An Open Letter to Henri Brooks, Member of the Shelby County Commission

Dear Mrs. Brooks,
You were quoted in today's Commercial Appeal newspaper as saying that Shelby County is a place where "everything is about race." In the context of the issue that you were commenting on, race would never have been mentioned if you had not mentioned it. In regard to a piece of property at Lamar and Kyle which belongs to the county, a black man offered a proposal to buy the property and use the building on it to train men to fix home appliances. A white man asked the county to donate the land and building for use as a senior citizens' center. Both ideas were decent ideas that would help people. The first idea was probably better, since the taxpayers would receive payment for the land. But before any vote had been taken, you (unless you were misquoted) made hurtful racial comments about "white colonialism." Many of us who live in this county are sick of racism and racial arguments and comments. We want to build a community, and we can't do that if people are constantly mentioning race, and injecting it as an issue where it doesn't go. If you want to argue that the black man's proposal was better for the citizens of Shelby County, you had every opportunity to do so, by pointing out that job training is needed in Memphis and that his proposal would pay the county for use of the land and building. But instead, you chose to make the issue about race, as if you expected the vote to go in favor of the white man's proposal before a vote had even been taken. We must build a community beyond race if we hope to work our way off the "most miserable cities" list. I hope and pray that you will join with those of us of all races who want to quit jumping to racial conclusions when we disagree, for the good of our community and of our children. If you are not willing to do that, please resign from your post. Sincerely, John M. Shaw
Bartlett, TN
jshaw@selectohits.com

Dr. Herenton's Neo-Southern Politics

Dr. W. W. Herenton, former mayor of Memphis, kicked off his campaign for the 9th Congressional District seat Saturday, complaining that all of the state's current representation in Congress is white. This approach is the usual for him, and probably the best strategy politically, since the incumbent Steve Cohen has not done a bad job, and appeals to race often work in Memphis. Of course, Herenton ignores the fact that the predominantly-Black constituency of the 9th District has refused three times to elect a Black representative of the district when they could have. Even arguing, as I'm sure Herentonistas will, that in the first primary, too many Black candidates diluted the Black vote, that still means that on two occasions when Cohen faced only one Black opponent, the majority-Black electorate chose Cohen. So whose right to Black representation has been abridged? But while Dr. Herenton's racial strategy may be ignorant,it is hardly new, especially in this part of the country. While it has historically been white candidates "waving the bloody shirt" against the threat of "Negro rule", when Herenton says voters should vote racially, he joins the ranks of Ben Tillman, Tom Watson, James K. Vardaman, Orville Faubus, Ross Barnett and George Wallace, all of whom found political success by appealing to the racism of their white constituents. Usually, they all chose that course of action for the same reasons- the lack of coherent argument as to why they should be awarded the office they sought, or an attempt to hide their failures. They continued to use these methods because they worked. That the South's politicians have resorted to racial argument to win elections is to their eternal shame. That these tactics have so often worked is to ours.

The Memphis Statement

Most companies have a mission statement these days, a statement of principles that set forth the image they want to uphold. Perhaps Memphis needs a mission statement. This is one I would like to see.

#1. Although Memphis has been blessed with strategic location, decent climate, beautiful setting, and an old and venerable history, and, although Memphis has a diverse population of many talents and gifts, and, although Memphis has produced many great men and women in many fields, as a city, Memphis has consistently failed to reach her potential.

#2. This failure has in large part been the result of a failure in leadership, which, in turn has led to factionalism, not only between the races, but also between classes, and between neighborhoods.

#3. These factions and divisions have wasted our energy and retarded the growth of our city and its various communities, and have created bitterness and discord.

#4. Although our city has many communities of faith they have been largely ineffective in addressing these problems.

#5. Our city has severe image problems, both from its own citizens, and from those who live outside.

#6. Therefore, we are committed to the improvement of Memphis and its surrounding region.

#7. We pledge to remove race as a consideration for our decisions, or our treatment of others in our personal and public lives.

#8. We resolve to use our influence to convince others to make the same pledge.

#9. We are determined to talk positively of Memphis and to encourage others to do so, having no illusions as to the many problems that need solving.

#10. We promise to vote for the best and most capable leadership, without regard to race.

#11. We believe that if the majority of Memphians and suburban residents agree to the above-named principles, there is no problem that our city and region cannot conquer.

If you agree with these principles, forward them to your friends, relatives and neighbors.

Jonesville, LA: Ominous Warnings of A Storm to Come

While revival and reconciliation has taken place in Jena and LaSalle Parish, authorities in neighboring Catahoula Parish have been investigating a noose-hanging incident near Jonesville, in which the letters "K.K.K." were also left under the tree in toilet paper. Law enforcement officials there suggested that the incident was a prank since the community in which the nooses and message were found is predominantly white. Two things come to mind. First, Satan does not like revival, because revival is people turning to Jesus Christ and being saved. When there is true revival in an area, watch out for the devil's counterattack. But the other, more frightening thought, is that when nooses were hung at Jena High School in August of 2006, authorities there dismissed it as a prank. The tragic effects of that miscalcualtion are now known to everyone in the world, and the reputation of the town of Jena suffered, to some extent unfairly, as a result. Young people in LaSalle Parish, Catahoula Parish, or anywhere else, must be made to understand that hanging nooses in the yards of others, or on public property, is never just a prank, anymore than would be calling a high school and warning that a bomb is there. Catahoula authorities (and parents) need to take this threat seriously, before the young people who hung the nooses escalate to a violent act and Jonesville gets added to Jasper and Jena as towns where racism is alive and well.