Tag: Criminal Justice system

The Sociology of Reducing Prejudice

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So much of Racism has been whitewashed for the sake of Gallaudet University to make room for white consumption. As a White Deaf person, I feel embarrassed. The dehumanization of Black Deaf people, it was a cruel punishment which is part of White silence. Why continue legalized punishment? Gallaudet University’s contribution to systemic racism has always to ignore the sanctity of human life. 

One of my favorite Black authors, Charles M. Blow wrote a powerful message:

“Also, I’m sick of explaining racism. You invented it. You should know it better than me.” 

The cap logo: To stand up against bigotry and hate. The face on T-shirt: W.E.B. Du Bois, America’s Intellectual Black Sociologist. Powerful activist. Co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [ NAACP ].

History in the making! Walking on Black Lives Matter (BLM) Blvd, America’s first street named in the solidarity of BLM in Washington, D.C. has been a profoundly moving experience and learning from the truths that cannot be taught, only learned through reading stories from the books, it has opened my eyes and heart to continue and to unpack my White privileges in a soul-searching experience.

I have been studying hate crimes for 13 years. I put myself to learn Methodology of the Oppressed course has helped to shape and strengthen from further examining the White Privileges in time-sensitive efforts to support the Black Deaf community and Black Lives Matter.

The dynamics of this methodology taught me how to develop skills necessary for understanding diversity-related issues and content; identifying and consciously constructing ideology; Those kinds of dynamics have been explored as the methodology necessary for handling conflicts.

Before continuing to proceed, the long road to cultural healing, then we must begin by understanding the White Privileges. But here we are faced with consequences, thinking it would be gone, all gone–that is the sociological problem.

Knowledge is power. How does Racism understand and grapple with issues of power? What is the relationship between systemic racism, institutional racism, and internalized racism on the campus of Gallaudet University? In this learning experience, what is the biggest role of standing up against Racism? Gallaudet University has been always a racist system since day one.

We must continue our solidarity to see the stories seen–and continue to fight back with everything we offer. After walking on BLM Blvd in Washington, D.C.; where it was the same location that is the most politically marginalized place anywhere in the United States. It is amazing to see something like this. The thrill of participation is something I will never forget in my life.

I would like to show you the books that I would like to suggest reading. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin, discussing lynching, white segregation, the second book, Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson, tears means cleaning out toxic, white tears need to examine much deeper, the third book, Trust in Black America: Race, Discrimination, and Politics by Shayla C. Nunnally, impacts political life, listen to their struggles, the fourth book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, this book is one of my favorites, examine the system, for example, criminal justice targeting Black community, it is a must-read, it would make you unpack White privileges so deep enough to understand deep-rooted Racism;

The fifth book, Living With Racism: The Black Middle-Class Experience by Joe R. Feagin & Melvin P. Sikes, listening to their painful stories through Black experience, sufferings, struggles, and the laundry list and that is where that leads to examine the White privileges. The sixth book, Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice by Paul Kivel, teaching White people how to resist Racism.

Finally, the seventh book, The Many Costs of Racism by Joe R. Feagin & Karyn D. McKinney, that book is about Black families, Black workers, Black experience, many to list, and how the cost could impact the lives of the Black community in the age of Racism, and that is where it would require White privileges must continue to examine, most importantly, critically. 

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-JT

Copyright © 2020 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siZ6FH4UAqo

Using Non-Deaf Returnees to ‘Speak’ for Deaf Returnees: NO-NO!

The Last Hiccup1 Comment

It is important to analyze privileges. Check your privileges! For example, White people speak for Black people? NO! Men speak for Women? NO! Hearing people speak for Deaf people? NO!

Same thing as non-returning citizens. No difference. Those people who had not experienced jail or prison emotionally, physically and mentally. Understand what it is being a Deaf returning citizen or returnees “RC” like after returning to the society. Do they really understand hardships, emotional triggers, stigma, PTSD, depression, labeling, the list goes on. You cannot measure their struggles and understand the pain.

Those non-returning citizens should not speak for Deaf returning citizens.

HEARD [Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf], a hearing-owned organization run by Talila Lewis, decides to use non-returning citizens in a video discussing semantics related to quarantine is inappropriate. Those non-returning citizens should not speak for Deaf returning citizens.

It is the same way for other organizations that use privileged people to speak for unprivileged people. It is best to learn from Deaf returning citizens because they had gone through the system. They are the unprivileged people.

I wrote a column for DEAF LIFE in December 2017 Issue: “DEAF RETURNEES: WHAT DO THEY RETURN TO?” “They’re [Deaf returnees] kept invisible. The stigma they experience is deeply rooted in the sense of struggle, a fear of being silenced.”–Jason “JT” Tozier

For more reading on my piece: Check the link below.

