Coming of Rage

Not exactly, says Professor Marvin Dunn, the acting director of the African New World Studies program at Florida International University. Dunn has studied the causes behind the four major riots that struck Miami from 1982 to 1989. "I don't know of an instance in Miami's history where blacks have rioted because of a loss of political power," asserts Dunn. Riots don't evolve so much as they are ignited by a specific incident, often involving a violent or fatal clash between a black and members of the police department. "It is a totally unpredictable phenomenon," he adds.

Black leaders counter that, though it might take a specific incident to spark a riot, it is the anger and frustration inside the black community that will provide the kindling.

Heightening concern are recent law and order initiatives. Both Penelas (through Operation Clean Sweep) and Miami Police Chief Donald Warshaw (with his random DUI checkpoints designed to ferret out illegal handguns) have not only dramatically increased police presence in the black community but have placed it on a much more aggressive and confrontational footing.

In situations such as this, the black community often sends out conflicting messages to the police. "Nobody wants an end to the violence and criminals taken off the street more than people in the black community," Dunn states. But at the same time, he says, a large segment of the community is also distrustful of the police. And therein lies the danger.

Proof of that hazard was found in the first few days of Clean Sweep, when a group of teens were confronted in the parking lot of a bowling alley and, according to black leaders, wrongly harassed. "It was a slap to the community," says Everett. "To use these kids this way is not law enforcement, it's grandstanding. It was a media stunt. It has contributed to the anger, the frustration with Dade County politics. Whenever you need a whipping boy, it is the black community you come through. Whenever you need to make a stand about something, you step on this community."

For his part, Dunn isn't convinced that all of the concern over increased tension between blacks and Cubans is justified. "There are problems," he acknowledges, "but I don't have the sense that this is a particularly troubled time." But, he adds, if leaders in the black community continue to foster that impression, then, "after a while it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.