October 15, 2015
By Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
You can run, but you can’t hide from racism. I was preparing to write a column on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the trade agreement that President Barack Obama wants to fast track through Congress. I considered tackling the Planned Parenthood kerfuffle, as Republicans are targeting a most important women’s health provider for political purposes. But a friend sent me a link to a photo uploaded by Atlanta native “Geris Hilton” with a string of comments that simply turned my stomach, and I realized that the TPP would have to wait (it isn’t going anywhere until January anyway).
Hilton, whose legal name is Gerod Roth, worked at the Polaris Marketing Group in Atlanta, Ga. There he took a selfie of himself and a coworker’s child and posted it on Facebook. When one of his “friends” asked why the child was running around the office, Roth replied, “He was feral.” The dictionary defines feral as “relating to, or suggestive of, a wild beast”, and “not domesticated or cultivated – wild,” or “having escaped from domestication and become wild.” Excuse me? Roth’s own daughter hangs out at the office at the end of the day. She plays with the adorable boy whose innocent little face attracted the most “feral” comments from Roth’s intellectually challenged Facebook friends.
From one “friend”: “I didn’t know you were a slave owner.”
Others commented about selling enslaved people another suggested that Hilton “send him back,” because they are “too expensive.”
Sydney Jade is three-year old Cayden’s loving, caring and hard working mother. Gerod Roth knew this, but he never corrected his “friends” who described the child as abandoned and worse. Jade, started using the hash tag #HisNameisCayden on Twitter to affirm her child’s humanity and to reject the caricature that Hilton portrayed. She has received an outpouring of love and support from cyberspace.
Thumbs up to company executives at the Polaris Marketing Group, who fired Roth about two weeks after his offending selfie and wrote about the incident and subsequent firing on Facebook. I am among those who think it should have taken less than two weeks, but they deserve credit for taking action instead of hiding behind the “free speech” argument that many make to defend their racist employees. The Root reported that others who made offending comments about Cayden were also fired from their jobs. Yes!
Gerod Roth is one of those pouty little racists who has now described himself as the “victim” in this matter. He “has been targeted”, he says. He whines that his remarks were taken out of context. He posted an “apology” that was several paragraphs long attempting to “explain” how he happened to post the selfie in the first place, suggesting that young Cayden actually asked him to take the picture. He had neither the grace nor the good sense to say, “I’m sorry and I’m out of order”, and then shut up. Instead, he tried to cover his insensitivity up.
Next thing you know, there will be a group of folks rallying around Roth who some would describe as nothing more than a child molester for his callous exploitation of his coworker’s son. Those who railed against this incident will be told this occurrence is isolated.
The late, great writer Bebe Moore Campbell once wrote an essay about “race fatigue,” about the many ways she was tired of seeing, living, talking and writing about race. She wrote about ignoring slights she might once have challenged, tamping down an anger that might once have been volcanic. In that particular essay, she wrote about seeking a peaceful respite from race matters. We all seek that respite, those days when we don’t have to think about the indignities of both institutional racism and the micro-aggressions that are difficult to quantify. We seek, but we don’t find the respite when cyberspace reveals life as both gritty and grand.
While Roth is little more than gas in the wind, not even a footnote in our nation’s history, he merits attention, because there are so many more of him, lurking out there, fracturing peace because they are so hateful. Who calls a child “feral” and then describes himself or herself as the victim? And who, in the light of this kind of nonsense, says we live in a “post racial” space?
Julianne Malveaux is author and economist based in Washington, DC. Her new book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available for pre-order at www.juliannemalveaux.com
October 08, 2015
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
NNPA Columnist
If there was ever a propitious time for African Americans and Latino Americans to unite to advance the cause of freedom, justice, equality and economic empowerment, it is now. Today, more than ever, the rapidly changing national demographics and the potential political and economic power as a direct result of Latino and Black unity in America cannot be overstated.
We are now in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, across the United States. It is important to note that during this year’s observance of Hispanic heritage, Latino leaders are also articulating the strategic value and need for more unity between Blacks and Latinos.
In a recent column to the New York Amsterdam News, Bronx Borough President Rueben Diaz Jr. stated, “As we face heated, dangerous rhetoric on the issues that concern us the most, the Hispanic community must not only stand together but to also unite with our allies of different backgrounds, such as the African-American community, to fight for the betterment of our communities.”
I know Borough President Diaz and I believe that one day he may become the first Latino mayor of New York City. Fighting to improve the quality of life in our communities is exactly what our long mutual struggles for justice and empowerment continues to be about. The two largest people of color groups in America are Latinos and Blacks. And if Blacks and Latinos unite in New York and elsewhere, it will achieve more effective political and economic results.
President Barack H. Obama issued a proclamation in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month stating, “America’s Hispanic community has woven unique threads into the diverse fabric of our country and played an important role in shaping our national character as a people of limitless possibility.”
