(Re)Shaping Policy through Coalition Building
- 1. (Re)Shaping Policy through Coalition Building john a. powell Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity Williams Chair in Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Moritz College of Law Gamaliel Foundation – African American Leadership Commission Uniting for Power: A Stimulus To Action Conference June 12, 2009
- 2. Today’s Conversation Opportunity in the current context Importance of coalitions Promoting race-sensitive policies around the stimulus Our linked fates and targeted universalism
- 3. Opportunity is Mediated For much of human history, we interacted exclusively on a face-to-face basis within small communities Now, many of our relationships are mediated Technology, Distance, Institutions People in foreclosure cannot find a person to talk to And our opportunities are strengthened or truncated by these mediating factors
- 4. Opportunity is Global Our world today is more complex and interconnected. Current and future changes will not be only driven by local/national issues, but influenced by systemic global trends and challenges Examples Globalization Climate change The credit and foreclosure crisis Growing diversity and widening inequality We must adjust our lens of analysis to reflect these changing conditions Moving towards a systems approach of problem solving and identifying solutions
- 5. Opportunity is Racialized Structural racialization: the joint operation of institutions produces racialized outcomes. Structures unevenly distribute benefits, burdens, and racialized meaning. In 1960, African-American families in poverty were 3.8 times more likely to be concentrated in high-poverty neighborhoods than poor whites. In 2000, they were 7.3 times more likely. This uneven distribution has negative consequences not just for those with the greatest need, but all of us. Lower Educational Outcomes Increased Flight of Affluent Families Neighborhood Segregation School Segregation & Concentrated Poverty
- 6. Types of Coalitions There are different types of coalitions Work on specific issues Those that bring together diverse groups of people Those that involve groups that are, in and of themselves, multi racial Why are multiracial coalitions important?
- 7. Multiracial Coalitions What’s different about multiracial coalitions? What challenges and opportunities do they present? To be a multiracial coalition, members must address race. Tensions that may arise around issues often reflect structural concerns; they are not just interpersonal conflicts.
- 8. Coalition Interests Coalition interests are not stable. Interests may also be multiple. Interests are fluid and impacted by institutional arrangements. Example: Undocumented immigrants that cannot join unions and therefore often receive lower wages are not looked upon favorably by unions. Undocumented immigrants that can join unions are supported by the unions, but opposed by business. Structural arrangements matter!
- 9. Recognizing common cause Subprime/foreclosure crisis Health care crisis Racial profiling, police harassment, hate crimes Economic justice (jobs, wages, training, safety) Education reform (funding, resource equity) Growing recognition that fates are linked Many people urging a broad structural rather than a narrow cultural analysis of group challenges Growing recognition that both groups command meaningful political, economic and social resources Importance of Coalition Building
- 10. Coalition Building Move from transactional level to a deeper transformative level Coalition across groups, space, ideology Ethics of connectedness and linked fate Structures, policies, institutions actively disconnect us whereas they could proactively connect us
- 11. Coalition Building and Collaboration Action-linked intervention should focus on multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalitions Leadership and coalition building will be vital to creating the political momentum for change Regional actors must have an inclusive series of conversations that foregrounds equity The capacity to coordinate and move various initiatives forward must be developed Residents can help build public support for policy reforms
- 12. Major Obstacles to Coalitions Belief that groups’ fates not linked Political, economic, social conflicts of interest Belief that social concern for “minority” social issues is zero-sum Ignorance of historical/contemporary conditions affecting the social outcomes of both groups Media insistence on an African American/ immigrant (and “Black/Latino”) conflict and competition storyline
- 13. Major Obstacles Cont’d Marginalized groups often spatially segregated from one another Lack of consensus about goals and strategies among different groups Mixed history of power-sharing under conditions where one or the other group dominates Economic duress and structural racism
- 14. Conditions that Could Foster Coalitions Broader, deeper attention to need for strong partnerships between these groups Whole categories of potential bridge-builders emerging Young people, especially students Charismatic leaders Increasing number of promising institutional sites Workers centers, unions, schools, multiracial churches
- 15. Coalitions/Alliance in Action New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice “ The Alliance is an association of guestworkers from different companies that have joined together in a fight for dignity. Workers support one another in the struggle for fair treatment on the job and for justice on an international level not only for H2B workers but for all workers.” Source: http://www.nowcrj.org/about-2/alliance-of-guest-workers-for-dignity/
- 16. The Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network The Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network is a network that serves the working poor, mostly women and youth. It was formed in 1989 in Durham, North Carolina, at a time of plant closings and escalating racist violence in the U.S. South. REJN is a regional organization that focuses on the South. The organization perceives the U.S. South as part of the global South. In 1992, it extended invitations to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and South America. Membership driven organization. It has 60 member organizations across the South, and eight member nations in the Americas.
