Category Archives: OCG Broadcast Profiles

“Restorative Justice, Slavery, and the American Soul” . . . The Question of Reparations” l This Week on Our Common Ground

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OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham

“Restorative Justice, Slavery, and the American Soul”
. . . The Question of Reparations”

February 23, 2013 10 pm ET

02-23 Blevins

OUR Guest: Michael BlevinsAuthor, Professor, Change and Justice Leader/Activist

 Founding Executive Director, NE Iowa Peace & Justice Center

ABOUT Michael Blevins

Mike Blevins fall.2012.Michael Blevins, JD, M.Div, LL.M (Intercultural Human Rights) works from Decorah, IA. He was a defense attorney for ten years in the state of Kansas and is an ordained pastor. He currently is a human rights advocate and activist who teaches Ethics and Philosophy at the college level and was recently the founding Executive Director of the NE Iowa Peace & Justice Center in Decorah, Iowa.

Mike is a Diversified Social Change and Non-Profit Professional with over twenty years experience in law, ministry, classroom teaching, community organizing, non-profit leadership, conflict resolution services, strategic planning, human rights advocacy and non-profit community development–including non-profit leadership, human rights education and advocacy.

He authored “Restorative Justice, Slavery, and the American Soul, A Policy-Oriented Approach to the Question of Reparations”, which was awarded the 2005 Institute of Policy Sciences Best Graduate Student Paper prize; the paper was presented by the author at the Annual Symposium of the Institute of Policy Sciences at Yale University Law School in October, 2005; Published by the Thurgood Marshall Law School Journal (Volume 31, No.2, pp. 253-322, Spring 2006.

Our discussion with Mike with focus on the following topics:

  • What is Restorative Justice and how might it apply to the evil of White Supremacy
  • Mass Incarceration and other aspects of the New Jim Crow
  • The Question of Reparations 
  • Reparations Initiatives including HR 40 (Conyers) and other proposals for approaching reparations 

HIS WORK
Blevins, Michael F. (2005). Restorative Justice, Slavery, and the American Soul, A Policy-Oriented Intercultural Human Rights Approach to the Question of Reparations. Thurgood Marshall Law Review. 31:253-322. Summary by Restorative Justice.Org:
“Blevins provides an overview of how past slavery has an effect on present society; reparations have not been paid to the African American community and injustice remains. Reparations, Blevins states, should come in the form of aid, not charity, and that the United States owes reparations to both Africa and African-Americans. The current theories and laws addressing slavery reparations are centered on a litigation approach. This approach is ineffective and inhibits justice from being served. Blevins then discusses the Restorative Justice approach, briefly mentioning the Truth and Reconciliation processes in Africa, the Truth Commission established in Peru, and other Restorative Justice initiatives around the world. The article states that if nothing is done in the United States to address the past and present problems with slavery and racism, these problems will continue. To be successful, the reparations movement must occur within the academic, professional, civic, and religious sectors. Blevins suggests that an African American Redress Commission should be established by the House and Senate. Additionally, a commission would then be established in each district, with the purpose of conducting investigations and research, holding hearings, and holding community forums. The most important aspect of these commissions being the forums because the community would have a chance to be heard and to come up with solutions for the present problem. Each district would then submit a plan to the executive Commission, complete with legislative recommendations, entitled “America’s 21st Century Contract with African Americans.” Blevins ties this whole process to the commencement of slavery in Jamestown Virginia, comes up with an outline of a possible payment plan from the United States government to both African Americans and Africans, and challenges individual States to take action.”OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham

“Speaking Truth to Power and Ourselves”
BROADCASTING BRAVE BOLD BLACK

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Community Forum: http://www.ourcommonground-talk.ning.com/
Twitter: @JaniceOCG #TalkthatMatters
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theGrio’s 100: OUR COMMON GROUND Voice, Nina Turner

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theGrio’s 100: Nina Turner, taking on voter suppression in Ohio

Senator Nina Turner (OhioSenate.gov)Senator Nina Turner (OhioSenate.gov)

Who is Nina Turner? 

