Civil unrest over the shootings of unarmed black men by police has resulted in violent protests in places like Charlotte and Baltimore.
On First Coast Connect Wednesday, Jacksonville University sociology professor Dr. Nathan Rousseau said many factors — from economic inequality, poor leadership and easy access to weapons — contribute to racial tension that has erupted in several cities around the country.
“When we have about 1 -percent of the population that controls 50 percent of the country’s resources, which means that 99 percent of the population has to essentially fight over the remaining 50 percent. It produces a very fierce competition,” he said.
Rousseau said the poorest are being forced to do more with less — and that also applies to law enforcement.
“We are asking them (the police) to take on more and more roles that I’m not sure is their job to do.” he said.
Rousseau points to reductions in funding to care and treat the mentally ill, the amount of single parents living in poverty, schools in poor shape and ongoing racism in our society as contributing factors in the increase in racial tensions.
Rousseau said Jacksonville has problems due to a lack of well maintained parks, youth centers, community pools and after-school programs that could improve the quality of life in the city.
He said Mayor Lenny Curry is doing an OK job but isn’t living up to his promise of “One City, One Jax.”
Rousseau did have praise for the Sheriff Mike Williams. He said he has been reaching out to at-risk neighborhoods and addressing the mental health needs of those who get arrested.
Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax
