From my recent experience of feeling intimidated and bullied at the MN Autism Task Force to that passive aggressive methods in our state – I have been thinking out-loud. Why the resistance to policy change, sharing resources or being equal or leveling the playing autism field?
From the minute and half, I have been an autism advocate I have noticed that no matter which agency, local, state or federal the one sentence they all say unanimously is “we know we are not doing a good job in outreaching to autism families of color”.
Logically when you hear this, you think to yourself – that is awesome because half of the battle is recognizing the need. And, since “they” are aware of it then positive change will come soon.
Then I realized quickly that is where it starts and where it ends (we know we are not doing a good job reaching out to autism families of color). Then a reasonable person thinks – OK, well if they are aware and nothing is changing, maybe I will recommend things and they will then make a change.
Not so fast because now when sharing resources, changing policies, hiring people of color in middle and higher management is in play. Then, there is a level of resistance that would make your head spin in awe and shame just by watching most of “them” come up with a reason to not be equal and level the opportunity field.
If you are reading this blog then you have probably seen other autism blogs where words and statements can be harsh, painfully correct based on the blogger’s point of view, offensive to some, welcoming to others, etc and etc. The difference is many of these bloggers are usually non minority or a person of color and are seen as frustrated parents, advocates and researchers.
By the same token, if a person of color – god forbid uses the same words, same analogy, same frustration then it is offensive, not cool, not true, not allowable, angry Black person, you name it. In my thinking out-loud and trying to figure out why there is so much hard core resistance, I chatted with many people and one African American person said to me there are two kinds of racism. One kind creates racist and bias policies that are hard to see it with the naked eye. It can be we can only fund big agencies when they know there are no big minority agencies. It can be we just could not find a qualified person of color, yet they train and nurture the non-minority person, We don’t know where to look and we tried. My fav was they will make you so tired of asking and wear you down with no this, negative that and can’t the other. The other kind is those that sort of just stand-by bias and prejudice policies even though they know & understand it. Sometimes, that bystander is worse.
In thinking out-loud – I have come to this conclusion:
Most state agencies in Minnesota have horrible inclusion policies, don’t share funding and resources equally and even if commissioners and asst commissioners really want to make a change – middle management don’t and they are the ones who can make a difference.
Most politicians especially those that win because of minority votes only care for our communities during elections. Think about that – they are policy makers and if they really cared, they would have introduced legislations to reflect that and decrease disparity. But, they don’t and only preach we care when minority votes are needed. These politicians are so smooth and savvy to the point of selling us water even though we are drowning. We buy their campaign words like it was holy water and they turn our backs on us faster we can call their offices. Think about that.
Then there are those politicians that have no idea how to outreach to minorities and could not sell us a life jacket even if we were drowning. There was a recent interesting article in NYT stating in couple of decades or so – Americans of color will become the majority in America. So, who knows maybe then these politicians will see our votes value.
Minnesota is not a poor state, rather one of the wealthiest states and the fact that it is at the bottom of every pit for almost every category for people of color including autism – is not because no one knows what to do. It is because no one of power wants to make change. They are the politicians, the state agency leaders and their middle management, the overwhelmingly non minority media, the average person who clearly can’t empathize and so much more. Sometimes, they are the bystanders who can see, can help but do nothing and watch inequalities and despair.
As the saying goes – look up and have faith, we must have faith and look up. The one good thing is if we use our ability and our voting power – we can demand change and demand equality.
For example, using our votes in all elections by not just campaigning for politicians, but using our voices as a bargaining chip. If we vote for you then we want 1,2 and 3. If you don’t deliver – don’t come back asking the same votes. I really think if we ask cohesive and clear tangible goals, we won’t be at the bottom of gap and disparities.
So, let’s keep thinking out-loud because too many important minorities especially African Americans fought for our equal rights and we must fight it so that equal policies are in place so that our children don’t have to lose a leg to gain an inch of a finger. MLK once said Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Allowing disparity anywhere is allowing inequality everywhere.
God Bless!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom