the pioneer press reports today that the city of st. paul will no longer require jobseekers to state on their applications whether they have ever been convicted of a crime. cities such as boston have already implemented this sort of pro-reintegration policy, but it remains a gutsy move by mayor chris coleman. background checks will continue to be conducted for positions involving direct contact with children, law enforcement, and positions of financial trust.
Uncategorized
the times and post reported today on the allegations against embattled minneapolis fire chief bonnie bleskachek. mayor r.t. rybak has asked the city council to fire chief bleskachek after four lawsuits were filed against the city, accusing the chief of “playing sexual politics, retaliating against a former partner, acting as a lustful predator and showing bias against at least one heterosexual male firefighter.”
yeesh. as in many sexual harassment cases, the allegations are pretty bad. it looked as though the city would settle up and cut a deal with the chief, but the taxpayers protested with a collective “oh, come on!” when ms. bleskachek was offered a severance package of about $41,000 and another job in the department.
i can’t determine whether this is a case of a serial harasser and authority-abuser, or a case of homophobic piling-on against the nation’s first openly lesbian urban fire chief, or, i suppose, some combination of the two. having spent a little time studying sexual harassment, i can say that the allegations made in this case are not atypical. as a department chair in an authority position, however, i’m sympathetic to ms. bleskachek’s position: “I wanted to have my day in court, to be deposed, to force these people to produce some proof,” she said. “It’s a devastating blow to my career, my reputation, my everything.”
the times and post reported today on the allegations against embattled minneapolis fire chief bonnie bleskachek. mayor r.t. rybak has asked the city council to fire chief bleskachek after four lawsuits were filed against the city, accusing the chief of “playing sexual politics, retaliating against a former partner, acting as a lustful predator and showing bias against at least one heterosexual male firefighter.”
yeesh. as in many sexual harassment cases, the allegations are pretty bad. it looked as though the city would settle up and cut a deal with the chief, but the taxpayers protested with a collective “oh, come on!” when ms. bleskachek was offered a severance package of about $41,000 and another job in the department.
i can’t determine whether this is a case of a serial harasser and authority-abuser, or a case of homophobic piling-on against the nation’s first openly lesbian urban fire chief, or, i suppose, some combination of the two. having spent a little time studying sexual harassment, i can say that the allegations made in this case are not atypical. as a department chair in an authority position, however, i’m sympathetic to ms. bleskachek’s position: “I wanted to have my day in court, to be deposed, to force these people to produce some proof,” she said. “It’s a devastating blow to my career, my reputation, my everything.”
my nyc punishment conference ended strangely friday night. after the final session, i joined a couple friends at a nearby hotel bar. i felt pretty intoxicated after a drink and a half and went back to my room. i attributed my wooziness to a long day of sessions and an empty stomach, but the next day one of my companions emailed to suggest that something may have been slipped into her drink:
I actually ended up going to the police and reporting this incident. I am now about 100% sure that roofies were slipped into that second drink. My reaction was very unusual. I usually have quite high tolerance to alcohol, yet after a few sips of the 2nd drink, I almost instantly felt out of it. I passed out as soon as I got home and was out cold for about 7 hours. Yet, I woke up around 5AM perfectly fine and not feeling hungover at all.
i won’t name the people or places, at least until i learn more about what happened. but i’ve got more questions than google can answer.
* why would someone target a woman sitting with two other men? rohypnol-like substances can be used for drug-facilitated robbery as well as for drug-facilitated sexual assault. the three of us were well-dressed for the conference (by academic standards, that is), but weren’t flashing cash around.
* who could have done it? the other male in our party is an old friend and above suspicion (i hope that i am as well!). i don’t think the drinks ever left our sight, but i wouldn’t blame the bartenders without much more evidence. do bartenders often feel they’ve been falsely accused in such situations?
* my friend woke up with two black eyes. are any of the roofie-like drugs linked to this sort of discoloration?
