Appoint Jim Erickson Interim Chancellor

Hardy L. Brown

I first got to know Jim in his capacity as Vice Chancellor for Development at UC Riverside when he convinced me that the Black Voice should be a part of the Chancellor's Executive Roundtable and that I should pay for the privilege of sitting with  the policymakers of the Inland Empire to interface with select national and world leaders. He said, "I respect the work you and Cheryl are doing with your weekly publication and others need to hear what African Americans have to say about world policies." Our first meeting in Palm Desert was with General Colin Powell (Ret.) former Secretary of State.

Serving on the Chancellor's Executive Roundtable later put me in the presence of President Gerald Ford, Prime Minister Tony Majors, Presidential Candidate Steve Forbes, Presidential Candidate Jack Kemp, the Ambassador of both Israel and Palestine, Bob Hope, Walter Annenberg and many other national and international leaders. And in each case I asked questions I thought important to not only Black Americans but all Americans.

Not only was Jim effective for the Black community in that capacity  but he is still helping us by teaching several Black organizations effective fundraising strategies. He has freely given his time and expertise to the Urban League and other organizations and is still seen in and out of diverse communities.

I have read that some UCR faculty have reservations about his academic credentials but when it comes to the UCR campus and engaging people and the community, there is no one greater than Dr. Jim Erickson. He has a rare quality not many display when it comes to understanding education and diversity. His talent can help keep the momentum moving towards increased diversity on campus  and the development of the university's medical school. To the faculty, let me say this, when I was a boy I liked peanut butter sandwiches and still do. My brother Donnie liked jelly sandwiches. One day Donnie used the knife to spread his jelly and then gave it to me for my peanut butter. I did not clean the jelly off the knife and of course put it into the peanut butter and then spread it onto my sandwich. I found the taste to be better together than separate and today I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Jim can be the jelly mixed with peanut butter. What a dynamic combination for a short period of time. 

To Snitch Or Not To Snitch

Last week Chris Levister wrote an article about snitching within the Black community especially in crime ridden neighborhoods. The "stop snitching" movement has law enforcement officials shaking their heads and many in the Black community torn between this creed of if you snitch something bad will happen to you. I remember teaching bible class and this subject came up several times. Adam and Eve were not to eat from a certain tree but they did. So when God came back to talk to them, they hid. God wanted to know why, and Adam said "because I'm naked." God replied, "Who told you that? You must have eaten from the tree, why did you do that?" Adam snitched and said, "that woman you gave me?" Genesis 3:12. Then Eve snitched on the serpent, blaming him for her actions. Later after their life punishment of pain and hard work, their kids were born. Now Cain and Abel were in the field working and in a rage of anger Cain killed Abel. Again the Lord came and asked Cain "where is your brother?" Having heard the story from their parents of what happened to them for snitching on each other Cain responded, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain never did admit he killed his brother but since he was the only one in the field it was quite obvious he was the one. Later he told the Lord that the punishment was too harsh. Genesis 4. The concept of snitching is not new but is entrenched in our society. For African Americans the police have never been viewed as allies or friends. Since our landing  in America this anti-trust issue has existed. Not that I am condoning silence, I'm just explaining the historical apprehension in our community.

We have seen police hang, shoot, beat, threaten, lie and rat on us so even the citizens who want to cooperate with law enforcement are reluctant to do so. We have become like Cain in that regard. That is why I appreciate the effort being made by Riverside Sheriff Bob Doyle over the past five years in taking his department into the Black community saying I know you don't trust us but give us a chance.

Many of us do not snitch because of fear. We consider it none of our business. So the question still remains, why won't you snitch on your neighbor who you see doing something wrong? I know why the perpetrator doesn't want to be identified, for fear of punishment. That was Cain's problem. Some people will snitch if there is something in it for them other than it is the right thing to do. Take for example Judas the biggest snitch of them all. He got paid to snitch on Jesus and you know that ended.

While I understand the historical apprehension and mistrust within our community, I believe we should cooperate with the law and the law with us in order to keep our communities safe and orderly.  This is a requirement for all of us to do.

In my editorial next week, I will offer community norms that could foster an environment where snitching is no longer a question.