Violence, Racial Profiling Raised at Community Event

One woman said she warns her young nephew to be careful in public because of how he might be viewed as a young black male. Another recalled racial slurs that were aimed at her as a child in a predominantly white neighborhood. A third said that whenever a terrible crime is committed, she prays the perpetrator is not black.

Those were just some of the thoughts and feelings expressed at the “Day of Dialogue” held at the First A.M.E. Church in Pasadena on Saturday morning. The event was scheduled in the wake of two high-profile cases of unarmed black teenagers being shot to death.

Many people believe racial profiling initiated the incidents that led to the shooting deaths of Trayvon Martin by Florida neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman and Kendrec McDade by Pasadena police officers. Zimmerman was found not guilty after a trial, and the Pasadena Police Department’s actions were deemed justified after law enforcement investigations.

“The community has not forgotten and is very much aware and concerned,” said James Farr, one of the host committee members.

At the start of the event, those in attendance were invited to discuss the “plight of the young African-American male.” Discussions were led by trained facilitators at each of the more than one dozen tables set up at the church. Community members joined politicians and other local leaders in sharing their concerns and solutions.

“Our hope is to use this as a tool for ongoing dialogue to create a healthier community for all residents to live without fear,” host committee co-chair Char Bland said.

State Assemblyman Chris Holden said it is always important for the community to come together and discuss the main issues of the day.

“The solutions rest in the heads of people who live in the community and experience these challenges every day,” Holden said.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said these events can lead to change.

“While progress has been made over 50 years, we have a ways to go. Most people would say a long ways to go, and we will rededicate ourselves to that effort,” he said.

Many of the participants talked about their personal experiences of being racially profiled or watching others treated differently because of how they look. They believe that minorities and especially young male minorities are viewed negatively.

“George Zimmerman, he’s nameless and faceless to me. He’s just the microcosm for how I feel the majority of Americans view African-American men in general,” said one woman visiting from Harlem, N.Y.

Her group agreed that a combination of Martin’s age and race and Zimmerman’s vigilantism led to him wrongly being perceived as a criminal on the night of the shooting.

Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls, who was participating in a different discussion, said people should stop and think why a person might be visiting a neighborhood rather than assuming the person is a criminal.

“The media has portrayed certain groups as bad,” Qualls said. “When it’s fed to you so much, you start to believe what is put in your mind. My belief is that whatever is presented to you, question it.”

The groups also discussed violence within the black community which some suggested is indicative of larger problems in society.

“When you are devalued as a whole, it’s hard not to buy into the devaluation,” C. David Bradford said.

Days of Dialogue began in Los Angeles as forums following the 1995 criminal trial of O.J. Simpson. More than 50 topics have been discussed. Those include gun violence, prevention of child sexual abuse and creating a better future for children.

“This particular one came about after the trial of George Zimmerman made evident that people were really in need of a forum to discuss their concerns,” Avis Ridley-Thomas, executive director of Days of Dialogue and co-director of the Institute of Non-Violence in Los Angeles, said rarlier this week.

Host Committee Co-Chair Char Bland had participated in these dialogues and wanted to bring one to Pasadena.

“It’s an especially effective way of addressing things where large numbers of community members have a lot of anger, confusion and anxiety about a given topic,” Ridley-Thomas said. “This event helps as a catalyst to get people involved with young men like Trayvon Martin who are sometimes stereotyped and misunderstood and have so many negatives attributes perceived as a result of their mere presence.”

Farr said earlier young black and brown residents of Pasadena should participate in events like this one.

“This platform is so different. There’s no one talking at you. You’re able to engage in a very productive format of dialogue and conversation,” he said. “If each person is able to hear where the other person is coming from, that’s the first step in trying to move on something actionable.”