* how common are such experiences? i couldn’t find any good stats beyond monitoring the future high school students, which suggest a low rate ( < 2%) of self-reported use.
my nyc punishment conference ended strangely friday night. after the final session, i joined a couple friends at a nearby hotel bar. i felt pretty intoxicated after a drink and a half and went back to my room. i attributed my wooziness to a long day of sessions and an empty stomach, but the next day one of my companions emailed to suggest that something may have been slipped into her drink:
I actually ended up going to the police and reporting this incident. I am now about 100% sure that roofies were slipped into that second drink. My reaction was very unusual. I usually have quite high tolerance to alcohol, yet after a few sips of the 2nd drink, I almost instantly felt out of it. I passed out as soon as I got home and was out cold for about 7 hours. Yet, I woke up around 5AM perfectly fine and not feeling hungover at all.
i won’t name the people or places, at least until i learn more about what happened. but i’ve got more questions than google can answer.
* why would someone target a woman sitting with two other men? rohypnol-like substances can be used for drug-facilitated robbery as well as for drug-facilitated sexual assault. the three of us were well-dressed for the conference (by academic standards, that is), but weren’t flashing cash around.
* who could have done it? the other male in our party is an old friend and above suspicion (i hope that i am as well!). i don’t think the drinks ever left our sight, but i wouldn’t blame the bartenders without much more evidence. do bartenders often feel they’ve been falsely accused in such situations?
* my friend woke up with two black eyes. are any of the roofie-like drugs linked to this sort of discoloration?
* how common are such experiences? i couldn’t find any good stats beyond monitoring the future high school students, which suggest a low rate ( < 2%) of self-reported use.
i’m in nyc for a punishment conference at the new school. after today’s academic sessions, richard gere and carey lowell offered a dramatic reading of prison writings.
the actors were working with some great material, of course, since there are some amazing writers behind bars. prison writing is challenging because simple, matter-of-fact reporting can come off as melodramatic to those of us on the outside. the best writers, of course, juxtapose telling descriptions of the mundane and taken-for-granted — the ceaseless noise, the odors, the lack of natural light — with the high drama and harsh reality that punctuates prison life.
for example, patricia prewitt’s contraband brilliantly conveys the small absurdities of prison life from an inmate’s perspective. other writers addressed heavier issues involving fear, pain, violence, and hopelessness. i found the pieces by jarvis jay masters to be especially moving. pieces such as “mourning exercise” make clear that mr. masters is not just a good prison writer. this one knocked me out:
recipe for prison pruno
Take ten peeled oranges,
Jarvis Masters, it is the judgment and sentence of this court,
one 8 oz. bowl of fruit cocktail,
that the charged information was true,
squeeze the fruit into a small plastic bag,
and the jury having previously, on said date,
and put the juice along with the mash inside,
found that the penalty shall be death,
add 16 oz. of water and seal the bag tightly.
and this Court having, on August 20, 1991,
Place the bag into your sink,
denied your motion for a new trial,
and heat it with hot running water for 15 minutes.
it is the order of this Court that you suffer death,
wrap towels around the bag to keep it warm for fermentation.
said penalty to be inflicted within the walls of San Quentin,
Stash the bag in your cell undisturbed for 48 hours.
at which place you shall be put to death,
When the time has elapsed,
in the manner prescribed by law,
add 40 to 60 cubes of white sugar,
the date later to be fixed by the Court in warrant of execution.
six teaspoons of ketchup,
You are remanded to the custody of the warden of San Quentin,
then heat again for 30 minutes,
to be held by him pending final
secure the bag as done before,
determination of your appeal.
then stash the bag undisturbed again for 72 hours.
It is so ordered.
Reheat daily for 15 minutes.
In witness whereof,
After 72 hours,
I have hereon set my hand as Judge of this Superior Court,
with a spoon, skim off the mash,
and I have caused the seal of this Court to be affixed thereto.
pour the remaining portion into two 18 oz. cups.
May God have mercy on your soul.
Guzzle down quickly
Mr. Jarvis Masters.
Gulp Gulp Gulp!
