Global Education Journal

Be the Change You Want To See

Dr. Earl Bradford Smith
Associate Professor
Hodges University
Naples, Florida

Abstract
Racial disparities in social and economic outcomes exist in all parts of the United States. Black
Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by White Americans. Black Americans
are also more likely to unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty (Aronson,
Akert & Wilson, 2010). In some places these disparities are even more pronounced. For
centuries, there have been stark differences in the conditions and opportunities Black Americans
have faced. This article researches what strategic actions people may do to empower the changes
needed to make sure minorities are regarded as human beings and citizens, not novelties or
“others”.
Be the Change You Want To See
Racial disparities in social and economic outcomes exist in all parts of the United States. Black
Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by White Americans. Black Americans
are also more likely to unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty (Aronson,
Akert & Wilson, 2010). In some places these disparities are even more pronounced. For
centuries, there have been stark differences in the conditions and opportunities Black Americans
have faced. This article researches what strategic actions people may do to empower the changes
needed to make sure minorities are regarded as human beings and citizens, not novelties or
“others”.
Recently, I struggled with the verdicts of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Also, I felt quite
hopeless, wondering what on earth it would take to stop the consistent, outright torture and
killing of Black males. What could I do to help, to make sustainable lasting change? However,
as the protests around the world grew in size and scope and creativity, I began to feel better. I
realized that I am doing something to help, whether it is writing this article or simply living by
example, being the “Change I want to see”! I don’t know if the demonstrations will do any

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
good. Sadly, I’m not hopeful, but they’re peaceful and they’re diverse, they’re a good start, and
they confirm that many people of various cultures believe what’s being done by police to so
many Black Men is just absolutely wrong.
People are gathering in protests and marches throughout the cities calling for justice for Michael
Brown and his family. It is unacceptable for police officers to use deadly force as a first option.
There needs to be consequences for abuse of power, it should not be awarded with a failure to
convict. This sends a derogatory message to the nation that white people are exempt if they
commit a crime. There should be some form of discipline towards Officer Wilson.
The police department should also have their officers retrained to handle situations that
call for extreme methods but, maintain respect for others. Civil rights should not be violated even
in intense situations. The police officer is the one with the gun and authority they should be more
aware and capable of controlling a situation. I believe fear and inexperience of officer Wilson led
to the death of Michael Brown. Education and communication is key between the Police and the
community. Learning to work with the public while serving as a police officer is important to
keep the public safe, as they “protect and serve”.
This notion of body cameras for police; what’s the point? The entire world, literally, saw Eric
Garner killed on video. We along with his children, saw him expire in front of our very eyes,
murdered for nothing. Then we watched his killers escape any punishment at all. It’s the same
story over and over, captured live and in color by bystanders carrying smart phones with
embedded cameras and recorders. Cameras aren’t the issue. We know who is to blame for these
murders, and we know they use excessive force in unprovoked altercations. But until now there
are no sanctions brought against those responsible, and until the police forced to stop targeting
black and brown bodies, until they are required to learn how to treat everyone equally with
dignity and respect, nothing will change.
The Civil Rights Movement led to hopes that racial inequality would soon end. The movement
led to a series of reforms, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Acts of
1965, and other legislation, known as the “Great Society” (Harrison, 2008). It is my belief that it
is one thing to end segregation, but it’s another thing to talk about billions of dollars of
investment. When the United States invested in a middle class in the 1940s and 1950s, it was in
a white middle class. However, the country was “never willing to do that same type of
investment to create a middle class that would be inclusive of African Americans” (Harrison,

