Racism hurts Black and brown Kansans — and new medical cannabis plan leaves them out | Opinion

Racism in the Kansas Legislature’s actions is subtle, but powerful. Lawmakers don’t even have to see us or acknowledge us. Our issues and positions are largely overlooked.

About a year ago, The Kansas City Star published a story looking at the question of whether Black legislators in Kansas and Missouri face racism. I’ll end the suspense: We do!

A racist ideology seems to be ingrained in the foundation of too many members of our Republican Party. In my short tenure, white GOP legislators tried to stop one of my speeches from the floor. After the attempted unsuccessful control of my speech, they followed up with a threatening letter. This year, they refused me the services of an intern.

Racial issues and the impacts of racism are obviously an important part of my work. Beyond my personal experiences with racism, I understand this is not simply a personal issue. Race and the impacts of racist legislation cause ongoing problems in Black and brown communities.

Last year, state Rep. Trevor Jacobs — a Republican I respect — commented on the House floor, “Everything isn’t always about race.” My response was that it will never be to someone who isn’t impacted by it directly.

Since taking office, I have worked diligently to scan every bill for racial components. Here are a few of my observations I am making publicly on racist legislation or discussion, during Black History Month in the Kansas Legislature.

Increasing the penalty for protecting oneself from being bitten by a police dog released on a suspected criminal with no discussion to the difficult relationship between police dogs and Black and brown communities.

Why is that important? The historical use of police dogs to disfigure, punish and maim peaceful protesters during the civil rights movement created scars we carry to this day. There is no consideration in this bill, no penalties outlined for police when they unjustly harm Black and brown people with these dogs. The past suggests we should make this consideration.

Additionally, the Legislature voted on a bill about changes to bail bond operations that make it difficult for Black and brown-owned agencies to compete. This is supported by an association with an all-white board — one that represents a company owned by a sitting white legislator. The bill would impact poor people in harmful ways as well. In Kansas, 85% of those charged with felonies qualify for a public defender, meaning they are too poor to pay for a lawyer. These legislative changes make it nearly impossible for a poor person to bond out of jail in many cases.

Freedom should never be tied directly to wealth. This bill would systematically keep poor people of any skin color jailed, while those with money go home. So much for “innocent until proven guilty.”

And let’s not forget the CROWN Act. The Republican-led Legislature has had four years to protect the rights of Black and brown people to wear our natural hair, and has chosen again to ignore us.

Finally, legislation is now being discussed to legalize medical cannabis in the state. Selections will be made to give licenses to individuals to implement growing and distribution of medical-use marijuana. However, there is no language requiring these licenses to be granted inclusively. Other states have introduced similar legislation, and have intentionally added provisions for minorities. Kansas should do the same.

Instead, the discussions around medical-use cannabis include opportunities of a different kind — opportunities to administer more severe penalties, fines and jail time for anyone caught participating in the industry of marijuana without a license. These are the very licenses that are not initially inclusive to minority communities. Once again, Black and brown people get left out.

Not providing space for the Black and brown community to prosper from an industry that, under the war on drugs, has incarcerated more Black and brown people than any other race for possession and use is a crime in itself.

We can do better, Kansas.

Ford Carr represents the 84th District in the Kansas House of Representatives.