California State Prison-San Quentin
1992
i’m in nyc for a punishment conference at the new school. after today’s academic sessions, richard gere and carey lowell offered a dramatic reading of prison writings.
the actors were working with some great material, of course, since there are some amazing writers behind bars. prison writing is challenging because simple, matter-of-fact reporting can come off as melodramatic to those of us on the outside. the best writers, of course, juxtapose telling descriptions of the mundane and taken-for-granted — the ceaseless noise, the odors, the lack of natural light — with the high drama and harsh reality that punctuates prison life.
for example, patricia prewitt’s contraband brilliantly conveys the small absurdities of prison life from an inmate’s perspective. other writers addressed heavier issues involving fear, pain, violence, and hopelessness. i found the pieces by jarvis jay masters to be especially moving. pieces such as “mourning exercise” make clear that mr. masters is not just a good prison writer. this one knocked me out:
recipe for prison pruno
Take ten peeled oranges,
Jarvis Masters, it is the judgment and sentence of this court,
one 8 oz. bowl of fruit cocktail,
that the charged information was true,
squeeze the fruit into a small plastic bag,
and the jury having previously, on said date,
and put the juice along with the mash inside,
found that the penalty shall be death,
add 16 oz. of water and seal the bag tightly.
and this Court having, on August 20, 1991,
Place the bag into your sink,
denied your motion for a new trial,
and heat it with hot running water for 15 minutes.
it is the order of this Court that you suffer death,
wrap towels around the bag to keep it warm for fermentation.
said penalty to be inflicted within the walls of San Quentin,
Stash the bag in your cell undisturbed for 48 hours.
at which place you shall be put to death,
When the time has elapsed,
in the manner prescribed by law,
add 40 to 60 cubes of white sugar,
the date later to be fixed by the Court in warrant of execution.
six teaspoons of ketchup,
You are remanded to the custody of the warden of San Quentin,
then heat again for 30 minutes,
to be held by him pending final
secure the bag as done before,
determination of your appeal.
then stash the bag undisturbed again for 72 hours.
It is so ordered.
Reheat daily for 15 minutes.
In witness whereof,
After 72 hours,
I have hereon set my hand as Judge of this Superior Court,
with a spoon, skim off the mash,
and I have caused the seal of this Court to be affixed thereto.
pour the remaining portion into two 18 oz. cups.
May God have mercy on your soul.
Guzzle down quickly
Mr. Jarvis Masters.
Gulp Gulp Gulp!
California State Prison-San Quentin
1992
i presented some research today before the minnesota supreme court’s statewide racial fairness committee, a distinguished group of supreme court Justices and other Justice professionals. they weren’t wearing robes, of course, but it was still a bit intimidating, perhaps because my adolescent appearances before judges were not always so pleasant.
my schedule has been a bit hectic this week (or, more precisely, completely freakin’ nuts), so i was racing from campus to capitol with little time to spare. i think the talk went well, although i had the horrifying realization at about the 25-minute mark that i was beginning to lecture the Justices about the law (i tend to have all my horrifying realizations at the midway point of presentations — being onstage sharpens the senses, i suppose). this would have been profoundly stupid and arrogant, in light of my very limited knowledge and experience with the law. i therefore beat a hasty retreat back to some solid social facts (e.g., race differences in punishment and disenfranchisement) and the conceptual tools of sociological theories (e.g., group threat) that help us make sense of them.
this seemed a good strategy, at least as measured by a dramatic increase in note-taking, questions, and eye contact during the talk. although i don’t always make the best use of them, i’m once again convinced of the extraordinary utility of my discipline’s methods and theories.
i presented some research today before the minnesota supreme court’s statewide racial fairness committee, a distinguished group of supreme court Justices and other Justice professionals. they weren’t wearing robes, of course, but it was still a bit intimidating, perhaps because my adolescent appearances before judges were not always so pleasant.
my schedule has been a bit hectic this week (or, more precisely, completely freakin’ nuts), so i was racing from campus to capitol with little time to spare. i think the talk went well, although i had the horrifying realization at about the 25-minute mark that i was beginning to lecture the Justices about the law (i tend to have all my horrifying realizations at the midway point of presentations — being onstage sharpens the senses, i suppose). this would have been profoundly stupid and arrogant, in light of my very limited knowledge and experience with the law. i therefore beat a hasty retreat back to some solid social facts (e.g., race differences in punishment and disenfranchisement) and the conceptual tools of sociological theories (e.g., group threat) that help us make sense of them.
this seemed a good strategy, at least as measured by a dramatic increase in note-taking, questions, and eye contact during the talk. although i don’t always make the best use of them, i’m once again convinced of the extraordinary utility of my discipline’s methods and theories.
