(Re)Shaping Policy through Coalition Building

john a. powell

Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and EthnicityWilliams Chair in Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Moritz College of Law

Gamaliel Foundation – African American Leadership CommissionUniting for Power: A Stimulus To Action ConferenceJune 12, 2009

Today’s Conversation Opportunity in the current context

Importance of coalitions

Promoting race-sensitive policies around the stimulus

Our linked fates and targeted universalism

Opportunity is Mediated For much of human

history, we interacted exclusively on a face-to-face basis within small communities

Now, many of our relationships are mediated

Technology, Distance, Institutions

People in foreclosure cannot find a person to talk to

And our opportunities are strengthened or truncated by these mediating factors

Opportunity is Global Our world today is more complex and interconnected.

Current and future changes will not be only driven by local/national issues, but influenced by systemic global trends and challenges Examples

• Globalization• Climate change• The credit and foreclosure crisis• Growing diversity and widening inequality

We must adjust our lens of analysis to reflect these changing conditions Moving towards a systems approach of problem

solving and identifying solutions

Opportunity is Racialized Structural racialization: the joint

operation of institutions produces racialized outcomes.

Structures unevenly distribute benefits, burdens, and racialized meaning.

In 1960, African-American families in poverty were 3.8 times more likely to be concentrated in high-poverty neighborhoods than poor whites.

In 2000, they were 7.3 times more likely.

This uneven distribution has negative consequences not just for those with the greatest need, but all of us.

Lower EducationalOutcomes

Increased Flightof Affluent

Families

Neighborhood Segregation

SchoolSegregation &

Concentrated Poverty

Types of CoalitionsTypes of Coalitions

There are different types of coalitionsThere are different types of coalitions Work on specific issuesWork on specific issues Those that bring together diverse groups of Those that bring together diverse groups of

peoplepeople Those that involve groups that are, in and of Those that involve groups that are, in and of

themselves, multi racialthemselves, multi racial

Why are multiracial coalitions important?Why are multiracial coalitions important?

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Multiracial CoalitionsMultiracial Coalitions

What’s different about multiracial coalitions? What What’s different about multiracial coalitions? What challenges and opportunities do they present?challenges and opportunities do they present?

To be a multiracial coalition, members must To be a multiracial coalition, members must address race.address race.

Tensions that may arise around issues often Tensions that may arise around issues often reflect structural concerns; they are not just reflect structural concerns; they are not just interpersonal conflicts.interpersonal conflicts.

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Coalition InterestsCoalition Interests Coalition interests are not stable.Coalition interests are not stable.

Interests may also be multiple.Interests may also be multiple. Interests are fluid and impacted by institutional Interests are fluid and impacted by institutional

arrangements. arrangements. • Example:Example:

Undocumented immigrants that cannot join Undocumented immigrants that cannot join unions and therefore often receive lower wages unions and therefore often receive lower wages are not looked upon favorably by unions.are not looked upon favorably by unions.

Undocumented immigrants that Undocumented immigrants that cancan join unions join unions are supported by the unions, but opposed by are supported by the unions, but opposed by business. business.

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Structural arrangements matter!

Recognizing common cause Subprime/foreclosure crisis Health care crisis Racial profiling, police harassment, hate crimes Economic justice (jobs, wages, training, safety) Education reform (funding, resource equity)

Growing recognition that fates are linked

Many people urging a broad structural rather than a narrow cultural analysis of group challenges

Growing recognition that both groups command meaningful political, economic and social resources

Importance of Coalition Building

Coalition Building Move from transactional level to a deeper

transformative level

Coalition across groups, space, ideology

Ethics of connectedness and linked fate Structures, policies, institutions actively

disconnect us whereas they could proactively connect us

Coalition Building and Collaboration Action-linked intervention should focus on multi-

racial and multi-ethnic coalitions Leadership and coalition building will be vital to

creating the political momentum for change Regional actors must have an inclusive series of

conversations that foregrounds equity The capacity to coordinate and move various

initiatives forward must be developed Residents can help build public support for policy

reforms

Major Obstacles to Coalitions

Belief that groups’ fates not linked Political, economic, social conflicts of interest Belief that social concern for “minority” social

issues is zero-sum Ignorance of historical/contemporary conditions

affecting the social outcomes of both groups Media insistence on an African American/

immigrant (and “Black/Latino”) conflict and competition storyline

Major Obstacles Cont’d

Marginalized groups often spatially segregated from one another

Lack of consensus about goals and strategies among different groups

Mixed history of power-sharing under conditions where one or the other group dominates

Economic duress and structural racism

Conditions that Could Foster Coalitions

Broader, deeper attention to need for strong partnerships between these groups

Whole categories of potential bridge-builders emerging

• Young people, especially students• Charismatic leaders

Increasing number of promising institutional sites • Workers centers, unions, schools, multiracial

churches

Coalitions/Alliance in Action New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice

“The Alliance is an association of guestworkers from different companies that have joined together in a fight for dignity. Workers support one another in the struggle for fair treatment on the job and for justice on an international level not only for H2B workers but for all workers.”

