Global Grind readers…I’d like to introduce myself… My name is Sgt. Justice (real name: Jamaal Bell). I’m the executive editor of the fast-growing blog that specifically talks about race, gender and equality; Race-Talk I’m also a civic journalist for The Huffington Post, Race Talk and, now, Global Grind.
If you’ve read my articles on The Huffington Post, you know that I write about critical social justice issues of our time. I specifically perform original reporting and commentary on social issues that are either inadequately reported or ignored completely. I purposely seek out and highlight small not-for-profit organizations that have little resources, however, make big differences in their communities.
What’s my journalistic approach?
I’m an active participant in community life rather than a detached spectator. I use media as a forum for the discussion of community issues. I don’t decide what’s important, the community tells me what’s important. I feel that public opinion is a process of discussion and debate among members of a community, however, if journalists don’t help educate the community on important issues and provide them with resources where they can self-investigate, how can the community be well-informed participants of democracy?
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Conversation, debate, and dialogue lie at the heart of a democracy. I am one man… there are many journalists and commentators like me but we need more.
In my articles I ask questions like, why is the incarceration rate of Native Americans 38% higher than the national rate? Why has the U.S. put more Black males in the criminal justice system than slavery in 1850? Speaking of slavery, why has the U.S. failed to adequately and explicitly record and research the connections between human trafficking (slavery), poverty, migration, gender, and race to battle and destroy domestic slavery? Yes homies, slavery still exist in America And why when national disasters massively affect people of color or poverty stricken populations we rarely hear the stories from the people who are most affected?
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Why do I do this?
We hear our mainstream media tell us nothing but problems. Where’s the solutions? Why aren’t they highlighting the grassroots organizations on the ground that fight social injustices every day? Why when the mainstream media talk about race it’s written and spoken superficially and the question is always, ‘Is he/she a racist?’ Stupid question…
Why aren’t we questioning our racialized and exploitative policies? You know immigration, employment, education, health care and criminal justice. Every one of these policies one way or another exploit and/or marginalize the poor and people of color. Questions I would ask are, ‘Why are there huge racial disparities in the prison system in the Southern states? Is there a disparity in law enforcement? Do enforcement policies specifically target poor communities of color?’ Smart questions…
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