We are witnessing a political challenge to the nation’s diversity with the exponential increase in residents of people of color in every region of the country. Some studies show that the racial-disparity divide in America is becoming more and more pronounced in housing, education, business, immigration, and mass incarceration.
Going forward will require a serious effort to ensure a massive voter turnout of Latinos and Blacks in the 2016 elections. Neither the Black nor Latino vote can be taken for granted. The political future of the U.S. will swing in the balance and scale of how Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts will be financed, advertised, staffed and mobilized.
Neither elected officials nor Corporate America can effectively reach the Black and Brown communities by ignoring their media outlets. And a promising sign of increased unity between the two powerhouse groups is that the National Association of Hispanic Publishers (NAHP) and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) have announced the establishment of a NNPA-NAHP National Advertising Task Force. The purpose of the coalition is to educate marketers on the benefits and importance of the African American and Hispanic newspaper markets.
“With close to 97 million African Americans and Hispanics in the U.S. today, representing 33 percent of the total population, this consumer segment demands attention,” said Martha Montoya, VP of the NAHP. “The buying power of the African American and Hispanic communities, currently at over $2.3 trillion combined, continues to outpace the national average.”
NNPA Chair Denise Rolark Barnes emphasized, “This task force also marks a historic partnership between the NNPA and NAHP, the nation’s most influential publishing organizations that are currently led by women. Martha and I have a shared vision and commitment to empower our communities by strengthening the voices of the media we serve.”
The potential force of African Americans and Latinos working together in business, politics, education, housing, family and community development are enormous. The challenge will be to achieve and maintain this unity not just for one year or two, but for a lifetime of solidarity and action to represent and defend the interests of our communities respectively.
Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc.
October 01, 2015
By James Clingman
NNPA Columnist
When Donald Trump first spoke about his intentions to run for president and called out Mexicans and Hispanics in general, here’s what happened. Yes, there were protests in the streets by Latinos who felt they had been insulted by Trump, but further action was taken, not by Latinos but by corporations.
According to an article by Sarah Berger, with the International Business Times, “[Macy’s] said they would no longer carry Trump’s menswear collection, which featured shirts, ties and watches.” Further, “Macy’s is not alone: NBCUniversal, Univision, mattress maker Serta and other companies have also cut ties with Trump…The broken deals point to the growing influence of Hispanic consumers in the United States. As the Latino demographic in the U.S. rapidly increases, so does their buying power, and businesses are starting to realize that value.”
Economics raises its head again, doesn’t it? Macy’s was not boycotted; it was not targeted by Latinos in any way. Why did they feel obliged to cut ties with Trump when he dissed Hispanics? A better question is: “Why haven’t we seen companies take any corresponding action on behalf of Black people? Remember the Indianapolis incident earlier this year, when corporations threatened to move their companies out of that city if the law that “discriminated” against gay people was not changed? It took about 24 hours for it to be changed.
John Crawford was killed in a Walmart for holding a BB gun, 12 year-old Tamir Rice was killed in two seconds for holding a toy gun, Eric Garner was choked to death on national and TV after saying “Why do you keep bothering me?” and Sandra Bland was arrested and died three days later because she failed to signal a lane change and was smoking in her own car. Did any corporations make threats against anyone on their behalf?
Macy’s and the others punished Trump without being asked to do so, because they respect the $1.5 billion buying power of Hispanics. That’s it, plain and simple. “But annual Black buying power is $1.2 trillion, Jim; why are we ignored?”
Major corps with whom we spend much of that $1.2 trillion each year have, a “depraved indifference” to our plight, as Bob Law says. They do not respond to our issues in the same way because there is no price to pay for not doing so. We get slapped upside the head by politicians and our big bad NAACP tells us to take a 1,000-mile walk. One of our children gets shot down or beat down and NAN says “Let’s ‘maach’ on Washington.”
A young Black man is killed in a Walmart and our “leaders” rally in front of that store – for a day. Our unemployment is at an all-time high, despite the “great economy” they say we are in, and the National Urban League writes a report each year telling us how bad things are for Black America. Our voting rights are being discarded, our HBCU’s are losing millions because of Parent-Plus Loan changes, we are ignored and taken for granted by both political parties, and Black politicians like John Lewis tell us to vote our way out of our problems.
It’s no wonder we don’t get the same respect and support as other groups. The ways we respond to negative issues allow the mistreatment we get from others. Take the “Black Lives Matter” mantra. Of course our lives matter and it makes no difference if others have a problem with our saying it. But we have some Black folks who are trying to gain acceptance from others and trying to make others feel comfortable with us by adding to the phrase, “All lives matter,” which is obvious to most people anyway. Saying and acting upon the fact that Black lives matter “less” than all other lives is important, but we must act appropriately upon what we say.