The Ohio state senator emerged as one of the loudest voices in the country against controversial voting laws advanced by Republicans in her state, which was one of the most important battlegrounds in the 2012 campaign. Turner, 45, represents the Cleveland area, where she  grew up and and later served as a city councilman.

Why is she on theGrio’s 100? 

Ohio was one of the biggest flash points in the various controversies over voting laws and restrictions during the campaign. And Turner was a constant voice, insisting on making sure that it was as easy as possible for people both in Cleveland and throughout the state to vote. She made numerous appearances on MSNBC and other cable news outlets, as well as making her concerns known locally.

“Public officials at all levels have a moral obligation to make it easier to vote, but some of Ohio’s leaders have ignored this responsibility,” she said last year in the midst of the voting controversies.

Ohio state senator Nina Turner wears T-shirt: ‘GOP: Get out of my panties’

Her actions had impact. In the end, public attention and legal decisions forced Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, to abandon many controversial ideas that could have depressed the Obama vote in the Buckeye State, which the president won.

What’s next for Turner? 

Turner could eventually consider a run for the U.S. House or Senate or as Cleveland mayor. But more immediately, she is likely to continue playing a role in elections in 2014 and 2016 in battling Republicans on voting laws.

In 2014, Democrats want to win back the statehouse in Ohio, and Turner could help rally the party’s base to ensure reelection. And in 2016, Ohio is very likely to remain in the spotlight as a battleground state.

Related Posts

OUR COMMON GROUND l “Black America Already Over the Cliff” l 10pm ET

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 LIVE AND CALL IN

This Week on OUR COMMON GROUND

“Black America Over the Cliff:
Hunger, Mental Illness and Homelessness on America’s Political Agenda” 

 

December 1, 2012
10 pm ET
CALL IN 347-838-9852How Black are the problems of hunger, mental illness and homelessness? Where is the mobilization on these issues in our community nationally? How to create the Black mobilization on these issues ?

What does it mean that these issues did not occupy a place in the campaign, and is not articulated clearly in the debt/deficit discourse? Who in the White House or the Congress is expressing the issues as a public policy priority ? Who is already over the fiscal cliff ?

HUNGER in America
One out of every six Americans lives in a food insecure environment. The term “food insecure” means that they do not always know where their next meal will come from. Since 2006, the number of Americans served by food pantries has increased by 27 percent to 5.7 million people receiving emergency food assistance. 36 percent of households served by emergency food assistance programs have one or more adults working. 35 to 46 percent of households must choose between paying for housing, utilities or transportation and buying food.

MENTAL ILLNESS in America
An estimated 5.2 million adults have co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders. Of adults using homeless services; 31 percent reported having combination of these conditions. One-half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatments, there are long delays—sometimes decades—between the first onset of symptoms and when people seek and receive treatment. Fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children with a diagnosable mental disorder receive mental health services in a given year.

HOMELESSNESS in America
Despite the fact that the number of homeless people was essentially unchanged between 2009 and 2011, there is much reason for concern. Economic and demographic indicators linked to homelessness continue to be troubling. Homelessness is a lagging indicator, and the effects of the poor economy on the problem are escalating and are expected to continue to do so over the next few years. In other words, we do not know the full impact yet.

IN BLACK AMERICA
Epidemic, Serious and Chronic

OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham

“Speaking Truth to Power and Ourselves”

BROADCASTING BRAVE BOLD BLACK

Community Forum: http://www.ourcommonground-talk.ning.com/
Twitter: @JaniceOCG #TalkthatMatters

 

OUR COMMON GROUND l “Black America Already Over the Cliff” l 10pm ET.

Joan King Lane, wife of the late Ambrose Lane

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Joan King Lane, beloved wife of Ambrose I. Lane, Sr., born April 6, 1936, transitioned to ancestry on November 24, 2012.

