The NAACP is holding its 98th Annual Convention (July 7-12, 2007) where it will conduct seminars and workshops to explore new ideas to address

Inglewood California

On “TALKING POINTS: EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE,” the NAACP lists statistics related to police brutality and excessive force. A number of disturbing statistics are listed, the most revealing of which regards Austin, Texas, which states:  of 6,447 reports of use of force, there was only one incident where a supervisor suggested any wrongdoing by an officer.

The page also lists seven “Policy Recommendations.”  The policy recommendations, while quite sensible, are far from being proactive. They amount to idealistic suggestions with no means of implementation. One example:  “Accountability: Incidents of excessive use of force and disparities in arrest should be tracked for individual officers and used as a factor in promotion and retention.”

Police abuse remains one of the most persistent problems African Americans face on a very individual and personal level, particularly Black males. It is also a societal problem that is highly resistant to change. U.S.A.ThisWeek is offering ideas that, if put in place, will amount to active steps being taken to confront and begin to reverse these deplorable acts.  U.S.A. ThisWeek is offering the NAACP a common sense plan that will make the organization genuinely proactive in the area of Police abuse and excessive force.

Racial Profiling:

It would appear that the widespread unconstitutional practice of police unjustifiably stopping and searching black motorists would be an appropriate vehicle for the NAACP’s legal defense fund to file class action suits in every city, borough and hamlet where these practices are taking place. Make the cities pay money to violate the constitutional rights of Black citizens in pursuing their racist agenda. The depletion of city funds will force city officials to stop ignoring and tacitly supporting this activity. Successfully pursued, the lawsuits could also replenish the coffers of the organization.

Excessive Force and Police Brutality:

In the case of police abuse and excessive force, we have an even more workable idea which we proposed over ten years ago when we presented the concept to the Congressional Black Caucus. The response, or lack of it, shows why we need a newsmedia vehicle representing the interests and concerns of African Americans that can hold accountable those who purport to represent Black people. Having a voice in the form of a national weekly news magazine means we can monitor and expose not only those who are against us but also keep honest those who profess to be for us.

In 1994, soon after the Rodney King beating, I sent each member of the Congressional Black Caucus a certified letter suggesting the following:

Rodney King Beating

Each of the Congressional Black Caucus members received the letter and we have the certified “return receipt requested” form verifying the delivery. I think of Ron Dellums, Maxine Waters, John Conyers and other congressmen as people (one would like to think) who are open to ideas that are both workable and beneficial to African Americans and who will make a difference.  To the surprise of some and consistent with the predictions of others, the letter received no response. And of course no such practice was ever implemented.

The NAACP, with its many local chapters in most cities, is actually in a better position to implement such a plan than the Congressional Black Caucus. The NAACP can establish a national “800-Police Abuse” number and have its local units install their own numbers with the information collected to be funneled up to the national office.  In time, it can compile and publish the resulting data and determine what other measures to take or how to use the information most effectively.

The idea of being proactive is desirable but it means deeds not just words. Suggestions have merit but action gets results. The U.S.A ThisWeek proposals, if put into practice by the NAACP, would make their program genuinely proactive. The introduction of U.S.A. ThisWeek represents yet another common sense, proactive solution to a problem with which African Americans have been confronted from day one, which is bias in the media and the lack of a national voice.