In the 5.4.14 post “Another Consequence of Racial Hatred,” I responded to an incident where a group of black men physically attacked a white motorist who was aiding a black child he had struck as the child was crossing the street. The attack, observed by as many as 100 onlookers, was halted when an elderly black woman intervened and put the motorist in a coma that he remains in today.
The media carried this
incident across the country and the world, drawing comparisons to an incident
in Jasper, TX when three white males, two of which were known to be white supremacists,
murdered James Byrd Jr, a black man, by dragging him behind a pickup truck for
three miles, resulting in his decapitation and death. The ensuing outcry from
that case resulted in two of the men receiving death sentences, and the third
was sentenced to life imprisonment.
I had the same
expectations for justice as many others following the assault of the white
motorist in Detroit, MI. However, now
that the legal proceedings have concluded, I am left confused and bewildered by
the messages of the judge, who spoke not only for the “rule of law,” but also
for the expectations of a “moral and just society.”
Here is where my confusion
and bewilderment lies: one of the males involved in the attack was a
juvenile. The other three were adult
males who (justifiably) received prison sentences for their roles in the
racially motivated and unprovoked attack.
Upon the sentencing for
Latrez Cummings, who by then had turned 19 years old and was being sentenced as
an adult, the judge sentenced him to six months in jail. Six months in jail for an unprovoked attack
that left the motorist in a coma and struggling to survive?
One could assume that the
lesser sentence was due to his status as a juvenile at the time of the criminal
act. Okay. That would make sense to focus on
rehabilitation and not punishment. The
others, being adults, are fully accountable and are to be held to the
consequences of their actions.
What I find shocking,
highly questionable and totally unacceptable are the comments made by the judge
during the sentencing phase.
The Associated Press
(7/17/14) reported that Wayne County Judge James Callahan, in responding to
Cummings’ statement of not having a father figure in his life, stated:
“You needed a dad, someone to beat the hell out of you when you made a mistake, as opposed to allowing you or encouraging you to do it to somebody else."
What? Is he serious? Are we on another planet? Our society is demanding accountability, and the judge is telling this young man that he needed a father to beat the hell out of him to keep the child from doing it to someone else?
But it doesn’t stop there. As the prosecutor openly objects to a sentence in which she describes as being “too light,” she adds:
“There are many young black men who were raised without a father but haven’t committed crimes.”
Judge Callahan, who is white, was obviously offended by her remark. He replied:
“Did I ever use the term “black”? It does not matter if the person is black, white, yellow or red.”
So, if color is not the issue, does this mean that all young men need their fathers to “beat the hell out of them?” Is this the “rule of law” and the expectation of a moral and just society? As a father, am I expected to do this?
My confusion and bewilderment aside, as a professional, as a person and as a father, I am writing the following OPEN LETTER to Judge Callahan:
“You needed a dad, someone to beat the hell out of you when you made a mistake, as opposed to allowing you or encouraging you to do it to somebody else."
What? Is he serious? Are we on another planet? Our society is demanding accountability, and the judge is telling this young man that he needed a father to beat the hell out of him to keep the child from doing it to someone else?
But it doesn’t stop there. As the prosecutor openly objects to a sentence in which she describes as being “too light,” she adds:
“There are many young black men who were raised without a father but haven’t committed crimes.”
Judge Callahan, who is white, was obviously offended by her remark. He replied:
“Did I ever use the term “black”? It does not matter if the person is black, white, yellow or red.”
So, if color is not the issue, does this mean that all young men need their fathers to “beat the hell out of them?” Is this the “rule of law” and the expectation of a moral and just society? As a father, am I expected to do this?
My confusion and bewilderment aside, as a professional, as a person and as a father, I am writing the following OPEN LETTER to Judge Callahan:
To the Honorable James
Callahan:
Dear Sir,
Respectfully, you are
WRONG. You suggest by your words that wrongful
behavior must be used to prevent wrongful behavior, and that is a harmful
message to send to society.
Granted, our citizenry was
psychologically wounded by this attack.
The time of the sentencing was supposed to be a moment for healing of
the wounds caused by racial strife.
However, the message that
you provided not only serves to encourage more violence, but also serves to
denigrate thousands of young males being raised in single parent homes who have
not turned to violence as a means of expression.
You may have a lifestyle
or live in a space where color and race are not factors, but the reality is
that many of us have to respond to the issues of race and color every day. As African American men, we respond to (and
endure with indignation) spirit-wounding interactions on a daily basis just
from hailing taxis, riding on crowded elevators and other simple acts when interacting
with others in the public domain.
Your comments not only reinforce
the concept of violence as a just and fair punishment for a slight, but also
heightens FEAR, which often leads to more violence. Consider this: what will be
on the mind of the next white motorist who has to contend with the legal and
moral dilemma of stopping to care for another person following an accident
while riding through a residential community comprised of people who are
racially or ethnically different? Do
they stop and risk their safety? What is
the right thing to do?
Privilege and the good
life allows individuals like yourself to wade in the legal waters with opinions
that will impact the lives of others for many years to come. What is sad, however, is that you truly do
not understand the realities facing our psychologically wounded brethren as
well as this missed opportunity to heal those who could have benefitted from
prudent words and actions.
Judge Callahan, shame on
you. Violence can never be the answer or tool for effective discipline for our
children regardless of gender. In a moral and just society, it is essential
that we identify alternative ways to communicate restraint and other such
skills without the use of violence.
Just for a moment, consider the type of person
who is raised with violence as his foundation.
What type of spouse will he become? How will conflict be resolved in
spousal relationships? Does one now add
the term fear into the martial contract or vows?
Sir, this is not the type
of society that I seek to leave for my children. I call upon all men and women regardless of
race, color or ethnicity to reject the reasoning that you have handed down from
the judicial bench.
Your comments deepen the emotional
wounds and diminish the good works of many of your judicial colleagues around
this nation. Truly, your words do not
represent their beliefs or their oath of service to their communities.
One particular jurist, the Honorable LeRoy McCullough, Judge, King County Superior Court (Seattle, WA) is
well known and respected by local citizens as well as within the legal
community. Judge McCullough has accepted
it as his responsibility to serve as a role model from the judicial bench,
church and community activities.
Judge McCullough has, on
numerous occasions, spoken to youth, particularly young men of diverse ethnic
communities, and offered guidance, role modeling and understanding as to the
expectations of citizenry in a moral and just society.
One day Judge McCullough
and I will have the opportunity to sit in fellowship and discuss your
words. The humanness of the error will
be acknowledged, lessons will be learned, and as we conclude, the two of us
will continue to honor our work and the passion of service to our communities.
Another missed
opportunity. What can we learn and take
away from this? To advocate for violence
to prevent violence will only serve to achieve further violence. In the end, we become victims living in fear
of each other.
Let us stand at the
crossroads and have the willingness to forsake violence and chose a different
direction.
Without the rule of law,
we live in a society bent on chaos. As
you sit on the judicial bench, please weigh your words carefully and serve to
model the behavior that is desired in a moral and just society.
Respectfully,
Dr. Micheal Kane Psy.D.
MSW, CTS LICSW
Until the next crossroads. The journey continues…
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