Carlos Santiago, president and chief strategist of Santiago Solutions Group said, “Latino customers represent an opportunity for Macy’s to grow its business model…Macy’s Hispanic base of buyers is significant and growing while the ‘non-Hispanic’ is declining slowly. They (Macy’s) have to protect their growing loyal base just as their competitors like Nordstrom, JC Penney’s, Target and Walmart are. In this race to capture the new growth, a change in public image is worth millions of dollars in goodwill and loyalty.”
The appropriate response to those who transgress against us must be grounded in economics. We spend money at Macy’s, as well as many other corporations. Why have they not spoken and acted on our behalf? As I have written many times, until we are serious about gaining the support of those with whom we do business, they will ignore our plight and take our dollars for granted.
Our economic response must be “Black Dollars Matter!” And we must teach our dollars how to make more sense.
Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He can be reached through his website, blackonomics.com. He is the author of Black Dollars Matter: Teach Your Dollars How to Make More Sense, which is available through his website; professionalpublishinghouse.com and Amazon Kindle eBooks.
September 24, 2015
By Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
Is Patrick Lynch, president of the New York Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, obliged to defend his members even when they are wrong? The open letter posted on the PBA website and printed in the New York Daily News lacks credibility and contributes to the fractured state of police-community relations. He has cautioned the media, and others, about rushing to judgment of James Frascatore, the walking assault machine that tackled former tennis star James Blake, put his knee to Blake’s back, and then cuffed him. This was captured by a security camera; the footage is ubiquitous online. Lynch says, “No one should ever jump to an uninformed conclusion based on a few seconds of video.”
Lynch makes every excuse that he can for Frascatore, and chides “pundits and editorial writers” because “they have never faced the dangers that police officers routinely do.” Comments about Blake’s false arrest and further cover-up are “irresponsible, unjust, and un-American.” Lynch says Frascatore deserves “due process, not summary professional execution called for by editorial writers.”
Due process is the legal requirement that the state must respect all the legal rights due to a person. When did James Blake get due process? Frascatore tackled Blake with neither provocation nor even conversation. Either Lynch didn’t watch the video or he doesn’t care that there is a pugilistic police officer that has no regard for due process when he interacts with the public.
Frascatore should have been history in the NYPD some time ago. He has only been part of the NYPD for four years, yet five complaints against him have been filed with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). All of these complaints involve the excessive use of force. Frascatore is fast with his fists (he is accused of punching people in the head, the mouth, and in the torso); tragedy would be compounded if he were using a gun. For all of Frascatore’s abuse of power, it took his assault of Blake to get him desk duty. Blake has very reasonably called for Frascatore’s firing. But loudmouth Lynch (consider his comments in the wake of Eric Garner’s murder) has talked himself onto a limb with his passionate, but baseless defense of a police “officer.”
If there were due process, Frascatore would have been arrested for assaulting Blake. But police officers accused of wrongdoing hide behind their uniforms and rarely pay for their crimes. If there were due process, a man with five complaints before the CCRB would have been put on desk duty, if not suspended or fired, some time ago.
The New York Daily News reported on a 2013 incident where Frascatore and two others followed bicyclist Warren Diggs home. Once there, they demanded identification from him but proceeded to punch in the head and pummel his body – before he could retrieve his ID. Diggs’ significant other, Nafeesah Hines, saw part of the fracas and began recording it. She asked officers for their names and badge numbers; two complied but Frascatore refused.
When Hines went to move Diggs’ bicycle from the sidewalk and into their home, she was told that she was tampering with evidence and was arrested. The Civilian Complaint Review Board found inconsistencies between Frascatore’s statements and the recording Hines made. It recommended “retraining” Frascatore. Hines also sued the city for false arrest and settled out of court. Warren Diggs still has a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city.
The Diggs case reveals Frascatore as an accomplished liar who doesn’t mind breaking the rules. Just as there was an attempt to cover up the Blake arrest, there was also an attempt to justify the brutal assault of Warren Diggs and the false arrest of Nafeesah Hines. Due process, Patrick Lynch?
As Blake has so gracefully said, all police officers are not like Frascatore. He declined to accuse the NYPD, just the out-of-control officer. He accepted the apologies of the police commissioner and the mayor. But he insists that something must be done about excessive force, and he has indicated that he might pursue a lawsuit otherwise.
The NYPD says they have spent millions on training and retraining. Did Frascatore ever get the training the CCRB recommended? Why not monitor those officers who have been “retrained” to see if they have changed their ways? Why not prioritize investigation of those with repeat complaints so that bad apples like Frascatore are terminated before they do more damage?
Patrick Lynch does his members a disservice when he excuses the behavior of officers like James Frascatore, whose only due process should move him out of the NYPD. Due process means arresting Frascatore for assaulting James Blake. Julianne Malvceaux is an author and economist based in Washington, DC. She can be reached at www.juliannemalveaux.com.
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Julianne Malveaux