Renford Reese
Encyclopedia
Renford R. Reese is a professor in the political science department and founder/director of the Colorful Flags program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is the author of American Bravado (2007), Prison Race (2006), Leadership in the LAPD: Walking the Tightrope (2005), and American Paradox: Young Black Men (2004).
In 1985, he entered Vanderbilt University
and played football for four years. He played various defensive positions. In the May 4th, 2010 article, "Making An Impact in the Field of Life" written by David Hudson, Reese is quoted as saying "...at 193 pounds I became the smallest middle linebacker in the SEC... and later I went from the smallest middle linebacker to the biggest cornerback
in the league." By his senior year, he had become what some call "a shutdown defensive back" and his achievements playing for the Commodores attracted the attention of some pro scouts. Later, he played in the Blue-Gray all-star game and attended the NFL Combine
in 1990. However, during the NFL Draft
, Reese was not selected.
with a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science
. In 1990, he went on to receive his Master's degree
in public policy
from the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. In 1996, he received his Ph.D.
in public policy from the University of Southern California
's School of Policy, Planning, and Development
; he conducted his dissertation research on intergroup relations and ethnic conflict at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2008 his author's quote #294 appeared on Starbucks cups worldwide: "Insensitivity makes arrogance ugly; empathy is what makes humility beautiful." In 2009, he received a Fulbright Scholar award to lecture in the American Studies
program at the University of Hong Kong.
in South Central Los Angeles inspired him to create this multicultural human relations program.This program is designed to break down "ethnic mistrust" by educating individuals with certain cultural facts and five basic human relation statements in the five most spoken languages focused in a school or organizational community(excluding English). This program has serviced over 130,000 K-12 students in 17 school districts in Southern California and has also serviced police departments, social service agencies, and various other organizations.Reese was featured on ESPN
in a series, called “Realizing The Dream.” He was recognized for his work with The Colorful Flags Program.
from 1997-2000. Los Angeles Times
magazine writer Ed Leibowitz writes about Reese's relationship with King in the article, "The Beating and Riots Are Fading Into History, but Rodney King's Life Remains a Series of Trials." According to this article, Reese brought King to speak to his classes at Cal Poly Pomona and gave him books to read, taught him how to swing a golf
club, and played tennis
with him during their mentoring sessions. In the USA Today
article, Reese stated Rodney "couldn't carry the burdens of being an icon for civil rights. From the very outset our expectations of Rodney King were too high." According to Reese, "Rodney never chose to be an icon. He was beaten one night, and all of a sudden he becomes a symbol for racial reconciliation and police reform. But he was never trained to be a change agent.(Werner)
According to Reese, the various Civil Rights
Leaders failed King. They should have known that he would be an icon for racial reconciliation and police reforms, so they should have protected him and groomed him--but they did not. "They dropped the ball with Rodney." In Reese's 2001 commentary in the Los Angeles Times
, "We Still Can't Just Get Along," he discusses his relationship with Rodney and the lack of progress that has taken place since the 1992 Riots.
Early Life and college career
Reese was born in McDonough,Georgia ("Blacksville"). He is the son of Earnest Reese and Artelia Reese. His father was one of the first African American journalists to write for a major newspaper in the South--the Atlanta Journal Constitution. His mother was the principal at his high school--Henry County High School.In 1985, he entered Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and played football for four years. He played various defensive positions. In the May 4th, 2010 article, "Making An Impact in the Field of Life" written by David Hudson, Reese is quoted as saying "...at 193 pounds I became the smallest middle linebacker in the SEC... and later I went from the smallest middle linebacker to the biggest cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
in the league." By his senior year, he had become what some call "a shutdown defensive back" and his achievements playing for the Commodores attracted the attention of some pro scouts. Later, he played in the Blue-Gray all-star game and attended the NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
in 1990. However, during the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
, Reese was not selected.
Professional Career
He graduated in 1989 from Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
with a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In 1990, he went on to receive his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
from the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. In 1996, he received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in public policy from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's School of Policy, Planning, and Development
School of Policy, Planning, and Development
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy , previously known as School of Policy, Planning, and Development , at the University of Southern California is a leading urban planning, public policy and public administration school in the United States...
; he conducted his dissertation research on intergroup relations and ethnic conflict at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2008 his author's quote #294 appeared on Starbucks cups worldwide: "Insensitivity makes arrogance ugly; empathy is what makes humility beautiful." In 2009, he received a Fulbright Scholar award to lecture in the American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
program at the University of Hong Kong.
Colorful Flags Program
In 1993, as a second year doctoral student, he created the Colorful Flags program. His dissatisfaction with race relations and the death of Latasha HarlinsLatasha Harlins
Latasha Harlins was a 15 year-old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991 by Soon Ja Du, a 51 year-old Korean store owner. Harlins was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California...
in South Central Los Angeles inspired him to create this multicultural human relations program.This program is designed to break down "ethnic mistrust" by educating individuals with certain cultural facts and five basic human relation statements in the five most spoken languages focused in a school or organizational community(excluding English). This program has serviced over 130,000 K-12 students in 17 school districts in Southern California and has also serviced police departments, social service agencies, and various other organizations.Reese was featured on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in a series, called “Realizing The Dream.” He was recognized for his work with The Colorful Flags Program.
Rodney King
He mentored Rodney KingRodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
from 1997-2000. Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
magazine writer Ed Leibowitz writes about Reese's relationship with King in the article, "The Beating and Riots Are Fading Into History, but Rodney King's Life Remains a Series of Trials." According to this article, Reese brought King to speak to his classes at Cal Poly Pomona and gave him books to read, taught him how to swing a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club, and played tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
with him during their mentoring sessions. In the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
article, Reese stated Rodney "couldn't carry the burdens of being an icon for civil rights. From the very outset our expectations of Rodney King were too high." According to Reese, "Rodney never chose to be an icon. He was beaten one night, and all of a sudden he becomes a symbol for racial reconciliation and police reform. But he was never trained to be a change agent.(Werner)
According to Reese, the various Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
Leaders failed King. They should have known that he would be an icon for racial reconciliation and police reforms, so they should have protected him and groomed him--but they did not. "They dropped the ball with Rodney." In Reese's 2001 commentary in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, "We Still Can't Just Get Along," he discusses his relationship with Rodney and the lack of progress that has taken place since the 1992 Riots.