- 17. The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY) Created post-9/11 with the workers who lost their jobs at Windows on the World when the towers collapsed Scope of organization: City-wide, and expanding to other cities across the nation 2,000 members: 35-40% Latino (mostly Mexican and Guatemalan) 25% Black (black Americans, Caribbean/African immigs) 5-10% white 10% Arab, and the remainder are Asians A Workers’ Center that advocates an organic strategy
- 18. Fragmentation of groups that share common concerns Policies that do not take into consideration of the situatedness of different groups Perpetuation of the status quo, an unjust and unequal society Consequences of Inability to Form Multiracial Coalitions
- 19. Learning From Our Mistakes? If we fail to pay attention to the resources that communities possess, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the New Deal. For example, Social Security benefits were initially denied to household and farm laborers – effectively excluding 65% of the Black population How do we avoid the New Deal mistakes? We must be intentional. Policies should be targeted and programs should be structured so that they reach certain populations and communities.
- 20. Ex: Economic Stimulus Package The economic stimulus package fails to directly account for race. Yet, race is a key component of many major economic issues. People of color are more than three times as likely as whites to have subprime mortgages. Borrowers of color were more than 30 percent more likely to receive a higher-rate loan than whites, even after accounting for differences in risk. Besides considering race-sensitive design, we must be concerned about the impacts. Rogers, Christy. “Subprime Loans, Foreclosure, and the Credit Crisis – A Primer.” Dec. 2008.
- 21. Racially Sensitive Policies What do racially sensitive policies look like? Targeted : They recognize the nature of our interconnected structures / larger inequitable, institutional framework. Pay attention to situatedness : They account for the fact that people are situated differently in the economic and social landscape of society. Driven by outcomes : It may seem great if unemployment is cut in half, but if all the jobs go to white males, serious problems remain. Include people of color in the process : Their input is vital.
- 22. Racially Sensitive Policies (con’t) What do racially sensitive policies look like? Transparent : - Transparency allows for gauging progress and making corrections if necessary. Multi-faceted : Incentivize a systems approach. Reorient how we think about policy. Serve as a bridge to the next economy : These policies should be the stepping stones for the future.
- 23. Race-Sensitive Policy Analysis of the Stimulus How do we make the stimulus fair, sustainable, accountable? Incentives for inclusion of people of color Grants and loans for small and minority-, women-, and community-disadvantaged businesses Collect data by race and gender to understand impacts of economic recovery policy Investment in public transit (prioritize projects that connect people to jobs) Wiley, Maya. “Economic Recovery for Everyone: Racial Equity and Prosperity,” Center for Social Inclusion
- 24. Challenge: False Universalism An example of Transactional thinking Uneven distribution of pathways to opportunity Universal programs do not account for the differences in experience among Whites and people of color Examples: Poverty-reduction programs, social security Inability to reach opportunity through these universal programs is seen as an individual failure
- 25. If people in red receive job training through the universal program, Group B would seem to benefit more than Group A (more people in red) Key: Red = job training Boxes = isolated neighborhood (not addressed by universal program) UNIVERSAL PROGRAM Group B Group A
- 26. Although the universal program affected everyone in red, Group B is still constrained by living in isolated neighborhoods (the boxes). Key: Red = job training Boxes = isolated neighborhood UNIVERSAL PROGRAM Group A Group B
- 27. We Need A New Paradigm Targeted policies alone are not desirable because they appear to show favoritism toward a certain group, thus stigmatizing them. Universal policies alone are not truly universal. They fail to account for the fact that people are situated differently in the economic and social landscape “ Universal” policies are often based on a non-universal standard Ex: Social Security: able-bodied white males working outside the home full-time for pay Thus… Targeted Universalism
