My colleague Ebony Chappel recently took Rev. Charles Harrison and the Ten Point Coalition to task for inviting Indiana Governor Mike Pence on one of their faith walks this week. She thought it was wrong for Ten Point to invite Pence on one of their faith patrols, especially during the same week presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump came to town. She called it an “insult to the community” and said Pence “did not give a damn about the marginalized.” My little sister could not be more wrong.
First of all, the event was planned long before Pence was even considered a possible running mate for Trump. It began back in June at Ten Point’s Annual Community Breakfast where Pence and Mayor Joe Hogsett spoke. The Governor was interested in what they do so Ten Point invited the him to join them on one of their patrols. They wanted to do it during Black Expo and they finally got it on the calendar.
Second, I know the Recorder got e-mails from both the Governor’s Office and Ten Point about the walk and I wish Ebony could have been there. I was. She would have seen the Governor interact and visit with the neighborhood residents who enjoyed meeting him. Most telling was two little boys who at first were scared of the cameras and covered their faces as if they were doing a perp walk. I wonder where they learned that. But after spending a few minutes with Pence and getting some words of encouragement they smiled and actually were happy to meet him. Who knows what impact that might have down the road? And then there was the trip to 37th and Illinois where the Governor talked to a couple who hire ex-offenders and he talked to the business owners about what the state could do to help them. Ebony, I think you would have been pleasantly surprised.
I also think if you took a closer look at Pence’s record you will see it’s a lot more than RFRA and refugees. It’s providing school choice and educational opportunities to families in those neighborhoods so their kids can succeed. It’s been about criminal justice reform so we do a better job of dealing with those we are angry with versus those we should be afraid of and put behind bars. I can also talk about Indiana’s job creation that has more Hoosiers working now than ever before. And if you really want to have a debate over pre-K and funding let’s do it. And you can explain how spending millions of dollars on unproven early childhood education programs is a good idea, as opposed to finding out which programs work and strategically targeting those dollars so the kids who need the help the most actually get it.
I can appreciate my colleague’s passion for the issues she believes are of great importance to the Black community. Where we differ is that I don’t think an organization like Ten Point working with the current Governor is a bad thing. Perhaps it would be better if Ten Point did nothing? Maybe more violence, more crime and less hope in some of these neighborhoods is the way to go? By the way, Butler Tarkington, Crown Hill and Unwar have all gone an average of 250 days without a murder, thanks in part to Ten Point. And the group has helped find neighborhood jobs for nearly two dozen ex offenders in the past month.
If I might offer a suggestion, the next time we get an e-mail from Ten Point about a faith walk, go with them and learn for yourself what’s going on and then offer an opinion. Or better yet, don’t wait for an e-mail.
Butler Tarkington – 273 days no homicides.
Crown Hill – 248 days.
Unwar – 267 days no juvenile homicides 14-24.
They asked to meet with him. Did it at first prayer breakfast in June.
And do it the week of IBE.
Found jobs for 20 ex offenders in last month, in those areas.
