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unproduciblesmackdown · 2 months

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more deconstruction of "normal" as an obfuscating curtain around supremacy & its concomitant oppression more more!! (an interview by george yancy with subini annamma abt DisCrit, the intersection of disability studies & critical race theory)

some excerpts:

"These scholars were naming the ways ableism animated who we center as the “normal,” and how we draw boundaries around that conception of normal, and punish those outside those walls. In schools, we seek out youth we position as “abnormal” and try to cure, segregate or funnel them out of public spaces."

"Those intellectual ancestors, both those who have passed on and those still with us, created a space for DisCrit to recognize that racism and ableism are interdependent, that they depend on and inform each other. That is, if racism is the ideology for situating specific people in subordinated locations, then ableism is how that goal is achieved — by situating the learning, thinking, and behaviors of Black and Brown people as “less than” and “inferior.” Racism and ableism are mutually constitutive because they need each other to survive; whiteness needed to “other” Black and Brown people, and did so through ableism. Both CRT and DS scholars and public intellectuals left space for us to do this work; to seriously consider how racism and ableism inform one another and are normalized, not aberrant in society. DisCrit uses specific tenets to build on this conceptual foundation to name how, in a system of white supremacy, anti-Blackness and settler colonialism, whiteness defines the normal and desired individual; and positions all Black and Brown folks as abnormal."

"I know you’ve engaged in a discussion with the brilliant T.L. Lewis, and they have described how mass incarceration is a disability justice issue. So I’ll focus on how mass incarceration is a racial and disability justice issue because it targets disabled Black and Brown youth specifically. In other words, age does not protect disabled Black and Brown children because they are not imagined as innocent (what Black women and other women of color scholars, such as Jamilia Blake and Thalia González, have named as adultification) and they are also imagined as hyper-strong and aggressive. Instead, disabled Black and Brown kids are targeted and punished because of their disabilities. Moreover, Black and Brown youth are disabled by prison conditions, which cause trauma. Family separation through incarceration — whether in the name of rehabilitation, child welfare or mental health care — are all forms of punishment for perceived deviance. The abuse and neglect in these systems is well documented. We lock up what we are afraid of — if justice is what love looks like in public, then mass incarceration is hate institutionalized. And in the worst cases, our babies die in these hate-filled cages, babies like Cedric “C.J.” Lofton, Loyce Tucker, Cornelius Frederick, Gynnya McMillen, Elord Revolte, Andre Sheffield, Robert Wright, and more unnamed babies. Or they die while being rounded up to be put in these cages like Ma’Khia Bryant, Tamir Rice, Iremamber Skyap, Adam Toledo, and [others]. Mass incarceration is a racial and disability justice issue for Black and Brown disabled youth because it targets and creates disability, all while trying to eradicate their power and resistance."

"Moreover, disabled Black and Brown girls are experiencing higher rates of these negative outcomes than their nondisabled peers. When these disabled Black and Brown girls are abused by the system and their stories become public, their disabilities are often erased. We imagine them as what scholar Michele Goodwin discusses as “too intersectional,” when their disability or queerness is viewed as something to disassociate them from, trying to cleave their identities into something closer to the norm. Yet, this misses the fact that these Black and Brown girls are being punished because of their disabilities, and that disability labels and laws are not protecting them. We must recognize that Black and Brown disabled girls are not broken, our systems are broken. Carceral geographies threaten Black and Brown disabled girls. We must respond by loving Black and Brown girls in their full humanity."

I want to end with what you envision as hope. Like W.E.B. Du Bois, I am not hopeless, but I am unhopeful regarding the racist attitudes, racist practices, racist habits, racist ideologies and racist structures within the U.S. This includes how racism toxically lives intramurally or extramurally, and this includes how racism functions through ableism — or conversely, how ableism functions through racism. This is another way of saying that racism exists within every nook and cranny of U.S. society. I can’t begin to express how angry I feel as I write about racism and other forms of injustice. This anger is not misplaced, and it has its place. You’ve worked as an educator in both youth prisons and public schools. You’ve been able to observe directly how forms of discipline negatively impact girls of color, how they suffer under panoptic surveillance and pathologizing discourses. I can only imagine that they have internalized such racist and pathologizing forms of captivity. How do you find hope in what you do without being seduced by a neoliberal sense of hope that fails or refuses to think critically about systems of racism and pathology? Does anger help?