Source: http://www.nowcrj.org/about-2/alliance-of-guest-workers-for-dignity/

The Southeast Regional The Southeast Regional Economic Justice NetworkEconomic Justice Network

The Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network is a The Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network is a network that serves the working poor, mostly women and network that serves the working poor, mostly women and youth. It was formed in 1989 in Durham, North Carolina, youth. It was formed in 1989 in Durham, North Carolina, at a time of plant closings and escalating racist violence at a time of plant closings and escalating racist violence in the U.S. South. in the U.S. South.

REJN is a regional organization that focuses on the REJN is a regional organization that focuses on the South. The organization perceives the U.S. South as South. The organization perceives the U.S. South as part of the global South. In 1992, it extended invitations part of the global South. In 1992, it extended invitations to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and South America. to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and South America.

Membership driven organization. It has 60 member Membership driven organization. It has 60 member organizations across the South, and eight member organizations across the South, and eight member nations in the Americas. nations in the Americas.

The Restaurant Opportunities The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY)Center of New York (ROC-NY)

Created post-9/11 with the workers who lost their jobs at Created post-9/11 with the workers who lost their jobs at Windows on the World when the towers collapsed Windows on the World when the towers collapsed

Scope of organization: City-wide, and expanding to other Scope of organization: City-wide, and expanding to other cities across the nationcities across the nation

2,000 members:2,000 members: 35-40% Latino (mostly Mexican and Guatemalan)35-40% Latino (mostly Mexican and Guatemalan) 25% Black (black Americans, Caribbean/African 25% Black (black Americans, Caribbean/African

immigs)immigs) 5-10% white 5-10% white 10% Arab, and the remainder are Asians 10% Arab, and the remainder are Asians

A Workers’ Center that advocates an organic strategyA Workers’ Center that advocates an organic strategy

Fragmentation of groups that share common concerns

Policies that do not take into consideration of the situatedness of different groups

Perpetuation of the status quo, an unjust and unequal society

Consequences of Inability to Form Multiracial Coalitions

Learning From Our Mistakes? If we fail to pay attention to the resources that

communities possess, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the New Deal.

For example, Social Security benefits were initially denied to household and farm laborers – effectively excluding 65% of the Black population

How do we avoid the New Deal mistakes? We must be intentional. Policies should be targeted and programs should

be structured so that they reach certain populations and communities.

Ex: Economic Stimulus Package The economic stimulus package fails to directly

account for race. Yet, race is a key component of many major

economic issues. People of color are more than three times as likely as

whites to have subprime mortgages. Borrowers of color were more than 30 percent more

likely to receive a higher-rate loan than whites, even after accounting for differences in risk.

Besides considering race-sensitive design, we must be concerned about the impacts.

Rogers, Christy. “Subprime Loans, Foreclosure, and the Credit Crisis – A Primer.” Dec. 2008.

Racially Sensitive Policies What do racially sensitive policies look like?

Targeted: They recognize the nature of our interconnected structures / larger inequitable, institutional framework.

Pay attention to situatedness: They account for the fact that people are situated differently in the economic and social landscape of society.

Driven by outcomes: It may seem great if unemployment is cut in half, but if all the jobs go to white males, serious problems remain.

Include people of color in the process: Their input is vital.

Racially Sensitive Policies (con’t)

What do racially sensitive policies look like?

Transparent: - Transparency allows for gauging progress and making corrections if necessary.

Multi-faceted: Incentivize a systems approach. Reorient how we think about policy.

Serve as a bridge to the next economy: These policies should be the stepping stones for the future.

Race-Sensitive Policy Analysis of the Stimulus

How do we make the stimulus fair, sustainable, accountable?

Incentives for inclusion of people of color

Grants and loans for small and minority-, women-, and community-disadvantaged businesses

Collect data by race and gender to understand impacts of economic recovery policy

Investment in public transit (prioritize projects that connect people to jobs)

Wiley, Maya. “Economic Recovery for Everyone: Racial Equity and Prosperity,” Center for Social Inclusion

Challenge: False Universalism An example of Transactional thinking

Uneven distribution of pathways to opportunity

Universal programs do not account for the differences in experience among Whites and people of color Examples: Poverty-reduction programs,

social security Inability to reach opportunity through

these universal programs is seen as an individual failure

If people in red receive job training through the universal If people in red receive job training through the universal program, Group B would seem to benefit more than Group A program, Group B would seem to benefit more than Group A

(more people in red)(more people in red)

Key:Key:RedRed = job training = job training BoxesBoxes = isolated = isolated neighborhood (not neighborhood (not addressed by addressed by universal program)universal program)

UNIVERSAL PROGRAMUNIVERSAL PROGRAM

Group BGroup A

Although the universal program affected everyone in red, Although the universal program affected everyone in red, Group B is still constrained by living in isolated Group B is still constrained by living in isolated

neighborhoods (the boxes).neighborhoods (the boxes).

