Cycle Breaker Pt.3
We Need to Re-Sensitize Our Consciousness
In my quest to be a Cycle Breaker, I am constantly reading, researching and studying criminal behavior and self improvement. I recently listened to a presentation where a man analyzed some of the issues in the Black community. The speaker gave the following assertions:
- Blacks have been killed at higher rates than any other group of people in America;
- Blacks have committed murders at higher rates than any other group in America;
- Blacks have the highest population in our prisons;
- Blacks are the highest number of people infected with STD’s in America;
- Blacks infect people with STD’s more than any other group in America;
- Blacks have more unwanted pregnancies and abortions than any other group in America.
In summary, Black people are 1/8th of the population but 4/8ths of the murder victims, 1/8th of the population but 5/8ths of the killers, 1/8th of the population but 4/8ths of the prisoners. 1/8th of the population but 5/8ths of those infected with STD’s.
I must admit that I feel very uncomfortable with these facts. I feel uncomfortable because first, these are the same statistics that I have heard my entire life. Though the Black community has made many advances, our negative and destructive behavior has increased. To be honest, I felt most uncomfortable with these assertions because the person giving this presentation was a White Male.
In the last article I discussed that, to be a Cycle Breaker, we have to take a look at ourselves and our community to identify changeable negative situations and circumstances. I also mentioned that when other people analyze us we naturally go into defense mode. The presentation that I listened to was an analysis of the negativity and destruction that we know exists in our community and, though it was the truth, it was hard to hear.
Here is the Cycle Breaker big picture: the reason that these statistics exist in our community, the reason that we commit crimes at a higher rate, the reason that we go to jail as a natural occurrence, the reason that we have unwanted pregnancies and all other negative and destructive behavior is because we have lowered the standards in our community. One thing that every one of us can do to avoid the travesty that was Trayvon Martin is to raise the bar of how we respect ourselves and then demand that everyone else raise the bar in their respect for us. When we accept negative and destructive behavior in our community we are adding to the problem.
I often discuss the issues of our community with people in my court and I have come to the conclusion that we allow ourselves to get distracted with the distractions. Meaning, the things we barely control become our focus while we ignore the controllable issues that devastate our lives. I compare it to being concerned about the food burning on the grill when, behind you, the house is on fire. We have become blind to the fires burning in our community, the negative and destructive behavior, but we get outraged at the issues or events that are subtopics to our major story. Our major story is to work to better the lives of ourselves and our communities.
People, we are asleep at the wheel while our cars are heading for the cliff. We spend so much time in the club, buying clothes, getting our hair done, going on date nights etc. but little to no time helping change our community. Yet at the first chance we get, we point our fingers at “racism” or the “ghetto people” as a source of the problems we face. When are we going to take action on the second step of the “Cycle Breaker” system and take a long hard look at ourselves to determine if we are part of the change we want to see, part of the problem or just sitting on the sidelines watching?
Let me shed some light on one thing, of many, that I’m doing through the East Cleveland Municipal Court to raise the bar of what we expect from ourselves and our community. First, I started by sentencing people to come to my life skills program “Finish First” aimed at stopping negative interaction with the legal system. Then I started teaching about “Emotional Intelligence” and “How to Be a Cycle Breaker.” Now I give out a pre-sentence worksheet where I have people discover and identify their values. These exercises are aimed at getting offenders in my court to re-sensitize their consciousness. Once we are able to identify our values, we will set our behavior and expectations in line with those values. When we live up to our values, our behavior, expectations and the activity that we allow to occur in our lives will change. When we change our community and raise our standards not only will everyone have to raise their level of respect for us, we will saves lives.
To look at yourself and identify your own negative situations takes courage. See 12 Things You Can Do Now to Be a Cycle Breaker, available on www.judgedawson.com. However, it’s even harder to swallow when other people analyze what’s wrong with you, either way, to live your best life, change the community and be a Cycle Breaker, we must all take a look within.
Over the next few articles I will further define and break down the principles of what it takes to be a Cycle Breaker. These articles will highlight the instructions I set out in the manual, 12 Things You Can Do Now to Be a Cycle Breaker, available on www.judgedawson.com. I believe that with the right focus and direction we can all pursue the greatness that lies within us.
East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by:
www.teamfinishfirst.com
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