Seeing Patterns in Crisis: Jackson and Flint
When Jackson, Mississippi's latest water crisis hit the news, it wasn't the first time folks were left high and dry. No, this fiasco's got deep roots, and it resonates with another infamous case: Flint, Michigan. In Maya Rockeymoore Cummings' book, RAGEism, these are badge-worthy examples of 'Resource Hoarding' where government choices leave communities digging for justice.
On September 4th, the Fifth Circuit told Jackson folks their hands were tied in the constitutional arena, nudging them elsewhere. Tort law or political channels? Take your pick, but neither guarantees speedy help. Back in 2016, Flint was the canary in the coal mine and Cummings' husband, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, raised hell in Congress demanding accountability from then-Gov. Rick Snyder. The call was for swift compensation, not band-aids like increased Medicaid. It's a maddening cycle where the powers that be play referee while certain communities, especially of color, get sidelined.
Birthright Citizenship: The Battleground of Belonging
Modern America is gripped in discourse about citizenship and identity. Declining birthrates fuel concern from politicians about the country's future tapestry. Yet, the moves against birthright citizenship raise thorny questions: Who gets to be an American?
The Trump administration's stance, echoed by federal courts with mixed messages, pokes at this societal quandary. Tack on policies that curb immigrant visas and you've got a recipe for controversy. It's not just a numbers game. It’s about whose narrative shapes America's fabric. As Rockeymoore Cummings points out, the choices being made about race, power, and belonging reveal a heavy bias—a sticky remnant of supremacy wielded like statecraft.
“The question is not simply whether America needs more children. It is whose children this government wants to become the next generation of Americans.”
Academia Under Siege: Freedom or Folly?
On the academic front, let's play out this tangled web at Ghent University. Accusations and suspensions—Nathan Cofnas cries foul over plagiarism. But there's a deeper question here about freedom in academia. Rockeymoore Cummings is bold in calling out the hypocrisy of claiming liberty in education abroad while domestic policies cast shadows.
The whole Cofnas debacle amplifies how governments and institutions orchestrate these veiled agendas. Even as academics bicker, government interventions play an outsized role in steering the narrative.
Inside the Playbook of Power
RAGEism doesn’t just lay out isolated incidents; it connects dots. Cummings is clear—decisions from policies to budgets aren't happening in a vacuum. They're orchestrated plays by those in power, which often leaves marginalized groups in the dust. This isn’t just a criticism but an urgent call—applying the book's framework to challenge deeply entrenched systems.
With her background as a presidential research fellow and a voice often amplified by high-profile figures like Hillary Clinton, Rockeymoore Cummings pulls no punches. The work seeks to unveil hidden biases and galvanize a broader push toward a more equitable society.
Ultimately, her lens offers investors—and anyone with a stake in society—a visceral reminder that policy isn't just made; it's crafted and manipulated, often at the expense of those without a seat at the table. And therein lies the rub—how do we redirect power and resources meaningfully? That's a question worth unraveling.
