The Disease is White: Langdon Street Mock Lynching, Madison WI, June 9, 2011

Click here to view Danez Smith's blog and photo of the Langdon Street Mock Lynching

Quote from the UW-Madison June 10 press release: “The incident that occurred on Langdon Street yesterday — a Spider-Man doll being hung by its neck — is a reminder of the importance of considering both intention and impact in any given situation...."



When will we see racism as a white problem rather than a problem for people of color? I am not saying that racist acts and statements don't cause harm to people of color. Sadly and truly, these acts do. Racism makes lives hard, limits educational and economic opportunities, limits access to healthcare, and leads to early deaths from stress and violence. One cannot overstate the toll racism takes on communities of color. And of course we need to mitigate those effects.

But people! The disease is WHITE!

Are we concerned with treating hit and run victims of a drunk driver? Absolutely! But who would argue that's the best way to make our roads safe from drunk driving is to aid those who have been hit? What about prevention? Of course sexual violence against women harms women--but the source of the pathology is in our male culture.

In the case of racism, what are we doing--not merely to protect people of color from racist acts--but to treat the source of the disease? White racism. White supremacy. A learned legacy of white superiority. Of economic and sexual exploitation of people of color.

Someone said that what happened was "inconsistent with university values and those of the entire Madison community," but in fact, what happened was consistent with a history of racism that exists throughout and within our supposedly fair-minded, liberal community.* And with a legacy of racist acts in our city and on our campus. Until we acknowledge this and decide to do something to address the underlying causes, these acts will continue.

We've been told students should be "respectful of other members of the community and… thoughtful about the potential impact of their actions." But where are white folks doing the work we need to do to unlearn the racist legacy we carry. Where are the university classes that examine racism and encourage "majority" students to reflect and examine the legacy of white supremacy--not only in our societies but in our families and in our minds? Where are the courses in racial justice? In social justice?

I agree, as the UW statement notes, that "we have to do more to help each member of our campus community understand the unintended implications of their actions and the power of symbols." But until we address and face the underlying pathology of white racism** and of unaware perpetuation of privilege, any responses will be reactive at best.

This work is happening in some places, see this video about Student SEED, an amazing student organization called PREA, the Leadership Institute, and the Institute for Social Justice and Transformative Leadership, among others. Off-campus, see Groundwork Madison.

I look forward to ALL of us undertaking the conscious and intentional work of healing from white racism, with full (and this means financial, academic and extracurricular) support of the UW administration, faculty and staff. And parents and educators everywhere.

(Knowing that this I am myself on an ongoing journey of healing my own racism and oppressor roles, I invite and thank you for your comments and feedback.)

*In 2006, an estimated 47% of Dane County's Black men aged 25-29 were under supervision of the Department of Corrections, 15% in prison and another 32% on probation or parole or extended supervision.
http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~oliver/RACIAL/RacialDisparities.htm

**Racial Healing: The Institutes for the Healing of Racism. Reginald Newkirk, Nathan Rutstein and Richard Davis's Madison Wisconsin Institute for the Healing of Racism
http://www.richarddavis.org/rap/hr-main.html

Farewell to Poppy Mannie, April 2 1920-March 18 2011

Poppy Mannie, Nanny Ann and two of their great grandaughters, April 2007.

I read the following words at the funeral of Emanuel Yeskel, known to us as "Poppy Mannie" on Monday, March 21st in Boynton Beach, Florida.

He is the grandfather of my wife and became my grandfather too, in a very real way, as you will gather from my words.

Below I refer to cousin Jamie, and Mannie's wife, Ann.

I would be honored to receive your comments, if you have any.

Thanks, Brian

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I had the great fortune of being adopted into the Yeskel clan by marriage.

When I first traveled with Kimberly as her new boyfriend to meet her family, coming here to Boynton Beach, well this was like a new world for me.

I didn't get to know my birth grandparents.
You see, I'm a first generation American.
While I was growing up, my family was still recovering from the Shoah, the Holocaust, having lived through that just a generation before.

I had no extended family, and lived an assimilated life in Wisconsin.

And here I was coming from a family that hardly claimed our judaism to visit my wife's family in a place where there WERE no Christmas decorations, where everyone eats bagels and lox, and where people use the word 'schlep' in daily conversation.

Somehow I fell into the family I never had (and didn't even realize i had missed). And the patriarch of this family, Poppy, taught me what it was to be a mensch. I had no role models of warm, loving, zestful men in my life.

Mannie loved life, he loved others and, I have to add--he loved himself!

Whenever we'd go out to a restaurant, Poppy would leave as the best of friends not only with the waiter or waitress and the maitre de, but also with the diners at the surrounding tables! I had never seen this before.

I remember calling him to tell him the dates when we'd be coming to visit. We were always welcome. Only he pretended it would put him out a little bit to let the President know that he shouldn't visit the same week we were coming.

Poppy taught me that anything was possible. Starting in the rag business and building a real estate development company, marrying the young woman you met in grammar school, eating spareribs with gusto AND dieting at the same time, and at age 90, still being the hub of a family extending from coast to coast.

We always enjoyed his regular notes, emails and of course, the famous Yeskel family calendar now carried on by Jamie.

Nanny Ann, mazel tov on 67 years of marriage. I got to tell you, you didn't only know how to pick them, you knew how to stick with them.
Uou have set a very high bar, if I meet your standard for 67 years of marriage to Kimberly, I need to live to ah… at least 102!

