ClaytonA.Christenson,M.AlexanderDooley,ZackaryJ.

Smiley
SOC460CommissionReport
Dr.HankAllen
10December2014

Introduction

Thescourgeofviolenceinminoritycommunitiesiscommonlymisconceivedbythe
affluentandwelloffmembersofsocietyasbeingselfinflicted.Believingthatacertainkindof
mysterious,darkpathologyexiststhatcreatesthedesireforpeopletocommitsenseless
actsofviolenceagainsttheirneighborsmakestheworldaneasierplacetounderstand,but
thesepreconceivednotionsarenotgroundedinreality.Thesedangerous,fantasticalideas
mustbeexpelledfromoursocietyinordertobringaboutamoreequitableandprofitable
futureforallpeople.Ofallfactions,governmentagenciesmustbethefirsttounderstandtwo
keyideas:First,violenceisnotinandofitselftheproblem,butrathera
symptom
ofgreater
societalissuesandforcesatplayandviolenceisanextremelycomplexissuewithwhichto
deal.Whilethisreportdoesnotexhaustivelydetailtheintricaciesofviolenceinminority
communities,itdoestakeabrief,compellingoverviewoftheevidencesurroundingissuesof
violenceandprovidesaspecificpolicyrecommendationthatthecommissionbelieveshasthe
potentialtoreducetheviolenteffectsofconcentratedpovertyinimpoverishedminority
communities.

TheReachesofSymptomaticViolenceandFalseConceptions

Oneresourcethecommissionfoundtobeextensivelyhelpfulincompilingand
understandingtheevidencepertainingtomicrosociologicalissuesinfluencingviolenceisDr.
RandallCollinsbook
Violence:AMicroSociologicalTheory
.Acommonmisconception

outlinedbyCollinsisthatpeoplecomingfromdifficultbackgroundsaremoreviolent.Collins
saysthefollowing:
...youngmen,poorpeople,blackpeople,orchildrenofdivorce
donotbecomemurderers,rapists,batterers,orarmedrobber
andthereareacertainnumberofaffluentpersons,whitepeople,
orproductsofconventionalfamilies[whobecomeviolent].
Similarly...pastvictimsofchildabuseaccountsforonlyaminority
ofthecases
Neitherarepeopleviolentforlongperiodsoftime.Apopulartheoryseemstobethat
theviolentamongusareinaconstantstateofrageoraggressionthisissimplyphysically
possible.Collinsexplains:
evenpeoplethatwethinkofasveryviolentbecausethey
havebeenviolentinmorethanonesituation,orspectacularly
violentonsomeoccasionareviolentonlyin
veryparticular
situations

Raisingachildisnotsomethingdoneinavacuum.Themethodsandintentionality
giventochildrenareimportant,butshouldnotbeusedasperfect(orevenlikely)predictorsof
onesfuturebehavioralpatternsrelatedtoviolence.Theemotionalandphysicallocationof
childrearingissimplynotshowntobewelldescriptiveofwhetherornotachildwillbecome
violent.InCollinsownwords:
forthem[thosewhodisagreewiththisidea],violencenaturallyfalls
intohermeticallysealedsections,andbadsocialconditionsshouldbe
responsibleforbadviolencewhereasgoodviolencewhichisnot

seenasviolenceatall,whenitiscarriedoutbyauthorizedstate
agentsisnotsubjecttoanalysissinceitispartofnormalsocialorder
Thereseemtobefactorsextendingbeyondchildhoodandfamilybackgroundthat
affectonespropensityforviolence.Identifyingtheseissuesandfindingwaystoaddressthem
attherootoftheproblemiskeytocreatinganypolicywithhopeofefficacyinreducing
violenceinminoritycommunities.

TraumaticExperiencesandtheImportanceofRelationship

Dr.JohnA.Richsbook
WrongPlace,WrongTime
,apoignantworkonthelasting
effectsoftraumainthehumanmindandbody,offersauniqueopportunitytounderstandthe
causeandperpetuationofviolencewithinminoritycommunities.Hesaysplainly,thereisa
wealthofevidencethatearlylifetraumasareapowerfulpredictoroffuturelifedifficulties,
andfurther,theexpectationthattheseyoungpeoplecanandwilljustdealwithitisnaive.
Afterspendingtimewithseveralindividualswhohadexperiencedalifethreateningtrauma,
hisconclusionispointedandinformed:
ifwewanttomakeourselvessafe,ifwewanttoendthehighlevelsofviolence
affectingyoungblackmen,wemustfocusontheirsafety:theverypeoplewe
haveblamedformakingthecommunityunsafe.Weareonlyassafeasthey
are.Thesamesafetythatwedesire,theydesire.Ifwebelievethatlockingthem
up,brutalizingtheminthehomeswheretheylive,inthestreetswherethey
walk,inhospitalswheretheyseekcare,willmakeussafer,wearesorely
mistaken.Butifweseeourfatesandourcommunityasdirectlytiedtothem,
thenwewillfightthefreeflowoffirearms,opposemorebrutalpolicing,advocate

