How Did This Happen?

Social Justice: How Did This Happen?

By Shannon Mouton

Last month, the DNC announced the hiring of "Greg Hinton as its first-ever Chief Diversity Officer."

Really? The Democratic Party needs a Chief Diversity Officer? Really? Does anyone else see the irony in this?

I don't get it. The Democratic Party is the party of the people...Black, brown, white, Jew, Protestant, GLBT, women, etc. Almost any and every marginalized group has been able to find some political refuge under the Democratic umbrella. This is why I'm disheartened to learn the party has hired a CDO; it shouldn't need to hire one.

I was there, 20 years ago, and it was great. Ron Brown was the first Black chairman of a major political party. Alexis Herman was there, along with a slew of men and women representing every facet, shade and angle of America. The consultants and contractors also represented different slices of the American pie. The DCCC and the Convention Committee were equally diverse.

There wasn't a need for a CDO, people understood the headquarters for a political party had to look like the people in the party. How did Democratic leaders forget that most basic principle?

I'm sad, oh so sad.

Media Monday: Are You Ready?

Media Monday: Are You Ready?

By Nicole Hayes

This Monday was a media feast as cable news networks had “breaking news” segments seemingly every hour. At least three major news stories had viewers glued: 1-  A fourth woman named in the Herman Cain sexual harassment scandal held a live press conference in New York and revealed details of inappropriate sexual conduct she received from Cain (She did this with noted women’s rights attorney and pit bull Gloria Allred at her side). 2- Penn State University spokespersons scrambled to address child sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach and  deal with those who allegedly knew about the incidents and did not intervene. 3- A “guilty of involuntary manslaughter” verdict was rendered to Dr. Conrad Murray in the five-week long trial for drug overdose death of Michael Jackson.

Monday’s breaking headlines continually remind us that crises are potentially certain, and your message, response and strategy for successfully moving through also needs to be certain. Incidentally, Cain and his team were sucker-punched the Monday before when the initial story broke of sexual harassment allegations against him. So is PR still necessary? Obviously so. Social media has its role but there is no replacement for the effective, ethical, prepared and seasoned communicator to manage media events. Even with a sunny forecast, rain can sneak in and interrupt our plans. Are you armed with your umbrella to calmly face whatever the day brings? Or will you be running in your good suit, looking foolish, drenched and seeking cover? Be ready for the crisis.

This November 3, 2011 article  “10 Reasons PR Still Matters” by Doug Flora of Morristown Communications, reminds us that the media is always chomping at the bit for a good crisis. How long that story remains a “crisis” is up to you.

We are the 90%

We are the 90%

By: Llenda Jackson-Leslie

We’ve all heard of the 99%. Most of us are in the 99%-- in New York there’s also the 90% that’s the percentage of New Yorkers who are stopped for no good reason whatsoever and are innocent of any crime or suspected criminal act or behavior.

What’s even more astonishing of the 3 million New Yorkers who have been stopped, questioned or searched between 2004 and 2010--- 90 % of them--- were you guessed it Black and Latino. The New York ACLU did an exhaustive report—using the figures from NYPD records. Yes, the police department admits that 90% of the people they stop are completely innocent. So why hasn’t NYPD cleaned up its act. Maybe the Justice Department needs to step in. Read the report here.

The prison industrial complex is also one of the key issues undermining the stability of communities of color, and we are more likely to be focused on Attica or San Quentin than Wall Street, unless the linkages are made. Occupiers must pay attention to occupants.  

What about the 13%

That’s the percentage of African American men who are permanently barred from voting by felony disenfranchisement

Nationally, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are denied the right to vote because of laws that prohibit voting by people with felony convictions. Felony disenfranchisement is an obstacle to participation in democratic life which is exacerbated by racial disparities in the criminal justice system, resulting in an estimated 13% of Black men unable to vote.  Sadly, in the all-out assault on voting rights by right wing extremists financed by the Koch brothers, several states have rolled back paths to enfranchisement for former prisoners.

Sotomayer dissents from SC refusal to hear death penalty appeal

The Supreme Court refused to hear controversial death penalty case—from our nation’s leading executioner-Texas. That’s the case where death row prisoner Duane Buck appealed his sentence arguing his right to a fair trial was violated when an expert witness testified that African Americans pose a greater risk of "future dangerousness." In Texas, a jury must find that a defendant poses a continuing threat to society in order to recommend a death sentence. Justice Kagan joined the dissent. Read Sotomayer’s dissent here here.

