Alright – so, we all heard that an unarmed Black teenager was shot and killed for simply walking on the street by a White police officer. This is what happens when the police does not understand the community they serve nor look like them. How does this relate to autism – you ask. Well – when the owners of autism providers don’t look like us or reflect us is why so many of our kids are not treated well, taught well, discharged too soon, put on endless waiting list, prescribed un-necessary hours of treatments so on and so forth. Hence, my point of always we must be representative of those providing services whether in autism clinics or in city streets.
This also proves that racism is alive and well. Have you ever wondered when we demonstrate, it is called a riot and when Caucasian Americans including those with guns such as Bundy defy or protest, it is called exercising their first amendment. There is clearly two America here – one for the White and privileged & one for the colored and dismissed. And, this is our fault completely because if we don’t vote or vote for stupid politicians that don’t truly represent us then Ferguson happens – period. Think about it.
Ferguson, Missouri is over 60% Black, yet the Mayor is White who hires the police chief who is White and hires police officers. You see the connection. Stupid is as stupid votes. If Ferguson residents actually voted for a mayor that reflected them, then that mayor would’ve hired a police chief that reflected the residents who would’ve hired police officers that again reflected the residents there. Get it – if you vote wisely then policy and leadership change happens. But if we don’t vote or assume our votes don’t matter then Ferguson happens.
So many people are angry right now and rightfully so, but no Black leadership is making the case of why Ferguson is so poor, schools are under-funded and no one looks like them in city leadership. To me as a rookie autism advocate that is where the Al Sharptons, Jesse Jacksons and the Boyce Watkins need to concentrate on. Vote for those that reflect you or will hire people that will represent you.
If we use this example in Minnesota – Take Governor Dayton who won with less than 9000 votes and if he did not get over 90% of the Black vote would not have won. Gov Dayton has over two dozen commissioners, ONLY one is African American in charge of MDHR (Minnesota Department of Human Rights) which receives the least resources of the state budget and has almost no power to do anything, yet Gov Dayton thinks if he just comes to communities of color during elections and preaches useless speeches – we will just vote for him again.
In the last several weeks, Gov Dayton has visited and went to almost every Somali event and some clueless Somali person even held a fundraiser for him. Let me say this to that naive Somali person – 1st, Dayton is from the Dayton department store, he earns more money by just breathing than you ever will in your lifetime. 2nd, Dayton’s ex wife who still funds his campaigns is an heir to Rockefeller – you know one of the wealthiest American families in the country. So, some Somali refugee raising funds for Dayton is stupid and useless show-off. Maybe you can raise funds for the Somalis in Brian Coyle community center that are homeless because the city homeless shelter is too full, or the families who can’t find jobs because Minnesota has the highest Black unemployment rate in the country. Charity starts at home is my humble little opinion.
My humble advice to any Somali or a person of color is vote every election and vote for those whose administrations represent you not those that just preach useless campaign slogans.
Oh, in case you live under a rock – here is some polls of what Americans think of Ferguson. Racial and Political divide – and this might be why most minorities vote for DFLers. If GOP’s want to win – they must display better compassion and empathy.
Thanks!
Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee.
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate