Carlton Mayer II is Heartland Alliance’s Senior Policy Manager for Criminal Justice Reform, leading multiple initiatives focused on removing barriers for people who have criminal records. Currently, there are hundreds of legal barriers that prevent those who have been justice-involved from accessing quality employment, public housing, higher education, and countless other necessities to success. Carlton believes that in order to tear these barriers down, it is critical in understanding not just how these inequities arise, but why.
In your work, where do you see racial inequities or barriers?
You see the disparities everywhere. Just the numbers here in Illinois show the racial disparity in the criminal justice system is pervasive. For instance, in black Americans consists of about 14% of the population, but are 55% of the people incarcerated. African Americans make up more of the incarcerated population than they do of the overall population in Illinois. So the work we’re doing is going to help reduce those numbers by making sure that we’re not only addressing ending mass incarceration, but also addressing the racial disparities that exist in the criminal justice system here in Illinois.
Who do you look up to as a foundation for your work? (especially in the fight for racial equity in your work)
I find inspiration in the life and works of Malcolm X. We actually have the same birthday – which is one reason why I’m a huge fan – but just learning about his life in itself is a lesson that can be applied to the work of social justice and ending mass incarceration. He had a very traumatic past. His father was a civil rights advocate who was eventually killed by the KKK, and his mother suffered from mental illness. He himself was a justice-involved, but transformed his life through becoming a member of the nation of Islam.
Ultimately, he became more inclusive in how he wanted to approach the work, but maintained an overall goal of fighting for the rights of Black and Brown people. He stood for his beliefs, and rarely compromised on those goals. I see that struggle for me, as I am also going through my own transformation. I see real life experiences, what everyday people go through. At the end of the day, we come from different walks of life, and so we all bring something different. But where all the commonalities converge, we can all work together while we’re here on this earth with the limited time that we have. I feel like I have come to that point in my own why which is how I feel I can contribute to the work that I bring to the civil rights area.
What makes you hopeful for your work in this space? Do you see potential for true racial equity in this sphere?
Actually, our current presidential administration makes me hopeful. Having that kind of person in power – someone who is literally forcing certain issues to the table by making certain comments and engaging in certain actions forces the conversation to the table. When our leader does things like give awards to controversial pundits instead of civil rights leaders, it brings the problem to light.
A lot of times people seem to think we’re living in a post-racial era, and it’s “been there, done that” when it comes to racism. And we’re not. In order for us to get to there, we need to address the reality and we acknowledge the problem actually exists. He’s done a good job reminding people that this is still a problem. Now that we see it, I feel like there is going to be more thought – not just from people of color, but people who are not of color. Hopefully, we can get more people to think “Oh, what is it that we can do to address this so that this doesn’t happen again.”
What Do You Think It is Going to Take to Build Equitable Black Futures?
I think it’s going to take a lot of consideration from people who are not people of color. In this country, those who have privilege and benefit from it every day need to always be aware of that privilege and the fact that there are different lived experiences – and hopefully actively try to give up that privilege. It is hopeful thinking and I’m not sure if Americans are there yet. It will take an everyday, ongoing process – and much more time addressing race and how people are impacted by it.
President Obama worked with CNN to have town hall meetings on race and he would do it on subjects like law enforcement, and invite law enforcement as well as those involved traumatic police incidents. They would talk about these subjects in an open forum where everybody was respected and able to speak openly. Having that open communication and transparency is going to help each community find their way on how to address racism.
