Judge Damon Keith: A Giant Amongst Us
There are moments you have in life you realize your in a conversation you will always remember. I had such a moment last week when I met with Judge Damon Keith. Those joining me on the visit were Secretary Rodney Slater -- Chairman of United Way of America, Brian Gallagher--President of United Way of America, and Reggie Turner--Vice Chair of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
Judge Damon Keith is someone who has stood for equality, social justice and just plain old decency to one another. He is walking history not only for southeastern Michigan, but for the country.
While in his chambers, he told a story I heard him speak about not to long ago. At the time, I incorporated it into an essay I wrote. I have included below an edited version.
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Judge Damon Keith, United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Sixth Circuit in Detroit, is a giant. He has been bestowed over 35 honorary doctorates by some of the most prominent universities. This country, region and city have been blessed by having the courage, wisdom and presence of Judge Keith.
At a recent community gathering, Judge Keith spoke of his experience when he was appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist to serve as the National Chairman of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Bicentennial of the Constitution.
Judge Keith described standing outside of the hotel where the committee was holding a meeting. As he stood there, a man came up to him and said, “Boy, can you park my car?”
An angered committee member wanted to speak out, but Judge Damon Keith said to his colleague, “No, don’t. Understand, there isn’t a day in my life that I am not reminded that I am black.”
While I believe most would say we have made progress on many of our social justice issues, one cannot claim all is well. The divide doesn’t lie just along racial lines.
The 2005 Michigan Women’s Leadership Index came out describing the lost ground that women have made in the private sector, bringing forward one conclusion: “the primary cause of the weakening has been the decline of women among the most important category: top compensated officers.”
Youth have difficulty mounting a voice and participating in issues that affect their future. Our expanding senior populations often are not thought of as essential players for progress.
When we experienced the largest economic expansion in our history through the 1990’s, we didn’t see the same gains on social issues or a closing of the economic gap.
This region does not hold the franchise rights to these gaps. However, closing the gap is possible.
For example, when Madison, Wisconsin eliminated the academic achievement gap among minority students, it took a weakness and made it into a strength. Turning our weaknesses into an emerging strength is an opportunity sometimes leveraged, but often overlooked or ignored.
"Civilization is the process in which one gradually increases the number of people included in the term ‘we’ or ‘us’ and at the same time decreases those labeled ‘you’ or ‘them’ until that category has no one left in it.”
— Howard Winters
There is potency when we widen and include. I once had an associate who always said, “Be careful what you let become normal.” Whether we are focused on the disparity by race, economics, education or gender to name a few, the acceptance of the gap and leaving others behind ought never to be “normal.”
A student failing in Detroit is no less important than a student failing in a suburb. Human need is human need wherever you are. Not only is gender and racial inequity unjust, it doesn’t make economic sense. These issues are a long time in the making so, one can reasonably conclude, a long time in resolving.
Are we a region that wants to be defined by our gaps? Or are we interested in demonstrating that, through intentional efforts, this region can make marked progress over a three, five and 10-year period.
What is the one thing that can help us make progress on these gap issues? Only everyone.
Two words that seem at polar opposites hold a key to progress. It’s creating the seat at the table— ensuring there are bootstraps by which to pull up one’s boots — engaging voices that often are excluded. It requires increasing the number in our “us”.
Judge Keith learned a long time ago, for a region to be great, it must be great for everyone.
All are needed. All are welcome.
Thanks for reading. Pass it on.
Judge Damon Keith is someone who has stood for equality, social justice and just plain old decency to one another. He is walking history not only for southeastern Michigan, but for the country.
While in his chambers, he told a story I heard him speak about not to long ago. At the time, I incorporated it into an essay I wrote. I have included below an edited version.
================================================
Judge Damon Keith, United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Sixth Circuit in Detroit, is a giant. He has been bestowed over 35 honorary doctorates by some of the most prominent universities. This country, region and city have been blessed by having the courage, wisdom and presence of Judge Keith.
At a recent community gathering, Judge Keith spoke of his experience when he was appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist to serve as the National Chairman of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Bicentennial of the Constitution.
Judge Keith described standing outside of the hotel where the committee was holding a meeting. As he stood there, a man came up to him and said, “Boy, can you park my car?”
An angered committee member wanted to speak out, but Judge Damon Keith said to his colleague, “No, don’t. Understand, there isn’t a day in my life that I am not reminded that I am black.”
While I believe most would say we have made progress on many of our social justice issues, one cannot claim all is well. The divide doesn’t lie just along racial lines.
The 2005 Michigan Women’s Leadership Index came out describing the lost ground that women have made in the private sector, bringing forward one conclusion: “the primary cause of the weakening has been the decline of women among the most important category: top compensated officers.”
Youth have difficulty mounting a voice and participating in issues that affect their future. Our expanding senior populations often are not thought of as essential players for progress.
When we experienced the largest economic expansion in our history through the 1990’s, we didn’t see the same gains on social issues or a closing of the economic gap.
This region does not hold the franchise rights to these gaps. However, closing the gap is possible.
For example, when Madison, Wisconsin eliminated the academic achievement gap among minority students, it took a weakness and made it into a strength. Turning our weaknesses into an emerging strength is an opportunity sometimes leveraged, but often overlooked or ignored.
"Civilization is the process in which one gradually increases the number of people included in the term ‘we’ or ‘us’ and at the same time decreases those labeled ‘you’ or ‘them’ until that category has no one left in it.”
— Howard Winters
There is potency when we widen and include. I once had an associate who always said, “Be careful what you let become normal.” Whether we are focused on the disparity by race, economics, education or gender to name a few, the acceptance of the gap and leaving others behind ought never to be “normal.”
A student failing in Detroit is no less important than a student failing in a suburb. Human need is human need wherever you are. Not only is gender and racial inequity unjust, it doesn’t make economic sense. These issues are a long time in the making so, one can reasonably conclude, a long time in resolving.
Are we a region that wants to be defined by our gaps? Or are we interested in demonstrating that, through intentional efforts, this region can make marked progress over a three, five and 10-year period.
What is the one thing that can help us make progress on these gap issues? Only everyone.
Two words that seem at polar opposites hold a key to progress. It’s creating the seat at the table— ensuring there are bootstraps by which to pull up one’s boots — engaging voices that often are excluded. It requires increasing the number in our “us”.
Judge Keith learned a long time ago, for a region to be great, it must be great for everyone.
All are needed. All are welcome.
Thanks for reading. Pass it on.
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