Erika D. Smith is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times writing about the diversity of people and places across California. Jamil Smith is a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone, where he covers national affairs and culture. In addition to being writers, the two have one other commonality - both were born and raised in Cleveland.
After the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police, both journalists wrote about the racism and the race-based inequities embedded in America's systems and structures: American Plagueand Cities are being destroyed. California clearly isn’t as enlightened about race as we think.
Currently, Americans are experiencing a "cascade of crises" – rising unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic; increased risk of death, either from COVID-19 or policy brutality, both of which disproportionately affect the Black community; an increased militarized police presence in cities and towns where protests are prevalent, and a looming housing crisis.
Where do we go from here?
Erika D. Smith
Metro Columnist, Los Angeles Times
Jamil Smith
Senior Writer, Rolling Stone
Dan Moulthrop
CEO, The City Club of Cleveland
