, were often coming off drugs, and were ready for violence at any time.  When I started, my unit averaged 27 fights per month.  Pepper spray, shackles, and isolation were common.   When I left, fights averaged 4 per month, a result of a collaborative effort between the school and probation.  The formula for these changes was simple—treat people with respect; demand high standards, and create a realistic basis for hope.

During my time at Los Angeles Central Juvenile Hall I established some very close relationships with some of the children who were incarcerated.  By this time—having worked with abused, neglected and incarcerated minors for fifteen years, I was no longer surprised by the many fine young men that I met and interacted with.  Granted, most of them had done some very horrible things, but at the end of the day, they were programmed to do exactly that.  Taken off the street, shown some basic respect and love, and a reason to have hope, these same children are respectful, polite and eager to learn. I could tell you hundreds of stories where these children exceeded all expectations I had.

Among the many lessons I learned, one has particular interest today, for it relates to Detroit, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Ferguson and whatever else is coming.  In speaking with the youth at Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall about Detroit and Los Angeles, I was advised that the days of simple rioting were over.  I was told that ‘the revolution’ is coming. It was well known by law enforcement, and in fact publicized in the LA Times, that some of the gangs were better armed than the police. No longer were riots going to be seen as the solution—nothing short of full scale revolution would suffice.  We are witnessing the beginning of that reality today.  As many now realize, something must be done, or this will only get worse, and eventually, the United States is going to pay a very heavy price.

I am not an historian, but even a casual review of history demonstrates what happens when too many people are kept down in miserable conditions for too long. The French revolution shocked everyone, except those who made it happen.  The islands of the Caribbean—one after another—blew up in violent race riots in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s as a result of that same dynamic.  And of course, the United States was borne from the same basic formula.  So, the reality is, America must do something, or any semblance of the America we know now—already far removed from its founding posture—will cease to exist.

Like all decent people, I abhor police abuse of the members of Society.  However, having worked closely with police for over three decades, I can state with 100% certainty that those who abuse their authority are in a very, very small minority.  Attempts to ‘correct’ hundreds of years of systemic abuse to the inner city population by indicting police officers who cross the line isn’t even a bandage on the problem.  It is a blip at best.  So, what can we do?

 First, face reality. Understand that this situation will go in one of two directions. It will either get much better or much worse.  No amount of money or ‘security’ can protect anyone once critical mass is reached.  Second, take the time to really understand the dynamics of what is happening.  Third, take some affirmative steps which will create a realistic sense of hope among America’s most disenfranchised population. 

            I cannot speak for anyone but myself, nor do I have any experiences other than my own.  What I can say and what I do know is that these problems are reversible.  I have not worked extensively with inner city adults, but I have worked with thousands of inner city youth and I can state with complete confidence that the overwhelming majority of these children can be reprogrammed to become free, happy and productive members of Society.

            Step one is understanding the mindset of the portion of this population that has resorted to violence and sees violence as the only logical solution.  It must be remembered at all times that the decision to engage in violence or other antisocial behavior appears logical and sensible to the participants.  Once the ‘why’ is understood it is possible to treat the problem.

            The typical mindset of the Inner City child is a product of three primary variables.   First, and I believe most important, is the fact that virtually every child I had in lock up—most of whom were hard core gang members—had a lifetime history of doing poorly in school.  This dynamic is not as simple as it seems, for the reality is that many of these children are quite intelligent.  What happens in most cases is that the child starts having trouble in school at a very early age.  Typically this child tells no one of his struggles because of embarrassment and fear.  He witnesses others ‘getting it’ but he doesn’t.  It is not the type of thing one openly discusses.

            As the years pass, the child becomes more and more disillusioned, and believes that there is something wrong with him.  After all, others understand, but he doesn’t.  Finally, by the early teens, this child has come to the conclusion that there is something wrong with him, something wrong with his brain.  What he does not realize is that those children who succeed are getting help from somewhere.  Further, he does not understand that if he had the help he needed, he too would be able to succeed.  All he knows is that he doesn’t get it and each day looks worse than the day before.

            The second variable is the economic nightmare being lived every day.  Not enough to eat; no new clothes to wear; moving from place to place; phones and lights turned off.  This is not just a long weekend experience.  By the time the child has reached middle school or high school, this has become a lifetime experience.  Superimposed upon this is the materialistic Society that is America.  Everywhere these children go, they are reminded that they have nothing.  I understood this in a whole new way when I worked in the California Group Home system.  For many children, this was the first time they had ever had enough to eat.

            Finally, these children live in an environment where they are told over and over by those around them that ‘This is the way it is; this is the way it has always been; and this is the way it will always be.’  While the children are young enough, they instinctively fight this negativity.  No one wants to accept a life of misery, particularly at such a young age.  However, over time, there is a mental shift, and the process becomes something like this: ‘I am stupid; I have no money and never had any money, and this is the way it is, has been, and will always be.’

            At this point in time, an extremely negative perspective on life forms and becomes solidly locked in.  From this point forward, all negative decisions make sense.  One of the fundamental shortcomings of educating these minors is the failure to properly address and reprogram perspective.  There are many fine programs from a pure content standpoint, but great content cannot penetrate a concretely negative perspective.  Reprogramming this perspective is essential if success is ever going to be achieved. And, make no mistake about it—the core of what we are currently witnessing in America’s inner cities is directly connected to what goes on in America’s inner city schools and detention centers.  Particularly the latter, because this is group from which  most of the violence emanates.

            Once perspective is properly addressed and reprogrammed, anything is possible.

          The future post will address reprogramming the perspective of the Inner City child.

For more information on the author and book, please visit ucc-madeeasy.com.