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
2008). The effect of this unwillingness to invest in the Black community are clear in the racial
economic outcome gaps.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, the national jobless rate for November
was 5.8% nationwide. Among White Americans, the figure was 4.9%. Among Black
Americans it was 11.1% (Pederson, 2010). Segregation also creates different communities with
different social services. The quality of schools, property values, the quality of services
available, and the quality of good are all “legacies of racially segregated neighborhoods in this
country”. Few factors do more to improve people’s livelihoods than access to good jobs. High
employment rates contribute to higher incomes, better health insurance coverage, as well as
lower poverty rates. The obstacles facing Black Americans in the United States begin in early
childhood, and they have long-lasting effects. Although higher education leads to higher
employment and better wages, it “does not eliminate inequality”. The unemployment rate
among college-educated Black Americans is still about twice that of college-White Americans.
Of course, there is no single solution to job inequality. Even highly educated Black Americans
cannot overcome centuries of segregation and outright discrimination. Oftentimes, many people
are hired because they know someone. For example, if Black Americans are not part of a
particular social network, their chances of getting hired at a particular job are smaller. For
people who have been historically segregated, four year of elite schooling is not the same thing
as “having generation after generation that can connect you to different opportunities through
friends and family”.
Inequalities in economic outcomes also persist. A typical Black household made just 62.3% of
the median income of White household in 2013. Furthermore, the economic gaps may actually
be understated. This is because wealth, which includes assets, such as stock and real estate
holdings, as well as ready access to credit, are not captured by measures of income alone and can
often have greater effects on racial inequalities. Wealth is that which allows you to bridge
economic challenges and difficulties, such as periods of unforeseen expenses or job loss. Wealth
may be also used to acquire assets like homes and businesses, which are often transferred
intergenerationally. In fact, less than 42% of Black households were homeowners, while more
than 71% of White households owned a home as of 2013 (Thomas, 2012).
Laws can also have a discriminatory effect on Black Americans. For example, longer sentences
for offenses involving crack cocaine to powder cocaine, which are essentially identical,

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
contributed to the disproportionate incarceration rates of Black Americans (Werner, Jensen &
Zaffron, 2010). Furthermore, because crack cocaine was “an epidemic in the African American
community”, they were disproportionately affected by the sentencing associated with that”
(Werner, Jensen & Zaffron, 2010). In 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act passed by Congress
reduced the sentencing disparity. Black Americans were more than five times as likely to go to
prison than their White peers as of 2013. People with criminal records are more likely to get
lower paying jobs. Furthermore, when you’re in a community where there is a lack of economic
opportunities, people seek alternatives, and unfortunately a lot of those alternatives are criminal.
While racial inequality is a complicated issue, this does not mean that there are no solutions.
Even if we ended the over-incarceration of African Americans, we would still have this great
racial economic inequality that really will only be dealt with through massive investments, living
wage jobs, homeownership opportunities, equal access to education, health care, all of those
factors, so there is no one solution. It is not just education, it’s not just health care, it’s a
complex mixture.
This may sound shocking, but I don’t believe everyone understands that minorities are human.
Furthermore, that dark bodies aren’t here to be made of or to act as scapegoats and whipping
posts for the ills of the world. We have to change that attitude among people and all of us have a
responsibility to do that. Together, and that’s why these global demonstrations of support and
horror, at once dramatic and perfect, are so welcome and so very important. We have to become
the change we want to see! We have to change this too prevalent perception of minorities as
less than, as inhuman, as disposable, as demonic! I believe that I know why the dominant power
structures perpetuate cycles of abuse and incarceration for certain groups. At the basic level, it’s
about retaining power. Minorities pose a credible threat. For example, take your foot off the
neck of a threat, what happens? They stop being distracted by what’s necessary to survive, and
they start to actually thrive. They move into the workplace, into leadership roles; they gain
political capital, earn and save and invest money; they influence and build great things. Without
men in communities, it makes them harder to gain strength, which in another perspective to
consider. I am humbly glad that so many people are standing up for these fallen men because
they can’t accept this either. Most significantly, I do not believe that all White people or all
police officers are racist horrors walking around in metaphoric hoods waiting to pounce like
some modern day boogeyman. What I do believe is that we need to change in a systematic,