forgreateropportunitiesformeaningfulwork,andengagethemasfullpartners
inbothunderstandingandaddressingtheproblemsthatgripthecommunitiesin
whichtheylive.
Theideathatthesethingscanbefixedquickly,orwithoutdirectrelationalcontactisa
productofourconsumerist,detachedsociety.Itiseasytosimplybreakthingsdownintodata
points,statistics,andhardnumbers,butwemusttaketimetounderstandtheintricateand
complicateddetailsthatassailtheindividualexperienceofeverymemberofoursociety.
Richsentireprojectwasbaseduponarealizationthathehimselfviewedtheseyoungmenas
justnumberswithinaset,peopleplacedwithinastigmatizedstereotypedboxandtreatedas
suchalmostuniversallywithinthemedicalcommunity.Heconfesses,WhenIwasmost
honestwithmyself,Icouldfindinmyselftracesofthesamestereotypesandimplicitbiases
heldbytherestoftheworld.ThesebiasesledmetobelievethatIknewmoreaboutthe
motivationsandlifecircumstancesofthesepatientsthanIactuallydid.Hecontinues,No
matterhowmenacingyoungpeoplemighthaveseemedfromthevividdescriptionsonthe
ambulancetripsheetormedicalchart,eachtimethatIsatfacetofacewiththem,whetherin
theirhomesorinacaronaRoxburystreetorinthevisitingroomatamediumsecurityprison,
IwasremindedthattheyweremorelikemethanIwouldeverhavedaredtoadmit.
Itisvitallyimportanttoourpointthatitwasnotuntil
hetookthetimetositwiththem
thathewasabletoboosthimselfoutofhispreconceivednotionsofthecausesofviolent
behavioranditsperpetratorsandlookateachofthesemenastheytrulyare.Withoutthe
relationshipthathewasabletocultivateandcontinuewiththeseyoungmen,hewouldhave
undoubtedlynotfeltcompelledtowriteaworkontrauma,norwouldhehaveanyroomto
provideprescriptivemeasuresfortheeradicationofviolenceandtraumawithinourcities.But
asitis,hisaccountissureandformedandshouldstronglycompelustoseektobuild

relationshipbetweenindividualhumansifwearetoseesystemicchangehappen.Itisonly
whenwearetransformedtoembracethehumanityanddefendthedignityoftheseyoung
menwhetherwearephysiciansornursesorpoliceofficersordistrictattorneysor
teachersthatwewillengagethemasfullpartnersinoureffortstobringabouthealing,hope,
andchange.

ItstheEconomy,Stupid:InequalityMakesaBadProblemWorse

Governmenthandoutsarenotaveryattractivepropositioninthemindsofmany
conservativeindividualsandgroups.CriesofhardworkandtheAmericanDreamoften
risewhendiscussinganyformofgovernmentsubsidyorprogramtoimprovethelivesofthe
poorinsocietythereseemstobeanideathatanygainsmadewiththeassistanceof
governmentareillegitimateorsubordinatetothosemadebyonesownvolition.However,
thesubsidiesthatare

offeredbyourgovernmenttoeverypersoninsocietymortgage
financing,incometaxpolicy,highwayinfrastructure,andotherthingsthatoftengo
unquestionedorevenunnoticedskewdramaticallytowardcreatingabetterlifefor
middleclassAmericansthanforpoor,oftenminoritycommunities.Thesesubsidiescontribute
greatlytowardtheaccumulationandpreservationoffamilyandhouseholdwealth,which
createsaneverbroadeninggapofinequalitybetweenthepoorinAmericaandthewelloff.
OnethingpointedoutbyprofessorDavidTrouttin
ThePriceofParadise:TheCostsof
InequalityandaVisionForaMoreEquitableAmerica
istheexacerbationofnegative
circumstancesthatoccurswheninequalityispresent.
Giventheunevennatureofsocietysplayingfieldandmanypreexistingsocietal
prejudicesagainstpeopleofcolorintheUnitedStates,theremustbenewpolicyintroduced

thatdoeseverythingitcantocreate
new
opportunityforthosewhocurrentlyfindthemselves
starklydisadvantagedandunderprivileged.Inordertobeeffective,suchapolicymusttake
intoaccounttheprecedingissuespresentedbythiscommission,synthesizethemwithone
another,andcraftapolicythataddresseseachpoint.Preconceivedbiasesandideasofwhat
causesviolencemustberevisited,replacingunfoundedstereotypeswithadiversified,
wellroundedacknowledgmentofthecomplexitysurroundingviolenceinminoritycommunities
andthecontributionoftrauma,circumstance,andinequalitytotheconditionsthat
cause
violence.Inordertoreduceviolence,wemustgobeyondtheviolenceitselfandaddressthe
issuesthatactuallycauseit.

