Disrespect. Betrayal. Hope.
Those words best exemplify the year 2010.
Disrespect was the tone of the entire year, as some whites celebrated early the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with open hatred and full throated racism and bigotry towards African-Americans.
There was the spectacle of the tea party crowd shouting racial expletives and spitting on African-American congressmen; including Rep. André Carson of Indianapolis.
On the airwaves, there was the open bigotry of Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and the first lady of bigotry Sarah Palin; on Fox News and in cyberspace there was the caterwauling of those who still can’t countenance a Black man and family occupying America’s White House.
But it wasn’t just the disrespect shown to the leader of the free world.
Here in Indy, white disdain and disrespect was visibly manifested when a young Black freshman basketball player at the high school in one of Indiana’s most affluent cities was violated riding a school bus.
The four accused bullies, including one hateful brother, were treated like innocent victims, while the real victim and his family in the Carmel bullying/hazing case were forced to endure a biased justice system resembling Mississippi’s in the 1960s.
If a white freshman had been violated by Black or Hispanic youth the way the Carmel victim was, those attackers would’ve been locked up, facing serious felonies and serious time.
Instead, the Carmel, Mississippi (yes, I meant that) justice system gave their privileged sons raps on their knuckles, while the real victim remains scarred for life.
Mississippi justice was also demonstrated in the Brandon Johnson case; the youth beaten and injured by ineptly trained IMPD officers. Coupled with the many scandals among IMPD officers this year, the Johnson case showcased the ineptitude of police and city leadership and demonstrated that Indianapolis’ overall leadership – civic, business and political – still doesn’t treat our 250,000-strong African-American community with any modicum of respect.
A Black youth living in a white-majority neighborhood is beaten ridiculously by cops, who then issue an oral report that says little. Most cops involved aren’t sanctioned. And the one who is gets exonerated by an incompetent Merit Board.
Meanwhile, Indianapolis’ Mayor Greg Ballard stays silent for more than a month before commenting; never personally expresses any remorse to Johnson’s family.
Though the same mayor quickly expressed remorse to the families killed and maimed by a drunk, on-duty police officer. A horrific accident that reinforced everything African-Americans believe is wrong with Indy’s police.
But what do we expect in a city whose chief executive refused all year to meet with Black elected officials; the NAACP or long established Black ministerial groups?
What do we expect from a city where the number of African-American police hired or promoted in 2010 could be counted on the fingers of one hand? A city where the number of Black firefighters is regressing; where no Blacks head major city departments?
When one wonders where the attitude of disrespect starts, look no further than the folks at the top; whether in Washington, the Indiana Statehouse or the City-County Building.
Betrayal was another major theme of the year.
It began when Sen. Evan Bayh, a potent force in Indiana politics for 24 years, the glue holding Indiana’s Democrats together, abandoned his president, party and state refusing to run for re-election. Bayh’s absence from the ballot kneecapped Democrats and led to a Republican landslide control of the Indiana Legislature. Bayh then added insult to injury by sitting on the sidelines with $10 million that could’ve minimized Democrats’ losses.
Example, in a combination of disrespect and betrayal, Bayh sat on his hands while Charlie White, a Republican candidate who committed naked voter fraud, was elected Indiana secretary of state.
Did Bayh offer or spend some of his millions for campaign ads on Democratic challenger Vop Osili’s behalf? No, Bayh selfishly didn’t help. Now a vote frauder will become Indiana’s chief elections officer, making a mockery of GOP claims that fighting voter fraud is critical.
Bayh’s betrayal sets up a period where Democrats and progressives in Indiana will be under assault from resurgent Republicans. Their radical agenda includes a frontal attack on labor unions as they strive to make Indiana an anti-union state on top of being an anti-worker state.
And though Indiana didn’t lose a congressional seat in the 2010 Census, expect Republicans to minimize gains of Black legislative seats and try to dilute André Carson’s congressional district.
Hope, though, shone during the year.
In Indianapolis/Marion County, fueled by strong Black voter turnout in a Republican year, Democrats won every countywide elected office, including prosecutor for the first time in 16 years.
Rep. Carson’s impressive 31,000 vote victory over Marvin Scott’s prejudiced campaign was the biggest electoral victory of either André or his late grandmother Julia Carson.
Carson’s stature and respect in Washington is growing. He’s now a member of the leadership in both the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Democratic Caucus.
With the leadership vacuum caused by Bayh’s betrayal, Carson’s becoming one of his party’s top leaders.
Our African-American community’s mailback response to the 2010 Census was magnificent, with increases, some impressive, in every Black-majority neighborhood. That response helped make Indiana’s population growth the best in the Midwest in percentage terms and second best in actual numbers.
The percentage of African-Americans graduating in four years from area high schools was the largest in years. Though the percentage of those graduates earning diplomas that inhibit their ability to attend college remains disturbingly high.
Martin University’s leadership change, with the departure of controversial President Dr. Algeania Freeman, promises to bring hope and stability to a critical community institution.
And the year’s best hope? An African-American administering justice in our federal courts as Tanya Walton-Pratt became Indiana’s first African-American federal judge.
Speaking of justice, 2010 ends with the passing of two African-American community lions.
John Moss shepherded the Indianapolis school desegregation case, bringing integration to township schools and neighborhoods. While some criticize the busing decision and solution, the estimated 54,000 Blacks now living in those formerly all-white townships is testimony to Moss’ positive result.
William T. Ray was Indiana’s first accredited Black Realtor, with his 35-year firm. An honored combat veteran, Ray helped found Indiana’s only Black-owned bank. A former NAACP president, Ray was a quiet leader serving our community and people in politics, finance, civic affairs, whose quiet advocacy got results.
I salute them both and express my deepest sympathies to their families. These strong lions will be deeply missed.
See ‘ya next year.
You can e-mail comments to Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