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
heartfelt and accountable manner! As in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “If you want to
build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work,
but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Conclusion
This author believes that there have been valuable contributions made by police and community
leaders to
understand and improve the strategic history of American policing. The shifts in policing from a
political to a reform to a community era provides useful insights. It is my contention, however,
that the applicability of this interpretation is confined largely to the white majority communities
of our Nation. For Black Americans, and to a lesser extent other minority groups, the utility of
these changes is quite limited. The community era requires an empowered, cohesive community
to be able to deal with a sensitive, responsive police agencies, which oftentimes does not prevail
in many contemporary minority neighborhoods. During the past political eras, for example,
Black Americans in some communities were completely powerless, leaving them unable to exert
the influence necessary to affect police strategies. However, significant progress has been made.
Large numbers of blacks and other minorities have joined and in many cases have become
leaders of our major police departments. The use of violence by police against minorities has
declined dramatically in the last decade. Special efforts have been made to provide to increase
training to make our police officers sensitive to the needs and concerns of minority communities.
Enlightened, better educated police leadership has opened the profession to new approaches and
creative ideas. The rising popularity of community-oriented policing will undoubtedly further
improve the relationship between the police and minorities. Many of the most articulate
proponents of community policing are African American Police Administrators and Legislators.
It is my belief to think these are particularly hopeful signs in regard to police and community
relationships. There is still an unswerving emphasis, in the protection of constitutional rights and
the protection of all citizens, which gives us reason to be optimistic about the future of policing.
Nevertheless, the history of American police strategies cannot be separated from the history of
the Nation as a whole. Unfortunately, our police, and all of our other institutions, must contend
with many bitter legacies from that larger history. No paradigm and no society can be judged
satisfactory until those legacies have been confronted directly.

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “This is a people issue. People know they need the
police and the police know they need the people. We just can’t pit ourselves against each other.”
ABSTRACT
Be the Change You Want To See
Racial disparities in social and economic outcomes exist in all parts of the United States. Black
Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by White Americans. Black Americans
are also more likely to unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty (Aronson,
Akert & Wilson, 2010). In some places these disparities are even more pronounced. For
centuries, there have been stark differences in the conditions and opportunities Black Americans
have faced. This article researches what strategic actions people may do to empower the changes
needed to make sure minorities are regarded as human beings and citizens, not novelties or
“others”.
Be the Change You Want To See
Racial disparities in social and economic outcomes exist in all parts of the United States. Black
Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by White Americans. Black Americans
are also more likely to unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty (Aronson,
Akert & Wilson, 2010). In some places these disparities are even more pronounced. For
centuries, there have been stark differences in the conditions and opportunities Black Americans
have faced. This article researches what strategic actions people may do to empower the changes
needed to make sure minorities are regarded as human beings and citizens, not novelties or
“others”.
Recently, I struggled with the verdicts of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Also, I felt quite
hopeless, wondering what on earth it would take to stop the consistent, outright torture and
killing of Black males. What could I do to help, to make sustainable lasting change? However,
as the protests around the world grew in size and scope and creativity, I began to feel better. I
realized that I am doing something to help, whether it is writing this article or simply living by
example, being the “Change I want to see”! I don’t know if the demonstrations will do any
good. Sadly, I’m not hopeful, but they’re peaceful and they’re diverse, they’re a good start, and
they confirm that many people of various cultures believe what’s being done by police to so
many Black Men is just absolutely wrong.

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
People are gathering in protests and marches throughout the cities calling for justice for Michael
Brown and his family. It is unacceptable for police officers to use deadly force as a first option.
There needs to be consequences for abuse of power, it should not be awarded with a failure to
convict. This sends a derogatory message to the nation that white people are exempt if they
commit a crime. There should be some form of discipline towards Officer Wilson.
The police department should also have their officers retrained to handle situations that
call for extreme methods but, maintain respect for others. Civil rights should not be violated even
in intense situations. The police officer is the one with the gun and authority they should be more
aware and capable of controlling a situation. I believe fear and inexperience of officer Wilson led
to the death of Michael Brown. Education and communication is key between the Police and the
community. Learning to work with the public while serving as a police officer is important to
keep the public safe, as they “protect and serve”.
This notion of body cameras for police; what’s the point? The entire world, literally, saw Eric
Garner killed on video. We along with his children, saw him expire in front of our very eyes,
murdered for nothing. Then we watched his killers escape any punishment at all. It’s the same
story over and over, captured live and in color by bystanders carrying smart phones with
embedded cameras and recorders. Cameras aren’t the issue. We know who is to blame for these
murders, and we know they use excessive force in unprovoked altercations. But until now there
are no sanctions brought against those responsible, and until the police forced to stop targeting
black and brown bodies, until they are required to learn how to treat everyone equally with
dignity and respect, nothing will change.
The Civil Rights Movement led to hopes that racial inequality would soon end. The movement
led to a series of reforms, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Acts of
1965, and other legislation, known as the “Great Society” (Harrison, 2008). It is my belief that it
is one thing to end segregation, but it’s another thing to talk about billions of dollars of
investment. When the United States invested in a middle class in the 1940s and 1950s, it was in
a white middle class. However, the country was “never willing to do that same type of
investment to create a middle class that would be inclusive of African Americans” (Harrison,
2008). The effect of this unwillingness to invest in the Black community are clear in the racial
economic outcome gaps.

