DEMYTHOLOGIZING THE PLANTATION STORY

There is a habit among tyrants, oppressors and despots to make certain aspects of a revolution, regime or event romantic and appealing. In the case of Connecticut Juvenile Training School the myth foisted on the public is how incarcerated males are being rehabilitated. After a certain time frame these young men will be returned to society and ready to be pillars of their communities. When this narrative is out in the public sector it acts as a soothing balm; community groups are ecstatic, public officials nod in approval and monies from sources pour in to support the myth.

If we look at demythologizing in the dictionary a second definition is “to remove the mysterious or mythical aspects from.” A careful inspection of CJTS record of treating employees of color reveals a different story than the popular narrative; more male employees of color terminated than other ethic groups. In addition to getting rid of black males CJTS has for years denied there is any kind of racial animus at that facility: a former white employee harassed black co-workers, a white female employee calling black residents porch monkeys, management ignoring repeated complaints from staff about racism. In the midst of this entire racial maelstrom at CJTS management is led by a supervisor making $100,000 plus a year. However for almost six years the CJTS head person had one comment when informed about racial negativity at the facility “I did not know.” You can only sing that “I did not know” song a few times before it becomes tiresome. In clinical social work there is a term for people that know the truth but will not embrace it. If  a person must acknowledge something is wrong, then they might have to confront, then fix it.

If you run a facility it is the business of that administrator to know what is going on. Now we have a Connecticut version of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at CJTS. Christie claims not to have known his administrators closed down a bridge for several days. And now the main administrator at CJTS claims ignorance of any wrong doing. Here again we must destroy the myth that CJTS is being run efficiently with no problems of any kind as it relates to employees of color.

Well, there is one thing about creating a myth; sooner or later truth destroys all vestiges of any lie.
In the words of rapper Biggie Small " if you don't know, now you know."