Rev-elution

Reparations: The Backlash before the breakthrough

2025-11-28T08:57:00.000-05:00

There’s a section in my last book where I ponder my life, education and opportunities comparative to my daddy. My Daddy’s Promise: Lessons Learned Through Caregiving, is the outpouring of my soul upon considering the burden my daddy carried on his back. I concluded a need to be grateful. My daddy, born in 1936 in McBaine, MO, didn’t have the privilege of attending the University of Missouri. Black students weren’t allowed to enroll back then. My daddy didn’t have the privileges of Black folks living in the South. I wonder, would it have been different if there were more HBCU’s to shift the culture of Black people seeking economic privilege.

There is a whirlwind of emotions related to that discussion, but it doesn’t stop there. Would it have been different for me?

In pondering, I made a gratitude list for Thanksgiving: mama, daddy (he’s still with me with all the ancestors), my children, grandchildren, one uncle still alive (18 aunts and uncles sharing camp with my sister Crystal on the other side), friends, health, faith, peace of mind, the resources to survive – pause. Radical shifting.

Why is there only enough to survive given the contributions of my ancestors, including the ones trapped in the African slave trade? Pause. Reflect. Cry. Breathe, Pause. Damnit. Why Lord.

Reparations.

For a brief moment, the nation seemed poised to engage in a long-avoided conversation about repairing the economic devastation wrought on Black Americans. The scholarly groundwork was not only being laid; it was becoming impossible to ignore. A wave of rigorous research, spanning disciplines and generations, had begun to converge around a shared conclusion: America owes a debt. And the receipts - centuries of laws, policies, and practices designed to suppress Black advancement - are meticulously documented.

But just as the country approached that rare inflection point, the ground shifted. The attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives didn’t emerge in a vacuum. It followed, and was arguably provoked by, the growing intellectual and political legitimacy of reparations.

A SCHOLARLY FOUNDATION THAT COULD NO LONGER BE DENIED

The sequence is important.

Economist Sandy Darity, alongside A. Kristen Mullen and Lucas Hubbard, produced The Black Reparations Project: A Handbook for Racial Justice, an unflinching framework detailing the moral and economic rationale for redressing the racial wealth gap. Their work built on decades of critical scholarship by Randall Robinson, Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Richard Delgado, Patricia Williams, and others who developed critical race theory as a lens to expose how racism is embedded in America’s laws and institutions, not as aberrations, but as design.

Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 1619 Project broadened public understanding of slavery’s foundational role in shaping American capitalism and democracy. Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow documented the modern machinery of mass incarceration. Isabel Wilkerson revealed caste as America’s hidden operating structure, and writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates forced the nation to confront, with uncompromising clarity, the generational extraction of Black wealth.

Together, these works formed more than a scholarly canon. They formed a case - coherent, evidence-driven, widely accessible - that America’s racial inequities were not accidents. They were the predictable outcomes of policies intentionally crafted to advantage white Americans while immobilizing Black people.

And when a case becomes clear, remedies become harder to avoid.

Reparations were gaining credibility not simply as a moral imperative, but as a practical, data-backed necessity.

THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE

Then came the counterattack.

Donald Trump entered office promising to be a disrupter, and in this arena, he delivered: not by addressing the scholarship, but by attacking structures that might operationalize its conclusions. With the support of the Supreme Court shaped in his image, the conservative movement didn’t merely critique DEI - it sought to dismantle it. The Court’s landmark decision restricting race-conscious policies in education, hiring, and contracting effectively kneecapped one of the few remaining mechanisms institutions used to address historical inequities.

The Supreme Court decision framed DEI as divisive, unfair, even dangerous. But make no mistake, the target wasn’t the trainings or the job titles. The target is the emerging legitimacy of reparations.

Because DEI, for all its shortcomings, represented an acknowledgment that historical harm requires active correction. If even modest corrective efforts could be portrayed as discriminatory, then reparations, which demand far more, could be dismissed as unconstitutional before they even reach the starting line.

REPARATIONS STALLED BY DESIGN

The Supreme Court’s DEI decision did more than ban certain practices. It rewrote the narrative: any race-based remedy, no matter its historic justification, is now suspect. The ruling fortified a political climate in which advocating for reparations is construed as radical rather than rectifying. And it handed opponents a new legal vocabulary to argue that repairing racial harm is itself a form of racial discrimination.

This shift is no accident. It is a strategic recalibration.

Instead of debating the merits of reparations, a debate scholars are winning, political actors changed the terrain. They moved the conversation from history to legality, from morality to perceived fairness, from evidence to fear.

With one ruling, the Court curtailed the ability of universities, corporations, and public institutions to acknowledge racial inequity in any operational way. It also fortified a backlash movement built on the claim that addressing racism constitutes racism.

A DEBT DEFERRED - BUT NOT ERASED

For Black Americans, the consequences are profound. Reparations are not just symbolic; they are an economic necessity for repairing a racial wealth gap created through redlining, discriminatory GI Bills, unequal pay, stolen labor and a criminal justice system engineered for extraction.

Dismantling DEI weakens the infrastructure that could have carried reparations forward with policy labs, research institutions, philanthropic initiatives, corporate equity programs, and government offices staffed by people who understand the stakes.

But even in this retrenchment, the scholarship remains. And scholarship has a way of outlasting political winds.

Darity’s models for direct payments, the 1619 Project’s historical reframing, the legal clarity of Bell and Crenshaw, the sociological rigor of Wilkerson, the moral clarity of Coates, and the systems critique of Alexander - these texts will continue to teach. They will continue to persuade. They will continue to expose the unfinished business of justice.

THE PATH FORWARD

The backlash to DEI is not simply a rejection of diversity efforts. It is a defensive maneuver against the possibility of accountability. As the country moved closer than many realized to accepting reparations as not only legitimate but necessary; the question now is whether this generation will allow a political backlash, one manufactured in response to truth-telling, to halt the nation’s moral progress.

Reparations are not a fringe idea. They are a debt. And debts, when ignored, do not disappear. They accumulate interest.

I closed my eyes upon feeling my daddy’s presence.

“Keep writing son,” a presence stronger than before. “Tell them the story about how we will overcome.”

Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People faces collapse after accusation of embezzlement

2025-05-20T17:06:00.004-04:00

The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP) faces implosion after the former chair of the political committee allegedly embezzled more than $60,000 of the money raised to support candidates endorsed by the political committee.

Floyd McKissick, Jr., the chair of the group founded in 1935 to address issues impacting Durham’s Black residents, led a process that involved contracting the services of Lolita A. Wynn, a Durham certified public accountant, to measure the damage.

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating the findings of the report. The name of the accused is not being disclosed by the Rev-elution to honor the process of the investigation until the DCABP makes an official public statement.

Key members of the leadership team resigned during the May 19 meeting of the political committee citing a lack of transparency since the accusation of embezzlement in January.

While the SBI investigate the case, members of the DCABP haven’t seen Wynn’s report. McKissick claims the right to protect the person accused during an ongoing investigation.

“This evening, I resigned as Vice Chair of the Durham Committee of the Affairs of Black People PAC,” Donald Hughes posted on his Facebook page. “The PAC Chair, former Mayor Elaine O’Neal, also resigned this evening.”

Hughes shares the reason for his decision.

“So much has happened since being sworn in a few months ago, but it boils down to disrespect and undermining by Floyd McKissick – Chair of the Durham Committee of the Affairs of Black People general body,” said Hughes.

DCABP Housing Committee Chair Jacqueline Wagstaff (Hughes' mother), and former Durham County Commissioner Nimasheena Burns resigned from their leadership roles.

“I honor your voices and your choices,” said Stella Adams, former chair of the housing committee, on her Facebook page. “I look forward to working with you as we continue to find ways to improve the lives of the Black community.”

McKissick defeated Larry Hall, a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to become chair of the DCABP. Within days of his installation, McKissick faced unravelling the controversy that may sidetrack the work of the political committee in upcoming elections.

Kendrick Lamar's Televised Black Revolution

2025-02-14T12:45:00.004-05:00

I stood in full attention as Black bodies dressed in red, white and blue formed an American flag. I bowed in humble submission when they broke position triggering thoughts of their complicated relationship with the stars and stripes.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show is understood best within the context of how he landed on that stage.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest the deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police officers.

“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said in The Guardian. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

The NFL responded by kicking Kaepernick out of the league. In May 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell barred athletes from protesting on the sidelines during the national anthem while granting them the right to remain in the locker room.

Fans determined to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick boycotted watching football during the 2018 season after all 32 teams refused to give the former San Francisco quarterback a tryout.

“We can’t have the inmates running the prison,” said Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans.

“That’s how they look at you. That’s what they think about you,” said Jay-Z in response to McNair’s comment. “We’ve got so much further to go.”

A massive dip in NFL ratings led Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, to contact Jay-Z to help repair the NFL’s relationship with Black fans. Jay-Z inked a five-year, $25 million deal with the league to produce the Super Bowl halftime show and to improve the NFL’s social justice agenda.

Understanding that context is critical in unfolding the symbols in Lamar’s halftime show. It explains the Black rage and call for a televised revolution. It explains the demand for forty acres and a mule along with the continuing dilemma Black people face – gaining access to the

American Dream while facing battles questioning the credibility of policies protecting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Those Black bodies forming an American flag responds to punishment for kneeling during the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.’ Those bodies are responding to attacks proclaiming Black Lives Matter. They witness the history, legacy and ongoing challenges of Black men and women who built America on their backs and fought for America’s version of democracy with their blood, sweat, tears and lives.

The powerful presence of Black Uncle Sam evokes a call to stand in defiance to the admonition of severe punishment for failing to follow the rules. It’s a warning not to kneel like Kaepernick. It’s a reminder to place personal success above collective good. It’s a statement involving the benefits of minimizing the importance of Black identity when in the presence of white people confused by your message.

‘Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” Uncle Sam said. “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?”

The selection of songs doesn’t fit. The staging doesn’t fit. The expectation is to make the art entertaining. That’s what Black people do – right.

Lamar’s music isn’t created to appease the interest of Donald Trump and other likeminded people in the crowd. His halftime performance isn’t meant to address a universal truth. All of the dancers are Black. All of the lyrics involve Black life and culture. Lamar doesn’t stray from his anti-establishment persona. He offers a unique political agenda rooted in the language of Black revolution.

“The revolution will be televised,” said Lamar. “You got the right time but the wrong guy.”

Lamar is not your typical Super Bowl performer. He’s on stage to represent the condition of many Black people living in America. That life involves the ongoing friction between unity and division under the fabric of the red, white and blue.

Uncle Sam reflects Lamar’s self-examination of his role on the world’s biggest stage.

“We were wrong for not listening to NFL Players earlier,” Goodell said in a 2020 apology announcing the reversal of the NFL policy after the death of George Floyd.

Goodell and the 32 owners of NFL teams failed to concede the mind of Black people during a time of immense tension. They expected compromise placing the interest of white fans above the concerns of Black people. They punished resistance and demanded a pledge of allegiance.

Lamar faced a similar decision. Should he bow due to the threat of a lawsuit for performing “They Not Like Us,” his Grammy award winning diss track? Should he listen to Uncle Sam or give the people what they want.

Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance is the most-watched broadcast in American television history, outdrawing the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969 and Michael Jackson’s halftime show from over 30 years ago.

The more than 150 million viewers experienced more than the artistry of a 22 Grammy Award winning rapper. They witnessed what happens when art intersects with social justice. They received a glimpse of what happens when art is on full display without pressure to fulfill the desire of viewers.

This halftime show is not about Drake. It’s about what Drake, and many recording artists like Drake, represent. It’s about the ongoing grappling that many Americans face.

Should we capitulate and compromise to the demands of the opinions and voices who witness what we do? Or, should we follow the lead of Serena Williams.

When you know where you came from and what centers your place in the universe, crip walk.

Howerton's strong leadership deserves another term as chairwoman

2023-11-16T13:00:00.008-05:00

(Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners: Brenda Howerton, Nida Alam, Nimasheena Burns, Heidi Carter and Wendy Jacobs)

COMMENTARY - Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners will soon vote on their board chair. It’s hard to imagine not extending the services of Brenda Howerton.

The best way to describe Howerton’s work is heroic. Howerton, along with former chair Wendy Jacobs, resuscitated the life back into county government after the exit of former County Manager Wendell Davis. Together, they teamed up to rekindle confidence when the brutal back and forth reminded residents of stories involving the Hatfield and McCoy feud near the Kentucky side of Tug Fork.

Many residents forget the massive tug in the soul of local harmony after Davis accused a member of the board of acts and statements viewed as racist. Residents may remember the disgusting conduct that pitted members of the board against many Black citizens weary of the motives leading to the decision to end a Black man’s career in county government.

People reasoned Davis had to go for not being progressive enough for Durham. A member of the board of education derided his upscale attire. A member of the city council blasted that Black man for spewing a racist trope to degrade Davis.

Howerton stood alone in support of former County Attorney Lowell Siler’s recommendation to employ the services of The Robert Bobb Group, a minority-owned national consulting firm, to help Durham County wiggle out of the mess created by members of the board. Nimasheenda Burns, the other Black woman on the board, sided with those critics and her colleagues on the commission incensed by Bobbs time as an appointed Emergency Financial Manager of the Detroit Public Schools between 2009-2011.

Siler seemed humiliated during the virtual meeting questioning both his leadership and judgement. That moment ended Siler’s public service as county attorney after a stroke. Siler died on Sept. 8.

The board never received the type of consulting recommended by Siler, The International City/County Management Association and the independent investigator hired by the county to consider the actions of both Davis and a member of the board.

Durham County endured the impact of Covid-19. The board faced challenges after members of the Durham County employees racial equity core committee made demands of the board following the end of Davis’s contract.

Members of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) cohort outlined a strategy that includes: (1) board members attending racial equity training, (2) improved interpersonal relationships on the board, (3) request that the board “employ racial equity tools to its future decision making processes and future moves to add a racial equity directive as a high level, guiding principle to each of County Government’s five strategic plan goal areas, in order to avoid disparate impacts among not only its managers, but its employees and citizens”, and (4) request that the board engage in an open town hall to address inequity and race relations in Durham and in Durham County Government.”

Durham had to replace its county manager during a time of extreme hostility. Members of the board faced the lingering effects related to the loss of their competent and popular county attorney. The board faced challenges from a community divided on the budget for public education.

Howerton provided strong and consistent leadership. Jacobs relinquished her role as board chair to support Howerton in ways that model unity. Both deserve recognition for shifting the culture within both county government and in Durham County.

We’ve come a long way since the last election. As residents consider the slate of candidates who will file for office over the next 30 days, keep your eyes on who the commissioner selects as the chair.

I seriously recommend staying on track. The Durham locomotive is headed in the right direction thanks to Howerton and Jacobs.

All in favor say Aye

No evidence Durham Councilwoman Monique Holsey-Hyman extorted developer for campaign contribution

2023-09-20T21:33:00.009-04:00

Durham, NC - The fight to prove her innocence comes with thoughts of things taken away.

“I don’t think you understand what it is to get to a point to want to help people for someone to try to take it away in the matter of a minute,” said Durham City Councilwoman Monique Holsey-Hyman during a press conference announcing the end of a probe by the State Bureau of Investigation.

“I was the last person asked what I wanted to do. I was never asked did I do it, did I not do it,” said Holsey-Hyman.

On Tuesday, Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry released a statement clearing Holsey-Hyman of soliciting a bride from Jarrod Edens, a local developer.

The SBI conducted interviews with Mayor Elaine O’Neal, members of the city council and staff. Holsey-Hyman cooperated with the SBI after providing documentation proving her innocence.

“Jarrod Edens, on the other hand, avoided every attempt SA (special agent) Deming made to interview him,” said Deberry in her statement. “Edens did not answer calls nor return messages left by SA Deming."

According to Deming, Edens, who triggered the controversy with a complaint to Sara Young, director of the Durham city-county planning department, lost interest in the investigation after four city council members – Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton, Javier Cabellero, Jillian Johnson and Leonardo Williams, voted to approve his 192 unit development.

“Nobody ever asked me anything. I knew I didn’t do anything, and I wanted the truth to come out, but I did not want my life to literally be turned upside down,” said Holsey-Hyman.

The same four council members who approved Edens’ project voted to send the developers complaint to the SBI.

“There was a majority vote. The investigation was not at my instigation. The censure was nothing I was going to find on board,” said O’Neal. “In talking about what we were going to do, I did not say what my position was. I did not think it belonged to me. I did let them know I was not in favor of going to the SBI.”

O’Neal said she recommended hiring an outside attorney to investigate the charges made against Holsey-Hyman.

“As a lawyer, you know, based on the information I had, the alleged facts that I was given, it was pretty much conversations. There were no forensics, there were no reports that were new,” said O’Neal. “It was basically he says, she says and basically phone records. That’s not an extensive investigation in my opinion. A competent attorney could have handled that.”

O’Neal said Holsey-Hyman and Freeman, who is running for mayor against Williams, “have been accused of things that are false, untrue and outward lies.”

She addressed the incident recorded by WRAL-TV at the end of the March 23 city council work session

“Let me first say I was never assaulted. Anyone who spreads that is telling a lie. I was never assaulted,” O’Neal said. “What I did see when I rounded was the hands of councilman Williams on councilwoman Freeman who was then saying get your hands off of me.”

O’Neal’s version of what happened counters reporting by former IndyWeek reporter Thomsai McDonald.

“While in the adjoining room, Freeman threw down the items she was carrying, including a bottle of water, and “went after,” or tried to physically attack Middleton, according to the eyewitness source who asked to remain anonymous,” McDonald reports.

“Instead of landing punches on Middleton, Freeman ended up punching council member Leonardo Williams twice in the face. The eyewitness source says Freeman also struck mayor Elaine O’Neal once in the face when the former judge tried to intervene.”

Antonio R Wood, Sr., pastor of Evans Solid Rock Church for All People in Wake Forest, NC, witnessed the exchange. He says Freeman, Williams, Middleton and O’Neal are the only other people to witness the exchange. The WRAL-TV video shows Wood standing in the doorway during the confrontation between Middleton and Freeman.

“Another woman was about to go back there before the mayor told her to leave,” said Wood. “No punches were thrown. Only person with hands on was Leonardo Williams on Freeman. He claimed she hit him. She didn’t.”

O’Neal said Holsey-Hyman and Freeman endure being tested by fire.

“On that particular day, councilwoman Freeman, it was the last straw. It was as my sister said, the last button on Abraham’s jacket,” said O’Neal. She couldn’t take it anymore.”

Williams released a statement defending his actions after O’Neal gave her version of what happened that night.

“I intervened to stop a physical altercation,” said Williams. “In the process, I put myself in harms way and while unintentional, I was hit, and put my hands up to block further hits.”

There are two versions of what happened between Freeman and Middleton. There’s the version reported in the IndyWeek with an anonymous witness. That version requires accepting the source being Middleton or Williams.

The alternative narrative demands believing Freeman, O’Neal and Wood, the pastor who stood at the door.

The outcome of the upcoming municipal election may be won based on who voters believe isn’t telling the truth.

“It’s gonna be up to the court of public opinion to figure out who’s telling the truth and who’s not,” said O’Neal. “I don’t have any dogs in this race anymore. I’m not running for office, but I stand to tell you to pay close attention. Believe people when they show you who they really are.”

An election is coming, an election is coming: Get ready, get set, vote

2023-08-01T11:33:00.003-04:00

COMMENTARY – The Durham Municipal Election is rapidly approaching with 12 people vying for three city council seats and eight people hoping to become mayor.

Early voting for the municipal primary begins on Sept 21 and ends on Oct 7. The Oct. 10 primary will narrow the field of candidates for city council to six and mayor to two for the Nov 7 general election. Early voting for the general election begins Oct 19 and ends Nov 4.

Durham voters have a lot to consider before casting votes. These candidates for both city council and mayor are a mixture of present council members, former council members, candidates who tried before and lost and people unknown to most residents.

What is the average voter to do beyond gauging who to select based on campaign signs or the endorsement of their favorite political action committee? Most voters are detached from the working of city government beyond the fight recorded by WRAL-TV after a council meeting.

How do you pick from a group you barely know? Who do you trust when what matters most is discussed less than the personal battles defining the work of the city council?

Durham City Council elections take place every two years with the mayor on the ballot every election. At-large council seats are on the ballot this year. Terms for ward seats expire in 2025.

In 2021, voters overwhelming supported Elaine O’Neal to become Durham’s first Black woman to serve as mayor. Her win responded to a call to defund the police. Rev. Mark-Anthony Middleton and DeDreana Freeman were re-elected riding the coattail of O’Neal, a former district and superior court judge. Leonardo Williams, owner with his wife of Zweli, a Zimbabwean cuisine restaurant, defeated A.J. Williams, a 34-year-old community activist, by 300 votes. A.J. Williams lost despite loads of funding and the backing of Durham Beyond Police and Durham for All, grassroots coalitions effective in mobilizing a diverse community of younger residents.

The 2019 election centered Mayor Steve Schewel campaign for affordable housing against Farad Ali, a former member of the city council and CEO of The Institute for Minority Economic Development. Ali advocated for shared economic prosperity.

Jillian Johnson, Charlie Reece and Javiera Caballero, who replaced Schewel after he became mayor in 2017, joined forces to form the Bull City Together Platform as incumbents on the council. Ali endured criticism for his business connections while Johnson, Reece and Caballero were celebrated for promoting a progressive agenda.

History informs the context for the upcoming municipal election. If affordable housing and police funding are the narrative for the previous elections, what’s on the ballot this year?

Civility Matters

The shout heard around the Triangle measures the communal rage felt by many Durham voters. In March, allegations of malfeasance against Councilwoman Monique Holsey-Hyman during a work session carried over to Freeman accusing Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middle of bullying Black women and allegedly accidently striking Councilman Leonardo Williams in the face.

A lack of civility among members on the council impacted O’Neal’s decision not to pursue a second term as mayor. Bickering during council meetings lends credence to no current council member (Williams and Freeman are both campaigning to become mayor) having the ability to effectively facilitate council meetings.

Durham voters should consider the impact of a culture of incivility in voting for mayor. Who among the candidates processes the demeanor essential in managing a crowd of people with opposing perspectives?

It Takes Four Votes

Bearing in mind all the bad related to establishing a coalition like the 2017 Bull City Together Platform, the name of the game is winning four seats on the council. In Durham, the mayor is the symbolic head of the city and a member of the city council but has no executive authority. The city manager oversees the day-to-day operations and implements the policies and manages the budget approved by the council.

When casting your votes, consider how the positions and perspectives of each person align with the rest of the team. The work of the council is not the life of lone rangers. Ideally, they should build together in ways which reflect the general consensus of local residents. They represent voters, not their own views related to what it means to hold a position of power.

Each vote is an affirmation of a collective mission statement. It isn’t a popularity contest. Each vote signifies how we, as a community, understand and support how infrastructural changes advance or impede the work of our city.

Growth or Slow it Down

Voters should ponder the consequences of growth. Are we building for the people who are coming, or is growth benefiting the people who are already here?

Are we positioning growth in celebration of what Durham has always been – an incredible city with a rich legacy of inclusive prosperity?

We are one of the homes of Black Wall Street - where dreams come true transcendent of race, gender, gender identity, place of origin, religion or past mistakes. Are we building for a future imbedded in the life, culture and witness of what brought us to Durham – what keeps us in Durham? Or, are members of the city council favoring zoning changes and other policies to entice and satisfy the desires of the people who aren’t here?

Before you vote, decide. What is your vision for Durham? Are you willing to accept more growth? If so, at what expense? Who wins when we keep building? Who loses when the growth results in an invasion of richer, white people with limited knowledge of why many people celebrate “Dirty Durham”.

They are welcome to come, but not at the risk of losing our happy home.

Shared Prosperity

Again, considering where we’ve been helps frame where we’re going. Voters rejected Farad Ali in 2017 due to his business connections. The claim that Ali and Joshua Gunn, a former Durham Chamber of Commerce executive and hip-hop recording artist who lost in a bid for city council in 2017, were too business centered missed the mark in fully understanding and affirming the goals of Black and Brown economic mobility and inclusion.

It is problematic to measure Black capitalism using the same constructs as white centered, institutionalized capitalism. Black capitalism is rooted from a place of survival for both individuals and a community massively impacted by the weaponizing of white centered capitalism.

They are not the same thing.

Ali called for the implementation and execution of strategies aimed at facilitating shared prosperity. If voters embrace continued growth coupled with ongoing gentrification, the widening of white versus Black and Brown economic disparity and shifting demographics reflective of more white and fewer Black and Brown residents, are we becoming a community different than what we’ve come to celebrate.

Voters should consider policies which protect our desired image. What is our community brand? How do votes by members of the city council assure the sharing of prosperity? Should we care?

A few things to consider as you prepare for the upcoming primary and subsequent general election.

Next up, a summary of the people running for mayor and city council.

Patrick Hannah decides to place family needs above becoming Durham's next mayor

2023-07-21T12:35:00.001-04:00

Statement from Patrick Hannah

Dear Family, Friends & Durham Community,

I hope this note finds you well. Thank you for your kind words, encouragement and support over the past 2 weeks. It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you that I will not be running for Mayor of Durham at this time. While I am deeply committed to serving our community and have a strong desire to contribute to its growth and prosperity, I must prioritize my family responsibilities at this juncture.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to serve our city, state and nation in various capacities. From my time working at The White House -

Office of Legal Counsel during the Lewinsky Trial to my role as Chairman of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority during a global pandemic. I have been tested and gained invaluable experience in navigating complex policy, legal and administrative matters. These experiences have shaped my understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our city.

As Vice President of the Durham NAACP and a Board Member for the Durham's Partnership for Children, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of community engagement and collaboration in advancing social justice and ensuring the well-being of our youngest citizens. These roles have reinforced my commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable Durham for all.

During my tenure as a law clerk in the North Carolina Senate - Office of the President Pre-Tem, and as a corporate attorney for a Fortune 70 company, I have gained a deep understanding of the legislative process and the intricacies of corporate governance. These experiences have provided me with a unique perspective on the intersection of public policy and private sector interests, which I believe is crucial for effective leadership in today's world.

Additionally, as a Community Organizer for Voices for Working Families, I dedicated my efforts to creating job opportunities for our community. I firmly believe that a thriving economy is essential for the well-being of our residents, and I have worked diligently to advocate for policies that promote sustainable growth and uplift those who have been marginalized.

Despite my passion for public service and the desire to contribute to the betterment of Durham, my family priorities require my undivided attention. As a dedicated spouse and parent to two children, one with special needs, I must place my family's needs at the forefront for the time being.

Please know that this decision has not been made lightly. It is driven by a deep sense of responsibility and love for my family. However, I remain committed to serving our community in whatever capacity I can, and I will continue to advocate for the issues that matter most to Durham citizens.

I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received throughout my journey, and I am certain that Durham will continue to thrive under the leadership of dedicated individuals who share a vision for a stronger, more vibrant community. I have no doubt that our city will continue to progress and prosper, and I look forward to playing a role in that future when the time is right.

Thank you for your understanding, and I remain committed to working alongside you to create positive change in Durham.

Durham Councilman Leonardo Williams Declares Candidacy for Mayor

2023-07-20T15:40:00.001-04:00

The campaign will kick off at the Black Wall Street historic marker on Parrish St. in Downtown Durham on Friday, July 21st at 12 pm.

From Leonardo Wiliams campaign staff

DURHAM, NC -- is set to enter a transformative new era as Leonardo Williams, a small business owner, City Councilmember, and former Educator of the Year has officially announced his decision to run for Mayor.

The announcement of Councilman Williams’ candidacy has already gained significant momentum, with an outpouring of support from community leaders and residents.

“I’m proud to announce that I am filing to run to be the next Mayor of Durham. Over the last several weeks, I have received many messages of encouragement. I thank you all for your support already.” Councilman Williams said. “I love Durham. This city has given me and my family so much. This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about what’s best for our city now and creating a legacy for the future. I understand there have been moments of uncertainty in our City Council, but behind the smoke screen, we have been able to achieve tremendous feats. We’ve made great progress in my time on the Council, and I

am proud to be consequential in that work. However, Durham’s next transformation is just beginning. As a city, we do face serious challenges, yet our opportunities are far greater. We need thoughtful solutions and actionable outcomes to tackle our challenges and seize our opportunities. I’m prepared to be your mayor, Durham. I’m running because I believe that together we can create the future that Durham deserves.”

About Councilman Leonardo Williams

Born in Hobgood, NC, Leo first came to Durham as a student at NC Central University where he met his now wife, Zweli. At NCCU, Leo was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate, historically African American fraternity. Additionally, Leo was actively involved in student government and a member of the renowned NCCU marching band while he pursued a degree in Music Education.

After graduating, Leo became a public-school teacher in Durham where he led band programs, was honored as one of the youngest Teacher of the Year, and mentored dozens of aspiring young musicians. One of his formative experiences as a teacher was in his first year when he asked a class of 42 students how many had visited another state. Only three had. Leo saw an opportunity and a need. He organized a fundraising drive that raised enough money to take 32 students on a field trip to New York City. This experience solidified Leo’s belief that there is no better investment than giving young people opportunities to grow and expand their horizons.

In 2008, he joined the board of the NC Foundation for Public School Children, where he was quickly asked to serve as executive director. In his capacity as executive director, he vastly expanded the budget, scope, and impact of the largest foundation supporting public school students in the state. In his capacity as executive director, Leo saw the challenges public school students face and worked with national, state, and local partners to provide the best possible education to all North Carolina public school students. Leo and Zweli embarked on a new challenge in 2018, opening the first Zweli’s restaurant location. Not only did Zweli’s succeed and then survive COVID-19, but they also now own three locations in Durham, one in Zimbabwe, and they employ more than sixty staff. Leo and Zweli are committed to not only paying a living wage but paying their team to a level that will allow them to thrive. Each full-time job they have created pays a minimum of $20 an hour, and they exclusively hire local artists to decorate their restaurants.

Leo knows the challenges that come with creating and running a business. When he decided to pursue a seat on the Durham City Council in 2021, there were no small business owners, a perspective that was sorely missed. Running as a true outsider, Leo ran a clean campaign focused on investing in Durham’s youth, ending gun violence, creating more economic opportunities, and increasing equity throughout the city.

Since being elected to the Council, among his accomplishments, Leo has focused on a citywide apprenticeship program to enhance workforce development and address the 27,000 job vacancies in Durham, helping to bridge people to better wages and housing. He has led the Taskforce on Black Men and Boys to establish concrete recommendations on addressing gun violence. He has also passed a historic budget without raising taxes and supporting our first responders. His vision for the future of

Durham is shaped by (1) diverse housing options that allow for stable, safe, and affordable homes, (2) robust economic development initiatives, (3) an infrastructure that will support multimodal transit options and expanded connectivity, and (4) an environment that is built and sustained by us all. Leo and Zweli live in Ward 3 with their son, Izaiah, and their pup, Dovi!

For updates about Leonardo Williams’ campaign and to join the mailing list please visit

www.leofordurham.com or follow him on:

Facebook: LeoForDurham

Twitter: LeoForDurham

Instagram: LeoForDurham

Durham City Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman files for mayor with a goal of moving past "the drama"

2023-07-19T10:33:00.006-04:00

DURHAM, NC, July 19, 2023 - Durham City Council representative of Ward 1, DeDreana Freeman, steps forward to announce candidacy for Mayor of Durham on July 18, 2023.

“I am proudly running to represent the people of Durham, a city I’ve grown to love and my family calls home,” said Freeman. “As Durham’s mayor, I would engage in more dialogue and guide efforts towards ‘working families’ and populations of youth and seniors who don’t get a fair shake. I hope that the people will continue to have faith this coming November. Their support of me as mayor would be tremendous in fueling efforts that have just begun.”

DeDreana Freeman is a non-profit leader with over 20 years of experience in North Carolina and presently serves as the Director of Partnership Development for CornerSquare Community Capital, a subsidiary of the North Carolina Rural Center. Freeman leads outreach and engagement efforts in 17 states, including Washington, DC in support of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to increase community investments through small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Since joining CornerSquare in 2022, DeDreana has successfully built a network of strategic partners, fostering trust and collaboration with key stakeholders. Prior to that, she served as the Special Assistant to the President of Durham Children's Initiative, for which she has spearheaded plans to support families and their children from birth to college and/or career.

"During her six and a half years on the city council, Freeman has been a formidable advocate for the residents of Durham. She consistently works to address social, economic, and environmental justice issues that often plague marginalized communities," states a press release to Rev-elution. "With proven leadership and dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive Durham, DeDreana Freeman is the ideal candidate to lead the city forward."

Freeman enters the race after enduring public tension with some of her peers on the city council.

“It would be so simple to just fade into the background; however, I am committed to the work ahead and had to move past all the drama to be the person my mother, daughter and sons need me to be,” said Freeman. “My family loves Durham and serving means doing what’s in the best interest of Durham at all times.

For details or additional information regarding her campaign, visit dedreanafreeman.com.