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, the national jobless rate for November
was 5.8% nationwide. Among White Americans, the figure was 4.9%. Among Black
Americans it was 11.1% (Pederson, 2010). Segregation also creates different communities with
different social services. The quality of schools, property values, the quality of services
available, and the quality of good are all “legacies of racially segregated neighborhoods in this
country”. Few factors do more to improve people’s livelihoods than access to good jobs. High
employment rates contribute to higher incomes, better health insurance coverage, as well as
lower poverty rates. The obstacles facing Black Americans in the United States begin in early
childhood, and they have long-lasting effects. Although higher education leads to higher
employment and better wages, it “does not eliminate inequality”. The unemployment rate
among college-educated Black Americans is still about twice that of college-White Americans.
Of course, there is no single solution to job inequality. Even highly educated Black Americans
cannot overcome centuries of segregation and outright discrimination. Oftentimes, many people
are hired because they know someone. For example, if Black Americans are not part of a
particular social network, their chances of getting hired at a particular job are smaller. For
people who have been historically segregated, four year of elite schooling is not the same thing
as “having generation after generation that can connect you to different opportunities through
friends and family”.
Inequalities in economic outcomes also persist. A typical Black household made just 62.3% of
the median income of White household in 2013. Furthermore, the economic gaps may actually
be understated. This is because wealth, which includes assets, such as stock and real estate
holdings, as well as ready access to credit, are not captured by measures of income alone and can
often have greater effects on racial inequalities. Wealth is that which allows you to bridge
economic challenges and difficulties, such as periods of unforeseen expenses or job loss. Wealth
may be also used to acquire assets like homes and businesses, which are often transferred
intergenerationally. In fact, less than 42% of Black households were homeowners, while more
than 71% of White households owned a home as of 2013 (Thomas, 2012).
Laws can also have a discriminatory effect on Black Americans. For example, longer sentences
for offenses involving crack cocaine to powder cocaine, which are essentially identical,
contributed to the disproportionate incarceration rates of Black Americans (Werner, Jensen &
Zaffron, 2010). Furthermore, because crack cocaine was “an epidemic in the African American

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
community”, they were disproportionately affected by the sentencing associated with that”
(Werner, Jensen & Zaffron, 2010). In 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act passed by Congress
reduced the sentencing disparity. Black Americans were more than five times as likely to go to
prison than their White peers as of 2013. People with criminal records are more likely to get
lower paying jobs. Furthermore, when you’re in a community where there is a lack of economic
opportunities, people seek alternatives, and unfortunately a lot of those alternatives are criminal.
While racial inequality is a complicated issue, this does not mean that there are no solutions.
Even if we ended the over-incarceration of African Americans, we would still have this great
racial economic inequality that really will only be dealt with through massive investments, living
wage jobs, homeownership opportunities, equal access to education, health care, all of those
factors, so there is no one solution. It is not just education, it’s not just health care, it’s a
complex mixture.
This may sound shocking, but I don’t believe everyone understands that minorities are human.
Furthermore, that dark bodies aren’t here to be made of or to act as scapegoats and whipping
posts for the ills of the world. We have to change that attitude among people and all of us have a
responsibility to do that. Together, and that’s why these global demonstrations of support and
horror, at once dramatic and perfect, are so welcome and so very important. We have to become
the change we want to see! We have to change this too prevalent perception of minorities as
less than, as inhuman, as disposable, as demonic! I believe that I know why the dominant power
structures perpetuate cycles of abuse and incarceration for certain groups. At the basic level, it’s
about retaining power. Minorities pose a credible threat. For example, take your foot off the
neck of a threat, what happens? They stop being distracted by what’s necessary to survive, and
they start to actually thrive. They move into the workplace, into leadership roles; they gain
political capital, earn and save and invest money; they influence and build great things. Without
men in communities, it makes them harder to gain strength, which in another perspective to
consider. I am humbly glad that so many people are standing up for these fallen men because
they can’t accept this either. Most significantly, I do not believe that all White people or all
police officers are racist horrors walking around in metaphoric hoods waiting to pounce like
some modern day boogeyman. What I do believe is that we need to change in a systematic,
heartfelt and accountable manner! As in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “If you want to

