It's not about having all the answers. It's about asking the right questions.
As riotous scenes from Baltimore played out on television Monday night, Baltimore resident and noted commentator Jeff Johnson conceded his heart and his head were back in his hometown and not really with the audience waiting to hear his keynote speech at the George Edgecomb Bar annual scholarship dinner at the Marriott Waterside.
He worried as his city burned, but he also grew frustrated as media coverage again reflected the anger of young people without asking the right question.
"Why … is it that they're so angry that they're willing to play out scenes that we saw in communities 50 years ago?" Johnson asked. "Why do they find it necessary to loot and burn and protest and raise hell in their community when seemingly things are better than they were 50 years ago?"
Johnson insisted every community, including Tampa, finds itself grappling with a psychosis in which we rightfully celebrate young people who are succeeding while ignoring others until their lack of successes boils over into violence.
"I'm frustrated by those of us who have the capacity to make change but the unwillingness to do so," Johnson preached. "I'm frustrated by those of us who drive through (urban areas) and pretend not to see what's on the left or right.
"Yes, it's their responsibility if they tear up stuff to be held accountable. But what is our responsibility? We need to give them the hope so that tearing up something wouldn't be something they do — because they understand the future before them and they don't want to risk it."
It's not just about asking the right question, it's about asking the right people.
Attorney Barry Cohen held a town hall meeting with WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Reginald Roundtree Wednesday to discuss the distrust between many members of the African-American community and law enforcement.
Mise En Place owner Maryann Ferenc launches a new conversation series from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Tampa Museum of Art's Sono Cafe. Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman will invite people at the event to join her in a discussion about the importance of diversity in our community.
These are all important and laudable efforts, worthy of our attention. Any dialogue can help build bridges even if it doesn't yield resolute answers.
Yet are we talking to the kids, the teens most likely to let their emotions spark a violent outbursts? With the Tampa Police Department inviting the U.S. Justice Department to review its handling of bicycling citations, with fits of rioting cropping up across the nation, now is the time to gain an understanding of the anger that festers and find ways to douse it.
Community Tampa Bay, the nonprofit with the noble mission of creating a community free from all forms of discrimination, will reconnect with supporters new and old with Transformations, a special event from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts' Jaeb Theatre. The group is well-equipped at creating dialogues with young people, having enjoyed success with its Anytown program.
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Explore all your options"What we do could not be more timely and be more relevant in today's world," Community Tampa Bay executive director Jennifer Russell said. "What we're seeing is a tension between what community wants to see changed and the historical systems of power that are difficult to change.
"While we're not living in the conditions of say 40 years, we still have enormous work to do in terms of realizing an equitable and just community that will benefit everyone."
With Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn serving as an honorary chairman for the Community Tampa Bay's fundraiser, I wonder if he would be willing to work with the group to create a series of discussions with the city's teens and Tampa police officials. We can't help but benefit from discussing the turbulent emotions of a city — before they boil over.
We have to ask the right questions.
That's all I'm saying.