So, because my cuz encouraged me to write some of my stories, I thought I would post what had initially been a Facebook post about registering voters in Youngstown Ohio in 2008. Yes, this story is true, but really I just gave the bare bones. The following is my initial post:
'Let me tell you about a man I was blessed to be able to register to vote in Ohio in 2008. He said he couldn't because he was a felon, Ohio law allowed him to vote. So there he was, with his daughter cheering him on, a crowed of unknown on lookers supporting and encouraging him, hands trembling as he registered to vote for the first time in 12 years. He cried as he signed his name and said it was the first time in 12 years that he felt like an American. Don't tell me your vote doesn't count, don't tell me it's unimportant, don't tell me it doesn't matter, that one vote doesn't count, to be able to participate in our democracy *always* counts, it always matters, it is always important. To that gentleman, I hope you voted in every election since, I hope you brought your daughter, I hope you know that you've raised your daughter right, and most of all I hope you know that your act of faith, in me - that I was telling the truth, that I would deliver your voter registration card, that I would fight to ensure you could vote - in our republic, and your courage to claim your right as a citizen has stayed with me. I still remember you, I still pray for you, and I still thank God that I was the one that had the honor to register you to vote.'
This took place outside the public aid office in Youngstown, and as another cuz pointed out, it's not just about voting, it is also about employment. You see, in our office we didn't have a problem with someone having a criminal record - for the most part - non-violent crimes, addiction issues, we had standards that you had to meet, but it didn't automatically bar you from employment. We paid $8 an hour, which was enough for one of our canvassers to live independently - which says quite a lot about both job opportunities in Youngstown, as well as the general state of the economy in Youngstown at the time. They were good hard working people, people who had made mistakes and spent the rest of their lives paying for it. They were reminded of their mistakes every time they applied for a job and didn't get it, they were reminded of their mistakes every time they had to apply for public aid - because they couldn't get jobs - because they had made a mistake. Or perhaps it wasn't a mistake - perhaps to them it seemed like their only option, which is a different post, but one that will intersect with this one.
The worst part about barring employment based on a criminal history (and I freely admit there are exceptions, I wouldn't hire a former addict to be in charge of meds, not only does that put me at risk legally, but more importantly it may put their sobriety at risk, nor would I hire an embezzler to be my accountant - so there are practical considerations) is that they see it in their children, and it becomes generational (it is also heavily racialized, but again a different intersecting post).
The trauma poverty causes is a public health issue -both the IMF and WHO consider poverty a public health issue, and if you limit the search to the just studies done in the U.S. the amount of research is still staggering. It doesn't just impact "poor people" it impacts our economy by negatively impacting the potential of our children and their future earnings, and it impacts us for generations. It is almost impossible to climb the socio-economic ladder - if you doubt me read Class Matters, and this really is where we are failing as a nation; America is not the land of opportunity if you become impoverished, or are born into poverty. Loans have a higher interest rate, it costs more for internet (important for looking for jobs), there is no such thing as affordable housing -which according to HUD is 30% of less of gross income - outside of the housing authority and it can take years to get into HA housing, in many states insurance is still prohibitively expensive - not necessary more expensive under the affordable care act, just still out of reach, and transportation is an issue. So now you can't afford gas to get to work because your rent is 50% of your income, or you lose your job because you're sick because you don't have working heating and your landlord won't pay to have it fixed, and it spirals - and the entire time people are telling you that if you just worked harder... how hard do you have to work? God knows, and so do the rest of us that black men are disproportionately arrested and sentenced, which means they are disproportionately disenfranchised and unemployable, and a side hustle can get you killed, so clearly working harder isn't really the answer (and hey! there's that intersectionality again!).
Poverty needs to be eliminated by ensuring a criminal record does not automatically disqualify someone from gainful employment (see http://bantheboxcampaign.org/ for more information) , full enfranchisement, a deep investment in schools, access to school lunches and breakfasts year round, and finally free higher education at public schools (I should note this is by no means a complete list). These are just some of the ways we can work to eliminate poverty, and I'm advocating this for a number of reasons. Theologically I believe that in order to 'Love [our] neighbor[s] as [ourselves]' we must invest in our neighbors, practically I believe in ending the cycle of poverty because I want the best doctor treating my family, not merely the best doctor that was raised without the trauma of poverty, not merely the best doctor that could afford the proper schooling, and meals. There are practical reasons, but more importantly these are people made in the image of God, they shouldn't be limited by our failings as a society.
Pax all.