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work,
but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Conclusion
This author believes that there have been valuable contributions made by police and community
leaders to
understand and improve the strategic history of American policing. The shifts in policing from a
political to a reform to a community era provides useful insights. It is my contention, however,
that the applicability of this interpretation is confined largely to the white majority communities
of our Nation. For Black Americans, and to a lesser extent other minority groups, the utility of
these changes is quite limited. The community era requires an empowered, cohesive community
to be able to deal with a sensitive, responsive police agencies, which oftentimes does not prevail
in many contemporary minority neighborhoods. During the past political eras, for example,
Black Americans in some communities were completely powerless, leaving them unable to exert
the influence necessary to affect police strategies. However, significant progress has been made.
Large numbers of blacks and other minorities have joined and in many cases have become
leaders of our major police departments. The use of violence by police against minorities has
declined dramatically in the last decade. Special efforts have been made to provide to increase
training to make our police officers sensitive to the needs and concerns of minority communities.
Enlightened, better educated police leadership has opened the profession to new approaches and
creative ideas. The rising popularity of community-oriented policing will undoubtedly further
improve the relationship between the police and minorities. Many of the most articulate
proponents of community policing are African American Police Administrators and Legislators.
It is my belief to think these are particularly hopeful signs in regard to police and community
relationships. There is still an unswerving emphasis, in the protection of constitutional rights and
the protection of all citizens, which gives us reason to be optimistic about the future of policing.
Nevertheless, the history of American police strategies cannot be separated from the history of
the Nation as a whole. Unfortunately, our police, and all of our other institutions, must contend
with many bitter legacies from that larger history. No paradigm and no society can be judged
satisfactory until those legacies have been confronted directly.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “This is a people issue. People know they need the
police and the police know they need the people. We just can’t pit ourselves against each other.”

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal

REFERENCES
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Bennett, J. M. (2008). Transformative training: Designing programs for culture learning.
Contemporary Leadership and intercultural competence: Understanding and utilizing
cultural diversity to build successful organizations (pp. 95-110). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.

Berfield, S. (2007, September). “Bridging the Generation Gap,” Business Week, pp. 60-61.
Clayborne, C. & Shepard, K., (Eds.). (2001). A call to conscience: The landmark speeches of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, NY: IPM/Warner Books. Retrieved from
http://mlk-pp01.stanford.edu/kingweb/mlkpapers/

Deardorff, D. K. (Ed.) (2009). The SAGE handbook of intercultural competence. Thousand

Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fowler, S. M., & Blohm, J. M. (2004). An analysis of methods for intercultural training.
Handbook of intercultural training (3rd ed., pp. 37-84). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hammer, M. R. (2008). The intercultural development inventory (IDI): An approach for
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Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence: Understanding and utilizing
cultural diversity to build successful organizations (pp. 245-261). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.
Harrison, B.C. (2008). Power and Society. Boston, MA: Independent Publishing Press.
Littrell, L. N., & Salas, E. (2005). A review of cross-cultural training: Best practices,
guidelines, and research needs. Human Resource Development Review, 4, 305-334.

Mor Barak, M. E. (2014). Managing Diversity; Toward a Globally Inclusive Workplace. (3rd
ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Volume 2015 Issue 1

 Global Education Journal
Pederson, P. (2010). A handbook for developing multicultural awareness (3rd ed.).
Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Pettigrew, T. F. (2008). Future directions for intergroup theory and research. International
Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32(3), 182-199.
Phillips, D. (1992). Lincoln on leadership. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

Thomas, R.R. (2012). Building a House for Diversity. New York, NY: American
Management Association Press.

Werner, E., Jensen, M., & Zaffron, S. (2010, February). Integrity: A positive model that
incorporates the normative phenomena of morality, ethics and legality. (HBS Working
Paper No. 10-061). Retrieved from Harvard Business School Working Papers
Collection:
http://www.hbs.edu/research/facpubs/workingpapers/papers0910.html#wp10-061

Volume 2015 Issue 1

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