Patrick Hannah, Former Chairman of Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, Explores Mayoral Run for Durham, Prioritizing Infrastructure, Economic Development, and Community Well-being

2023-07-17T15:05:00.003-04:00

DURHAM, NC, July 17, 2023 – Patrick Hannah, known for his extensive experience in infrastructure development and economic growth as the immediate past chairman of Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, has announced his consideration of a mayoral run for Durham. With a strong track record in job creation and dedication to addressing critical issues such as crime and housing, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to driving positive change in the community.

Hannah's experience as chairman of Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has been characterized by his unwavering focus on infrastructure development, ensuring that the region's connectivity and transportation networks are optimized for economic growth. Spearheading numerous projects, Hannah has consistently aimed to create job opportunities, foster economic prosperity, and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Recognizing the importance of economic development, Hannah has actively sought partnerships with local businesses and organizations to attract investments, boost job creation, and cultivate a thriving economy. His efforts have resulted in substantial growth and prosperity for the region, making him a respected figure in the business community.

However, Hannah's vision for Durham extends beyond infrastructure and economic development. With his background as a former law clerk in the White House, he possesses a unique understanding of the complexities surrounding crime and housing issues. He recognizes that these challenges require a comprehensive approach, combining effective law enforcement strategies with initiatives aimed at affordable housing and community support.

If elected as mayor of Durham, Hannah intends to utilize his expertise and experience to tackle these issues head-on. He envisions a safer and more inclusive city, where residents can feel secure in their homes and communities. By fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and local government, Hannah aims to implement innovative solutions that address the root causes of crime and housing instability.

As Hannah embarks on his mayoral exploration, he pledges to engage with the community to better understand the specific needs and concerns of Durham's diverse population. Listening to the voices of residents, business owners, and community leaders will be at the heart of his campaign, ensuring that his policies and initiatives are informed by the people he aims to serve.

Patrick Hannah's potential mayoral candidacy is fueled by his unwavering commitment to creating a prosperous and harmonious Durham. With his impressive background in infrastructure development, economic growth, and legal expertise, he is poised to be a transformative leader who can bring about meaningful change.

Ken Spaulding decides not to run for Mayor of Durham, NC

2023-07-05T10:14:00.005-04:00

In a statement released to Rev-elution earlier today, Ken Spaulding says the joys of retirement aren’t worth giving up becoming mayor of Durham, NC.

“After receiving encouragement to run for Mayor, for which I am very appreciative, I have given a run for Mayor serious consideration, as requested,” said the former Democratic Party candidate for governor. “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to continue to remain retired and continue to serve our community in other ways.”

Spaulding considered running for mayor after witnessing “infighting and tomfoolishness, at the City Council level,” he said in a previous statement to Rev-elution.

In today’s statement, Spaulding commended Mayor Elaine O’Neal.

“Mayor Elaine O’Neal has served our city with great dedication, hard work and compassion. I’m hopeful that any future Mayor of Durham will share her same attributes,” said Spaulding.

State Senator Mike Woodard is among a list of people considering the seat left vacant after O'Neal announced not running for a second term.

“I’m set to retire from Duke on September 1, and I’m looking to give 100 percent,” said Woodard. “I love what I’m doing, but I love Durham.”

Larry Hall, former secretary of the NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and member of the NC House of Representatives, is considering filing to run later this week.

“If we have good candidates running for Mayor who are ‘not current’ sitting members of the current Council, and if they will give these aforementioned stated policies their earnest and sincere consideration, then I will happily not run for Mayor,” Spaulding said in his previous statement. “I know it’s not politically correct to say, but quite frankly, I am enjoying my retirement and I would prefer to remain happily retired."

Breaking News: Ken Spaulding announces run for Durham Mayor

2023-06-29T13:55:00.003-04:00

A week after Elaine O’Neal announced not running for a second term as Durham Mayor, Ken Spaulding is the first to officially declare for the seat.

Spaulding ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election, losing to Roy Cooper. In 1984, he challenged incumbent Tim Valentine for the North Carolina 2^nd congressional district. He lost, receiving 47.88 percent of votes compared to Valentine’s 52.12 percent. Spaulding served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1978 to 1984.

Former Governor Mike Easley appointed Spaulding to serve on the North Carolina Board of Transportation where he represented Wake, Durham, Person, Granville, Vance, Warren and Frankin Counties.

Spaulding recently retired after more than 40 years of practicing law in North Carolina. He’s a graduate of Howard University and the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Spaulding provided a statement to Rev-elution

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Durham and its image are at a crossroads. The infighting and tomfoolishness, at the City Council level, are ruining the City of Durham’s first-class status.

A great example is the recent budget battle. The City Council in 2021 voted itself a 40% salary increase effective last year. Yet this year, when police officers, firefighters and first responders sought reasonable and fair salary increases, the Council refused their effort and approved very modest raises compared to the Council’s own previous 40% salary increase. Some of the same Council members who had voted to approve their own large salary increases, voted against the requested raises for the “protectors of our lives and safety”

In regard to our law enforcement officers, Police Chief after Police Chief have asked for increased compensation to attract new officers and retain current officers. Budgets after budgets have not reflected the true needs of the Durham City Police Department.
No police officer in Durham should be paid less than $60,000 per year. At a starting salary of $60,000 per year, the increased pay for the remaining officers should follow a well thought out plan with increases that recognize tenure and rank.

Firefighters and first responders should have their pay schedules totally re-evaluated for significant and substantial salary increases based on the perilous gravity of their work.

Along with tackling crime and safety with police salary increases, among other innovative actions, recreation centers throughout Durham should be constructed or renovated so that our young people can have a structured place to compete, disagree and settle their differences or aggression through vigilant supervision and mentorship in a safe city structure and not in the streets. These centers should be open and fully staffed from daybreak past midnight as was done in larger cities in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s when crime became overwhelming and these actions helped to lower the crime rate.

The City Manager needs to hear out “all” Council members regarding effectuating these policies without an increase in taxes. That is the City Manager’s job. If a tax increase is absolutely required, then a series of options should be laid out by the City Manager for the public’s input and the Council’s review. However, accompanying the options, a parallel analysis should also show where the City Manager has laid out all unnecessary expenditure along with waste and inefficiencies that will be cut from the budget. Yet, we should recognize that the first tendency for some is to cry “tax increase” without using their best efforts with the same creativity that the Council used in raising their own salaries by $10,000 per year effective last year.

All city employees are essential workers for the residents of Durham. All city employees deserve a substantial pay increase based on the extremely high inflation brought about as a result of the crippling pandemic. Public sector raises should keep up with the 8% to 10% inflation rate increase and be given the same consideration as given in the private sector.

For these reasons and more, I have given serious consideration to running for Mayor, win or lose. However, “if” we have good candidates running for Mayor who are “not current” sitting members of the current Council, and if they will give these aforementioned stated policies their earnest and sincere consideration, then I will happily not run for Mayor. I know it’s not politically correct to say, but quite frankly, I am enjoying my retirement and I would prefer to remain happily retired.

It is necessary that things change in Durham for the better. It’s time for a change at our City Council.

The Streets at Southpoint expansion proposal is an example of shared economic prosperity

2023-06-16T10:09:00.008-04:00

COMMENTARY– Brookfield Properties proposal to expand The Streets of Southpoint shifts the conversation related to economic development in a city overwhelmed by constant building.

This proposal is different.

Brookfield Properties commitment to a goal of 40 percent minority involvement in the construction and the creation of a program to employ formally incarcerated individuals shifts public discourse back to the critical moment before affordable housing became the primary issue on the community agenda.

The proposal calls for a hotel with up to 200 rooms, a new apartment building with nearly 1,400 units and 300,000 square feet of office space.

Critics of the expansion address the need for affordable housing.

“The benefits are pretty clear in a lot of ways,” Nate Baker, a member of the Durham Planning Commission and candidate for city council, said after the commission voted against the rezoning plan. "We're taking a traditional mall and we're adding density and we're adding uses."

Members of the commission were inspired by the proposal to add transit and walking options.

“Hopefully, you create a community where people don’t need a car,” Austin Amandolia, a member of the commission told CBS-17 reporter Ben Bokum. “This is the type of development that us on the Planning Commission have often been calling for more of: mixed-used, walkable, dense communities instead of suburban sprawl.”

The debate now before the Durham City Council involves the tension between offering affordable housing and pressing a vision for shared economic prosperity.

Farad Ali, president and chief executive officer at Asocair, spoke like a prophet during his campaign to become Durham’s mayor in 2017.

“Durham is in a place where it’s pivoting and great things are happening,” Ali said in his concession speech. “A sense of prosperity is what we’re talking about sharing because there is prosperity. So, as we start talking about what’s going to go in Durham for the future, it’s important we understand how we maximize Durham’s assets. One is taking this economic development model that’s been working and saying, how do we also make more people involved so we can build community while we do economic development.”

An expanding affordable housing need overshadowed Ali’s “One Durham” platform. Steve Schewel defeated Ali with a platform to address affordable housing. Schewel proposed increased pressure on developers and a $95 million affordable housing bond.

Voters overwhelming voted in support of the housing bond. The goal to repair the aftermath of rapid gentrification failed miserably. Developers continue to cram buildings into spaces with limited conversation regarding shared prosperity.

The result is demeaning. Black and Brown people suffer consequences resulting from the failed promise of affordable housing. Black and Brown people rarely reap the benefits of a thriving economy fueled by commercial development.

The Brookfield Properties proposal is different.

Sure, there’s $14 million in tax revenue making The Streets at Southpoint the largest property and sale tax generator in Durham County. There’s no questioning the long-term impact on Durham’s economy, but there’s more to this project.

This is how Durham should always conduct business. This is the Bull City, home of Black Wall Street and the Hayti Business District. Durham is the home of Black folk who rise to the top after years of brutal resistance. Yes, we tout the influence and power of Black elected officials. Yes, Durham is a safe place for anyone enamored with authentic diversity and inclusion. In Durham, we own all of that. Durham is the template for walking that walk and talking that talk.

It's what makes this conversation the unveiling of a sad reality. In Durham, we fail to honor our rich legacy in sharing economic prosperity. Black and Brown people aren’t reaping the gains of this booming economy. Our city council supports rezoning efforts without pressing the most critical question – how does this support Black and Brown people.

This is how we engage in local reparation efforts. How many minority businesses will benefit. Show me the numbers. Come back with real evidence proving you respect and honor the history and legacy of the Bull City. You can’t step in these streets without clearly understanding our pride.

The Brookfield Properties proposal is different.

I only hope it becomes standard practice versus an exception to the way we handle city business.

Mark Taylor Designz Presents the Red and Black on the Green Fashion Show to Benefit SuitedNSuccess

2023-06-14T11:33:00.003-04:00

by Sharon Mullens

The ChocolateWriter

In conjunction with the Juneteenth holiday, Mark Taylor Designz will present the Red and Black on the Green Fashion Show at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring the region’s top models, fashion designers, and entertainment.

The Red and Black on the Green Fashion Show will feature emerging black designers and entrepreneurs as a highlight for the federally recognized Juneteenth holiday. The program will feature performances by nationally known artists, including North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green and hosted by ABC11 Eyewitness News Meteorologist Kweilyn Murphy.

This inaugural fashion extravaganza and showcase will begin with a Meet and Greet the Designers and networking reception at 6pm. The show begins at 7pm. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60 and offer a VIP package. A portion of ticket sales will go to a Triangle-based organization, SuitedNSuccess, founded by Mark Taylor in 2014 to empower disadvantaged men seeking employment by providing professional attire.

