LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

REGARDING MAYOR GLORIA’S STATEMENT ON TYRE NICHOLS

(Letter Received from San Diego Resident) Mayor Gloria,

Recently I read your press statement regarding the killing of Tyre Nichols. I was troubled by the fact that it was devoid of any empathy. Your statement was limited to the condemnation of the Memphis Police. While that was a basic fact that needed attention, the City of San Diego goes on record as somewhat insensitive. I am curious if you consulted with any of your women of color on your cabinet or the Chief of Race and Equity regarding how they felt about the senseless death of a young man during a traffic stop who NEVER made it home. Trayvon Martin went to the store for Skittles and a drink and never made it home. Ahmaud Arbery went for a jog and never made it home. Brianna Taylor went to bed one night never to wake again. My point is that after centuries of murders of Blacks by the hands of others, society has become desensitized. That only changes when the policymakers keep it in front of us as an issue that must stop.

As a mother of two young African Americans, hearing Tyre calling out for his mom when he needed her, ripped through my heart. I pray I never have to view a video that has my child calling for me. With the damning evidence of the video, it is easy to immediately condemn those involved. True leadership is when you help all understand this young man was someone’s child who left and never made it home. Please show the leadership we elected.Sincerely,

Mrs. A. Howard

Regarding Supervisor Nora Vargas

(Letter Received from San Diego Resident)

Dear Dr. Warren,

California, for example, recently passed a state law (AB 2799 The Decriminalization of Artistic Expression Act, 2022), banning the use by prosecutors in state criminal trials of rap lyrics emanating from artists put on trial for murder, mayhem, or other violent acts. There is also pending federal legislation — The RAP Act (Restoring Artistic Protection Act), aimed at preventing the use of lyrics as the sole or primary basis to criminally prosecute cases. There is already a coterie of House Democratic champions for this effort, but the current Republican majority will have none of it, and it will not pass this legislative session, and quite possibly in no other one.

In other jurisdictions in the country, however, that trial practice is being expanded, not reduced or eliminated. Atlanta, Ga., for example, is now the center of such action, as Young Thug, a well-known Atlantabased rapper, and others associated with YSL (Young Slime Life) are on trial for murder and violent gang activity, based principally on the lyrics from their recent rap albums.

The leadership at the County leaves me scratching my head. How can someone with such a dismal record in their former elected position get what amounts to

Prosecutors say the album’s rap lyrics provide a roadmap to the violent gang activity that occurred after Young Thug’s record was publicly released. The Georgia state prosecutor (the same one investigating Donald Trump) and state law enforcement see such use as a major Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) weapon in ending the increasingly violent and deadly gang activity haunting areas like Metro Atlanta. There may soon be another major migration of Black youth out of the South to California as a safe haven, but hopefully they will not reintro- a promotion? Oh, that’s right, she is part of this so-called “power grab” by Latinos, Latinx, Hispanics, Mexicans et.al. No, this is not a reference to the scandal-ridden LA City Council, this is the S D County Board of Supervisors, Nora Vargas. They just elected Nora Vargas as chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. Why is this worth review? Because of her inept leadership at Southwestern College Board of Trustees. She was there during years of documented racial discrimination against Blacks.

The 5-year-old study conducted by the USC Race and Equity Center stated “The painful experiences of African American classified employees led us to one reasonable conclusion: There is a palpable climate of anti-Blackness at Southwestern College. It is important to note that anti-Black views are not only held by white people but also by their Latinx co-workers, many participants felt. Many had multiple examples of being passed over for promotions, while less-qualified colleagues from other racial/ethnic groups advanced.” This is being pointed out because in many parts of San Diego public departments, political offices, businesses etc., with Latinos in charge, they most likely will hire other Latinxs, often family members, even if they are underqualified.

A look at Supervisor Vargas shows a total lack of diversity. Disappointing coming from someone who had the responsibility of navigating through a serious racial divide. One who fell on her sword when she is quoted as saying, “We dropped the ball in my opinion,” Vargas said. “At least that’s where I drop the ball as a governing board member. I will take responsibility for that. I can’t take responsibility for my colleagues.” But did you?

We change hearts and minds when we are the example. It is difficult to govern effectively if you don’t have varying points of view. There are Latinx who have stated publicly that, “It’s our turn.” I’m not sure I understand what that means since the huge Latinx numbers are severely underrepresented at the polls. At the end of the day, [solving] the myriad of problems facing the County will require the best minds with a diversity of experiences and ideas. To have access to this necessary diversity means employing qualified individuals who can provide valuable input through a different lens, not just Latinos, Latinx, Hispanics, Mexicans et.al.

In the meantime, we will try to understand what Latinx mean when they say, “It’s Our Turn,” and what it will cost San Diego County.

Mr. Mone duce the violent gang warfare of the 1970s and 1980s back into the state in their wake.

Interestingly, for all its gnarliness, Rap Music in American society has been relentlessly popular for over four decades. That is a major milestone and it is highly unusual in American culture. Most popular music styles have their brief heyday, then simply die or are pushed out by incoming musical tastes. Such was the fate of disco music, a worldwide style mainly of the 1970s. Rap, rock-rap combos, and power ballads eventually crushed the disco craze. Yet rap music 40 years in is still going strong.

And like many other public tastes that last beyond their expected expiration date, the genre has both reached new heights (a rapper, Kendrick Lamar, won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2018, a previously unthinkable achievement), and been blamed for the rise of a new or modernized malady in the U.S. (widespread gangsterism).

Rap on, brother. Rap on.

Professor David L. Horne is the founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute.This article originally appeared in OurWeekly.