I think it’s important that we support and respect the Black people here enough to know that we have a mind of our own. Because half the policies pushed in San Francisco are “progressive policies” that don’t work for Black people. Because, if they did, why are things far worse for Black people here? In San Francisco, a city where less than 5-6% of the population is African-American and yet we are disproportionately overrepresented in everything that’s bad: high school dropouts, arrests, homelessness. You name it.
That’s interesting. What are some of the demands from white activists and protesters that you take issue with?
Well, to say that we need to court more minorities and try to put everyone under in this bigger category. But when you look at police violence, close to 50% of the cases involve African-Americans. With this issue, African-Americans are disproportionately represented. So, no, I’m not going to compromise and try to be inclusive for this. We need to be equitable in our need to support and invest in the African-American community, and in a way that’s different. Especially when there are so many financial resources that already go to a lot of very organized groups. There’s a bit of a struggle there.
Right now, you’re speaking on race and inequality in very direct, powerful terms. And, yet, there were Black Lives Matter protests staged outside your home. What are your thoughts on protesters’ complaints against you?
I think part of the problem, again, goes back to privilege. Because the people who came out to my home last time, they were all white and wearing masks and walking with these “firework sticks” down the street chanting “Black Lives Matter!” But then they get to my house and start shooting these fireworks off and aiming them at my window and banging on the gate and calling me names to come outside. It was like, what? In the projects, when you come to somebody’s house you are coming to get your butt beat. Because I will come out and throw some grits on you if you don’t back up! [Laughs] If you’re gonna come protest, come protest on something real. Not on some hypocrite stuff.
Do you feel misunderstood?
Yes, but I don’t care that I am by people who have privilege. Let me be clear: In most cases, they’ve never had to live like I’ve had to live. I had to live in a public housing development that they wouldn’t have even dared set foot in. This is over twenty years, not just two years, of my life. I’ve been working in the trenches for my community my entire life. And none of these people have been in the trenches when we were dealing with issues of police brutality on a regular basis. Almost every day you’re hearing that someone that you loved was killed. I think part of it is, my experience is what determines how I make decisions. The good news is the people who know me and love me from the neighborhood I grew up in, they understand why I do what I do. They’re not “activists,” but they love and they trust me.