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Yesterday, the team came out and one by one named someone they were standing for. At the end Kobe Webster and Teddy Allen read from notes they had brought with them. Webster: "We stand together as one to find ways to educate people to hopefully stop this terrible trend of lives being lost for no reason. This is not a political fight. This is about being a decent human being. Hate is such a strong word that is unfortunately used and acted on too much in today's world. We know we are not going to change everything that is going on by standing here today. The goal for us is simply to make our community and our state stand behind us and in not accepting these injustices as ok and turning a blind eye. We cannot allow this great country to be filled with so much hatred and anger towards one another. It is not a place that we want to live in when knowing that when we leave the house we might not return because someone views us as a threat. A threat being our skin color or wearing a hoodie, or by simply looking different than someone else, or sadly by sitting in our own living room." Allen: "There is no denying that we have different stories and backgrounds. We all have moments in our life where we've had to overcome something, but the color of my skin is different, putting me at a higher risk. We are tired about talking about the same things over and over while losing precious lives along the way. Are we fighting a pointless fight? How many more hashtags need to be created by the police for people to start caring? We cannot only care when it is convenient; we cannot only care when it impacts us directly. Caring about someone else's life should fall within basic human ideals. We are standing here together as black and white people making it clear that we are sickened by the events in our country involving police brutality and systematic injustices towards our black people. We want to play a roll in change and we want you all to join us. No more hashtags, only change."

Excellent book indeed. For many of us who lived through the Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, Black Panther era we were likely hoping and praying that this country progressed. I guess we have a bit with womens rights. And despite the current issues we have made some progress with the rights of people of color (I also choose to include Native Americans). BUT, we have a ways to go. Those individuals though, that are trying to make this about politics...please stop. This is not about a vote or a politician. This is a systematic social problem that starts at home with parents and teachers and preachers and discipline. Learn that there is a right way and a wrong way. If you choose the wrong way, there will be repercussions or a price to pay. As my parents like to say if you commit the crime then be preapared to do the time. Nuff said.

I note a touch of sarcasm. You said people should actually be taught history and my response was that many times what is taught as history is truncated and therefore misleading. MLK, like all of us was a complicated person. Though never forsaking non-violence, he became much more radical, marginalized by the mainstream civil rights movement, and hated by white America by the time of his death. When we leave out inconvenient truths and teach only great man history the common person feels there is nothing they can do to affect change because they aren’t “great.” We can all be great, we are all flawed, we can all be part of affecting the change that we as individuals want in the world. I have a gut feeling we probably have different views of what we want the future world to look like, but we should both be provided the opportunity and allowed the use of the tools that our system is supposed to guarantee all of us, to try to create the future we want. I admit that’s a very hopeful, optimistic view of what we can be as human beings and a nation. It should be an easy target for your sarcasm. The cartoon is from 1967.

I agree with everything here, and I would add, we should also find a way to massively increase spending on inner-city schools, primary and secondary. As to your third point, it seems to me like we're getting to the tipping point of getting marijuana legalized nationwide. We're approaching 50% of states that have either fully legalized it (11 states + DC) or allow medicinal use + decriminalization (12 states).

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/the-ncaa-is-exploring-these-potential-start-dates-for-the-2020-21-college-basketball-season/ Nov. 25 and Dec. 4 are at this point considered the preferred dates. One source indicated to CBS Sports that Nov. 25 has a slight edge over Dec. 4.

If this was directed at what I wrote (not saying it was), I agree that part of the issue is cultural, but that culture was developed in an artificial, state-sponsored environment designed to fail. There are policies that could greatly help reverse these trends (child brain development, home ownership, generational wealth, prison reform) that could position young people in these environments to get out, create nuclear families, and actually have bootstraps with which they can pull themselves up. People of color in the suburbs do not have these inner city cultural problems or crime rates. It’s a poverty issue, and that poverty was state sponsored and intentional in its creation. Political examination is, therefore, unavoidable, and is the prerequisite for socio-cultural reform. You cannot have one without the other.

What is a "housing discount?" Like a special low mortgage rate that only black people can qualify for? And how do you decide who gets the discount? Do 21st Century immigrants from Africa get it, just because of their skin color? What about people from multiple racial backgrounds? Personally, I think you're leaving out one of the best options, universal basic income. UBI would raise the quality of life for those in poverty, while also providing a financial safety net for people wanting to start their own business, take time off to pursue advanced education, etc.

Could you be more passive aggressive? Say what you're gonna say man.

I'm an academic as the brunt of my living. There are three things from my research I would propose to empower our Black American families: 1. Universal Pre-K. There should be no political argument here. It is not a child's fault what situation he is born into. 80% of the brain is developed by roughly age 6. We need compulsory education starting at age 2. This isn't my opinion. The literature is conclusive. The age 5 compulsory start for children is completely arbitrary. 2. A 60-year housing discount for Black families to reverse the FDR (and beyond) redlining over a 60 year period in the 20th century. Here's a fairly entertaining video of how the American hood was invented. While I do think there are massive cultural problems in places like inner city Chicago, it is important to note that the slums of our country are artificial in nature. When artificial things are created and there is a constant critical mass, unnatural chaotic things tend to happen. This was a state-sponsored and state-designed implementation, and it is up to the state to do what they can to reverse it. 3. Legalize marijuana. Our prison system is completely insane and loaded with non-violent criminals. Increase freedom and get the government out of the personal choices of adults. This would also greatly hurt Mexican cartels and decrease illegal immigration. We tried prohibition once. It's a colossal waste of time and tax dollars. I'm happy to entertain cordial discussions on the topics I've listed above from any viewpoint anyone wants to put forward. I've always been impressed with the civility and intellect of this board. Intellectual diversity is a good thing. Communication is a good thing. I don't find it particularly profound to point out that oppression exists. That's kind of an undergraduate thing, but it's a good place to start for critical thinking. I'm more interested in solutions, and I don't think anyone on the known political spectrum is attempting to do this right now. Otherwise, I'm happy to leave this here as a (hopefully perceived) relevant contribution to the original post.

Are we allowed to comment on this or are only certain viewpoints permitted? I just want to know the rules so I don't violate them.

Put this in the other thread, but I'll move it here instead. I was impressed with Teddy Allen showing leadership and maturity there. Credit where it's due.