"For Black and Brown people, our anger is the antithesis of white supremacy and ableism that centralizes docility and compliance masquerading as kindness and civility. I draw from Audre Lorde who wrote about the uses of anger and Brittney Cooper who writes about eloquent rage. Lorde describes the power of our anger when it is focused with precision on the systems that harm us. So, I try to focus my anger on dismantling those systems, like the abolition of youth prisons, and all prisons. I draw from Mariame Kaba who reminds us to practice hope regularly; I practice hope by being in relationship with disabled Black and Brown youth, many of whom are being pushed out of public schools, and/or are currently or formerly incarcerated. I work to support our community as we labor in violent systems. We can create a world that is less violent, more humane, and even joyful. I believe in abolition, so my anger and hope are rooted in the ways I show up, I experiment and fail, and keep showing up to be in community with Black and Brown disabled youth. And those Black and Brown disabled youth are constantly pushing me to be more radical, to develop a clearer abolitionist imaginary. That is hope.

Hope is recognizing how our fights are all connected and cultivating solidarity. The attacks on trans that are so prevalent right now are built on ableism, misogynoir and white supremacy. Therefore, we must be in solidarity with our queer and trans siblings. One study found that 20 percent of youth in detention centers identified as queer and trans: 13 percent of boys and 40 percent of girls. Eighty-five percent of these incarcerated queer and trans girls are girls of color. Trans and queer youth of color often stay longer in family policing systems (known as child welfare) and juvenile incarceration systems, increasing the likelihood of negative impacts of both systems. Queer and trans Black and Brown youth deserve our solidarity and our protection. These same systems are harming Black and Brown disabled kids; our struggles are connected, and liberation means fighting together. Solidarity, the kind where we recognize our common fights and allow our differences in oppressions and experiences to inform our resistance, is what gives me hope.

Also exciting is the work of my contemporary colleagues and earlier career scholars, public intellectuals and activists who are also thinking critically about race and disability while not stopping there, like Jamelia Morgan, Mildred Boveda, Hailey Love, Maggie Beneke, Jenn Phuong, Tami Handy, Adai Teferra, Ericka Weathers, Sami Schalk, Jina B. Kim, Therí Pickens, Liat Ben-Moshe, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Keah Brown, Akiea Gross, D’Arcee Charington Neal, plus a whole host of students who are doing it better than us. They are thinking with less binaries and more interconnected systems. They are more radical and hopeful. And those of us who are developing a sharper analysis because we are listening to them, filling in gaps of our work we missed the first time around. I wanted a theory that centralized the lives of Black and Brown disabled youth, and DisCrit is what grew. DisCrit isn’t the best theory, it’s the one we created when we needed something better. We have always said we want to see it expanded and pushed until its borders break open and something better is born. That’s the beautiful thing about theory, it must continually evolve. As long as we are listening to Audre Lorde and focusing our rage with precision, our theory will evolve to meet us in the moment."

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aqua-cultured · 3 years

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A boy was shot and killed (and another shot and injured) by police the other day in Hawaii

He was just 16 years old

He still had time to learn and grow but no, the police decided to act as judge, jury, and executioner and killed a literal child

Not only that but people are responding with disgusting anti-Micronesian sentiments while their community is mourning

Police brutality and Anti-AAPI hate is alive and well - even in "paradises" like Hawaii, where the police insist they have no need for reform

#Hawaii #hawaiian news #police brutality #protect Asian lives #end Anti-AAPI hate #end anti-asian hate #micronesian #Asian American Pacific Islander #Honolulu #Honolulu news #iremamber sykap #iremamber