According to a Wall Street Journal study of “small metro” areas across the U.S., the Bull City (Durham) placed 35th for jobs and North Carolina’s capital city (Raleigh) as 5^th for jobs among larger metros, meaning opportunities exist for all members of the workforce, and our most vulnerable residents need to be prepared to compete. Providers of free, quality interview attire are essential. For years prior, such an organization existed for women, but not for men. SuitedNSuccess sought to fill that void.

When you look good, you feel good, and that’s key to confidence,” says founder Mark Taylor, whose passion for helping people led him to establish SuitedNSuccess and subsequently a clothing design business. The organization is completely volunteer-led, and collaborates with workforce agencies and recovery organizations, such as SouthLight Healthcare, Inc.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need was even more evident. Men were seeking employment but lacked proper interview attire. It was a great benefit to have access to the SuitedNSuccess suit closet” says Lavongue “Bongo” Manley, a program development specialist at SouthLight’s Durham location, where the suit closet is housed.

This first annual fashion show is a special cultural event that will inspire philanthropy while helping emerging artists uplift their brands. A portion of the proceeds will help create a new suit closet in Raleigh and establish a new scholarship to be awarded to an HBCU fashion merchandising student in 2024.

Learn more about the mission at www.suitednsuccess.org or follow on Facebook. Learn more about the show and get tickets at https://redandblackonthegreen.eventbrite.com .

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Mark Taylor Designz is a fashion and lifestyle brand based in the Triangle region of North Carolina, providing aspiring models and designers with the opportunities to bring their talents directly into the spotlight. Follow the designer on Instagram @marktaylordesignz.

SuitedNSuccess.org is a charitable initiative that partners with social service agencies and nonprofit organizations in the Triangle to provide professional attire, career education information and workshops, resources, and support to disadvantaged men in transition. More information can be found at suitednsuccess.org.

Founded in 1970, SouthLight Healthcare is one of the area’s largest nonprofit providers of substance use treatment and mental health services. SouthLight partners with individuals and communities to provide innovative treatment solutions delivered with compassion and dignity. With outpatient and community-based programs, SouthLight provides prevention, education, and treatment services in the Triangle and beyond. Call 919-787-6131 for help or more information or visit www.southlight.org

Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners settle lawsuit filed by former Durham County Manager Wendell Davis

2023-05-01T22:36:00.004-04:00

COMMENTARY - Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners vote to settle a false termination lawsuit filed by former Durham County Manager Wendell Davis.

Commissioners Brenda Howerton, Nimasheenda Burns and Wendy Jacobs agree to settle while Heidi Carter opposed not taking the case to trial. Commissioner Nida Allam failed to vote due to her absence.

On May 13, 2021, commissioners passed the motion to let Davis’s contract expire in a 3-2 vote. The vote followed a dysfunctional relationship between Davis and white members of the board.

Davis wrote a letter alleging a “pattern of racist behavior” against Commissioner Heidi Carter in February 2020. The complaint claimed incidents of racism and microaggressions toward him and other Black Durham County employees.

“You work for the board. When we tell you to do something, you better grin and bear it,” Davis claims Carter once told him.

Carter accused Davis of fabricating his claim of racism to influence the outcome of the election. Proponents of increased spending for public education rallied in support of not extending Davis’s contract, while supporters of Davis called for equity and inclusion training to improve race relations.

The vote to settle ends what could have cost the county more in legal fees with a strong possibility of losing the case. It’s not an admission of wrongdoing. It puts an end to a chaotic period in recent Durham history.

Members of the board fought. Brenda Howerton replaced Wendy Jacobs as chair of the board. The leadership change helped heal wounds caused by the decision not to extend the managers contract. It is a crucial step among other courage steps by members of the board.

The board announced the appointment of Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell as the new County Manager on February 28, 2022. A year later, her faith in the best of Durham helps us forget the worst of Durham.

In settling this lawsuit, the commissioners help us move forward with a will to transcend the mistakes and misperceptions before and after Davis’s last day as county manager.

Lawsuits are given to prove right and wrong. When it comes to matters related to race, it’s impossible to resolve why Black men and women are treated with disdain. Some Black people believe white members of the board of commissioner allowed their bias to impact a crucial decision. Some white people believe Davis deserved to be replaced for reasons beyond the color of his skin.

Letting it go is the beginning of healing. Forfeiting the desire to be proven right makes it possible for people to hear and nurture the hearts of people on the other side of an assumed legitimate opinion.

The commissioners voted to end the madness.

Let’s not call it a mistake.

Let’s call it a lesson learned.

Let’s learn from that lesson.

Writing the story when the story is about you

2023-04-27T17:04:00.005-04:00

Beginning in June, I will assume the responsibility of rebooting Durham Voice, a community newspaper founded by Jock Lauterer after the murder of Eve Carson, a student at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Prior to ending circulation, Durham Voice focused on stories in North East Central Durham (NECD) with student journalist from UNC-CH, North Carolina Central University and Durham Technical Community College. The focus of work will expand beyond NECD to include all of Durham with student reporters from local colleges and universities.

This column is inspired by the work of student journalist at the University of Missouri and the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-CH.

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Commentary - It’s the moment that changes the way I teach. My students seemed overburdened by the news happening outside the building.

Students couldn’t avoid the mass of news reporters on campus to tell the stories of disillusioned Black students. They were calling for the resignation or termination of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe.

Jonathan Butler, a graduate student at the University of Missouri - Columbia, launched a hunger strike to bring attention to racism on the state’s flagship campus.

“Mr. Wolfe had ample opportunity to create policies and reforms that could shift the culture of Mizzou in a positive direction but in each scenario, he failed to do so,” Butler said.

Payton Head, the student body president, shared a personal experience with bigotry and anti-gay sentiments on campus on his Facebook page. He claims unidentified people riding in the back of a pickup truck hurled racial slurs at him.

“For those of you who wonder why I’m always talking about the importance of inclusion and respect, it’s because I’ve experienced moments like this multiple times at THIS university, making me not feel included here," Head posted on September 12, 2015.

My students seemed wearied by the national attention after the football team announced they would not practice or play until Wolfe resigned. The decision would cost the university a $1 million fine if they forfeited their upcoming game against Brigham Young University.

“How do you write the story when you’re the story,” I asked my students.

I waited for an answer from one of the 19 students. My one Black student seemed overwhelmed by activities on campus. The look on her face clarified what I felt. She needed more than a class on journalism writing could offer. I didn’t want her to answer. I cherished an opportunity for white students to speak.

“I don’t want to be here,” a white woman said. “I want to join the protest.”

‘I can’t write this story without bias,” another student said.

The nods spoke to a common view that extended beyond the call of Concerned Student 1950 – the group of Black students seeking the president’s resignation.

I felt something brewing in my belly. After teaching lessons involving finding the story within the story, my students were learning lessons not taught in textbooks. After sharing my personal grappling in writing columns aimed at offering a perspective beyond the views of white men in newsrooms, my students felt the tension.

There’s more to the story than they considered prior to enrolling to learn the craft of journalism.

I taught them to consider the pain in the story. We discussed finding tension in the story within the story – the unknown truth hidden by an inability to see and feel others carrying what words often miss.

We talked about overcoming privilege. I shared the limits of my Christian, heterosexual, male privilege. I shared how being Black impacts how I view the story. We discussed how personal experience is a tool when used to advance the story beyond what each of us take for granted.

Journalists are challenged to bring their humanity to the story. This is the gift of storytelling. It’s what separates humans from the stale presentation of artificial intelligence.

“You are standing in the middle of history,” I told my students. “This moment is a gift to each of you. How will you write this story? Who are the people who need to be heard? What’s missing in how we inform the world regarding the unfolding of this historical moment?”

I shared my experience growing up in Columbia, MO - being the first local Black person to graduate from the school of journalism. I talked about my encounters with race on a campus with an overwhelming white population.

I told my students to leave to join the protest. I challenged them to take time to heal. While pondering what it all means, I told them to find the story within the story, and to begin by accepting this story is about each of them.

They left to write that story.

I left inspired to help students find stories beyond what they couldn’t see.

SCAD: another mistake like a walk down memory lane

2023-04-19T14:23:00.001-04:00

Support the Rev-elution: Cash App, $CMizzou, Venmo, @Carl-Kenney-1.

COMMENTARY – Supporters of Simplifying for Affordable Development (SCAD) argue it’s an effective tool in reducing housing costs in Durham.

My response, I’m reminded of promises made when 95% of Black Durham residents approved the Urban Renewal bond that dismantled the Hayti District.

It's a familiar tactic used to entice folks willing to bite the apple when hope for the future is tainted by obstacles no one can control. Last I checked, the lure of the forbidden fruit is what Christians and Jews believe led to humanity falling out of God’s favor.

Members of the Durham City Council need to be careful about biting too soon. History teaches many lessons. Durham’s Hayti’s tragic removal is an example of what happens when a few well-intentioned people pitch a promise that requires loads of trust in people positioned to make money.

I’m not saying these developers are gold diggers, but I don’t see them hanging with the broke ----. You know the song.

I’m weary of long proposals crafted by developers to radically change how Durham envisions long term development. Durham, like many communities across the nation, is swamped with gentrification - making it impossible for many residents to afford housing. The SCAD proposal offers no protections in securing real affordable housing.

How will the growing number of residents, with limited public affordable housing options, maneuver through the web of planned development if SCAD is approved? Where will residents of Liberty Street Apartments and McDougald Terrace rent now that one is already demolished and the other is slated to be razed within the next two years?

Where is the imagination for housing for the people living in Durham, versus planned housing for people moving to one of the fastest growing communities in America? SCAD isn’t a proposal to repair what aisles Durham the most. It’s a plan to make it easier for developers to maximize profit as land options dwindle.

The answer, according to SCAD proponents, is to build closer, higher and with no parking requirements. That’s not an answer. It’s a prescription for increased gentrification, poverty and the widening of economic disparities.

Welcome to the vision for Durham. The future home of economically privileged white people and the former home of the Black Wall Street.

When did Progressives become Republicans?

Proponents of SCAD are schooled in a version of supply and demand economic theory taken directly from pages of the Republican Party play book. It’s a theory that roots for varied forms of deregulation with an assumption that the people who make more money will trickle the profits down to the people in need of help.

The promise – if we make it easier for them to make heaps of money after making it easier for them to make profit, everyone wins. Housing prices drop. Why? Because the decrease in cost automatically dribbles down.

Sorry to say it, and excuse my language, but I’ve been taught not to trust the white man with my future interest. By white man, in this context, I mean the people with the power to manipulate systems due to their greed.

In Durham, we’ve been shielded from corporate interest due to the power and influence of progressives elected to guard our communal identity. That has changed.

When did the progressives elected to serve on our city council take on the persona of republicans? How, why and when were Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Anthony Middleton, Jillian Johnson, Javiera Caballero and Leonardo Williams enticed into biting the rhetoric of Republican Party economic ideology?

Do we want to become Washington DC?

The SCAD proposal is simple. Their plan to simplify codes for affordable development (not affordable housing) will reduce housing costs.

How does it work?

It works by making Durham a microcosm of Washington D.C.

