“He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign. He may make statements in the future that don’t reflect my values or concerns.” – Barack Obama

For weeks now, mainstream media have been loathe to separate Barack Obama from his former pastor. Initially, I found it interesting that the views of a pastor would enter the political realm of the race for a presidential nomination. I mean, is there not, according to the design of this democracy, to be a separation of church and state? Of course, as I’ve written before, the African American church has historically been a place where there is a blend of theology and politics — in fact, it was the only place where African American people were allowed to process — aloud and through prayer — the impact of the conditions in which they lived. But now, as I watch Rev. Wright take a pre-book tour and offer more of his public sermons (love them or hate them), I’m compelled to remind the public of one essential detail: Rev. Wright is not Sen. Obama.

The media seems to forget this every now and then. In what is billed as “election coverage,” many news sources devote comments–and significant segments of their program–to statements made by Rev. Wright! Media fixation on the comments of Rev. Wright have fueled a public perception that Rev. Wright is the spokesperson of the campaign, rather than the former pastor of a candidate. I just read an article that suggested Rev. Wright could “cost” Sen. Obama the nomination, and my stomach turned. If it is true that Rev. Wright could “cost” Sen. Obama this nomination, then the same standard should be applied to other candidates, who have been supported by people whose politics have been questionable to significant segments of the population.

There is no monolithic interpretation of inequality among African American leadership, but this has historically been difficult for mainstream America to digest. In the past, there seems to have only been room for one African American leader at a time, one African American spokesperson. There was Booker T. Washington. Then it was Martin Luther King. Then Jesse Jackson. Were there not other African American leaders working tirelessly to counter the conditions of oppression that surrounded them? At the same time, were there not other African American leaders who argued with the politics of these “spokespersons,” challenging them to consider their position on certain issues? Was there not Ida B. Wells and Marcus Garvey? Was there not A. Philip Randolph? Was there not Malcolm X? Just as there is diversity among the politics of white people, so too is there a diversity of thought and action among African Americans and other people of color.

Keep in mind that Rev. Wright is a minister — the former pastor of a church that included (gasp!) more than just the Obama family as members. He has his own thoughts, feelings, and experiences that inform his interpretation of inequality. As a minister, it is his duty to speak publicly about these issues as he sees them. What minister in this Christian theological framework would not seize the public stage to preach his truth about injustice? Still, it is his truth, not necessarily the truth of the candidate he supports for president.

I’m sure you have reminded your mother or father, on more than one occasion in life, that you are your own individual. John McCain is not Pat Buchanan, nor is Hillary Clinton any of the “conservative” leaders and members of the secret prayer group, with which she is believed to associate. And Barack Obama is not Jeremiah Wright. Please remember that.

Will Packer, the producer of “Stomp The Yard” and “This Christmas,” is going to make a movie about Kemba Smith. You might remember seeing Kemba on the cover of Emerge Magazine, as the subject of a feature article which explored the unjust and short-sighted nature of mandatory drug sentencing laws. Once “Kemba’s Nightmare” hit the stands, the African American community, and other populations deeply impacted by incarceration, were awakened to the devastating reach of the flawed War on Drugs. As a young woman born to middle class parents in Richmond, Virginia, Kemba challenged popular ideas about the target population of the War on Drugs and the effectiveness of this nation’s leading drug policies. In her early 20s, Kemba was a naive college student who became the girlfriend of a drug dealer. Despite having no criminal record, she was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for being associated with her boyfriend’s alleged $4 million crack cocaine operation. Since being granted clemency by President Clinton, Kemba has been working to mend her relationship with her son, who was born while Kemba was in custody, and rebuild connections to her extended family and community. She has also remained a vigilant advocate for drug policy reform.

I worked with Kemba to write her autobiography, which will also be published in the next year. Since working with Kemba on this project, I have come to realize just how many people still do not completely understand the flaws of the War on Drugs. After years of public speculation about her story, I’m so happy that her real story will finally be told–in narrative and on film. I hope that by sharing her story, Kemba will be able to help the public better understand the root causes of involvement in the justice system, the lingering impact of incarceration under our current framework, and what it takes to reclaim life after incarceration.

For more information about Kemba Smith, visit The Kemba Smith Foundation.

This week is Sexually Exploited Minors Awareness Week in Alameda County. While this is certainly no cause for celebration, it is an opportunity for us take notice of a pervasive issue in many of our communities. Many of us who pass young women offering to sell their bodies on street corners think of them as “prostitutes,” never once considering that these are children–some as young as 10 years old–who are being violently exploited and victimized. Sexually exploited youth can be runaways, homeless, children in the custody of foster care and juvenile justice systems, and children living at home.

Not too long ago, I remember talking to a group of young women in detention about my novel, which focuses on prostitution, and a young woman stood up to tell me about her experiences. “See, I’m a ho,” she said. “That’s what I do.” I looked at her and she couldn’t have been more than 11 years old. I wanted to interrupt her and say, “No! You’re a 5th grader! You’re a young woman!” But instead, I honored her space to complete her thought. She opened my eyes to the fact that many young women like her are falling deep into the cracks, never able to fully rally the support of a community that is all too comfortable with scoffing at their abuse or judging their victimization. This has to stop. Our children, our society, and our future depend on us to pay attention.

This Thursday, April 24, 2008 the Alameda County Interagency Children’s Policy Council, in partnership with the Sexually Exploited Minors Provider Network and KPFA Hard Knock Radio will be sponsoring a Sexually Exploited Minors Townhall Meeting. If you can, please attend. If you can’t attend–listen in. While this townhall meeting is taking place in Oakland, the issue affects every community in this nation. We all have a vested interest in ensuring that our children are safe!

SEM Towhall Meeting
Youth Uprising Center
8711 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA
3pm – 6pm

For more information, contact Zandra Washington at (510) 618-3458 or at Zandra.Washington@acgov.org

Other Resources:

Center for Young Women’s Development

Elevate Hope Foundation

Interagency Children’s Policy Council of Alameda County

Youth Justice Institute

Children of the Night

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