1. Robert Neuman
360.101
Final Exam
May 5th, 2015
For the purpose of my final essay, I am going to use the first three questions in order to
explain my understanding of the concepts and knowledge gathered, in HSER 360.101 “Social
Policy and American Policy Process.” We were given a very unique set of circumstances, where
American social policy and its process, were displayed, live, on our TV, and in our backyard.
The situation, and events of “Freddie Gray” offered a perfect case study in order to explain
numerous social policy issues, failure of said policies, and the reaction of decades of
underfunded and undermanned programs. The death of another African American youth, is not
that remarkable, facing the conditions many black Americans currently live under. Our semester
began with a University of Baltimore town hall meeting, attempting to share dialog, and address
concerns over the divide between Baltimore City Police Department and the community it
serves. The semester ended with another beating, another death, and another Baltimore city riot.
1. Read the following two articles. Identify the concepts, themes, relevant social policies
or policy areas, tradeoffs, and/or stigma that we’ve talked about this semester and
appear in this story. (Feel free to also include a personal response to the story in your
conclusion.)
The two articles, written by Jon Swaine of the Guardian, and Luke Broadwater & Jessica
Anderson, could have been written in 1968, because decades of social policies and programs

2. have failed to change very little in the neighborhoods of Winchester and Sand town. Allen
Bullock, could be considered one of the iconic faces of the riots of Baltimore last month.
Bullock, was seen in front of Camden Yards, smashing a police officer’s windshield out with an
orange traffic cone. His picture standing atop of the car, was seen across the nation and the
world. The aftermath of the protests, and associated violence which, appeared one-sided, has
filled the criminal courts of Baltimore city. At issue, was the bail set for Mr. Bullock was set at
$500,000. The Police accused of manslaughter, and other various charges associated with the
death of Freddie Gray was only set at $350,000. Baltimore has a long and infamous history of
police brutality, directed at African Americans, who account for 63.3%1 of the total population
of Baltimore.
Many of the conditions which led to the explosion, violence, and demonstrations, after
the death of Freddie Gray, offer light to countless concerns, over the conditions and treatment of
African American youth in America, and more importantly, Baltimore. The long standing
directive to underfund programs in Baltimore, has driven many, to have nothing left to lose. The
conditions, due to poverty, poor school funding, no jobs, hunger, police brutality, and a slanted
justice system, forced the tension to a point, where demonstrations and violence could become
the norm. Wali Uqdah, a retired prison guard was quoted as saying “It’s a building up of
hostility. It’s not about just one incident; it’s like if I leave a pot on my stove, and I go outside,
it’s just going to get hot and hot until it boils over. There’s no jobs, no income, no good
schools…”2 Individuals who life in the poorest sections of Baltimore have long been seen as
unworthy, as city budgets spend funds, in other predominantly white and affluent sections.
1 "United States Census Bureau." Baltimore City QuickFacts fromthe US Census Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May
2015.
2
The Fire and the Fuel." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 09 May2015. Web. 12 May2015.

3. Public assistance programs, no longer even pretend to offer solutions to the chronic social issues
which rot major sections of the city of Baltimore that the state and city hall would like to forget.
Bullock was persuaded to turn himself in after his parents pleaded with him to do the
right thing, and avoid the police, breaking down their door, and beating the 18 year old, who has
a back ground like many others in Baltimore. Bullock was in foster care, did not graduate from
high school, was going to night school, had several juvenile charges for theft and fighting, but
was working as a sanitation worker, earning $15,6003 a year. Has bail, set at levels which, far
exceeds the income or property Bullocks parents could provide. Fundraiser efforts have raised
enough money for Bullocks release, but it adds credence to the appearance, Baltimore City
Judiciary was punishing looters and those who were involved in the damage to Baltimore are
receiving higher bails, with one judge who has doubled many of the bails in the cases before
him. Again the life of a black man, was subjectively set at $350,000 and breaking a car window
was $500,000. There was one case of a black man who was caught with a pair of sneakers, and
bail was set by Judge Owens at $100,000, because of a prior failure to appear.
All of the factors, associated with the Bullock case: Criminal justice, police brutality,
poor educational supports, juvenile justice system, poverty, health care, jobs, limited
development in creating avenues of change for the African Americans who live in some of the
worst conditions, medical health care, and opportunities to do anything other than nothing could
have made a difference in the case of Mr. Bullock and the Freddie Gray protests.
3 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/30/baltimore-rioters-parents-500000-bail-allen-bullock

4. 2. Listen to the following songs that respond directly to Freddie Gray’s death. Write an
essay that discusses:
a) What do these songs tell you about recent events, criminal justice policy, and people’s
experiences?
b) How do/can songs such as these and others that we’ve listened this semester extend
our grasp of social policy and help us make better policy?
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfnbh3o2crs
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDy5n5lrqpU
3. https://www.audiomack.com/song/jay-wyse/a-song-for-freddie-gray-1
The events which strained, an already tense relationship between African Americans and
the Baltimore city police department, exploded into a wonderful display of how fragile perceived
peace, between opposing forces, really is: Baltimore has a “tension,” which is not black and
white, although racism, is part of the problem. The real issue is “black verses blue,” Baltimore
cities long and infamous history of beating African Americans, unexplained deaths while in the
custody of law enforcement, the amounts of money spent in litigation, offer a picture where the
life expectancy of a young black man, is short. Given all this evidence, it would be easy to offer
an opinion on why this has not happened sooner. I feel, explanations which offer a view point
where Baltimore’s fuse was lit long before Freddie Gray, are a lazy way of attempting to justify
the mistreatment of an entire race of people living in a free society, with very little freedom.

5. The songs, beginning with Lor Chris and “#JusticeforFreddieGray” opened with a typical
Baltimore “witness,” offering her indictment over the treatment of Freddie Gray, and the
condition of his legs. The frustration, and anger over the BPD’s policing policies, and how they
do not elicit any trust or cooperation, between officers and the community. The performance,
demonstrates how an organized group, could potentially overwhelm those who were sworn to
protect us, and how it provides different types of justice. African Americans, who live in
Baltimore, receive treatment, which often could only be described as un-defendable. The tension,
between the two, begins at City Hall, and moves through the Commissioner’s office, it does not
matter, who resides in office, and the condition of relationships in Baltimore is broken. The
anger, mistrust, and rationale of the citizens of Baltimore, can only be described as broken. The
repeated refrain of “Fuck’em” and “it could be you and it could be me” summarizes the view
point at the level of mutual disrespect, and mistrust between the BPD and the African American
population in Baltimore.
Dboi x baby, provide a call to arms with their “Fuck 12,” “stand up” what are you
waiting for? Killing young black men, with very little justice, and even fewer moments in jail.
“Fuck 12” “no justice, no peace,” what are we left to do? “Protest till my feet hurt,” but what
good will it really do? Travon, Mike Brown, Freddie Gray, and the list could go on and on,
frustration, desperation, and despair, must be replaced, with action. A call to arms, which scares
the hell out of white, Middle America, is not the answer, due to the fact the police are trained to
kill. Look how fast, the National Guard was mobilized, and martial law, was one decision away.
Again the fragile perception of peace, could be broken by several dozen, protesters, who
could push the group over the edge. Life of young black American black men, appears to have
very little value, in America. What is the motive of those who live in conditions, which are

6. comparable to third world countries? Hostilities, anger, and frustration of decades long
programs which provide little, to bridge the gap of poverty, joblessness, and opportunity in black
communities in Baltimore.
The third song, Jay Wyse’s “A song for Freddie Gray” laments how we do not
understand the conditions, until it is in our own backyard. Racial profiling, excessive force,
brutal beatings, civil rights violations, and associated gray area policing practices, are events
every African American face, on a daily basis. All three songs represent the anger every black
citizen in America, must feel, almost daily. Funding for programs have been stripped, eliminated,
consolidated, or completely discontinued, which were put in place to serve the needs of those
who need it most. It is a social policy system, which penalizes, being born black and poor.
“When you have nothing…, you have nothing to lose,” I feel the artists were compelled to create
their songs, conveying their displeasure, over the death of Freddie Gray, and the conditions,
many live under.
In attempting to understand, and create social policy, which addresses the needs of those
who are targeted by the social programs, the songs connected the listener to hear and see through
the eyes of the artist or performer. I felt, during the semester, a level of awkwardness when first
given the assigned material. Many of the songs were from a genre I do not normally listen to, I
was put-off by the in your face rap-styles. What I learned over the course of the semester, was
my comfort level changed as I began to understand the context, and the message was through the
eyes of the performer. Given I am not exposed to the everyday conditions of a neighborhood,
like, Winchester or Sand town. As I listened, I began understanding, and empathize with some of
the conditions, many of Baltimoreans live under.