erin aubry kaplan of the los angeles times penned a head-scratcher of an op-ed this week. in the la times, it was titled, “The O.J.-Kramer discrepancy — Recent PR disasters reveal greater tolerance for a white man’s unsavory behavior than a black man’s,” while the strib named the piece, Kramer-O.J. discrepancy says a lot about inequality — Richards’ racist rant is brushed off as an isolated incident, while Simpson is condemned for his character.
huh? i understand the idea of a racist double standard when it comes to crime and Justice, and to public opinion about crime and Justice. as a criminologist, i’ve seen racial disparity in the operations of the Justice system and i’m personally committed to uncovering and redressing these inequities. while michael richards’ racist comedy club meltdown was awful, however, mr. simpson was accused of murdering two people.
ms. kaplan reassures us, after 11 paragraphs, that she isn’t “equating racist invective with charges of double homicide.” fair enough, i suppose, but isn’t this comparison precisely the point of her editorial?
Richards’ “racist rant” has been described as a terrible but isolated incident. O.J., meanwhile, is condemned for his character.
if ms. kaplan believes that o.j. simpson has been unfairly condemned because of his race, couldn’t she have found a more fitting comparison? i dunno, perhaps the situations involving senator ted kennedy and roscoe “fatty” arbuckle were somewhat more comparable to the accusations against mr. simpson — at least when stacked up against mr. richards’ cringe-inducing speech.
though the now-senior senator was never tried for murder, his behaviors were alleged to have contributed to the death of another person. senator kennedy’s public image has never quite recovered from chappaquiddick, but he remains a powerful and generally respected public figure to this day. mr. arbuckle’s career was pretty much cooked after he was tried for manslaughter in the death of a young actress, but it may have been even worse for him if he hadn’t been white. mr. arbuckle never wrote an if i did it book like mr. simpson; given the public outcry over his alleged crimes, however, would it stretch credulity to suggest that a black fatty arbuckle might have faced a lynch mob?
so, i am sympathetic to ms. kaplan’s larger point about race and Justice, and i think some data could be martialed in favor of her assertions about mr. simpson’s public image. but c’mon, comparing OJ and michael richards? unlike brentwood in 1994, only one person died at the laugh factory that november night: the formerly-likeable actor who played cosmo kramer.
the times and post reported today on the allegations against embattled minneapolis fire chief bonnie bleskachek. mayor r.t. rybak has asked the city council to fire chief bleskachek after four lawsuits were filed against the city, accusing the chief of “playing sexual politics, retaliating against a former partner, acting as a lustful predator and showing bias against at least one heterosexual male firefighter.”
yeesh. as in many sexual harassment cases, the allegations are pretty bad. it looked as though the city would settle up and cut a deal with the chief, but the taxpayers protested with a collective “oh, come on!” when ms. bleskachek was offered a severance package of about $41,000 and another job in the department.
i can’t determine whether this is a case of a serial harasser and authority-abuser, or a case of homophobic piling-on against the nation’s first openly lesbian urban fire chief, or, i suppose, some combination of the two. having spent a little time studying sexual harassment, i can say that the allegations made in this case are not atypical. as a department chair in an authority position, however, i’m sympathetic to ms. bleskachek’s position: “I wanted to have my day in court, to be deposed, to force these people to produce some proof,” she said. “It’s a devastating blow to my career, my reputation, my everything.”
the times and post reported today on the allegations against embattled minneapolis fire chief bonnie bleskachek. mayor r.t. rybak has asked the city council to fire chief bleskachek after four lawsuits were filed against the city, accusing the chief of “playing sexual politics, retaliating against a former partner, acting as a lustful predator and showing bias against at least one heterosexual male firefighter.”
yeesh. as in many sexual harassment cases, the allegations are pretty bad. it looked as though the city would settle up and cut a deal with the chief, but the taxpayers protested with a collective “oh, come on!” when ms. bleskachek was offered a severance package of about $41,000 and another job in the department.
i can’t determine whether this is a case of a serial harasser and authority-abuser, or a case of homophobic piling-on against the nation’s first openly lesbian urban fire chief, or, i suppose, some combination of the two. having spent a little time studying sexual harassment, i can say that the allegations made in this case are not atypical. as a department chair in an authority position, however, i’m sympathetic to ms. bleskachek’s position: “I wanted to have my day in court, to be deposed, to force these people to produce some proof,” she said. “It’s a devastating blow to my career, my reputation, my everything.”
my nyc punishment conference ended strangely friday night. after the final session, i joined a couple friends at a nearby hotel bar. i felt pretty intoxicated after a drink and a half and went back to my room. i attributed my wooziness to a long day of sessions and an empty stomach, but the next day one of my companions emailed to suggest that something may have been slipped into her drink:
I actually ended up going to the police and reporting this incident. I am now about 100% sure that roofies were slipped into that second drink. My reaction was very unusual. I usually have quite high tolerance to alcohol, yet after a few sips of the 2nd drink, I almost instantly felt out of it. I passed out as soon as I got home and was out cold for about 7 hours. Yet, I woke up around 5AM perfectly fine and not feeling hungover at all.
i won’t name the people or places, at least until i learn more about what happened. but i’ve got more questions than google can answer.
* why would someone target a woman sitting with two other men? rohypnol-like substances can be used for drug-facilitated robbery as well as for drug-facilitated sexual assault. the three of us were well-dressed for the conference (by academic standards, that is), but weren’t flashing cash around.
* who could have done it? the other male in our party is an old friend and above suspicion (i hope that i am as well!). i don’t think the drinks ever left our sight, but i wouldn’t blame the bartenders without much more evidence. do bartenders often feel they’ve been falsely accused in such situations?
* my friend woke up with two black eyes. are any of the roofie-like drugs linked to this sort of discoloration?
* how common are such experiences? i couldn’t find any good stats beyond monitoring the future high school students, which suggest a low rate ( < 2%) of self-reported use.
my nyc punishment conference ended strangely friday night. after the final session, i joined a couple friends at a nearby hotel bar. i felt pretty intoxicated after a drink and a half and went back to my room. i attributed my wooziness to a long day of sessions and an empty stomach, but the next day one of my companions emailed to suggest that something may have been slipped into her drink:
I actually ended up going to the police and reporting this incident. I am now about 100% sure that roofies were slipped into that second drink. My reaction was very unusual. I usually have quite high tolerance to alcohol, yet after a few sips of the 2nd drink, I almost instantly felt out of it. I passed out as soon as I got home and was out cold for about 7 hours. Yet, I woke up around 5AM perfectly fine and not feeling hungover at all.
i won’t name the people or places, at least until i learn more about what happened. but i’ve got more questions than google can answer.
* why would someone target a woman sitting with two other men? rohypnol-like substances can be used for drug-facilitated robbery as well as for drug-facilitated sexual assault. the three of us were well-dressed for the conference (by academic standards, that is), but weren’t flashing cash around.
* who could have done it? the other male in our party is an old friend and above suspicion (i hope that i am as well!). i don’t think the drinks ever left our sight, but i wouldn’t blame the bartenders without much more evidence. do bartenders often feel they’ve been falsely accused in such situations?
* my friend woke up with two black eyes. are any of the roofie-like drugs linked to this sort of discoloration?
* how common are such experiences? i couldn’t find any good stats beyond monitoring the future high school students, which suggest a low rate ( < 2%) of self-reported use.
i’m in nyc for a punishment conference at the new school. after today’s academic sessions, richard gere and carey lowell offered a dramatic reading of prison writings.
the actors were working with some great material, of course, since there are some amazing writers behind bars. prison writing is challenging because simple, matter-of-fact reporting can come off as melodramatic to those of us on the outside. the best writers, of course, juxtapose telling descriptions of the mundane and taken-for-granted — the ceaseless noise, the odors, the lack of natural light — with the high drama and harsh reality that punctuates prison life.
for example, patricia prewitt’s contraband brilliantly conveys the small absurdities of prison life from an inmate’s perspective. other writers addressed heavier issues involving fear, pain, violence, and hopelessness. i found the pieces by jarvis jay masters to be especially moving. pieces such as “mourning exercise” make clear that mr. masters is not just a good prison writer. this one knocked me out:
recipe for prison pruno
Take ten peeled oranges,
Jarvis Masters, it is the judgment and sentence of this court,
one 8 oz. bowl of fruit cocktail,
that the charged information was true,
squeeze the fruit into a small plastic bag,
and the jury having previously, on said date,
and put the juice along with the mash inside,
found that the penalty shall be death,
add 16 oz. of water and seal the bag tightly.
and this Court having, on August 20, 1991,
Place the bag into your sink,
denied your motion for a new trial,
and heat it with hot running water for 15 minutes.
it is the order of this Court that you suffer death,
wrap towels around the bag to keep it warm for fermentation.
said penalty to be inflicted within the walls of San Quentin,
Stash the bag in your cell undisturbed for 48 hours.
at which place you shall be put to death,
When the time has elapsed,
in the manner prescribed by law,
add 40 to 60 cubes of white sugar,
the date later to be fixed by the Court in warrant of execution.
six teaspoons of ketchup,
You are remanded to the custody of the warden of San Quentin,
then heat again for 30 minutes,
to be held by him pending final
secure the bag as done before,
determination of your appeal.
then stash the bag undisturbed again for 72 hours.
It is so ordered.
Reheat daily for 15 minutes.
In witness whereof,
After 72 hours,
I have hereon set my hand as Judge of this Superior Court,
with a spoon, skim off the mash,
and I have caused the seal of this Court to be affixed thereto.
pour the remaining portion into two 18 oz. cups.
May God have mercy on your soul.
Guzzle down quickly
Mr. Jarvis Masters.
Gulp Gulp Gulp!
California State Prison-San Quentin
1992
i’m in nyc for a punishment conference at the new school. after today’s academic sessions, richard gere and carey lowell offered a dramatic reading of prison writings.
the actors were working with some great material, of course, since there are some amazing writers behind bars. prison writing is challenging because simple, matter-of-fact reporting can come off as melodramatic to those of us on the outside. the best writers, of course, juxtapose telling descriptions of the mundane and taken-for-granted — the ceaseless noise, the odors, the lack of natural light — with the high drama and harsh reality that punctuates prison life.
for example, patricia prewitt’s contraband brilliantly conveys the small absurdities of prison life from an inmate’s perspective. other writers addressed heavier issues involving fear, pain, violence, and hopelessness. i found the pieces by jarvis jay masters to be especially moving. pieces such as “mourning exercise” make clear that mr. masters is not just a good prison writer. this one knocked me out:
recipe for prison pruno
Take ten peeled oranges,
Jarvis Masters, it is the judgment and sentence of this court,
one 8 oz. bowl of fruit cocktail,
that the charged information was true,
squeeze the fruit into a small plastic bag,
and the jury having previously, on said date,
and put the juice along with the mash inside,
found that the penalty shall be death,
add 16 oz. of water and seal the bag tightly.
and this Court having, on August 20, 1991,
Place the bag into your sink,
denied your motion for a new trial,
and heat it with hot running water for 15 minutes.
it is the order of this Court that you suffer death,
wrap towels around the bag to keep it warm for fermentation.
said penalty to be inflicted within the walls of San Quentin,
Stash the bag in your cell undisturbed for 48 hours.
at which place you shall be put to death,
When the time has elapsed,
in the manner prescribed by law,
add 40 to 60 cubes of white sugar,
the date later to be fixed by the Court in warrant of execution.
six teaspoons of ketchup,
You are remanded to the custody of the warden of San Quentin,
then heat again for 30 minutes,
to be held by him pending final
secure the bag as done before,
determination of your appeal.
then stash the bag undisturbed again for 72 hours.
It is so ordered.
Reheat daily for 15 minutes.
In witness whereof,
After 72 hours,
I have hereon set my hand as Judge of this Superior Court,
with a spoon, skim off the mash,
and I have caused the seal of this Court to be affixed thereto.
pour the remaining portion into two 18 oz. cups.
May God have mercy on your soul.
Guzzle down quickly
Mr. Jarvis Masters.
Gulp Gulp Gulp!