Key:Key:RedRed = job training = job training BoxesBoxes = isolated = isolated neighborhoodneighborhood

UNIVERSAL PROGRAMUNIVERSAL PROGRAM

Group A Group B

We Need A New Paradigm Targeted policies alone are not desirable

because they appear to show favoritism toward a certain group, thus stigmatizing them.

Universal policies alone are not truly universal. They fail to account for the fact that people are

situated differently in the economic and social landscape

“Universal” policies are often based on a non-universal standard

• Ex: Social Security: able-bodied white males working outside the home full-time for pay

Thus… Targeted Universalism

Targeted Universalism Through collective imagination, we need to

define what the future should look like A New Paradigm!: Targeted Universalism

What is our alternative vision? A model where we all grow together A model where we embrace collective

solutions This vision requires collective action and will

require coalitions to be successful

Targeted UniversalismThis approach supports needs of the particular while

reminding us we are all part of the same social fabric.• Universal, yet captures how people are differently situated • Inclusive, yet targets those who are most marginalized

Targeted Universalism recognizes racial disparities, while acknowledging their presence within a larger inequitable, institutional framework

Targeted universalism is a common framework through which to pursue justice. A model which recognizes our linked fate A model where we all grow together A model where we embrace collective solutions

Targeting the Stimulus Investments Stimulus investments should strategically and

deliberately transform cities and communities.

Example: transportation funds

If these funds are widespread to different road proposals across states, they may produce jobs in the short-term, but they will not produce sustainable or equitable growth.

Instead, we need to direct funds to investment-deprived communities

Applying Targeted Universalism to the Stimulus The “shovel ready” stimulus package jobs “can

benefit unemployed people of color and women if specific incentives and enforcement tools are enacted to ensure fair access

All stimulus projects should require local resident hiring goals and create a link to community-based groups as first line contact for construction jobs.

Local hiring requirements are a proven approach to bring jobs to under-represented constituencies in construction trades. These requirements can be applied to permanent jobs as well.”

Center for Social Inclusion. “Economic Recovery for Everyone: Racial Equity and Prosperity.” Talking Points.

Our Linked Fates Targeted universalism recognizes that

problems faced by particular segments of American society are not isolated circumstances, but problems that could spill over into the lives of everyone.

Emphasizing our Linked Fateand Interconnectedness

All members of a society share a linked fate Inequality is a sign of an economically/socially inefficient

society, where proper investments are not made in human capital, and where much of the population can not meet its creative potential. These disparities and inequities make our nation less competitive, depressing opportunities for all

should be collaborative and focus on coalition building recognize the interconnectedness of our being and fate re-conceptualize society to promote the political,

economic, spiritual, and psychological health of all

For more information…For more information…

Kirwan Institute report released in May Kirwan Institute report released in May 2009:2009:

““African American – Immigrant Alliance African American – Immigrant Alliance Building: Five Case Studies”Building: Five Case Studies”• By Andrew Grant-Thomas, Yusuf Sarfati, and By Andrew Grant-Thomas, Yusuf Sarfati, and

Cheryl StaatsCheryl Staats

http://www.kirwaninstitute.org/publicationspresentations/publications/index.php

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Questions or Comments? For More Information, Visit Us Online:

www.KirwanInstitute.org

Appendix AAppendix A

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Long-term Consequences Tier 1 social insurance programs excluded 65% of

the working Black population. Because of continuing discrimination and

unequal education opportunities, many people lack Tier 1 economic security. 

By separating out benefits for the employed (like retirement and unemployment insurance programs) from those for the unemployed, people in Tier 2 public assistance programs are often stigmatized.

Dona Cooper Hamilton and Charles V. Hamilton, The Dual Agenda:  the African-American struggle for civil and economic equality.  New York:  Columbia University Press, 1997. 

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Assessing the Stimulus PackageAssessing the Stimulus Package

Projections indicate that the stimulus package will Projections indicate that the stimulus package will not impact all groups to the same degree.not impact all groups to the same degree.

People are not only spatially segregated, but People are not only spatially segregated, but segregation also occurs by sector.segregation also occurs by sector.

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Money AllocationMoney Allocation

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Stimulus: Projected Distribution of Jobs by RaceStimulus: Projected Distribution of Jobs by Race

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Projected Percent Share of Stimulus-Created Jobs by Race

White or Other 69.6%

African American

10.1%Hispanic or Latino

15.9%

Asian 4.4%

African Americans are underrepresented relative to their presence in the African Americans are underrepresented relative to their presence in the U.S. population (13%). Hispanics/Latinos, also at 13% of the U.S. U.S. population (13%). Hispanics/Latinos, also at 13% of the U.S.

population, are overrepresented.population, are overrepresented.

Racial gaps in job projections

A report titled “Race, Gender, and the Recession” estimates that there will be over 1,300,000 jobs created for white women.

This figure is 70% higher than African-American and Latino women combined.

Source: Women of Color Policy Network, “Race, Gender and the Recession” Report.