Transforming Justice...by Changing the Narratives.
This week we will explore "Restoring Humanity" w/ Rev. Tia Littlejohn
When we refer to people who are, or have been, in contact with the criminal justice system as “felons,” “offenders,” “inmates,” or “convicts,” we define them by the worst act of their lives, creating a stigma that lingers long after they’ve paid their debt to society.
If we are serious about removing barriers for people with felony convictions, we must change the words we use to describe them.
For centuries, criminologists erroneously regarded people who broke the law as savages and animals... Remember the term "Super Predators" which was first coined in a Magazine article in 1995....The coming of the Super Predators. The article written by a young Princeton professor that did a study on some Philadelphia boys. He blamed these chronic offenders on “moral poverty … the poverty of being without loving, capable, responsible adults who teach you right from wrong.” He warned that by the year 2000 an additional 30,000 young “murderers, rapists, and muggers” would be roaming America’s streets, sowing mayhem. He wrote, “They place zero value on the lives of their victims, whom they reflexively dehumanize as just so much worthless ‘white trash.’"
This dehumanizing "Superpredator" theory had a profounding effect on how the media, Judge, Prosecutors, Police and everyday citizens viewed young black men. The Super predator messaging suspended the feelings of empathy towards young black people and people of color. It is a racist theory that had no crime stats backing.
This is just one of many examples of dehumanization of people. This week's conversation lead by Rev Tia Littlejohn will explore these examples and how we can change these narratives, and reduce stigmas. No one should be defined by just one experience or aspect of their identity. Leading with “people” affirms our shared humanity. How we describe the men and women involved in the criminal justice system should respect their individualism, diversity, and humanity, not flatten their identity and neglect their capacity for growth.
So please join Rev Tia Littlejohn, The Justice Gerard Movement, Jay Love, Attorney Hugo Mack, Alexandria Hughes, and Trischè Duckworth for this community conversation.
To learn more about The Justice for Gerard Movement go to: www.change.org/Justice4GERARD
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