Imagine a city with limited parking and increased density. Imagine houses packed close. They are much taller than before. There are more people living in areas with limited greenery. The plan is to make Durham a place where owning a car is a luxury.

There’s a problem with the vision. Durham lacks an infrastructure to protect bikers. Durham public transportation lags far behind cities with the type of high density envisioned in the SCAD proposal.

The Durham City Council is trending in the direction of moving Durham toward becoming a city like Washington DC. Note the massive increase in parking costs. The city council disincentivizes cars without a solid plan to advance both local and regional public transportation.

Are we ready to become Washington DC?

Stop pimping my religion

Attachment H in the 86-page SCAD proposal mentions congregations who participated in a charrette to discuss the potential benefits to faith-based institutions. St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Bethany United Methodist Church, Grey Stone Church, Holy Cross Catholic Church and Duke Chapel participated in the charrette held on December 3, 2022.

Participation is not the same as an endorsement. During a presentation before members of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, supporters of the SCAD proposal hinted that churches did more than participate in a conversation. They suggested these congregation supported changes to codes in hopes of providing mission-based housing.

Having a conversation is not an endorsement. Bob Chapman, a Durham developer who assisted in writing the SCAD proposal, is accused of overstating Habitat for Humanity of Durham’s co-sponsorship of SCAD. According to reports in INDY Week, SCAD enacted an unauthorized agreement through a third party.

“The same third party has been speaking and negotiating on the behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Durham with members of City Council and others,” INDY Week reported in a letter received from members of the Durham Habitat board.

Chapman, and other proponents of SCAD, may be guilty of overstating support of faith-based institutions. This play signifying backing of the good folks at Durham Habitat and local congregations is an unearned endorsement of a plan with significant moral and ethical concerns.

You must do more than infer an endorsement. You must earn that support.

Please, stop pimping my religion.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

SCAD is potentially the worse thing to happen to Black people living in Durham since the freeway shattered the dreams of Black residents and businesses in the Hayti district. Black voters supported that mistake. This time it’s in the hands of a Black majority on the city council and one Brown representative.

If they pass SCAD, shame on them.

Provident1898 and the Durham History Museum to discuss Black Capitalism: Lessons from Soul City

2023-03-29T14:18:00.008-04:00

Lew Meyers remembers the days when Floyd McKissick, Sr. carried a vision for a city built and occupied by Black people.

In 1969, McKissick proposed Soul City, a community in Warren County, NC, to invest in Black businesses focusing on the development of Black economic power. Meyers served as the Executive Director of Soul City.

Meyers joins Floyd McKissick, Jr and Dr. Charmaine McKissick-Melton, children of the legendary civil rights leader and director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to discuss the impact of Floyd Sr’s unfilled dream at Black Capitalism: Lessons from Soul City on March 30 at Provident1898. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Nishani Frazier, associate professor of history and American studies at the University of Kansas, will join Meyers and the children of McKissick’s legacy. Floyd Jr follows in the footsteps of his father as a former North Carolina State Senator and Charmaine is a former associate professor at North Carolina Central University.

McKissick envisioned three villages housing 18,000 people with jobs in industry, retail, residential housing and services. Soul City promised a place to work, go to school, shop, receive health care and worship on Sunday morning. A place for Black people to prosper in a community removed from limits imposed by institutionalized racism.

The vision preceded the collective pleas of the Black Power Movement. It emerged before Black Power became a slogan and “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” became the anthem of resistance for Black people. Soul City received a grant of $14 million in 1972 from HUD. North Carolina added $8 million in resources before Senator Jesse Helms attacked McKissick vision of Black capitalism.

Meyers, also McKissick’s son-in-law, will join in a family conversation regarding what happened to the once bold vision of Black capitalism. The decline of Soul City in 1975 is the result of several factors – a dwindling national economy, negative press coverage aligning Soul City to the separatist rhetoric of the Nation of Islam and the criticism of Helms and other politicians.

What happened to the vision in support of Black capitalism?

The dream for local Black economic development began in 1898 when John Merrick, the son of a slave, joined with investors to form the North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association. The business of the company increased from less than one thousand dollars in 1899 to a quarter of a million in 1910. The discussion on Black Capitalism: Lessons from Soul City is held in the building symbolic of the potential of McKissick’s dream.

As Carl Webb, one of the owners of Provident1898, walks through the space he helped create to manifest the ongoing dream of Black capitalism in Durham, questions linger.

What happened to Soul City?

Why is it so hard for Black people to build beyond the vast disappointment of the promise of McKissick’s vision?

Can we resurrect Soul City?

Please use this link to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-capitalism-lessons-from-soul-city-tickets-593220166487?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

City Council member DeDreanna Freeman says she will always fight a bully

2023-03-27T10:34:00.003-04:00

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Durham City Council member DeDreanna Freeman says her profanity-filled outburst after a recent city council meeting is her response to the actions of a bully.

A reporter with WRAL recorded on camera an argument between Mayor Pro-Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton and Freeman after members of the city council discussed censuring Monique Holsey-Hyman for two alleged inappropriate actions.

“Get off of me, get off of me. This is how you treat Black women,” Freeman yells in an argument revealing deep hostility between the council members.

“Because I made her. Because I made her,” Middleton responds.

“She can think for her fucking self, just like every single woman here” Freeman fights back in an exchange that has people wondering about what else happens behind closed doors.

“There will never be a time when I watch a person attempt to take a woman down and not say something,” Freeman said in an interview after the altercation. “If there was an investigation to prove a censure, I would be the first in front of the line, but when you accuse a person with no evidence, I will always defend a person.”

Holsey-Hyman is accused of offering support to a developer in exchange for a campaign donation. In a statement prepared before the reading of the resolution to censure Hosley-Hyman, Mayor Elaine O’Neal said the alleged action will be referred to state law enforcement and could lead to criminal consequences.

Councilwoman Jillian Johnson wrote and introduced a resolution to censure Holsey-Hyman for allegedly engaging a city staffer to work on her campaign. Middleton, Johnson, Leonardo Williams and Javier Caballero support the resolution.

O’Neal does not support the resolution.

“Last night, I did receive a draft of a resolution from a council person that had my name down as a signee. From my understanding, a resolution had never been signed and I ask that my name be removed from that resolution,” said O’Neal. “I also admonish anyone who uses my signature in a manner that I didn’t give you permission for to know you do not have permission to do that.”

Blurred lines and potential conflicts of interests

Holsey-Hyman often sides with O’Neal and Freeman against development proposals that require the approval of the city council. Freeman says the move to censure Holsey-Hyman is Middleton’s payback for refusing to follow his leadership.

“There’s something to be said about a group of people who call for social justice while refusing to protect the rights of a Black woman,” said Freeman. “They’re not looking for an actual investigation. They got what they wanted. They have four votes and pushed right through it.”

Freeman says a real investigation may require consideration of potential misconduct of every city council member.

“If they want an investigation. Investigate everything,” said Freeman. “I’m Ok with you censuring me. I’m gonna stand right here and support this Black woman.”

Middleton is rumored to be dating Karmisha Wallace, chief of staff in the city manager’s office. The allegation raises latent conflict of interest issues with profound implications related to the management of the city.

It matters that Johnson, a Black woman, wrote and read the proposed resolution to censure Holsey-Hyman. Freeman’s profanity-laced attack, combined with Middleton’s response, places Black women in the center of a conversation involving what it means to protect the hearts of Black women.

Is this a story about accountability or is this a story involving who manages power on the city council?

While at it, ask yourself, what does it mean to make a Black woman?

Black Men Matter: Durham Public School Board to select a new member

2023-03-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

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Commentary- It matters when a Black man is in the room.

Black men matter. Black men matter.

Black men are dying. Black men are caught within a vicious cycle that is complicated to understand. It matters when Black men show up because problems related to Black men are too vast for most people to fully understand.

It is why I weep whenever I consider the current state of the Durham Public School Board of Education. There is no Black man on the board. Not one.

Can I repeat, Black men matter.

Members of the current board vote on Thursday, March 15 to replace Matt Sears, a white man, after he resigned on Jan. 31 to join the Durham Public School Foundation. Sears accepted the job after voters elected him to another term in May, giving the board the power to select his successor.

The process smells like week old fish – funky. The developments leading up to Sears exit from the board reveals activity tainted by politics, conflicting interests and questionable ethics. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but it stinks.

Xavier Cason left the school board to become the new Director of Community Schools and School Transformation. Sears is Director of Partnership, another position created and filled by a school board member. Not illegal, but it is funky.

Four candidates have emerged to fill the vacant seat. Apryle Lawson Daye, a real estate agent and paralegal, Jessica Friedlander, a mentor at Duke TeachHouse, Jessica Carda-Auten, a public health researcher at UNC and Kevin Primus, a local business owner, teacher and coach.

Primus is a Black man. His background and experience protrude above the rest. He has education credentials. He has experience. He is a parent of Durham Public School students. He has dedicated time in service to the Durham community.

Did I mention he’s a Black man?

Some members of the board may say it doesn’t matter. They may push for a less qualified candidate with a pitch promoting the narrative of a better fit. They may talk about board chemistry. They may suggest there’s more to the selection than what can be seen on paper and what is heard during the interviews. They may tell us to trust their judgement more than our gut feelings.

There is a deeply inherent problem when a Black man isn’t chosen because of the assumptions of the powerful people in the room. There is a message which transcends the story line of group cohesion. It involves what we instruct Black boys about what it takes to sit at the table. It involves the integrity of a process aimed at selecting the best qualified person for any position.

The actions of board members matter as much as the curriculum taught in classrooms. Integrity matters. It matters when Black men are chosen because they deserve to sit in the room. It also matters when they aren’t selected because of politics more committed to controlling the room.

It matters when Black boys see a Black man on the school board. It matters when Black men are represented to undo stereotypes about Black men. Beyond teaching the way, we need systems committed to equity, inclusion and accountability.

“Professor Kenney, I’m so glad to have you teaching this class,” a Black male student at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill said after class. “You are my first Black male teacher. Ever.”

The truth startled me. I considered my own story. My first class with a Black man teaching didn’t happen until my sophomore year in college. The absence of Black men impacts the identity of Black boys. It matters when Black men show up in rooms to display unlimited possibilities.

Black men are not looking for special treatment. We are not looking to be selected because we are Black men. We simply do not want to be dismissed when we are the most qualified in the room. We do not want to hear excuses for not being chosen. We desire being chosen because it is the right thing to do.

Black men work hard to be seen and heard. In a school system with enormous problems related to reaching and nurturing Black boys, we refuse to accept a narrative that excludes the significance of our presence.

Kevin Primus is a Black man.

Yes, that Black man matters.

And, yes, he is the most qualified person in the room.

Chris Rock and the slap that triggers rage

2023-03-07T11:10:00.000-05:00

Rev-elution returns after a hiatus to discuss the Chris Rock Netflix comedy special. Support local, Black owned, Black focused, independent journalism with a contribution to at: Cash App ($CMizzou) or Venmo (@Carl-Kenney-1)

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So, can I offer a confession? Thanks. Take a seat and rest your mind.