California State Prison-San Quentin
1992
i presented some research today before the minnesota supreme court’s statewide racial fairness committee, a distinguished group of supreme court Justices and other Justice professionals. they weren’t wearing robes, of course, but it was still a bit intimidating, perhaps because my adolescent appearances before judges were not always so pleasant.
my schedule has been a bit hectic this week (or, more precisely, completely freakin’ nuts), so i was racing from campus to capitol with little time to spare. i think the talk went well, although i had the horrifying realization at about the 25-minute mark that i was beginning to lecture the Justices about the law (i tend to have all my horrifying realizations at the midway point of presentations — being onstage sharpens the senses, i suppose). this would have been profoundly stupid and arrogant, in light of my very limited knowledge and experience with the law. i therefore beat a hasty retreat back to some solid social facts (e.g., race differences in punishment and disenfranchisement) and the conceptual tools of sociological theories (e.g., group threat) that help us make sense of them.
this seemed a good strategy, at least as measured by a dramatic increase in note-taking, questions, and eye contact during the talk. although i don’t always make the best use of them, i’m once again convinced of the extraordinary utility of my discipline’s methods and theories.
i presented some research today before the minnesota supreme court’s statewide racial fairness committee, a distinguished group of supreme court Justices and other Justice professionals. they weren’t wearing robes, of course, but it was still a bit intimidating, perhaps because my adolescent appearances before judges were not always so pleasant.
my schedule has been a bit hectic this week (or, more precisely, completely freakin’ nuts), so i was racing from campus to capitol with little time to spare. i think the talk went well, although i had the horrifying realization at about the 25-minute mark that i was beginning to lecture the Justices about the law (i tend to have all my horrifying realizations at the midway point of presentations — being onstage sharpens the senses, i suppose). this would have been profoundly stupid and arrogant, in light of my very limited knowledge and experience with the law. i therefore beat a hasty retreat back to some solid social facts (e.g., race differences in punishment and disenfranchisement) and the conceptual tools of sociological theories (e.g., group threat) that help us make sense of them.
this seemed a good strategy, at least as measured by a dramatic increase in note-taking, questions, and eye contact during the talk. although i don’t always make the best use of them, i’m once again convinced of the extraordinary utility of my discipline’s methods and theories.
erin aubry kaplan of the los angeles times penned a head-scratcher of an op-ed this week. in the la times, it was titled, “The O.J.-Kramer discrepancy — Recent PR disasters reveal greater tolerance for a white man’s unsavory behavior than a black man’s,” while the strib named the piece, Kramer-O.J. discrepancy says a lot about inequality — Richards’ racist rant is brushed off as an isolated incident, while Simpson is condemned for his character.
huh? i understand the idea of a racist double standard when it comes to crime and Justice, and to public opinion about crime and Justice. as a criminologist, i’ve seen racial disparity in the operations of the Justice system and i’m personally committed to uncovering and redressing these inequities. while michael richards’ racist comedy club meltdown was awful, however, mr. simpson was accused of murdering two people.
ms. kaplan reassures us, after 11 paragraphs, that she isn’t “equating racist invective with charges of double homicide.” fair enough, i suppose, but isn’t this comparison precisely the point of her editorial?
Richards’ “racist rant” has been described as a terrible but isolated incident. O.J., meanwhile, is condemned for his character.
if ms. kaplan believes that o.j. simpson has been unfairly condemned because of his race, couldn’t she have found a more fitting comparison? i dunno, perhaps the situations involving senator ted kennedy and roscoe “fatty” arbuckle were somewhat more comparable to the accusations against mr. simpson — at least when stacked up against mr. richards’ cringe-inducing speech.
though the now-senior senator was never tried for murder, his behaviors were alleged to have contributed to the death of another person. senator kennedy’s public image has never quite recovered from chappaquiddick, but he remains a powerful and generally respected public figure to this day. mr. arbuckle’s career was pretty much cooked after he was tried for manslaughter in the death of a young actress, but it may have been even worse for him if he hadn’t been white. mr. arbuckle never wrote an if i did it book like mr. simpson; given the public outcry over his alleged crimes, however, would it stretch credulity to suggest that a black fatty arbuckle might have faced a lynch mob?
so, i am sympathetic to ms. kaplan’s larger point about race and Justice, and i think some data could be martialed in favor of her assertions about mr. simpson’s public image. but c’mon, comparing OJ and michael richards? unlike brentwood in 1994, only one person died at the laugh factory that november night: the formerly-likeable actor who played cosmo kramer.