Services will held Saturday

Renewing Vows prior to Ambrose's passing

December 1, 2012 – 10:30 am

Mt. Pisgah AME Church

5901 Cedar Fern Ct.

Columbia, MD 21044

(410)730-6688

Cards should be sent to Ambrose Lane, Jr.

c/o Mt. Pisgah AME Church (same address as above)

via WPFW – Jazz and Justice radio in Washington DC. – WPFW.

“The Political Landscape of Black Florida” l OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham

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27 October 2012
Our Guest Lia T. Gaines
“The Political Landscape of Black Florida”

Our Guest Lia T. Gaines

 

LIA T. GAINES

Executive Director, The Center for Enterprise Opportunity (CEO).

CEO is a private, non-profit corporation which whose chartered purpose and mission is to improve the economies in distressed communities by lending to small businesses and sponsors of community development initiatives. Lia is the President, West Palm Beach Branch NAACP; Former Chief of Staff to Maude Lee, the 1st Black Commissioner, PB County Board of County Commission; Graduate of Howard University Law School and, partner in “Occupy the Community” is a non-partisan coalition of community-based organizations committed to Educate, Employ and Empower the Community. She is a long-time passionate, smart activist and organizer throughout FL and has made things that matter happen to address economic and political justice in the place where she lives.

http://www.ceoventures.org/index.html
The Center for Enterprise Opportunity (CEO) is a private, non-profit corporation organized under Florida Statutes 112. The chartered purpose and mission is to improve the economies in distressed communities by lending to small businesses and sponsors of community development initiatives which benefit low and moderate income persons. As a Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Center for Enterprise Opportunity is eligible for significant federal equity grants and other awards from the U.S. Department of Treasury to support its lending and programs.

Listen Live Here

About The Center for Enterprise Opportunity

 OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham.

Center for Enterprise Opportunity Executive Director Joins us on OCG 10/27/12

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Micro Loan Programs and Distressed Community projects. Real and meaningful Black community development.

OUR COMMON GROUND with Janice Graham

October 27, 2012

Join us tomorrow night, 10 pm ET

27 OCTOBER  2012
“Florida’s Black Political Landscape”
Lia T. Gaines, The Center for Enterprise Opportunity and President of the West Palm Beach NAACP

 LIA T. GAINES

Executive Director, The Center for Enterprise Opportunity (CEO)  a private, non-profit corporation which whose chartered purpose and mission is to improve the economies in distressed communities by lending to small businesses and sponsors of community development initiatives; President, West Palm Beach Branch NAACP; Former Chief of Staff to Maude Lee, the 1st Black Commissioner, PB County Board of County Commission; Graduate of Howard University Law School and, partner in “Occupy the Community” is a non-partisan coalition of community-based organizations committed to Educate, Employ and Empower the Community. Lia is a long-time passionate, smart activist and organizer throughout FL

About

The Center for Enterprise Opportunity
Mission

The Center for Enterprise Opportunity’s (CEO) mission is to serve as a sustainable business development and finance institution for low and moderate income entrepreneurs, small and emerging businesses and community development projects by working to fill the overall need for capital.

LEARN MORE  http://www.ceoventures.org/index.html

Center for Enterprise Opportunity – Loans.

OUR COMMON GROUND RETURNS March 24, 2012 •● ☥●• BLACK ● FURIOUS ● FOCUSED•● ☥●••● Redefining Black Power

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 OUR COMMON GROUND RETURNS March 24, 2012 •● ☥●• BLACK ● FURIOUS ● FOCUSED•● ☥●••● Redefining Black Power.

(5) OUR COMMON GROUND May 19, 2012 A Talk with Professor Vernellia R. Randall l “Modern Enslavement: AfAms in the Trap”

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(5) OUR COMMON GROUND May 19, 2012 A Talk with Professor Vernellia R. Randall l “Modern Enslavement: AfAms in the Trap”.

(1) Black Church on Fire: The Black Church and Prosperity Gospel Movement with Dr. Matthew V. Johnson June 23, 2012 10 pm ET

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(1) Black Church on Fire: The Black Church and Prosperity Gospel Movement with Dr. Matthew V. Johnson June 23, 2012 10 pm ET.