Many of us work tirelessly to end the multiple forms of structural violence and oppression that manifest as health inequities, income inequality, mass incarceration, dilapidated education systems and more. However, all must ask a very relevant and critical question: what is the end goal here?
To answer quite simply, it’s genocide.
Yes, genocide.
Lets be clear, there is a recipe for chaos. From afar, it may seem as though there are several moving parts to this puzzle and everything is disconnected. However, there is a clear formula for chaos. Lets delve into the mathematical world here. Chaos Theory insinuates “complex/dynamic systems (marginalized communities) are highly sensitive to slight changes in conditions (structural violence), so that small alterations (oppressive policies) can give rise to strikingly great consequences (genocide).”
Applying Chaos Theory to systemic oppression, we begin to understand that the various forms of oppression perpetuated via policy are working like a very fine tuned orchestra, and we are approaching the climax.
Taking this a level deeper, the amazing 2009 documentary by PBS, Unnatural Causes, depicted how the various forms of oppression that fall on various levels of the ecological model from policies that promote exclusion to systems that promote racism in hiring practices continue the cycle of systemic oppression that directly diminishes life expectancy.
For example, in 2000, California introduced Proposition 21, which increased jail time and arrest for millions of juveniles. The issue with Prop 21 is that it was not trauma-informed and did not take into account that early incarceration of a juvenile leads to lifelong recidivism and risk-taking behaviors, which according to the ACES pyramid, lead to early death.
The lesson that this should teach lawmakers is that the policies which you develop then implement either attempt to mitigate, end or repair damage caused by systemic oppression/structural violence or, they exacerbate the symptoms of structural violence which leads to more multi-generational trauma, which ultimately leads to early death on a large scale, which in essence is genocide.
Philanthropy (government or foundation) is also complicit in this silent form of genocide as well. Much of the work that is undertaken by the non-profit industrial complex is designed to address the root causes of structural violence (through policy advocacy, organizing, research) and the outcomes (multi-generational trauma, poverty, youth violence, income inequality) it creates. However, philanthropy is not separate from perpetuating the “end goal” . Philanthropy focuses so much on funding “best practices” that coincidentally are developed by the same institutions and individuals that perpetuate then benefit from the aforementioned forms of structural violence. Leaving organizations that are successful in addressing root causes unable to apply and receive much needed funding because their best practices cannot be quantified.
For instance, this year, the City of Oakland decided to do major budget cuts of over 30% to multiple programs serving job training and career placement for disconnected youth. In turn, those funds were then used to fund the Mayor’s new initiative “Oakland Promise”, which has no substantial data on its potential effectiveness. Essentially, this causes a rise in youth unemployment that is directly connected to youth violence, which in turn leads to more trauma and early death.
Those in positions of power who draft, advocate for and pass policies that promote structural violence should absolutely be seen as contributing to genocide and there is heavy karma attached to that simple fact. The solution for this issue is simple: providing the space for community crowd-sourcing of policies so that all groups can have equal representation. Holding lawmakers accountable for their actions will require voters to start holding conversations on accountability. Lawmakers who refuse to uphold integrity should not be elected and it is therefore up to us citizens to enforce the dire need for accountability. Lastly, institutions that provide degrees in public policy, law and related fields need to update their curriculum to reflect the aforementioned facts.
In regards to philanthropy, government and foundations should also be held accountable as well for misuse of critical funds that could be used to implement real solutions. Providing research on the immediate needs of the communities they seek to support is the beginning. Diversifying who controls funds is an option too. Placing individuals who have lived experience is a best practice. In addition, those receiving funds should also find ways to reach out to their funders and advise them of what is happening in the trenches. It is easy to be disconnected from the population you seek to serve when you are sitting in an office in another state and not directly interacting with these individuals.
The solutions for these issues are not complex, together, we can create the change we want to see and end multi-generational trauma influenced by structural violence.
Sugar-coating the reality of what they are contributing to only further diminishes the already weakened spirit of accountability that is running rampant in the realms of policy and philanthropy.
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