7. 3. You invite a new friend over for dinner and he/she is interested in what you’ve been learning
about social policy. How would you explain American social policy and the policymaking
process to this new friend?
Also s/he has follow-up questions for you about why “they” can’t just make policy decisions that
solve all the problems we have, so make sure you explain why it isn’t that easy, about tradeoffs,
ideology, and what makes the American policy process unique.
I would begin, my explanation of American social policy, and the policymaking process,
by summing it up with one word “Complicated.” The definition of social policy or social
services as “a series of collective interventions that contribute to the general welfare by assigning
claims from one set of people who are said to produce or earn the national income to another set
of people who may merit compassion and charity4”-Richard Titmuss,1968. This is really only
part of a classical definition, we need to maneuver our thought process from welfare, to well-
being. In my opinion, we need to remove the term “welfare” out of the equation. The connotation
of welfare, opens up the discussion of who is “worthy or not,” to receive the assistance to reach
their fullest potential of happiness. This happiness, assumes all of the needs of society are
delivered, to the largest amount of members of that society.
Now, we need to understand economically we do not have the resources, to provide for
everyone. So the dilemma is how do we balance the economic realities with maximizing the
services provided, with shrinking revenue? Current American social policies, are not in a
position to solve the issues, it attempts to address. Instead, social policies and programs,
contribute to the issues they were meant to address. This conundrum, where the Federal
4 Richard Titmuss,Essays on the Welfare State (Boston: Beacon Press,1963), p. 16.

8. government, understands there are needs of society and the government has to offer assistance,
but stops short, in providing all of the resources necessary to completely eradicate the social
issue.
The realities of taxation and funding programs, on a federal level, points to an ongoing
tension of what is important, as a country, and establishing a budget. The multi-layered, complex
nature of funding and how Congress provides, dividing up the revenue pie, could not be
explained completely at a dinner party. So let’s just say: there are limitations on how much
funding is given to social programs, without cutting it from other others. The budgetary expense
for defense and mandated entitlements, overshadow all of the other funding combined.
Citizens who rely on social policies and programs to meet their basic needs, tend to have
the lowest voice, when advocating their importance. Systems and supports, only proportionately
cover the basic needs: food, clothing, housing, education, jobs, and health care. The ability of
those who live at the lower end of the economic spectrum, are portrayed as characters. Instead of
spending the limited funds toward wiping out hunger, poverty, or homelessness. A generational
welfare state has developed.
Again the basic purpose of social policy, is to ensure the wellbeing of the greatest amount
of people within its society, promoting levels of human wellbeing, and a safety net, for those
who have fallen through the cracks. The bureaucratic nature of government, the pursuit of the
greatest level of coverage, at shrinking funding levels, have forced governments to provide less.
Although the needs are still present. The lack of opportunities, contribute to conditions, like last
month’s demonstrations, which led to destruction of property, looting and violence. Law makers,
have failed to address the needs of a growing majority, which in the case of Baltimore have taken
to the streets, to protest.

9. The reasons, policy makers, have yet to “fix” or correct the various social policy
concerns, of our modern society, are due to the fact, one policy or program can correct every
issue. Social policy is not a “one size” fits everyone process. Law makers are faced with the
fiscal responsibilities of moving the needle one way or another, to meet the needs of its
constituency. There are still many important people who still believe there are “welfare queens,”
and those who are taking advantage of the system. Although there are those who abuse the
system, there are many who need assistance, and do not receive it. The stigma of receiving
benefits, and entitlements cut both ways. We have to do a better job as a society, in demanding,
what we are willing to except. Voter apathy, a lack of participation, vocal protest, and
demonstration are just some of the conditions which effect social policy.
Bibliography:
Broadwater, Luke, and Jessica Anderson. ".
Http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bal-teen-charged-with-rioting-
released-on-500000-bail." Www.baltimoresun.com. N.p., 8 May 2015. Web. 12 May 2015.
Swaine, Jon, Oliver Laughland, Paul Lewis, and Mae Ryan. "Baltimore Rioter Turned Himself
In- but Family Can't Afford $500,000 Bail.”. Http://www.theguardian.com/us-
news/2015/apr/30/baltimore-rioters-parents-500000-bail-allen-bullock?CMP=edit_2221. N.p., 30
Apr. 2015. Web. 12 May 2015.
"The Fire and the Fuel." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 09 May 2015. Web. 12
May 2015.
“United States Census Bureau." Baltimore City QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12 May 2015.