Roy Paul - In “Stand Your Ground” Fight, Youth Must Take the Lead lyrics

Much has been made about the crucial “talk” parents of color must have to prepare and safeguard their children from racialized violence and abuse. As a young black male growing up in New York City – home of “Stop and Frisk” – I remember well similar conversations my parents had with me that, to this day, serve as cautionary reminders of the potential threats that await me and those who look like me on a daily basis. There's no denying that such talks are an essential piece of a larger dialogue around how to protect young African Americans. Still a crucial element of that conversation must revolve around strategies and solutions that today's youth can employ to not only protect but empower themselves. A Generational Divide As with most pressing issues today, everything comes down to the almighty vote. A closer look at Florida's age and voter demographics may help shed light on why policies like Stand Your Ground, also known as “Shoot First” laws, are allowed to persist in the first place. According to statistics, seniors make up the largest voting bloc in the state with nearly 30 percent of people aged 60 and over registered to vote, as compared to just 17 percent of legal age voters between 18 and 29. Race-aggregated data reveals that a mere 13 percent of Black eligible voters are actually registered to do so. And while the number of registered democrats exceeds that of republicans, state leadership remains overwhelmingly red, steered by a Republican Governor and conservative majorities in the House and Senate. Despite groundswell opposition to Stand Your Ground that reaches as far as the United Nations, the majority of Florida's leadership continues to vocalize steadfast support of it. Last year a democratically-sponsored bill which would have repealed the law was rejected almost unanimously in the state House of Representatives (only three democrats voted in favor of it). Tellingly, even democratic opponents of Governor Rick Scott, who faces re-election in November, appear to be opting for a safer, more centrist approach by stating publicly their preference to revise the law rather than repeal it altogether. Consider also that Florida is one of 34 states that continue to enforce unjust voter ID laws. Therefore it's not a far stretch to believe there's a larger agenda at play aimed at shuttering Black youth from the electoral process completely -- especially in light of recent studies which show that states requiring photo ID had a predictively lower youth voter turnout rate in the 2012 election. While this is by no means a complete study, when an*lyzed through the lens of race we can get a solid sense of how this generational gap could be fueling the ongoing racial and political divide happening in Florida right now. It might also help explain why state leadership seems all too comfortable with allowing tragedies like what happened to Jordan and Trayvon continue in perpetuity. If left unaddressed this divide risks completely snuffing out the collective voice and voting power of Florida youth. Question is, what can be done to close it? “Pro-activism” vs. “React-ivism” As the saying goes, “when you fail to plan you plan to fail.” In other words, there can be no real progress made on this front without first having a strategy in place to support it. For this generation to stand any chance at turning the tide it must stay engaged in the political process and leverage the power in numbers to influence policy reform. Take for example the Dream Defenders who, in the aftermath of George Zimmerman's acquittal, mobilized hundreds of youth activists to camp out in front of Florida Governor Rick Scott's office and demand a special session to evaluate Stand Your Ground and its disproportionate impact on black and brown youth; the Ohio Student Association, who last October launched a widespread campaign to protest a House bill that would enact Stand Your Ground in the state; or the Black Youth Project, a national network of more than 100 advocates ranging from 18-35 that mobilizes regularly around pressing social and political issues facing communities of color. Each offers effective and forward-moving models for facilitating change at the gra**roots level. The power of their efforts is strengthened in large part by social media (which has made responding to widespread issues of injustice easier to do in real time) and the increasingly indomitable force known as “Black Twitter,” further solidifying digital advocacy's permanent role as a key driver of social change. Where these leaders have forged a path, the rest of us must commit to follow and elevate it to the next level. Start by joining up with the above groups as well as organizations like Color of Change, the NAACP and the National Action Network to stay engaged and informed of the various fights for justice happening around the country. Consider reaching out and volunteering personal time to help organize others in the community around urgent issues as well. Contact reporters, editors, news producers and directors at local and national media outlets and bring to their attention incidents of violence and discrimination happening in communities. Enlist fellow school, church and civic group members to participate in organized phone campaigns urging local and state representatives to support laws that protect all people, not just the privileged and powerful. Explore ways to reach out to the larger global community, including international governing bodies like the United Nations, and encourage them to continue voicing opposition to the injustices happening here. In fact, this August the United States will be reviewed on whether it's living up to standards set under the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), a human rights treaty designed to protect global citizens from racial discrimination in any form. Find out what's being done to drive awareness around CERD and try to get involved. Most importantly, continue to fiercely exercise and defend the fundamental right to vote at all levels of government. This will ensure that proponents of discriminatory laws like Stand Your Ground get replaced by lawmakers who stand for justice and equality. Let's commit to creating a legacy of change that future generations can be proud to inherit. Now is a good place to start. ______________________________________________________________ Roy Paul is an NYC-based education expert, journalist, and social/political commentator. Paul made history when, at the age of 19, he became the youngest person elected to the school board in New York State. Follow him on Twitter at @RoyPaulReports.