On February 8th I had the pleasure of attending a very important panel discussion- it was the 12th Annual Black History Month Celebration Roundtable- Black in America.

I will be the first to tell you that it was dynamic! The panelists ranged in age and occupation with one common factor, a passion and goal to see the positive advancement of a people through the acknowledgement of our black history and its all important relevance. A major theme that played through the afternoon was change by means of looking back and reclaiming the Civil Rights Movements original goals because somehow we've lost sight. Our generation seems to have either forgotten or has remembered but is unconcerned.

Okay I know you want me to get straight to the re-cap so here it is:

Photo courtesy of Highlighting Success, Inc. Panelists from left to right: Gail Lewis, Ashley Simon, Rhoundy Jones and Wilma Holmes Tootle.

Panel Discussions

Issue of Redistricting

We are experiencing one of three dynamics in any given minority populated community. We are either CRACKED, STACKED or PACKED. Let me shed some light on their definitions (loosely defined if you will). A cracked redistricted community is one that has been broken up to reduce the strength of a powerful voice advocating for the good of the community in which it actually dwells. A stacked redistricted community is a community in which opponents have increased the 'population' of their voice (those in favor of what ever the opponent to the said community is advocating)- a stacking of the odds. As for a packed redistricted community, this is a community that has been purposefully overcrowded so that no single voice is heard making it easier for things to pass unnoticed.

Here's what the panelists had to say:

Gail Lewis:

Environmental Racism, such as the likes of redistricting and gerrymandering, is a real thing that seriously affects our communities.

Wilma Holmes Tootle:

"Exercise the power of the vote!"

QUESTIONS TO THE PANEL:

How are you helping to ensure long history remains relevant in our generation?

Ashley Simon:

Students feel that it is irrelevant now because they cannot vote. However, there are other ways available to us who aren't able to vote right now. Ways such as:

Encouraging parents to vote
Talking about ways to reach out to other youth to open their eyes to what is important in our world outside of school.
Making sure our voices are heard within our communities so that our representatives do what benefits our community.

Gail Lewis:

We are so connected through social media but it is a false sense of connection. The important issues are clouded by the unnecessary and by conceited behavior. The use of our social media should go beyond sharing and taking selfies and scrolling through or 'liking' an important issue posted online. Connection needs to be real.

Rhoundy Jones:

We always hear "My vote doesn't matter." That is true when you don't vote. Votes do count! As a community, what are we doing to encourage change? It all starts at home. We need to talk AND do! We have to put ourselves on the boards in our communities and MAKE change.

Wilma Holmes Tootle:

Modeling, training and parenting. We need to continue to be vigilant to instill in our young generation that some values NEVER change. Civic Engagement is what we need to implant in all of our young people and not accept excuses that say "things are different now."

“We need to get back the intergenerational conversations.”

— Aubrey Phillips (Moderator)

Question from the audience- "Is there institutionalized racism in the justice system?"

Rhoundy Jones:

Yes. It is not set up to protect African Americans. To change it HAS to start in the states where African Americans have no voice. The latest protests were a tipping point.

Gail Lewis:

Change is difficult because it is hard to attract our people to law enforcement. We would also need to change the mindset of what criminals look like. Take for instance Bernie Madoff, he wore top of the line suits every day and people just gave him their money and he stole everything. Perception of what a criminal "looks like" needs to change.

Wilma Holmes Tootle:

It STILL exists. We need to teach our children the realities. We also don't have to look the way we 'look'... Pull up your pants! It is not our fault that we are targeted but it does not help to look and behave the way we have been stereotyped.

Gail Lewis:

"Black on black crime"- the statistics we hear don't match the reality of what they actually are.

Statement from the Audience

"It is an overstatement that African Americans get arrested for absolutely no reason."

Gail Lewis:

In this instance (topic of conversation) it was / is for what you're wearing, the neighborhood you're in at the time, etc. So, yes, there are times that it is for no reason (legitimate legal reasons).

FINAL PANEL TOPIC / QUESTION & CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE PANEL:

A) "Black-ish"

B) Is Black History even relevant anymore?

Ashley Simon:

"Black-ish" . It doesn't represent all. It gives the wrong perception. It is sad to see us doing it to ourselves. Things like the "Black reaction vs. White reaction" tags and memes on Instagram. We have to work twice as hard because of our color. Even with gender.

As for Black History Month, unfortunately it comes and goes now. Everyone thinks that what was in the past is in the past.

Rhoundy Jones:

"You sound like a white person." Statements like this limit our understanding and progression. If there is a protest BE THE LEADER AND MAKE A CHANGE.

Gail Lewis:

"Black-ish". It does highlight wealthy, educated black people. There are many issues with the show but the "highlighted" is what is good.

On the topic of Black History Month, things experienced now are still relevant to it- as well as perception. Until we can change perception Black History Month will ALWAYS be important.

Wilma Holmes Tootle:

I am pleased and privileged to be invited on the panel.

Forums, groups, actions taken, including a power family (referring to the Solages Family) that represents you fully- THAT IS how we PROGRESS. Finally, Black History Month is important. As long as we look like this (black) it will be.

Now that you've read the re-cap, share your thoughts.