David Paterson and Karen Boykin-Towns in conversation — at Mahogany Books Front Row
“I have had this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to show them I could do things they didn’t think I could do.” — David Paterson
David Paterson, the first Black Governor of New York and the second blind US Governor, does not let any limitations or prejudices stop him.
Karen Boykin-Towns, the Vice Chairman of the NAACP carries a similar determination. As a fighter for racial equity and leader for change, Karen dedicates her time to having hard, yet necessary conversations.
Karen has built a reputation as a visionary and strategic results-driven leader. Being a part of a complex business and government environment, she has demonstrated success in the areas of policy, advocacy, communications and proactive change management. Since concluding her impressive 22-year career at Pfizer Inc, she now serves as President and CEO of Encore Strategies, LLC. She was recently re-elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). NAACP is the oldest and largest non-partisan civil rights organization in the nation, established in 1909.
Karen sat down with Governor Paterson at Mahogany Books Front Row to discuss his book, Black, Blind and in Charge.
Karen asked the Governor to speak about his attempt to pass a bill on hate crimes, early during his tenure. She mentioned that with the violence of last summer against Blacks and the recent Asian attacks across the country, these acts keep occurring without penalty.
Governor Paterson discussed the beginnings of his bill and called attention to the unfortunate truth of the reality we are still facing.
“In March 1987 along with an assemblyman Rodger Green as my cosponsor, I introduced a hate crimes bill that would protect people from a crime done against them because of their race, religion, national origin, age, disability, and their sexual orientation.
“The gay and lesbian community had been trying to have that included and we put it in ours bill. The governor convinced the Republicans in the legislator to pass that bill, but, they wanted sexual orientation to be taken out of the bill.
“We refused to do that. I do not think that that refusal made by three African Americans, myself included, ever got any traction. I’ve always thought it was very unfortunate that we never got the recognition because the bill itself did not pass until the year 2000.
“The biggest problem with hate crime bills is not what it does, but what it can’t do. You can’t legislate morality. You can’t put in writing that people should be nice to each other and listen to you.
“I think we can’t get past these hate crimes because America hasn’t gotten past it either. We are a great country. We have done wonderful things, but we have also done terrible things.
“When you don’t atone, when you don’t ask for forgiveness when you don’t believe in a higher power that can forgive, you’re going to make the same mistakes you’ve been making. And it will continue to happen.”
You can read the original article here.