THREE (3) REFERENCES:

https://audismnegatsurdi.com/2018/03/24/deaf-returnees-what-do-they-return-to/

https://www.deafcounseling.com/returning-citizen-on-asl-sign-for-quarantine/

 

 

Deaf Returnees: The Case of Language Deprivation

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There was a story about Deaf returnee settled down for $125,000 in Multnomah County Courthouse (Portland, Oregon). The reason: No interpreters were provided during his well being for the last two nights and deny his right to American Sign Language (ASL) in mind, heart, and respect. The root of respect defines in Latin, ‘respectus’ meaning “regard, a looking at,” what happened for the last 48 hours? Sure, it is not the first time anywhere in America. I’ve seen enough cases. Some were much worse.

We understand public relations and media, having spent time spinning with Deaf community. The county claims that the former Deaf inmate can read and write at own expert guesses. Accessible to ASL interpreters are important, no matter what. While Deaf community is being educated about general news like this story, we must pay close attention to stand up for our rights to access ASL interpreters without bias for communication in the legal system. Justice is being tested.

In Ancient Greek, dike as in ‘justice’ means something like behaving in accordance with nature as the former Deaf inmate reserves the right to behave in accordance with nature professionally and legally where he have the rights to access to ASL interpreters, no matter what.

Being neglected and rejected for seeking for ASL interpreters is considered a legal responsibility, becoming a challenging task. Deaf former inmates/returnees are as much a part of inclusive landscape as anything else and it is ridiculous to ignore our language, ASL. This is a language that needs to be included a lot of time to start and empower through training, because there is less space, Deaf inmates, legal rights to access ASL, more and more honest communication of what is needed. How do we combat it without a notion of what respect is?

Deaf inmates and Deaf returnees live our language, ASL. We can call it Deaf Culture but basically justice of the Deaf, been dealing with oppression of ASL–the lack of ability to respect language and culture with an important human meaning.

However, we need to take a hard look at it as a reality to be dealt with in terms of language oppression, which I realize, is a challenge, and then there is no mutual respect. We cannot forget Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution: Nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Why should neglect knowledge of ASL interpreters and what would it benefit the legal system?

-JT

Copyright © 2019 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

REFERENCES:

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2019/09/jury-awards-125000-in-damages-to-former-multnomah-county-inmate-who-is-deaf.html

Will Mav Fisher Get the Same Treatment?​

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The case of Amber Guyner reflects some serious discussion about privileges. Will Mav Fisher get the same treatment? Highly unlikely.

 

Deaf Returnees: Helping Them Through PTSD

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The adage that there is no perfect machine holds true from a Jack-in-the-Box to the criminal justice system. What can Deaf inmates and returnees broken by this system hope to achieve during June, which is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month?

Especially when this awareness reach extends deeply into the Deaf community to places needing empowerment, healing, and positive steps? What resolution can empower Deaf returnees to build learning, healthy and safe spaces?

Imagine the stories of Deaf inmates and Deaf returnees, their hearts shattering under the fiber of social rejection. Even while they are making a positive change to share their experiences to overcome the depression, they experience bullying, humiliation, and surmounting hardships; the toughest thing.

I believe that there are high and unreported PTSD cases by Deaf inmates and Deaf returnees that the social media needs to acknowledge. The sweeping impact of ignoring Deaf simply for who they are, and the lack of awareness, is not felt enough in the criminal justice system. Just like the marginalization of Deaf returnees in Deaf community, why are they being singled out?

While the United States has put more people in prison than any other country, it does not have resources to help Deaf returnees rebuild their lives once they are released. While there is a growing need, there is also a forgotten movement to end mass incarceration to reduce recidivism. Deaf returnees need inspiration and guidance.

Deaf returnees who are in search of rebuilding lives are at once faced with overcoming steep economic hardship, systematic privileges, unemployment, and lastly, PTSD. Changing the pattern across the country would help Deaf returnees successfully transition from inmate to returnee life on the outside.

The Second Chance Act of 2007, which is having a difficult time getting funding, would most likely hurt Deaf returnees in the long run. Why? So, Deaf returnees would be able to get help and learn how to develop healthy thinking patterns.

One bit of critical information here. Not empowering Deaf returnees enough can become frightfully expensive and mentally taxing. Empowering Deaf returnees would require intimate examination of the territory of their lives and not just a perception of its surface, incorporating new knowledge into other knowledge;

Empowering is a good investment, and the supporters’ efforts pay off. Empowering would gain intellectual and emotional agility and strength so needed in society.

-JT

Copyright © 2019 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.