In 1900, James Weldon Johnson penned “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The tune was a whispered prayer by Blacks who advocated for inclusion in American society. Eventually, the eloquent song was adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as the Black national anthem. Every February, the rich history and unique achievements of Blacks is celebrated under the banner of Black History Month. We celebrate landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
However, one cannot help but to also reflect on the issues that have and continue to affect communities of color, so many years later.
Mass incarceration disproportionately affect Blacks—and Black men in particular. Although Black Americans represent only 12% of the national population, Blacks are overwhelmingly represented in the prison population, comprising nearly 40%. There is a dire need to mitigate entrenched biases that send Blacks to prison. But how?
The Massachusetts Jobs Not Jails campaign and accompanying legislation is our opportunity to make a difference in the commonwealth that will potentially be adopted on the national stage. If enacted, the Jobs Not Jails bill, sponsored by Democratic state Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and state Representative Mary S. Keefe, has the potential to decrease the prison population through needed criminal justice reforms. Reforms such as the reintroduction of judicial discretion in drug charge sentencing, compassionate placement for terminally ill inmates, and therapeutic programs such as vocational training are a preventive measure that are also cost efficient for taxpayers.
The College Democrats of Massachusetts’ Black Caucus is in support of this legislation, and is calling on other groups and individuals to do so as well. If passed, Jobs Not Jails would be of benefit to communities of color, allowing scarce funds to be spent on job placement for former inmates or others struggling with reintegrating into the workforce, including veterans, victims of violence, or youths.
We encourage you to join us in our efforts to mobilize.