Video: RWJF President Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Accepts 2011 APHA Presidential Citation

Video: RWJF President Risa Lavizzo-Mourey

Accepts 2011 APHA Presidential Citation

By: Ryan Duncan

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) joined the ranks of Nelson Mandela, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National WIC Association and families of public health workers everywhere as she recieved the prestigious APHA Presidential Citation as part of the keynote speech in the Opening Session of the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting. This represents the first time that a philanthropy has received the citation.

Dr. Mourey said in her remarks:

“To improve Americans’ health, we need to look at where people live, learn, work and play to get at the factors that shape health even more profoundly than the health care we get when we’re sick,” said Lavizzo-Mourey in a Q&A with the APHA blog, Public Health Newswire. “Improving America’s health requires leadership and action from every sector, including public health, health care, education, transportation, community planning, private business and other areas.”

Congratulations to Dr. Mourey and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for receiving this well-deserved and prestigious award!



Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

Local rapper Head-Roc has a message for Walmart

Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

By: Tamara Braunstein

Local rapper Head-Roc released a new track last week calling out the social justice issues of allowing Walmart to infiltrate some notoriously impoverished neighborhoods in DC.

The video, produced by Empower DC, is shot in black and white and relies heavily on imagery reflective of the Chocolate City moniker, especially small, minority-owned and operated businesses. Subtitles are provided, but one of the most interesting moments occurs around the 1 min. 23 sec. mark, when Dr. Jared Ball, “the Funkinest Journalist,” cuts into the track with the “Three Walmart Commandments”:

1. Move in and crush competition by underselling
2. Pay workers nothing and block unionization
3. Take all that money, put it into the Walton Family Foundation, and turn that into political influence to protect yourself and make even more

Mr. Head-Roc goes on to rap that “the Walton families are big contributors to bigoted representatives and senators…results in Black and Brown casualties.” Despite Walmart’s conspicuous self-promotion to win our approval, it’s clear from this video that some residents are aware and wary of the big-box’s intentions. But what does it mean on a broader scale?

Has Walmart become just another embodiment of DC’s classic racial socio-economic disparities debate?

The original 99 percent

By Shannon Mouton

The 99% are frustrated, fed-up and downright angry.

They are angry for several reasons,

We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent. [from We Are The 99 Percent]

And while they are entitled to their feelings, many people of color, especially Blacks and Latinos, have had these feelings for decades or longer. People of color are the original 99 percent. For the majority of the 20th century, we were locked out, kicked out, held down, beat down, pushed aside, put asunder and so on, while a majority of the American majority prospered under the guise of the American Dream.

It isn't that people of color don't agree with the movement or support its principles, we're wondering what took you so long to join the fight? So when people wonder and speculate why the #OccupyWallStreet movement isn't more the diverse, for many of us the answer is simple..."It's your turn, I'm taking a break."

Trade Tips: Transparency Brings Trust

Trade Tips: Transparency Brings Trust

By Nicole Hayes

When will they learn? Hermain Cain’s presidential campaign is undergoing “damage control” and communications crisis as he issued statements this week to address allegations of sexual harassment toward two female employees when he headed the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. The women referenced being subjected to “inappropriate behavior and inappropriate sexual conduct” from Cain and at least one woman received a monetary settlement. Over the past two days, Cain has given several varying statements to the public on whether the allegations were true, if there was a settlement or “agreement” made to satisfy the women’s complaints. Cain complained that he’s the subject of a “witch hunt” and a “bull’s-eye has been placed on his back.” But isn’t that kind of a given when you’re running for public office? Even the more reason for full transparency. Now, the trust he may have held with some public supporters is waning.

As witnessed in past examples of some public figures’ inability to be fully transparent, even a small drift from the truth can be sensed by people and the media. The media can be unforgiving and relentless when pursuing the truth…and they will surface the truth. With no escape in sight, some will choose that moment to give full disclosure of their transgression to seek our forgiveness and understanding.

We wrote on this topic in June with regard to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and the public shunning he faced for his 10-days of deceiving the media and public.  Like many other public relations counselors, we provided guidance how to best manage such situations. The golden rule: Tell the truth. Be as transparent as you can with the information you have that moment. Get ahead of your story and control it so no one else does. Transparency brings trust. Some may not like your honesty but most will respect you for it.

Note: We’ll keep these tips in our archives for repeat offenders.