Political Education of the Day, a thread:
Check the racist paradigm of experts v. so-called "non-experts."
Entrenched power, when threatened, will appeal to its inherent "expertise" – which is often a veiled dog whistle for white supremacy...
For example, the Mayor's office current posturing:
"how on earth could these Black communities possibly repurpose the bloated SPD budget into pro-community initiatives?! Its so complicated! I mean, golly, I guess they do include esteemed educators & community healers…
national experts…and technical wizards….brilliant visionaries…generational activists...and the collective wisdom of their elders."
So, to be clear: what would we do without the City's failed leadership and policies, and SPD’s "expert" oversight?...
We'd BOLSTER what we've been doing (and they've failed to do) already.
We would capacity build and expand on existing, current and EFFECTIVE systems and programing...
Underscoring the depth a strength of our collective work, we would address root causes of crime and provide culturally appropriate responses to tension.
To name a few, we'd nurture at-risk youth, develop more affordable housing...
...reintegrate folx preyed on by the criminal punishment system, lead City-wide anti-gentrification efforts, cultivate artistic expression/provide resources for creative development for diversion, carve out culturally responsive methods for deescalation/address accountability...
So, if wanna look at track record? You ain’t gonna win. If you wanna compare technical experts? You aint gonna win. If you want to interrogate the rigor of the dual plans? You ain’t gonna win...
...And if you want to slip right back into those juicy racist paradigms, you still ain’t gonna win. This is a MOVEMENT, not a moment. #HoldTheLine
#EquityNow #BuildAfricatown #PayTheFee
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