Brave New World

Brave World New OLD WAYS WON’T WORK AS CITY MOVES AHEAD

Photo by LaReine Pia

My high school history teacher came to class one day and said, “Unlearn what you have learned.” That was all he said for the day.

We made fun of him for weeks. Little did I know those words would stick with me for 50 years.

Implicit bias, sexism and systemic racism are real. They are not genetic conditions. Kids come into this world unfettered by petty jealousies, greed and anger. These behavioral traits are taught through history books, storytelling, actions, words and body language.

I have never met an adult who didn’t harbor some bias. It takes a lot of work to get rid of it. It’s way past time to unlearn what we have learned. Frankly, racism hasn’t changed since the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement. We just see it more on YouTube.

The protests this summer, sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a peace offi cer, are founded in anger and grief and recognition that in our country, freedom is not equally dispensed. There is not equal opportunity for all. But Sacramento is moving in a better direction. We are diversifying our city staff. We are determined to refl ect the diversity of our city. The Sacramento Police Department is 42 percent diverse (meaning non-white males). Our recruitment through academy graduates is 69 percent diverse.

The changes are not immediate, but they will make a difference. We are making investments in our youth and underserved neighborhoods—not TO PAGE 23

BY JEFF HARRIS