_____ while Black.
"PARENTING"
Ena
Johnson
Meet Ena Johnson, 52, a native of southeastern San Diego. Ena is the mother of Cedric Jordan. Ena and Cedric have had a long relationship with law enforcement and its aggressive policies. As the mother of a Black son, Ena was aware of how the world would view him and what outside influences could do. She always aimed to keep him close and out of trouble.
One school incident changed the trajectory of Cedric's life. Zero tolerance policies at schools and a behavioral offense led to his first arrest at 14. His freedom has been on a tight leash since.
This is the reality of the school-to-prison pipeline and institutional racism. Zero tolerance policies contribute to the criminalization of students by using law enforcement in place of counseling or restorative practices. Heavily policed schools and overuse of suspension/expulsion are harsh realities.
Aggressive policing and harassment have continued to split her family apart, generation after generation. Cedric is the son of a man who was falsely accused, convicted and eventually acquitted of the 1988 Jerry Hartless murder; Cedric was also one of 15 defendants charged with conspiracy in relation to the 2014 Tiny Doo case. Cedric has continuously been a target even since moving out of San Diego. Ena said her son isn’t perfect, but he’s not the person authorities portray him as; she hasn’t seen her son in two years, and this is why.
EIna poses with a picture of Cedric in frame.)
Ena
Johnson
The prison system has greatly affected the life of Ena, her son and now her grandchildren. If you’re interested in helping or providing resources for Ena and Cedric, please reach out.
SAN DIEGO
FACTS:
- Black students in San Diego are three times more likely to be suspended than White students
- Nationally, students suspended or expelled for discretionary violations are nearly three times more likely to be in contact with the juvenile system the following year
- The suspension rate for Black males is 10.7%, which is 206% higher than the San Diego Unified School District average and the highest suspension rate of any race
- The suspension rate for Black females is 5.1%, which is 46% higher than the San Diego Unified School District average
*tap the hyperlinks to view statistics*
shot on Kodak UltraMax400 film in 35mm
collage features a photo of Cedric and his child, provided by Ena