The Question That Should Be Asked

WMNF has a story and audio post of the Hillsborough County Circuit Court forum. I had one problem with the story.

After the moderated session, the audience asked questions. Dr. Bruce Miles, president of the Hillsborough County Black Democratic Caucus, questioned the candidates on the inordinately high rate of incarceration of African Americans.

There is no question that poor and uneducated people get a bad rap in the legal system. These people are less likely to properly defend their legal rights. Many people in the black community have been shafted by the legal system. America has a shameful history, in how she treated the African American community. I'm all for correcting that wrong. However, when I hear black leaders talk about the incarceration rate;

I wonder where are the African American civic leaders when black teens are selling drugs at 2:00 AM. What black community leaders fail to do is go into their communities and clean up the crack cocaine problem. Young black males will continue to get incarcerated as long as they sell and distribute crack. 15th Street in Suitcase City used to look like an episode of The Wire. Drug dealing went on constantly. Police have cracked down on in the area. But the problem will never be solved until African Americans stop the sale of crack in their neighborhoods.

The police and judical system will never be able to stop crack cocaine distribution. The government can't make parents keep their children from selling drugs. This was the point Barack Obama made in Beaumont, Texas.

"It's not good enough for you to say to your child, 'Do good in school.' And then your child comes home, you've got the TV set on, you've got the radio on, you don't check their homework, there's not a book in the house, you've got the video game playing."

The crowd cheered. Women started dancing at their seats, fists waving.

"So, turn off the TV set, put the video game away, buy a little desk," Obama continued. "Watch them do their homework. If they don't know how to do it, give them help. If you don't know how to do it, call the teacher. Make them go to bed at a reasonable time. Give them some breakfast."

I have seen bad parenting from people of all nationalities. That does not explain why so many young black people turn to selling crack. (I doubt anyone knows why.) The drug is the unspeakable truth about the black community. Black leaders will speak of worthy civil right causes, such as Jena, Louisiana. Obama discussed easing sentences on posession of crack cocaine. I can't find a quote from Obama about how crack cocaine is destroying African American communities. The subject is taboo amongst black leaders.

Dr. Bruce Miles question on sentencing is fair and important. I hope he knocking on doors and asking parents why their children are out in the streets at night.

Here are the judical candidates running in Hillsborough county.

Caroline Tesche - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 1
Jason D. Montes - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 1
Samantha Ward - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 2
Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 2 Miriam Velez
Kevin Carey - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 7
Catherine M. Catlin - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 7
Lisa Campbell - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 21
Linda Courtney Clark - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 21
Martha Cook - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 30
Constance Daniels - Circuit Court Judge, Grp. 30