I feel I need to share this story: One time, several years ago, Kimberly and I hit a tough spot in our marriage. Kimberly and our daughter Lea left our home for a few weeks and came to Florida for a break. It was really a temporary separation during a very stressful time. But in the midst of this difficult time, who should call me but Poppy. I won' t share with you what he said to me, because we both considered it private conversation. But the gist of it, is that he let me know that he believed in me. And that made a big difference for me and always will.

Poppy, I know the president would be here now, except that there would be serious consequences to him interrupting his diplomatic visit to South America. But you and I both know he'd rather be here.

Thanks for giving me something to shoot for.

Farewell Pop, I thank you for being the grandfather I never had.
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Wisconsin Power Grab, Day 40

Today marks day 40 since the protests began. Folks around here are beginning to wonder "What's next." This comes up at the bus stop and on the sidewalk, wherever folks have a chance to stop and chat lately in Madison, Wisconsin

Neighbors on street corners, acquaintances at the grocery, we're all wondering and talking about the power grab by the money-rich elite. About our Governor's attempt to divert our state's resources from education, health care, the environment, and social services into the pockets of the owning class--wealthy owners and investors.

Now that the farmers' tractor parade has left the Capital Square, we're wondering what the future holds. Some worry that the protests are over, that folks are giving up the fight, retiring from their state jobs, or leaving the state entirely. "We can't lose momentum," they say. They're worried that our state's citizens will roll over now and play dead.

Others put their faith in the efforts to recall Republican State Senators who support the Governor's plan. Next in line, they say, is the Governor himself, who is the target of a massive campaign to gain signatures from those who pledge to recall the Governor next fall (after the one-year waiting period).

But from where I stand, I see a change. Signs posted in home windows and in cars. Folks wearing buttons and wrist bands to show our solidarity. "This will not stand," they insist. And I am inclined to agree.

You see, we can easily forget a fundamental reality. One that cannot be changed. And that is that the people have the power. I know, it sounds cliche, but that doesn't mean it's not true. We the people are the only source of real power.

That may sound odd or surprising. Especially because so many of us can feel powerless so much of the time. I witnessed that powerlessness and the resulting frustration and anger that dark Wednesday night when Republican legislators decided they would pass the bill that they said they couldn't legally pass without a quorum. Folks converged on the Capital--and they were pissed. Understandably so!

There was shouting at police officers, banging and kicking on closed doors, occasional pushing and shoving. I thought there was a chance that things would turn outright violent.

But folks, we don't need violence. Violence is for the powerless. And we are not powerless. The people simply need to take our power, to own it.

Yes, our electoral system has been distorted and controlled by big money. Yes, we have been manipulated by political advertising and propaganda. And yes, we elected (or allowed to be elected) a Governor and Legislature that represents the interests of the elite. But that does not change the fact that our government serves at our pleasure. We have the power to determine who governs us. You are in charge!

The Teachers

March 8, 2011

Dear Lowell School Teachers and Staff,

First of all, thank you. Thank you for all that you do day-in and day-out for my child and the nearly 300 other children you take such good care of. The children you teach, you guide, you mentor, you love. The children (more than half of which are identified as economically disadvantaged) who sometimes come to school without having eaten breakfast, or who arrive without warm winter clothing, or who are understandably distracted by challenges they face at home.

I see you treat each one of these children with deep caring and respect. Often, I am amazed at the care and time you take with each one of these young people.

Today I volunteered in a classroom for an after-school homework club. And although school was over, a classroom teacher organized the group, passed out snacks, tutored children, and escorted the kids to their rides an hour-and-a-half after the last school bell rang. Meanwhile, another teacher hand-delivered special homework to my daughter so she would also have something to do during the club.

I've seen you zip-up coats, open milk cartons in the breakfast room, offer a stick of gum to a child on her birthday, host potlucks for your students and their parents, post "We Missed You" notes on the lockers of kids who were out with the flu, and meet with us during parent-teacher conferences where you treat us as if our child were the only one that mattered for those few minutes.

But now I've seen something that stuns me. I've seen some of our state's politicians try to tell me and my fellow citizens that you're living the high life. That you earn too much money, that you receive health and retirement benefits you don't deserve or we can't afford. These right-wing politicians are trying to tell me that your right to bargain collectively as a union of educators threatens our state because we don't have enough in our budget to cover expenses. And yet these same politicians want to give tax breaks to businesses to lure them from neighboring states.

I did not elect these politicians, but they are governing my state. And for that I apologize. I personally apologize to you. For the fact that you and other public workers have been targeted by their right-wing agenda.

I know I speak for many other parents, neighbors, workers and citizens of our state when I say that I will not stand by silently nor passively while ANY of our valued workers--but especially our teachers--are singled-out with blame, scapegoated, or sacrificed in this race-to-the-bottom capitalism.

In the end, this is not about teachers--it's about all of us. I take this personally. And I have a hunch we will not be divided nor conquered.

This is still OUR Wisconsin and I will do whatever I can to make sure we remain true to our progressive, socially just, and pro-human traditions--of which a strong foundation is supporting our schools, our teachers and our children.

With appreciation,
Brian Lavendel
Madison WI

A beginning

Sometimes it's hard for me to take that first step. So much potential for disappointment. But if that always held us back, where would we be?

I am starting this blog near the end of the day of March 7, the yahrzeit of my sister's death. Her murder, 28 years ago.