A few things on the docket to write about (and some great comments from our discussion about universities to highlight), but I wanted to write a quick post about a brief twitter convo I had with Dr. Keith Benson last night. Keith is one of my favorites people here in Camden. He juggles so many roles, from resident to teacher, parent to activist, and lastly, scholar. I certainly look up to Keith’s scholarship; I’ve been privileged enough to co-author with him, and to recently have him serve as editor for something I’ve written. I can’t emphasize enough how much authenticity he brings to his academic work, and how critical I think it is that Camden residents have a voice in what’s written about the city. 

This week Keith was at a conference presenting work from his doctoral research, and he pointed out something to me: 

@SteveDanley brother it NEVER fails! Whenever I present what is going on in Camden educationally and politically ppl are in utter disbelief?

— Dr. Keith E. Benson (@KeithEricBenson) February 14, 2017

 

@SteveDanley but I swear the attendees look and respond to the presentations like we like the Twilight Zone. And that reaction is consistent

— Dr. Keith E. Benson (@KeithEricBenson) February 14, 2017

 

Nationally, it feels like we are having this conversation. Activists remind us that the current state of affairs is “not normal.” They remind us that we need not accept or become desensitized to what’s happening on a national level. 

But reactions like the one Keith received at NAAAS show us how normalized Camden’s oppression has become. Camden literally has the least ability to govern their own educational systems in the country. Residents cannot elect school board members, their appointed school board is stripped of power by the state takeover, and the state reserves the right to take over the school system if certain QSAC criteria aren’t met (but has neglected to take over more than 100 schools that have failed to meet that criteria). When residents gathered signatures to put the issue of returning to an elected board on the ballot, they were told they did not have the legal authority to do so. When residents gathered signatures to try to protest the Camden City police from being disbanded (and reformed as the Camden County police), the mayor took the issue to court to keep it from going on the ballot. And while the city is not currently under a state takeover (it was for a period of time after 2002 legislation), city expenditures still go through a fiscal monitor. Which is all to say, a vote does not go far here. 

And that seeps into the day-to-day experiences of a city resident. With the mayoral primary coming up, there does not appear to be a challenger to an establishment Democratic candidate despite the fact that it’s unclear if Mayor Dana Redd will run again. At a time when many across the country are reinvigorated and trying to be involved in politics, little of that energy is evident in Camden’s local politics. 

To a certain extent, this is a challenge state-wide. New Jersey has a particularly critical opportunity — it has one of few only two gubernatorial races in the country. But that energy appears to be, in part, squandered as many county chairman have endorsed Ambassador Phil Murphy early in the primary cycle. Hundreds are showing up to meetings across the state and there are a host of meetings and groups in South Jersey trying to rally progressives and seeing huge influxes of numbers (including Our Revolution, and Indivisible). Those groups are in for a surprise; progressive organizing in South Jersey is difficult, and bromides about how people should get involved by running for office come with an important caveat in Jersey. Running means making the local county Democratic party a priority even if it means turning your back on progressive values. 

We say, “this is not normal.” But for many in Camden, Camden County, and even the wider state of New Jersey, it is. And that undermines the energy we’re seeing as a result of national politics. Yes, we have rallies to go to. But we also need to clean up our own house. That’s why I admire folks that are doing the nitty-gritty of ensuring we have democratic, transparent local structures in place. Without them, oppression and exclusion is just everyday politics.