Let’s inject a dose of understanding on the vaccine issue, senator says - NJ.com

By Ronald L. Rice

All Blacks don’t think alike.

Most legislators speak for themselves.

Vaccines can and do conjure trauma and fear.

“Income level” does not equal “race.”

That’s a sampling of my mental punctuations as I read articles on New Jersey’s vaccination legislation from media outlets across the state. As chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, I am dismayed by some of the reporting and posts. But it wasn’t until I saw a caucus member singled out by a blogger who posted an incendiary headline about Black legislators putting children in harm’s way that I was compelled to speak out.

It’s hard to accept that this still needs clarification on what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 91st birthday, but just because people share the same skin tone, ethnicity or any other common unifier, they do not all hold the same views on any particular issue. When it comes to New Jersey’s legislation on vaccinations (S2173), Black legislators hold different opinions just as white, Latinos and other lawmakers do, and we vote in accordance with our constituents. We research, debate and use our best judgement, but ultimately, we are embedded in the communities that have chosen us to be their voice.

We each bring our varied knowledge and expertise into office and, other than our common goal for social and economic justice and equality, we don’t vote as a block simply because we are all people of color. That said, make no mistake: when the situation demands, as when civil rights are threatened, we are interlocked, solid and cemented in our cause.

Further, having been a senator for the last 34 years, I can say with certainty that it’s a very rare colleague who allows words to be put in his or her mouth. I have worked extensively with Senate President Steve Sweeney for years, and whether we agree or disagree, I’ve never witnessed him hiding behind a front man to express his views on any issue. The idea of Sweeney or his “camp” using Senator Declan O’Scanlon as his messenger, as was alleged by one conservative outlet, is contrary to my experience with both of these men. Each is more than capable of standing on their own two feet and clearly stating their positions.

When it comes to vaccinations, readers should be aware of the heightened sensitivity of some New Jersey citizens who are repelled by the idea of being told what immunization shots they, or their children, are required to receive. Some Black voters, in particular, know how people of color in America have been experimented on mercilessly for inhumane medical research. As a Black person, I am very much aware of horrors such as the Tuskegee Institute Syphilis Study, that are hard for any decent person to stomach.

As late as the 1970s, while deployed in Vietnam, my fellow Marines and I were ordered to undergo unnecessary dental work and procedures that were completely unwarranted. We were never told that the medics were just trainees needing practice, and were drilling holes in our teeth although there were no cavities. Nor were we warned that some of us would be left with serious gum problems as a result of other oral experiments.

Another reason for some people, and particularly people of color, to be concerned are the cases where pharmaceutical companies have engaged in marketing practices that cause exposure to harm. On behalf of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, I first wrote to Johnson & Johnson’s CEO on April 15, 2019 to begin to try to clarify the corporation’s marketing culture and strategies toward Black female consumers, in light of the baby powder lawsuits. The caucus intends to continue that dialog until all issues are resolved.

As disregard for the dignity and integrity of people of color continues on many levels, it’s no wonder some segments of New Jersey’s Black community are resistant and suspicious when medical and pharmaceutical professionals dictate their health and wellness.

Finally, I want to point out that this public discussion about vaccination exemptions and private schools should not be misframed as a racial argument. The issue is about class and socioeconomic status. Only more affluent families can afford private schools where vaccine exemption is permitted.

As Assemblyman Holley has already voiced, New Jersey has so very much to be proud of, coming off a robust legislative session that saw so many victories for “social justice, inclusion and fairness.” Indeed, Dr. King must be smiling from the mountaintop. Were he here today, he might pause to remind some of us, “Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals." In his spirit, let’s inject a good dose of open-mindedness into the debate and arrive at the understanding necessary for wise and fair legislation.

State Sen. Ronald L. Rice has represented the 28th Legislative District in the New Jersey State Senate since 1986.

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