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sarkos · 3 years

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The killings of Iremamber Sykap, a Micronesian teeenager shot by an officer eight times, and Lindani Myeni, a 29-year-old Black man who had recently moved to Hawaii with his wife and children, took place just nine days apart. While there were no witness videos of the killings, the cases involved unarmed people of color, and saw police initially release misleading statements about the circumstances. Yet the deaths have struggled to break through into the national conversation, and, while attention has grown as new information emerges, the deaths have failed to prompt the widespread outcry in Hawaii that has turned other victims on the mainland into household names. Local civil rights advocates say the reasons behind this are complex and multifaceted. The reaction to police killings on Oʻahu may differ from the mainland because of the diverse racial demographics on the island and within the police force itself, some say, while others point out that Hawaii’s vision of itself as a multicultural paradise has made it harder for those who experience discrimination and racism to speak out.

‘We say it’s a racial paradise’: how two police killings are dividing Hawaii | Hawaii | The Guardian

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toshootforthestars · 3 years

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Posted 23 Apr 2021:

Minutes before the jury delivered their verdict convicting a former Minneapolis police officer for the murder of George Floyd, another police officer in Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant.

Ma’Khia joins Adam Toledo (13), Anthony Thompson (17), Iremamber Sykap (16), and Anthony Bernal Cano (17) on the list of children who have been killed by the police since the new year began, which includes at least five in the past month alone. Add to that the dozens of children who have been killed by police in the past decade and we have reason to be concerned about the sanctity of American childhood.

Executing children is considered barbaric, uncivilized, and inhumane all over the world.

Four international agreements prohibit the practice—even for children who are involved in violent crimes. Our own Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that it is cruel and unusual punishment to execute children for crimes they committed before they were 18.

With advances in developmental research, we now know more than ever about why teenagers make impulsive, irresponsible, and sometimes dangerous choices, like carrying a gun, riding in a stolen car, or grabbing a knife to ward off a potential threat. But since most of us believe that children can and will mature with time and support, we treat them with grace and forgiveness. We don’t beat them, tase them, pepper-spray them, put them in chokeholds, body slam them, or sic dogs on them. We certainly don’t kill them. But the persistent examples of police killing Black and brown children raises the question: Who is entitled to the grace of childhood?

On Tuesday, Ma’Khia Bryant was shot to death by an officer who reportedly wanted to prevent her from stabbing another girl with a knife. The officers arrived on the scene with little information about how the altercation started, who was in danger, and who was at fault. Video released by the Columbus Police Department shows that the officer shot Ma’Khia within seconds of exiting his car. The scene appeared chaotic for everyone, including Ma’Khia, a distressed teenager who had little time to comprehend the officer’s inquiries, understand who he was talking to, and comply with his demands. The officer responded with lethal force—not his Taser, pepper spray, or a tackle.

Of course, the facts in Ma’Khia’s case are still unfolding, and we only have a short clip of the incident. No doubt, the police want us to slow down, resist snap judgments, and evaluate this shooting independently of all the others. But this is exactly what the police should be doing every time they each encounter a child.

Yes, every one of these shootings is different, but several themes emerge across them all, and it is not too early to conclude that most police killings involving children can be avoided.

#extrajudicial execution is generally wrong and bad imo #news #america 2021 #ma'khia bryant #black lives matter #police shooting #columbus ohio

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chrryblssmninja · 3 years

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A makeshift memorial has been set up at the scene of the deadly officer-involved shooting that happened Monday evening near the corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Philip Street.

Community members have placed flowers, bandanas, and food at the scene where police shot and killed 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap...

...Police say Sykap was driving a stolen vehicle with five other passengers.

Officers opened fire after one officer reported seeing what appeared to be a firearm inside the car. So far, police say they have not recovered any possible suspect weapons.

#Hawai'i #death #violence

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cassh24sg · 3 years

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Hawaii Becomes 49th State To Recognize Juneteenth

Governor David Ige signed a series of progressive laws on Wednesday that cap interest rates on short-term loans, require reporting of financial abuse against older adults, and abolish a state law that allows disabled people to pay less than the minimum wage.

The Democratic governor also designated January as a month to honor survivors of the Kalaupapa leper colony on Molokai, in addition to signing a June 19 recognition law as June 10th.

“It is now more important and timely than ever that Hawaii stands in recognition of the African American experience here in this country,” he said, as well as “the significant roles and achievements of African Americans here in Hawaii and across the country.” . “

Hawaii is the penultimate state to officially recognize Juneteenth. The bill Ige signed did not make Juneteenth a public holiday. But within hours of the signing ceremony, Congress approved June 10 as a federal holiday. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the law.

Governor David Ige signed several bills on Wednesday aimed at tackling social inequalities. Cory Lum / Civil Beat

Ige raised the presence of racism in Hawaii when asked about the recent Honolulu police shootings that killed 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap and 29-year-old Lindani Myeni. Sykap was a resident of Hawaii who was a Pacific Islander and Myeni was black and had recently moved from South Africa.

“I do think that racism is not as widespread in Hawaii as it is in other states. But we still see that certain populations in our community are over-represented in both our prisons and our prisons, ”said Ige. “And we must continue our commitment to the proper prosecution of cross-border actions.”

Racial and ethnic differences are found not only in the state’s criminal justice system, but also in income levels, home ownership rates, educational levels, and more. The inequalities most recently became glaring during the state’s pandemic.

The governor added that the state should protect itself from institutionalized racism.

“Most importantly, we must remain vigilant to protect ourselves from racism being incorporated into our trials and procedures,” he said, adding that he looks forward to the investigation and trial of the three Honolulu police officers, who shot at Sykap. One officer was charged with murder and two others were charged with attempted murder.

“I know that law enforcement agencies in our community have worked hard to reform their processes so that we can eliminate the previous practices that may have been detrimental and not the fairest for everyone in our community,” he said.

Justin Levinson, a law professor at the University of Hawaii, said measuring racism across society is difficult and complex, but his research suggests that negative implicit prejudice against blacks in Hawaii is comparable to that of other states, while implicit prejudice is similar are different from other groups.

“What we know is nuanced,” he said. Hawaiian residents have positive associations with Japanese Americans, while Levinson noted that anti-Asian implicit biases are well documented in the mainland.

Meanwhile, the anti-micronesian and anti-black sentiment in Hawaii continues, Levinson said.

“People here have a much stronger negative implicit bias toward Micronesians (compared to the mainland),” he said. “I have done several studies of anti-blackness myself here and on the mainland and there are still no significant differences.”

Legally Signed Bills Bill

Three other bills Ige signed on Wednesday aimed to improve the gaps between older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income Hawaiian residents who rely on payday lenders.

The state is issuing payday loans and is requiring lenders to switch to a new type of short-term installment loan that will charge consumers less in the next year. Currently, Hawaiian payday lenders can charge interest that can be up to 459% annualized.

The new law will limit the annual interest rate to 36% plus certain limited fees based on the loan amount.

The state has also removed a law that allows companies to pay people with disabilities less than the state minimum wage.

Rep. Joy San Buenaventura said at the press conference on Wednesday that while investigating the bill, she has not been able to find any companies availing this exemption. Still, she and other lawmakers praised the change. MP Richard Onishi described the previous law as obsolete and discriminatory.

The governor said the bill would “restore justice, dignity and respect to our state’s wage laws.”

Ige also signed a law to protect older adults from financial abuse. The law requires investment advisors and others to report suspected financial exploitation of Kupuna and provides qualified immunity for reports made in good faith.

Hawaii joins 28 other jurisdictions that have adopted this policy, Ige said.

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source https://www.cassh24sg.com/2021/06/17/hawaii-becomes-49th-state-to-recognize-juneteenth/

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