Race Matters: NYC and Book

I noted recently that people can be rehabilitated or otherwise redeemed even if they spend their life in prison or are executed. 

One thing that came to mind is the book A Lesson Before Dying, a book by Ernest J. Gaines, who also wrote The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, which I read (and watched at least part of a film of) some years back.  The book concerns an unjustly convicted young black man in Louisiana shortly after World War II (Jackie Robinson has broken the color barrier in MLB). In an attempt to get him off, his public defender called him a "hog," not worth executing.  He didn't have the knowledge to be guilty. 

His godmother wants him to die like a man and along with her friend pressures said friend's nephew, a schoolteacher, to help him do so. Grant is the narrator of the book.  He feels obligated to help the children of the area, but feels the hopelessness of racism and hates himself for being too weak-willed to leave.  Grant feels like he is a cog in a racist machine and is not as optimistic as his girlfriend (a separated schoolteacher) that life will change.  Grant's family and the local minister also is upset at his overall lack of faith though he still believes in God.  

In the end, Grant is able to help Jefferson feel self-worth, and he does die with dignity.  The reasonable minded young white deputy, who is willing to treat Grant as basically an equal, tells Grant Jefferson was the strongest person in the execution chamber.  Near the end of the book, we get about ten pages of Jefferson's journal, written in uneducated style, so a bit hard to understand.  Jefferson is a bit of a Jesus figure (the execution is scheduled between noon and three on a Friday, like Jesus himself) in that his actions (like Jackie Robinson) give meaning to many local blacks.  

[On the current baseball front, we have had multiple upsets, now with every National League divisional leader -- and the #1 wild card (Mets) -- being eliminated.  The Astros did advance.  The Yankees are down 2-1, but that is a battle between divisional leaders.  The American League has not been as crazy in the playoffs though we did have two long extra inning games.]

I liked the book as a whole and Grant is a sort of reasonable narrator that you can relate with better than let's say one of the racists or the white deputy (the approach of some stories).  It would be interesting to see more in the mind of the minister and other characters, who we see secondhand through Grant's eyes.  The book does show that there is some ability to obtain a bit of redemption even among so much injustice.  

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A commission was formed to address racial justice matters in New York City.  I was not aware of this before reading about three city ballot measures that will be on the ballot this election, which arose from the commission's suggestions.  There is a fourth measure which is a state ballot question involving okaying a large bond issuance to further environmental matters.  

I continue to be wary about these ballot measures.  I really have not major insight above and beyond the state legislature and other state bodies about if this bond measure (if one larger than usual) is a good idea or not.  When the question is a much small spending matter or as I recall in one case the validity of using some state parkland for some purpose, it is even less useful to set forth this matter to a public vote.

Maybe, a bond measure this size should get public approval more so than other ballot questions.  I will vote "yes" on it myself probably.  The city measures are somewhat different.  One supports a preamble to the city charter to provide a statement of purpose.  It is a good idea for the public to be aware of this and take part in a vote to support it.   I'm not sure how useful it is, but it is fine to include idealistic aims in public charters. 

One article summarized the purpose of the three ballot measures:

The impetus for the amendments came on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately harmed people of color as well as the protests against police brutality that rocked the city during the summer of 2020.

These ideas began on March 23, 2021, when then-Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the creation of a Racial Justice Commission and tasked it with two major objectives: Examine structural and institutional racism across the city and recommend amendments that would rectify those issues.

Again, this is a public concern, and the public getting involved in voting on measures that the commission supported makes some degree of sense.  This is so more so because the measures are not merely technical policy issues like the value of a bond measure.  There is more of a reason to have the public at large involved here though you might argue it is true for the bond measure too.  I do see a difference. 

The next proposal regards the formation of a program where a racial equity plan needs to be developed every two years and a specific Office of Racial Equity formed to do so.  I guess this is okay, but it did not really appeal to me.  It seems like another level of bureaucracy.  Is New York City not NOW addressing racial equity on a consistent basis?  I can read through the report, but what exactly does this plan/office deal do to help matters much more?  

The final measure concerns requiring the city to use a "true cost of living" test.  The report argues that the current economic indicators do not adequately provide a true cost taking into consideration all the relevant factors for residents of the city.  I am willing to let this be tried though I'm wary of not providing the city flexibility if it turns out not to work well.  Is a ballot measure as compared to a city council bill the appropriate way?

At the end of the day, I remain wary about ballot proposals, even if the overall goals of racial justice here are obviously important.