PROMOTING SOCIAL JUSTICE IN A DIVIDED SOCIETY. Michael Reisch, Ph.D., MSW Be Informed Series, University of Maryland January 26, 2017

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1 PROMOTING SOCIAL JUSTICE IN A DIVIDED SOCIETY Michael Reisch, Ph.D., MSW Be Informed Series, University of Maryland January 26, 2017

2 Our Divided Society Fractured social relations & mistrust Hyper political partisanship Increased inequality Institutional instability, illegitimacy, mistrust Demographic panic Multiple policy implications

3 U.S. Approaches to Social Justice Fair Play : Equality of Opportunity Fair Shares : Equality of Outcomes Compensation for Past Injustices (AA) Distribution Based on Productivity (SS) Distribution Based on Needs (Medicare) Distribution Based on Individual Status, Political Position, or Religious Beliefs

4 Persistent Issues Individual vs. group concepts of justice. Religious vs. secular perspectives Social justice/change vs. social stability. Equality vs. Freedom

5 Hyper Partisanship

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7 Particularly Among the Nation s Youth

8 Responses to Diversity in the U.S. Oppression, Marginalization, Exclusion Assimilation: The Melting Pot Cultural Pluralism: Society as Mosaic A Color-Blind, Post-Racial Society

9 Persistent Oppression

10 Marginalization

11 & Social Exclusion

12 Social Exclusion The process in which individuals or entire communities are systematically blocked from or denied full access to various rights, opportunities and resources that are normally available to members of a different group, and which are fundamental to social integration

13 Increasing Economic Inequality

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16 Yet We Deny How Unequal We Are

17 Wealth Inequality: Perception v. Reality

18 Persistent Racial Inequality

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25 Racial Inequalities in Wealth

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27 Racism & Social Exclusion

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31 Race & Incarceration

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34 The Consequences 1.5 million Black men, ages 25-54, 1 out of 6 in that age cohort, are missing from everyday life due to premature death or incarceration NY Times, April 21, 2015 This has a profound effect on families, communities & our nation as a whole.

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36 Racial Gaps in HS Completion

37 Why This Matters

38 Education & Opportunity Baltimore area has 2 nd highest gap between urban & suburban H.S. graduation rates -- Urban Districts: ~40% Suburban Districts:~80% This is important because: Since 1980: Pay for college grads is up 15.7% Pay for workers w/o HS diploma is down 25.7%

39 Gender Inequality & Social Justice

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42 Gender & Social Exclusion

43 Persistence of the Glass Ceiling

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45 Homophobia & Social Exclusion

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49 Religious Discrimination

50 Extent of Religious Discrimination

51 Increasing Religious Bias

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54 Exclusion of the Elderly

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57 The Elderly are Vulnerable

58 Especially Elderly Women of Color

59 Money, Politics, & Democracy

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62 Wealth = Greater Voice

63 Why This Matters Government policy appears to be fairly responsive to the well-off and virtually unrelated to the desires of low and middle income citizens. Martin Gilens, 2014

64 Denial of Voting Rights

65 Violations of 1965 Voting Rights Act

66 Suppression of Voting Rights

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71 Felon Disenfranchisement

72 Felon Disenfranchisement, 2016

73 Impact on Voter Participation

74 Racial Impact of Disenfranchisement

75 In Maryland ~100,000 former prisoners are disengaged or disenfranchised from the electorate. African Americans are ~30% of MD s population, but are ~75% of MD s prison population & 65% of those disenfranchised due to a felony conviction (Source: Job Opportunities Task Force) Since 2007, MD allows persons convicted of felonies to vote after completion of probation & parole. The law affected 52,000 ex-prisoners.

76 So - What is to Done?

77 Key Points(from Bryan Stevenson) 1. Get Closer to the Issues Be Informed! 2. Change the Narrative Speak Up! 3. Fight Against Hopelessness 4. Get Uncomfortable Be Involved!

78 Getting Closer to the Issues Analyze root causes of people s problems Recognize significance of history & culture Avoid rigid ideological perspectives or single causal explanations Understand connection between individual & structural and personal & political issues

79 Changing the Narrative Focus on creating & sustaining change Deconstruct what passes for truth Point out contradictions in political and media narratives Give voice to the voiceless Challenge & destabilize status quo Subvert rationales for inequality & injustice

80 Purpose of a Counter-Narrative Form of resistance against injustice Points out contradictions Validates alternative reality Disrupts accepted truths Provides a source of social support Forges a new social discourse

81 A Few Possible Examples Environmental explanations for poverty A social conception of health A broad definition of human rights A dynamic definition of citizenship

82 Fight Against Hopelessness Avoid falling into a defensive posture Create an alternative, positive vision Focus on basic human needs & rights Promote structural change not mere participation within existing systems Develop innovative solutions

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84 Promote Popular Education, Civic Literacy & Civic Engagement

85 Use Social Media Effectively

86 Does Participation Matter?

87 Yes - If It is Genuine Participation

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89 Get Uncomfortable Pose new questions Challenge authority/don t accept givens Don t merely preach to the choir Meet people face-to-face

90 Remember

91 Engage in Policy Advocacy

92 POLICY ADVOCACY IS Organizing the strategic use of information to democratize power relations.

93 REMEMBER 2 BASIC RULES OF POLICY ADVOCACY: 1. Nothing Happens Overnight 2. You Can t Change Rule #1

94 THERE ARE ALSO 2 DILEMMAS OF POLICY ADVOCACY: 1. The Dilemma of Perception 2. The Dilemma of Power

95 Implications for Education Learn to analyze power dynamics Acquire lessons from history Apply critical lens to current theories and conceptions of knowledge and research Use different theoretical frameworks Define broad, value-laden concepts clearly Prepare for conflict-laden context of future

96 Implications for Practice & Research Disseminate our research Develop critical consciousness Engage marginalized groups Create broad multicultural coalitions Develop personal mechanisms of support

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99 In the words of James Baldwin: History does not refer merely, or even principally to the past We carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways. It is literally present in all that we do.

100 For Discussion

101 Is America Still a Democracy?

102 Should Policies be Race-Based?

103 How Can Policies Create Gender Equality?

104 Should All Persons with Similar Problems be Treated in the Same Way?

105 How Can We Reduce the Role of Money in Politics?

106 HOW CAN WE BALANCE EQUALITY & FREEDOM?

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