- 28. Targeted Universalism Through collective imagination, we need to define what the future should look like A New Paradigm!: Targeted Universalism What is our alternative vision? A model where we all grow together A model where we embrace collective solutions This vision requires collective action and will require coalitions to be successful
- 29. Targeted Universalism This approach supports needs of the particular while reminding us we are all part of the same social fabric. Universal, yet captures how people are differently situated Inclusive, yet targets those who are most marginalized Targeted Universalism recognizes racial disparities, while acknowledging their presence within a larger inequitable, institutional framework Targeted universalism is a common framework through which to pursue justice. A model which recognizes our linked fate A model where we all grow together A model where we embrace collective solutions
- 30. Targeting the Stimulus Investments Stimulus investments should strategically and deliberately transform cities and communities. Example: transportation funds If these funds are widespread to different road proposals across states, they may produce jobs in the short-term, but they will not produce sustainable or equitable growth. Instead, we need to direct funds to investment-deprived communities
- 31. Applying Targeted Universalism to the Stimulus The “shovel ready” stimulus package jobs “can benefit unemployed people of color and women if specific incentives and enforcement tools are enacted to ensure fair access All stimulus projects should require local resident hiring goals and create a link to community-based groups as first line contact for construction jobs. Local hiring requirements are a proven approach to bring jobs to under-represented constituencies in construction trades. These requirements can be applied to permanent jobs as well.” Center for Social Inclusion. “Economic Recovery for Everyone: Racial Equity and Prosperity.” Talking Points.
- 32. Our Linked Fates Targeted universalism recognizes that problems faced by particular segments of American society are not isolated circumstances, but problems that could spill over into the lives of everyone.
- 33. Emphasizing our Linked Fate and Interconnectedness All members of a society share a linked fate Inequality is a sign of an economically/socially inefficient society, where proper investments are not made in human capital, and where much of the population can not meet its creative potential. These disparities and inequities make our nation less competitive, depressing opportunities for all should be collaborative and focus on coalition building recognize the interconnectedness of our being and fate re-conceptualize society to promote the political, economic, spiritual, and psychological health of all
- 34. For more information… Kirwan Institute report released in May 2009: “ African American – Immigrant Alliance Building: Five Case Studies” By Andrew Grant-Thomas, Yusuf Sarfati, and Cheryl Staats http://www.kirwaninstitute.org/publicationspresentations/publications/index.php
- 35. Questions or Comments? For More Information, Visit Us Online: www.KirwanInstitute.org
- 36. Appendix A Additional Information
- 37. Long-term Consequences Tier 1 social insurance programs excluded 65% of the working Black population. Because of continuing discrimination and unequal education opportunities, many people lack Tier 1 economic security. By separating out benefits for the employed (like retirement and unemployment insurance programs) from those for the unemployed, people in Tier 2 public assistance programs are often stigmatized. Dona Cooper Hamilton and Charles V. Hamilton, The Dual Agenda: the African-American struggle for civil and economic equality . New York: Columbia University Press, 1997.
- 38. Assessing the Stimulus Package Projections indicate that the stimulus package will not impact all groups to the same degree. People are not only spatially segregated, but segregation also occurs by sector.
- 39. Money Allocation
- 40. Stimulus: Projected Distribution of Jobs by Race
- 41. African Americans are underrepresented relative to their presence in the U.S. population (13%). Hispanics/Latinos, also at 13% of the U.S. population, are overrepresented.
- 42. Racial gaps in job projections A report titled “Race, Gender, and the Recession” estimates that there will be over 1,300,000 jobs created for white women. This figure is 70% higher than African-American and Latino women combined. Source: Women of Color Policy Network, “Race, Gender and the Recession” Report.
Editor's Notes
- #11: Coalition as an expression of trying to create a body that comes together around an issue (e.g.. union, church, family)