"Selective Outrage", the Chris Rock Netflix comedy special, triggered me. It opened old wounds that I’ve spent years and too much money in therapy to overcome. Watching Rock on that stage reminds me of how difficult it can be to deal with trauma when doing so demands onloading personal feelings in public view.

I am sad that “we,” the consumers of art, require this type of display. I lament anyone forced to address their rage due to an unspoken obligation to feed the curiosity of folks consumed with rumors and stuff that ain’t none of our business.

I recognize that look on Rock’s face. I understand wanting to be left alone to heal from the shame of being slapped for doing your job. I recognize that strut aimed at keeping pace with a heart beating too fast after a year of hearing your name tendered for twitter feed.

It is safe to say it comes with the paycheck. Reports claim Netflix contract pays Rock $40 million to expose all that pain. Let the one among us willing to say no to all that cash to cast the first stone. Is the payday enough to resolve the agony of the slap? Who wants to turn the other cheek?

Yes, it comes with the job. Yes, people get paid to share their rage. Yes, it is what the public desires. Sadly, folks crave watching others bleed.

I understand the fascination. I watched it. Since watching it, I have read what people have to say. “It isn’t funny.” “Rock is disrespecting women.” “He needs therapy.”

Duh! All of that may be true, but help me understand. How do you get to the other side of pain when everyone demands hearing you help them take a trip into your personal business?

My direct response, after reading the slew of comments on social media, regards it ain’t none of our business. True; however, this is what happens when our business gets interrupted with a slap changing our Oscar night celebration. We witnessed it. We heard it in real time – the Prince slapped Rock proving he “Hates Chris.”

We, the viewers of this mess, believe we deserve an explanation. It happened to Will and Jada, their children, Venus, Serena, and Rock. It happened to Questlove, the winners, nominees and the people who produced the show. Yup, it happened to you and me – all of us were harmed by what happened a year ago this week.

All of that is true, but no one, and I mean no one, experiences the rage related to that night more than Chris Rock.

So, after that long introduction to place my feelings within context, let’s talk about my trigger. Yeah, the one that felt like gunfire on my face after being slapped by the leaders of a congregation. That hurts. Like Rock, I continue to hear Gospel tunes ringing in my head.

It is not the first time I have been slapped. Brock slapped me when I was 14. He was six years older. He broke his hand after bruising my face. I have endured being slapped over a dispute regarding a girlfriend. Love triangles are painful for a variety of reasons. Ouch. Been there. Done that.

Being slapped is common. What hurts more is being slapped for doing your job. What hurts more is being slapped in public view. What hurts even more than that is being slapped in public view while having to take the punch because doing otherwise only makes matters worse.

Let me make it clear for the people who don’t understand Black folks religion. I got slapped by the church, in public, for doing my job. I got slapped for following my call – like telling a joke – and watched people share opinions related to the validity of the slap.

The church slapped me for expounding a theology of inclusion. They slapped me due to a divorce and unfounded rumors regarding things that ain’t none of their business. They slapped me for promoting and protecting the ordination of women in ministry. They slapped me for writing columns rooted in the message of Jesus and extending the work of the Church to include the needs of the least among these.

I’m triggered after hearing faith leaders scream, “keep our church name out of your mouth,” followed with a slap of rejection.

Watching Chris Rock on that stage triggers so many emotions. Like, my screaming, “I am not a victim”. Like, the desire to share what no one has the right to hear. Like, the movement of a wounded man who seeks to use comedy to inspire and heal.

And how can they tell jokes when there’s so much rage?

And how can they preach when the slap of rejection still hurts decades after shame consumes every step they take?

Triggering is a mothersucker.

Inhale, exhale, release.

I repeat, I am not a victim!

The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People faces legacy with new possibilities

2023-01-23T12:54:00.001-05:00

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Walter Jackson says the future of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP) is in the hands of a group of capable young people.

Those young leaders join seasoned organizers to form a team prepared to continue the legacy of North Carolina’s oldest Black led group engaged in the empowerment of Black people.

The installation of new officers and committee chairs takes place during the DCABP annual meeting on Sunday January 29 at St. Joseph A.M.E. Church, 2521 Fayetteville Street beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Formed in 1935 by C.C. Spaulding, president of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, James E. Shepard, founder of what became North Carolina Central University, Rencher N. Harris, W.D. Hill, R. L. McDougald, J. T. Taylor and Louis Austin, publisher of The Carolina Times, the group of men referred to as “a committee of influential Negroes” formed a powerful coalition that distinguishes Durham from other communities.

In 1936, while Black men were being lynched across the nation for simply being Black, 78 percent of Black people registered to vote in Durham, NC. The DCABP facilitated Black political and economic activism that helped build one of the nation’s leading Black Wall Streets.

Today, the label of being “a committee of influential Negroes”, points to divides within the Black community – the haves versus people without, young versus older and heterosexual versus alternative sexual and gender identities. There's also an influx of new people unfamiliar with the DCABP and its rich history.

For decades, discussions involve whether the credibility and sway of the DCABP has declined due to dwindling membership, a lack of collaboration with other groups and rumors of persistent infighting.

Jackson obtained a bachelor’s degree from UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media after he graduated from Durham’s Hillside High School. He’s a Vietnam War veteran and former reporter for the Durham Morning Herald and the Charlotte Observer. He founded Ideas Coffee House after retiring from Standard Oil.

The Rev-elution engaged in a Q&A format interview with Jackson to consider his vision for the DCABP.

Rev-elution: Some argue the influence of the DCABP has waned over the past two decades due to changing demographics combined with the increased influence of Durham’s People Alliance. Is this a fair assessment?

There is an old saying that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. There are probably many ways of looking at and trying to assess the influence of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, but one of the most common ways of looking at its influence is just looking at the people who are serving in significant elected and appointed positions in our city and county. Few cities in America can compare with Durham in having the quantity and quality of officials who represent us well that we have in Durham, and I don't think the situation has ever been better in that regard. Can The Durham Committee claim all of the credit for that? No, certainly not. Would we have the same results without the presence and influence of The Durham Committee? My answer to that would also be no, certainly not. So, I would say any reports of the waning of The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People are greatly exaggerated. Going into our 88th year, we still have a lot of work to do.

Rev-elution: What is your vision for improving the DCABP’s position as a powerful voice in support of Durham’s Black citizens? How does this influence show up beyond elections?

That is a great follow up to my previous response. Even though people's thoughts about The Committee do often revolve around election results, there is so much more, and we intend to continue to work to make our voice and presence felt and heard in many ways, including continuing to stake out positions on major issues and make our support of or opposition to various policy matters well known to public officials, and work to hold them accountable to the electorate. We want to make sure that we are making a difference in the lives of residents in very meaningful ways, including housing, education, economic development, health and public safety and other ways that affect people's daily lives.

Rev-elution: Is the DCABP engaged in establishing a position that affirms LGBTQIA residents? If so, how is that position communicated and how will it be used to promote an inclusive mission?

Although I think we are and want to be an opinion leader in our community, the DCABP also largely reflects the priorities and will of our community. We have certainly supported a number of candidates who are themselves LGBTQIA and/or are closely aligned with the values and priorities of such residents, I have no knowledge that we have ever engaged in establishing a position on this, among all the other challenges that we are facing as a community. The fact that we have not obviously does not mean that we will not, but with all the other great challenges facing our community I would be somewhat surprised to see this matter percolate to the top in the short-term future.

Rev-elution: The DCABP was founded and supported by powerful Black business owners. As the influence of independent Black business owners’ fades, so has the influence of the DCABP. What adjustments do you envision to offset expanding concerns rooted in economic disparity (gentrification, affordable housing and a wealth gap)?

First, I am going to repeat that I challenge any assertion that the influence of the DCABP has faded. And even though I might somewhat know the answer to this question I'm going to come back with a retort than might resonate in the African American community: "Says who?" We absolutely do have great concerns about economic disparity in Durham, however. That concern is obviously part of a national and international problem of economic disparity, but we will certainly be most focused on Durham and what can be done here. As opposed to the idea of me and our new leadership team trying to come forth with our own answers to complex questions like these we are looking at engaging the vast pools of talent and expertise we have available to us within the Durham Committee and partner with other organizations and educational institutions to work on devising strategies that will work best for Durham. The problem is deeply rooted in our national and even international history, and it is not something that will be solved quickly and easily, and is probably going to be with us on some level for even decades and centuries to come. That might sound pessimistic to some, but to me it reflects the reality of a situation that none of us created.

Rev-elution: What actions will DCABP take to expand and support diversity in membership? Specifically, youth, people living in public housing, people with disabilities and people of color who don’t identify as Black American?

We have many challenges before us, and diversity issues of the type that you mentioned are certainly part of the package of those issues. The world has changed and continues to change, and that applies to the Durham Committee as well. The Durham Committee of today is not the Durham Committee of yesterday, and almost certainly will continue to change. Some might see those changes as happening too fast, and others might see them as happening too slowly, but we are certainly changing and adjusting. We have seen an uptick in membership in just the last few weeks, and I predict that that membership increase is going to continue and accelerate. More younger people are coming into the organization, and some of them are taking on key leadership roles. We have not had an opportunity to collectively address many of these issues, but watch what we do much more than what we say we are going to do. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

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DCABP officers for 2023: Shea Ramirez, serving as Second Vice Chair, Thelma Glenn White as Third Vice Chair, and Dr. Tara Fikes will begin a new term as Executive Secretary.

DCABP committee chairs for 2023: Angelique Stallings will continue to serve chair of the Civic Committee, and Rosa Anderson will continue to serve as Civic Committee Vice Chair. Attorney Cassandra Stokes will be serving as new chair of the Political Committee, and Jadda Richardson serving as Vice Chair. Dr. Wanda Boone will continue to serve as chair of the Health Committee, and Attorney Stephen Valentine will be the new chair of the organization’s Legal Redress Committee.

2022 Carolina Youth Mentoring Symposium explores the "courage to thrive"

2022-11-11T12:33:00.007-05:00

Atrayus O. Goode, president & CEO of Youth Mentoring Collaborative (YMC) grew up in a household plagued by drug abuse. His background shapes his understanding of how Black and Brown students navigate traumatic experiences while attempting to get an education.

“Meeting my first mentor through the 100 Black Men of America afforded me the social and emotional support I needed to chart a different course, ultimately becoming the first in my family to attend college," Goode said. “That experience launched me into a lifetime journey of exploring how relationships, especially in a mentoring context, can bring fulfillment through noticing, caring effectively, and moving to action for yourself and those you love.”

Youth development experts from across the country gather on Saturday, November 12 at Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC for the annual Carolinas Youth Mentoring Symposium to discuss ways to expand mentoring programs that promote health and well-being of families most impacted by systems of oppression. The YMC office is located at Provident1898, a Black-centric coworking community located in the historic NC Mutual tower.

Goode says mentoring has the potential to disrupt patterns of disparity, while also perpetuating structural oppression through how programs view marginalized groups as targets of grant proposals instead of human beings.

“Instead of acknowledging how communities have been systematically stripped of power, many nonprofits—especially those focusing on mentoring and youth development—treat recipients of their services as needing to be saved from poor life choices,” Goode said. “For people on the receiving end, these invalidating environments create feelings of internalized inferiority that lower expectations, harm self-esteem, and ultimately impact their well-being.”