ASolution:TheRelationalPartnersinBusinessInitiative

LongTermInvestmentPlan
Aswehaveshowntheimmensevalueofrelationalcontactinrestoringthemanydeepand
insetbreachesbetweensegmentsofourcommunity,itseemsvitalthattherebeputinplacea
policythatplacesbusinessownersfromthemiddleandupperclassindirecthumancontact
withbusinessownersfromminorityandimpoverishedcommunities.Itisplainthatthiscontact
cannotbeaccomplishedwithoutameasureofcompulsion,giventhehistoryofbusiness
relationshipsinAmerica,andthesocioeconomicparadigmstowhichtheystrictlyadhere.In
ordertobreachthisgap,itseemsprudenttoinstituteaprogramthatwouldprovidesizabletax
breaksformiddleandupperclassbusinessownerswhoarewillingtospendapredetermined
amountoftimewithanewsmallbusinessownerinanimpoverishedcommunity.Thepartner
willassistintheupstartandconstructionofthenewbusiness,andwillguidethenew

businessownerthroughtheprocessofbeginningabusiness,aswellasprovidingsupport
duringthestartingperiod.

Rationale
ThehistoryofbusinessrelationsinAmerica,alongwiththetypicalcomportmentoflarge
corporationsillustratesaveryclearandpointedvalueparadigm:profitaboveall.Becauseof
this,anyactionthatcannotbeseenasfinanciallybeneficialtothecompanyasawhole
cannotbeconsideredresponsible.Asthisisthecase,fraternizationoranysortofpartnership
withsmallorfailingbusinessespresentsitselftobenonviableinthebusinessworldof
America.
Asthisisthesituation,ourpolicyisgearedtopromoterelationalcontactbetweenbusinesses
inawaythatprovidesfinancialincentiveattheoutsetinordertobringhumanalongside
human.Webelievethatdirectrelationalcontactwill,withDr.Rich,allowfortheopeningof
horizonsbetweenindividualssuchthattheupperandmiddleclassbusinesspartnerswillbe
joltedintoamoreauthenticunderstandingofthesituationsthatcontrolbusinesswithin
minoritycommunities,andallowforamoreauthenticconversationbetweenpeople.

Stipulations
Itisvitalthatthepartnersagreetomeetfacetofacewithoneanotherasetamountoftimes
asperthearrangementthatwillbearticulatedpresently.
ItisvitalthatthemeetingstakeplaceonthepremisesofBOTHbusinesses.
Itisvitalthatthecontractualobligationbecarriedthroughtocompletionortherewillbea
levyingofseverefinancialpenalty.

Financialcompensation
Theparticipantsinthispartnershipprogramwillreceiveataxbreakaccordingtoasumthatis
commensuratewiththeamountoftimeandresourcedoutlayedduringthecontractualperiod.
Theremaybegradationsofinvolvementspanning110years.
Meetingsbetweenpartnerswilltakeplacenolessthanonceperweek,andshallnotexceed5
timesperweek.
Thespecificamountofcompensationwillbearticulatedinthecontract,andwillbedoledout
everyyear,providedthepartnerhascompliedwithallthestipulations,untiltheterminationof
thecontract.
Dependingonthesizeofacorporation,itmaymaintainupto8partnershipsatonetime,but
isrequiredtodesignateatleastonestaffmemberperpartnershipforthedurationofthe
contract.

Applicationandinterviews
Partnerswithinminorityandimpoverishedcommunitieswillbechosenthroughanapplication
process.Theywillbeawardedtheopportunitybasedonmerit,reputation,andhistory.
Theapplicantswillbereviewedbyaboardofgovernmentofficialsandlocalleaders.
Itisvitalthatthelocalleadersareentrenchedwithinthecommunitytosuchanextentthat
theyareabletorightlydiscernthebestplacementforthenewbusiness,anddecidefairly
whichapplicantbestfitstheneedsofthesurroundingcommunity.
Localleadersmaybepublicorganizers,recognizedbusinessowners,officials,etc.
Theapplicantmusthavegrownupandlivecurrentlyintheneighborhoodwherethebusiness
willoperate.

Theapplicantmustappearbeforetheselectionboardinpersoninordertorepresenthimor
herself.
Theapplicantmustsignacontractdesignatinginvolvementintheinitiativeforaminimumof5
years,butmaysignupforupto15years.

Conclusion

Thecomplicationsthatconstrictandconstitutethedividebetweenbusinessownersin
Americaaremany,multifaceted,andfrustrating.Theycannotbesolvedquickly,norwithout
theaidofmanywillingindividualswhoarecommittedtoworkingwithotherhumansinaway
thatpromotesthevalueofeachindividualhumanlife.TheRPBIisbynomeansawaytoend
systemicinjusticeintheworkplaceforalltime,butitmaybeawaytoinsertanewsenseof
humanityintotherelationshipsbetweenbusinessownersespeciallyinlargecities.Itisaway
toconnectpeoplewithpeopleinanonthreatening,mutuallybeneficialenvironmentovera
longperiodoftimewithminimalrisk.Thoughitmaytaketimetounderstandfullyhow
effectivethisplanwillbetowarditsstatedend,itisclearthattheventurewillineluctablyaffect
thelivesofthoseinvolved,astheycomeintocontactwillfellowbusinesspeople.Ourhopeis
thatovertime,thisinitiativemayproducemorelivelyandeffectiveavenuesfor
communicationbetweensocietalsubgroups,andmayallowsimultaneouslyforthecultivation
ofeffectiveandhealthybusinessesinimpoverishedandminoritycommunities.