This year’s symposium features topics that elevate the power of identity-affirming mentoring relationships. Goode says YMC is exploring Healing-Centered Mentoring, an approach that examines the youth experience through varied perspectives to identify ways mentoring can promote mental wellness, while reducing structural barriers to mental health services.

Goode said Covid-19 exacerbated the mounting youth mental health crisis as school systems across the country continue to be overwhelmed with students experiencing elevated levels of stress and anxiety.

“But while the pandemic was hard on everyone, pre-pandemic realities for black and brown students disproportionately worsened pre-existing mental health conditions, hitting them and their families harder,” Goode said.

Participants at the symposium will be educated on several topics including advocacy, youth power and critical mentoring.

“Symposium attendees will have the chance to network and learn from each other, with the goal of taking knowledge back to their organizations. A new feature for this year's event is our youth track,” Kanalyn Jackson, vice president of training and organization at YMC said. “This track will have session topics around building relationships, entrepreneurship, working music industry, and the opportunity to connect and have fun.”

Malenia Swinton, vice president of community engagement at YMC, said mentoring programs across the country, and specifically in North Carolina have experienced significant mentor and mentee attrition. Not being able to meet in person for mentoring session, funding and sustainability and mentor morale are contributing factors that negatively impact programs.

“However, we've seen mentoring programs rise to the challenge and fill gaps in services in their communities,” Swinton said. “Communities are reprioritizing young people and their mental health, pouring more resources into mentoring programs and other initiatives that support the health and well-being of youth.”

Swinton believes the symposium will serve as a catalyst for attendees to become more invested in the mentoring movement.

“By bringing together some of the brightest and most forward-thinking leaders from government, education, business, and beyond: we hope the Symposium plants the seed for even more meaningful and impactful mentoring relationships,” Swinton said.

Hannah McKinney, manager of communications & storytelling at YMC, said the story of mentoring is about radically changing the lives of youth and their families.

“Unfortunately, one in three young people grows up without a person or people that they can rely on. In this story, the problem is that historically disadvantaged and underserved youth lack reliable, supportive adult relationships,” McKinney said. “The solution is goal-based mentoring relationships with adults who can support their development. Who wouldn’t be swayed by a story like that?”

Herschel Walker and other Black men "pickin' and grinnin" like Amos and Andy

2022-07-01T17:43:00.003-04:00

commentary - I consider it an honor being a public intellectual within the tradition of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, E. Franklin Frazier, James Baldwin, Frantz Fanon, St. Clair Drake, Cornel West and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Make no mistake, I’m not as prolific in my work. I do claim responsibility connected to a rich tradition – Black men who read, process and write about the impact of race on the lives of Black men and women.

I could name a legion of Black women. Zora Neale Hurston, Anna Julia Cooper, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Ida B. Wells, Maria W. Stewart, Francess Ellen Watkins Harper – who shape how I view the intersected nature of race, class and gender as they apply to groups and individuals in systems of discrimination. They help me in considering how my being a heterosexual, Christian, man provides a level of power beyond the limits of being a Black man.

I revere the work of Black women, but this is about my bond with Black male writers, past and present.

Why does it matter?

A few names come to mind. Herschel Walker, Republican candidate to represent Georgia as a U.S. Senator. North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Roberts and Jahnmaund Lane, who unsuccessfully, as a Black Republican, took a shot to become mayor of Durham. Insert Negro please.

The three Black men listed have things in common. Yes, being Black is on that list. Yes, being a man is on that list. Yes, being a Republican forces rapid headshaking followed by an onslaught of name calling akin to “Uncle Tom”, “Sellout” along with being a disgrace to grandma and “them” for forgetting where you come from. It’s on that list.

Lane took center stage among other Black men representing alt-right, conspiracy minded Republicans, after seeking membership on Durham’s Human Relations Commission. Durham’s progressives followed with public scorn bearing witness to being way past being sick and tired. Lane’s public reputation took a hit after White Progressive Twitter (something like Black Twitter without real street cred) reminded people of what happened before and after soldiers enlisted in Donald Trump’s army and showed up at the U.S. Capitol to allegedly lynch Vice President Mike Pence for failing to abide by Emperor… I mean former President… Trump’s, command.

Pictures of Lane postured in front of a Trump flag circulated on social media after his wish to serve on the Human Relations Commission became public.

There is all of that – the foolishness of a Black man - given all grandma, granddaddy and Black folks history books (because Black history doesn’t show up in many of the other books) tells us about enduring hardship through many dangers, toils and snares. Nope, I’m not talking about singing “Amazing Grace”. For context and meaning, sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as reference to Black folks been through more than a trip to the stereotypical escape at the corner liquor store.

Thus, my fascination with Black scholars and their work.

Real talk involving work that escapes the regurgitation of words aimed at whitesplaining the Black experience of racism in America. Real work beyond pickin’ and grinnin’ like “Amos and Andy” as a subplot in an ongoing drama created to degrade Black people. Real talk to counter the pigeonhole of Black folks being greedy, dishonest and schemers in a world created to instill white wealth and comfort. Do I need to say it, again? Negro, please.

My gurus of Black intellectual thought continue to battle the futility of overzealous Black capitulation. They consistently subdue the temptation to embrace the lure of demeaning rhetoric that abates the effects of the history and continuing quandary of white folks pitching a narrative that it’s only in our imagination. How many times must I say Negro, please?

The Black gurus of Black conscious thinking challenge the simpleminded ways of some white people. Why Herschel over Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock. Put some respect on that name – Warnock with an earned Ph.D. – versus a barely literate Black man? He play feetball. Insert proper spelling for the folks who don’t know the difference.

The Georgia senate race pits one Black man against another. What type of Black man are white folks interested in supporting after an educated Negro became President of the freaking United States? Can we insert fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?

Is this the payback for smart Black folks making white folks feel stupid? Help me understand how that’s not true after Mark Roberts got enough votes to become North Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Google him to confront his homophobic, sexists, “Leave it to Beaver” back in the old days thinking political ideology. Somebody please find his people! One more time for the folks not keeping pace. Negro, please.

Are these Black men the anti-Obama? Even more, is there an attack on smart Black men?

These “Amos and Andy”, behind-the-times thinking Negros find themselves on center stage singing and dancing like minstrel show performer wearing black face makeup.

Stated before picking up another book with more than 500 pages to help me explain why all of it is a damn shame.

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Given the work of Black intellectuals is under attack, please contribute to the work of Rev-elution at: Cash App, $CMizzou, or Venmo, @Carl-Kenney-1.

Historic Hayti redeveloment cost more than 40-acres and a mule

2022-06-28T16:55:00.006-04:00

The Biltmore Hotel and the Regal movie theater on Pettigrew Street in 1947

What’s the cost to rebuild Durham’s Historic Hayti community after the freeway bulldozed the once vibrant Black community?

It’s more than 40-acres and a mule.

Hayti expands beyond the 19-acres proposed for redevelopment by the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) at Fayette Place. It spreads down Pettigrew Street connecting to Roxboro Rd. It covers space now occupied by Ponysaurus Brewing and the Durham Police Department headquarters. It extends to property on Dillard Street, the home of The Fruit, an art space and creative playground. It includes Hi-Wire Brewing, Durham Bottling Company, Smashing Boxes and remodeled office space on Ramsuer Street.

Development in Historic Hayti began shortly after downtown redevelopment advanced to alter the face of Durham. The site of lavish apartments, and fine dining eateries, wait for transplants lured by the city’s new reputation. The expansion continues beyond the downtown corridor as developers seize hold of rich opportunities.

What about old Hayti?

In 1982, the editor of the Carolina Times warned of the consequence of impending growth. The paper accused city planners of having their sight on the old Hayti district connecting to downtown Durham. Much of that land remains waiting for future development. Parts already redeveloped add to tension related to what could have been and what should become of the former Black housing and business district.

“This is a battle of power and money. The stakes are high. To city planners, the area compliments plan to rebuild downtown. In their judgment, the old Hayti is fertile ground for planning houses to give the revitalized downtown people a 24-hour life,” The Carolina Times said.

Bull House Apartments occupy space near where the Regal, a 500-seat movie theater built and operated by George Logan in 1927, and the Biltmore Hotel, built in 1923 by Dr. Clyde Donnell stood as monuments of Black pride across from Union Station on Pettigrew Street.

The Pettigrew Street section of Hayti connected with Durham’s downtown, within walking distance of the famed Black Wall Street on Parish Street. To fully understand the life and culture of Durham’s Black community prior to the flattening of Hayti, it’s critical to envision the impact of property beyond the area now designated for Hayti development.

West Parrish Street, along with portions of Hayti on the North side of the Durham Freeway, formed a hub of Black-owned businesses that flourished beginning in early 1900s.

“To-day there is a singular group in Durham where a black man may get up in the morning from a mattress made by black men, in a house which a black man built out of lumber which black men cut and planned; he may put on a suit which he brought at a colored haberdashery and socks knit at a colored mill; he may cook victuals from a colored grocery on a stove which black men fashioned; he may earn his living working for colored men; be sick in a colored hospital, and buried from a colored church; and the Negro insurance society will pay his widow enough to keep his children in a colored school,” W.E.B. Du Bois writes in his 1912 essay “The Upbuilding of Black Durham”.

Hayti encompasses more than the space between Durham Freeway and a few blocks past North Carolina Central University. The sadness regarding efforts to resurrect a once thriving Black community regards the limited scope attached to a once thriving Black community.

Hayti includes the Heritage Square retail center, land close to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Scientific Properties, a company owned by Andrew Rothschild, brought Heritage Square in 2007 for $4 million. In 2019, two LLCs, 401 E. Lakewood LLC and 606 Fayetteville LLC, fronted by investors from Austin, Texas, purchased the property for $12.5 million.

Food World Market and Subway occupy space on the 9.58-acre property. The new owners wait as the value continues to increase on land with flexible zoning that allows for retail, multifamily, office and mixed-use development up to 150 feet high.

Before relocating to New York after a failed attempt to purchase the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance building, Rothchild proposed a mixed-use development promoting a walkable live-work community. Opposition from Larry Hester and delays by the City Planning Commission ended a promising plan. It didn’t help that Rothchild is white.

Corinne Mabry, a member of the planning commission, told a reporter with the News & Observer she “was not going to sell her people down the river,” a recap of Durham’s epic destruction of the Hayti district.

The rebuilding of Hayti involves the allocation of more than 40-acres and a mule. Recovery involves more than acreage currently identifies as the former Hayti district. Hayti redevelopment comprises Pettigrew Street, Heritage Square, parts of downtown Durham and land extending past Main Street.

The damage triggered by a freeway aimed at developing the Research Triangle Park came with the annihilation of more than the 19-acres were the former Fayette Place stood. Conversations involving Hayti should extend beyond the goals of DHA. These conversations should involve the gains made by white led businesses on land in the historic Hayti district.

It's time to address the full magnitude of Hayti’s destruction. It’s time to ponder how city leaders participated in the corrosion of Black prosperity beyond a few blocks named as a redevelopment district. Hayti reborn involves the rebuilding of Black affluence inclusive of Durham’s downtown district.

The price for redevelopment cost more than 40-acres and a mule. Add the cost of interest and the loss of land beyond the reimaged plan of city leaders after the freeway destroyed Black dreams.